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> “ Approved For Release 2003/04/25 : CIA-RDP80R01731R000400070011-3 15 October 1958 COMMENTS ON A PAPER ENTITLED "PARTIAL CRITERIA nearer nt talon ton Nem hoe TO GOVERN COVERT OPERATIONS” nena seamen ne atonal 1. The logic in this paper can be faulted. As a consequence, the writing is loose and insprecise. Despite these inadequacies, it contains an expression of concern about the implications fer our Gevernment of covert operations and an insistence that strict criteria be established for their regulation. The very expression of this concern demands our attention, (% The criticiam of covert operations is not based on moral considerations about the validity ef means towards ends, nor is it attributed to a desire to preserve departmental jurisdictions. It is | based om the pragmatic consideration that cevert operations will not work (because Americans cannot really de such things very well and the operations will not be really covert) and the consequent wsk is, therefore, out of proportion to the gaia. | 3. The suggested criteria are, in general, reasonable statements of the care that must be exercised ia anything ss Sensitive as the initiation and the conduct ef covert operations. Where this paper gees wrong is in its concept ef the assignment of charter functions within our Goverament and its placement of the responsibility for the applicatien of criteria. The paper states that the primary responsibility for such =" approved For Release:2003/04/25 : CIA-RDP80R01731R000400070011-3 Se bee LS id im