CIA in Academia

“Academics and Spies: The Silence That Roars,” by David N. Gibbs (Opinion, Jan. 28), reveals an otherworldliness uncommon even by contemporary academic standards. Gibbs must be unaware of the existence of Moammar Kadafi, Osama Bin Laden and a long list of international rogues and terrorists, to make the statement that “this failure of political science to discuss covert operations is troubling.”

Covert operations are the raison d’etre of intelligence agencies. If the professor sees an ethical dilemma here, he should suggest disaffiliation to his fellow scholars who feel soiled by their association with the CIA. Other options might be the animal rights movement, environmentalism or joining organized protests at meetings of the World Trade Organization.

J. WILLIAM THOMPSON

Newport Beach