tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6859126.post1316324507840354344..comments2023-10-28T06:41:07.069-07:00Comments on Ambition, Impatience and Sloth: Davidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06427208386709900367noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6859126.post-87173757346726517542009-04-21T19:59:00.000-07:002009-04-21T19:59:00.000-07:00I think the question is whether the operatives cou...I think the question is whether the operatives could reasonably believe that what they were doing was legal. In the abstract, <br /><br />I agree that each individual should have the strength of character to disobey immoral orders. But I'm not sure this is feasible, or reasonable to expect. And as depressing as it is to consider this, there are downsides to a hierarchical organization in which each actor is assumed to have his/her own moral agency. <br /><br />Not a very satisfying answer, I admit.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06427208386709900367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6859126.post-73163704496440733402009-04-21T16:46:00.000-07:002009-04-21T16:46:00.000-07:00Dave - I am not at all sure how you get to the poi...Dave - I am not at all sure how you get to the point of saying CIA operatives shouldn't be accountable for the legality of orders they're given. Clearly, the order-givers should be accountable themselves, but don't the operatives have a duty to do the right thing? Most people in any war are following orders. It seems to easy to let most of them off the hook.<br /><br />EricAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com