Prompt:
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) acts as America’s “eyes and ears to the world.” The 1947 act that set up the agency gave it two tasks: briefing the president with intelligence and conducting secret operations for him abroad. The agency’s critics argue that it has failed to predict many major world events and that its covert operations run counter to America’s democratic principles. Supporters of the CIA and its mission point out that the public only hears about the agency’s actions when something goes wrong. In your view, does America need a CIA? Carefully explain the rationale for your position.

Response:
Though the CIA often comes to attention for its failures, its quiet successes are vital to the proper functioning and security of the nation.  The CIA’s mission provides critical information to the President and other members of the American Government that is necessary for the maintenance of international relations, and the agencies counter terrorism efforts have undoubtedly contributed to the security of America.  For these reasons, the CIA should be considered a vital part of the American government and should be supported.

The President of the United States has as one of his core responsibilities the duty to direct the foreign policy of America; without the CIA, his job would be much more difficult.  Solid, reliable information is the keystone to good decision making.  It is the primary job of the CIA to provide this information.  Due to the secretive nature of international politics, some crucial information cannot be obtained by conventional channels.  The CIA’s system of covert operation uncovers a great deal of otherwise unobtainable information that helps the US leadership make wise decisions.  Undercover operatives and those working with local sources can often gain a much more accurate portrait of a foreign country and its operations than would be possible by solely relying on media and diplomatic channels.
Secondly, the CIA’s activities contribute vitally to the security of the nation.  Though the attacks of 9/11 are considered by some to be an intelligence failure, there have been many operations against the US that the CIA has brought to a halt, and likely many that we are unaware of for national security reasons.  Recently, for example, the CIA played a crucial role in stopping a terrorist plot with the objective of detonating a truck bomb in New York City, thus undoubtedly saving many lives.  Likewise, CIA operations have helped to make the US more secure my reducing threats abroad.  Many believe, for instance, that the CIA, in cooperation with their Israeli counterparts, were behind the Stuxnet virus, which set back Iran’s nuclear ambitions by several years.  Additionally, the CIA helps to protect American military forces abroad.  Due to the guerilla nature of the war in Afganistan, without critical information provided by military intelligence and the CIA, the job of our troops would be next to impossible.
Many of the criticisms leveled against the CIA do not stand up to prolonged criticism.  The contention that because the CIA is unable to prevent all terrorist attacks against the US that it should be dissolved, is ludicrous.  Though 9/11 may have been an intelligence failure, the many other lives it has saved warrant its continued existence.  Likewise, the contention that the CIA’s operations fly in the face of American democratic principles is too simplistic.  Due to the secretive nature of the CIA and agencies around the world like it, CIA leadership cannot always be aware of the fine details of every CIA endeavor.  Just as a bank is not responsible for embeelement by a bank employee, the CIA itself should not be held accountable for miscarriages of justice perpetrated by single elements, such as in the case of the Abu Garaib prison