Robert M. Gates

About the author: Robert M. Gates, a career intelligence officer, served on the National Security Council staff under four presidents and was director of Central Intelligence under former president George Bush.

When the CIA helped negotiate the 1998 Israeli-Palestinian accord, many Americans grew concerned that the CIA was expanding its mission. However, the agency has always played a prominent role in international negotiations and in monitoring cease-fires and treaty compliance. Indeed, the CIA has a longstanding role in helping to promote peace worldwide. Although such public activities involve more direct risks for the CIA, the agency will no doubt succeed in minimizing such dangers.

Much ado is being made of the Central Intelligence Agency's prominent role in negotiating the 1998 Israeli-Palestinian accord and its prospective part in carrying out the agreement. Both critics and defenders of the...