Fair Play: The Moral Dilemmas of Spying, Book Review Example

Summary

Fair Play: The Moral Dilemmas of Spying is a book by a veteran CIA retired officer, James Olson, who takes a look at the CIA’s operations and asks whether they are morally sound. James Olson served as an intelligence officer for the CIA during the Cold War. According to him, he was involved in many covert operations; some may have been too morally archaic. However, his track record shows his moral consciousness during his days at the CIA. His book, therefore, takes a look at modes of operation of the CIA and other security agencies like the FBI in the day-to-day job of keeping America safe. Olson also poses whether the end justifies the means and leaves his audience to answer the dilemma through the different scenarios that he puts forth. Fair Play exposes the world of intelligence and espionage to the audience, and some of the steps security agencies are forced to take for the sake of the security of their countries. Therefore, the book is classic and authentic content that attracts positive ratings due to Olson’s impeccable writing and expression skills.

Content and Structure

Fair Play is entirely made of details and encounters of intelligence officers and the decisions they have to make to achieve their goals. James Olson does well to include a feedback section where several people make their remarks about the dilemma scenarios which call for moral indecisiveness. People such as religious leaders, activists, students, and parents are invited to decide whether the several steps to solve specific scenarios are morally right or wrong. In his account, all of the scenarios presented either happened or are still real-life scenarios in the line of duty at the CIA. The book, therefore, outlines the roles of security and intelligence agencies and their mandates. It goes ahead to state the provisions of practice, areas of expertise, and their roles as a US security agency. The book opens up a world less known by many, with breathtaking realities of what goes on in the CIA in particular.

The book follows a simple structure starting with a related titles page, the contents segment, and the preface. There follow the acknowledgments sections where Olson makes the special mentions to the people who enabled the entire exercise possible. The book officially begins with an introductory section where Olson takes about his career as an undercover. He states what motivated him to be an undercover and his initial goals in life. Olson even admits that all he ever wanted to do in his life was to be a spy. He opens up on how his career went and stated his achievements as a CIA agent. The next segment entails historical and philosophical arguments about spying and the difference between both. Olson admits that people have a negative perception of spying, believing that it is both dangerous and mischievous. Olson admits that someone must be a spy for the sake of their country. Olson then provides fifty scenarios wherein the line of duty where the question of morality comes to mind. In his admission, he states that there are close calls that do not allow for second thoughts. In this section, he invites public opinion to some of the hard questions an undercover agent usually faces. He tips on some of the skills and knowledge for a spy to lead a successful career.

Book Evaluation

Given his experience during his days at the CIA, James Olson gives a broader scope of what it takes to be a field agent at the CIA. As he mentions, the CIA is mandated to handle threats coming from outside the country. The agency ensures that the security agencies are aware of their threats, which is only possible through spying on enemy countries. However, Olson’s focus is not whether the CIA’s duties are justified or not, but whether their agents’ actions are morally justified. “It may surprise you just how little these security organs teach their agents on morality” (Olson). This statement opens up concerns about how security organs like the CIA meet their obligations, given their situations to do or die. This statement by Olson leads to the question of right or wrong in fifty scenarios as encountered by the CIA.

In one example of Olson’s dilemma, while working with the CIA, there is a character, Rolando Montemayor, who happens to be a Director-General of Intelligence in Cuba attached to the United Nations office in New York. Before moving to New York, he worked at the Cuban embassy in Spain. While in Spain, the CIA ran a double agent mission against Mentamayor with a Spanish journalist who noticed that Mentamayor might have been gay. Subsequent spying has proved that Mr. Mentamayor is indeed gay. If the Cuban government realizes his sexuality, he is sure to lose his job. Mentamayor’s family is also oblivious of his sexuality, which the CIA seeks to use to their advantage. There are already established images proving that Mentamayor frequents homosexual joints, with other images showing him engaging in gay behavior. The moral dilemma in this scenario is whether the CIA should use Mentamayor’s sexuality to blackmail and recruit him to feed them with information on the proceeds of Cuba.

There are differing opinions on what should be done in the scenario. However, many people believe that Mr. Mentamayor is by no means innocent of the spying business, given his track record while in Madrid. Therefore, the CIA’s information on him is fair leverage against him that the CIA should use to acquire his services. However, there are other concerns over victimization and shaming with his family now involved. In his opinion, Olson admits that there is so much at stake given the state of the world at the time, with the cold war in Play and Cuba being a hotspot for the communists. He also concludes that Mentamayor must have been prepared for such occurrences when he signed up to spy. Such is the example of scenarios that CIA agents come across in the fields.

The fact that the author of the book was a former CIA agent makes the book’s details even more believable and intriguing. Olson invites authority to his book by interviewing both active and former CIA operatives in the commentary section. Therefore, the audience is inclined to take deep thought into Fair Play through the sudden realization of what mostly goes on unnoticed. The book, therefore, commands authority in authorship and external review.

There is concern about what happens with taxpayers’ money that goes into the CIA when readers realize that not all that happens in the CIA is morally right. The author has succeeded in arousing public awareness and knowledge of what goes on in the intelligence sector. Going forward, there will be a better understanding of why security officers fail to do the essential things, such as offering humane treatment to suspects. Olson reveals little that goes on in terms of guidance on morality at the security agencies. According to their humanity, most of the agents are released into the fields with the knowledge of what is expected of them according to their mandate but not what is expected of them. Fair Play also reveals circumstances were intelligence officers have to do the absolute worst for the benefit of the majority. Olson takes about applying utilitarianism theory in the CIA, where such like security organs are more inclined to sacrifice the few for the benefit of the many. However, there are fewer scenarios that trigger such calls, with the fundamental question lying on the intuitions of the officer in charge. While Olson adjudicates that security organs are responsible for what is done by their officers, he also admits that there are higher expectations on the individual officers in the field never to lose themselves while discharging their national duties. Finally, Olson tries to shape people’s perceptions about spying, claiming that it is like any other security-related job which requires indulgence and instincts.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Fair Play: The Moral Dilemmas of Spying by James Olson opens up on security agencies’ least detected crime and counteracting actions. Intelligence officers are placed in precarious positions to diligently discharge their duties even with little moral training, ending their moral authority. Olson welcomes his readers to the vast world of spying, what spying is all about and what it takes to work in the CIA. In the end, the readers can judge for themselves if they would do the same thing done by the operatives in the CIA, given similar circumstances.

References

Olson, J.M., 2006. Fair Play: the moral dilemmas of spying. Potomac Books, Inc.