合理推諉

合理推諉，又譯作似是而非的否認，指人，尤高級官員，否認對他人，尤下屬，不良行爲的了解或責任。合理推諉的能力（英語：plausible deniability）來自於缺少證據，即使他們參與或默許了這一行爲。缺少證明他們參與或默許了這一行爲的證據，使否認表面上合理、可信，但有時僅爲了不受告訴。

儘管合理推諉的現象存在已久，此詞由美國中央情報局（CIA）於1960年代初創造，指中情局向高級官員隱瞞資訊，以保護他們，在中情局非法或不光彩的行爲爲公眾所知的情況下，不受影響。

1948年6月18日，美國總統哈里·杜魯門的國家安全委員會第10/2號文件將「秘密行動」定義為「⋯⋯此政府針對敵對的外國國家或團體，或支持友好的外國國家或團體，經計畫與執行，使美國政府的責任對無授權人士看似不明顯，且如果發現，美國政府可以合理地否認對它們的任何責任，進行或贊助的所有活動（除非另外說明）。」^{[註 1]}^[1]在艾森豪執政期間，NSC 10/2被納入更具體的NSC 5412/2「秘密行動」。^[2]NSC 5412於1977年解密，並位於國家檔案館。^[3]

備註

^ ...all activities (except as noted herein) which are conducted or sponsored by this Government against hostile foreign states or groups or in support of friendly foreign states or groups but which are so planned and executed that any US Government responsibility for them is not evident to unauthorized persons and that if uncovered the US Government can plausibly disclaim any responsibility for them.

參考文獻

^ Office of the Historian, Department of State. National Security Council Directive on Office of Special Projects (NSC 10/2) （頁面存檔備份，存於網際網路檔案館）, Washington, June 18, 1948.
^ Office of the Historian, Department of State. Covert Operations (NSC 5412/2) （頁面存檔備份，存於網際網路檔案館）, Washington, undated.
^ Records of the National Security Council (NSC), Record Group 273. （頁面存檔備份，存於網際網路檔案館）

[1] ...all activities (except as noted herein) which are conducted or sponsored by this Government against hostile foreign states or groups or in support of friendly foreign states or groups but which are so planned and executed that any US Government responsibility for them is not evident to unauthorized persons and that if uncovered the US Government can plausibly disclaim any responsibility for them.

[2] Office of the Historian, Department of State. National Security Council Directive on Office of Special Projects (NSC 10/2) （頁面存檔備份，存於網際網路檔案館）, Washington, June 18, 1948.

[3] Office of the Historian, Department of State. Covert Operations (NSC 5412/2) （頁面存檔備份，存於網際網路檔案館）, Washington, undated.

[4] Records of the National Security Council (NSC), Record Group 273. （頁面存檔備份，存於網際網路檔案館）

[註 1]

[1]

[2]

[3]