CIA recruits next to Peace Corps at Manoa
CIA recruits at Manoa
By Lance D. Collins
Ka Leo Opinions Editor
March 12, 2003
Just like in the recent release of "The Recruit," University of Hawai'i at Manoa students have an opportunity to join the CIA. The agency set up a table next to the Peace Corps yesterday at the Campus Center.
An agent working the table, who identified himself only as "Mike" and declined to give his full name, said, "The agency's primary mission is to collect foreign intelligence, analyze it and disseminate it to the relevant government offices dealing with national security."
He also indicated that the agency's other missions fall in line with its primary mission of "collecting human intelligence, technology ... and having a division for translation."
Agent Mike discussed what he called the important role that the CIA plays in watching and translating foreign intelligence, like Turkish television. He said information from a variety of sources is translated, analyzed and sent off to relevant government bodies.
He said that the James Bond stereotype is not the "normal type of way we do an operation."
Another agent who wished to remain anonymous was asked if they were planning to hire any UH students.
He answered, "That's why we're here. We couldn't justify coming out here if we couldn't hire anyone." In addition to being a U.S. citizen, applicants must be willing to relocate to Virginia. The unidentified agent said that the relocation aspect eliminated half of the possible applicants from Hawai'i.
According to the agency's Web site (www.cia.gov), CIA applicants must show "loyalty to the United States, strength of character ... and soundness of judgment." The Web site also says that drug abuse is "one of the common reasons a security clearance is denied to applicants."
Several students, who wished to remain anonymous, questioned the presence of the CIA on campus.
Professor Ruth Hsu of the Professors Opposed to War and the University Peace Initiative agreed, saying, "We need to call attention to the fact that high schools are practically mandated to allow army recruitment. The CIA coming onto our campus is simply another version of the intrusiveness of the federal government under the guise of a war against terror."
She added, "CIA has been responsible for aiding foreign dictators funded by the United States government under various administrations.
"It has been directing and indirectly responsible for human rights violations overseas. It should be seen as one of the reasons why ordinary Americans have to deal with terrorists."
Agent Mike would not directly address Hsu's concerns and declined further comment.
Hsu said, "Their presence on campus is a sign of the times ... America is becoming more and more like a country we liked to attack in the 1950s -- a dictatorship."
She said that the university should organize "educational forums that offer substantial analyses of the CIA and modern governments, and the ways in which organizations like the CIA work against democracy and undermine the safety of ordinary citizens."
The agency will be giving a talk today at 5 p.m. at Campus Center 310 about working for the CIA.
