Alex Younger said
real spies had to cope with complex moral and physical
challenges in the most forbidding environments on Earth, which
would rule out the agent known as 007 because he lacked a strong
ethical core.
"In contrast to James Bond, MI6 officers are not for taking
moral shortcuts," Younger said in an interview published on
Black History Month, a website dedicated to Britain's annual
celebration of its black culture and heritage.
"It’s safe to say that James Bond wouldn’t get through our
recruitment process," said Younger.
He added that while real MI6 spooks shared Bond's qualities of
patriotism, energy and tenacity, they needed additional values
not displayed by the hero of "From Russia with Love",
"Goldfinger", "Dr. No" or more recently "Skyfall" or "Spectre".
"An intelligence officer in the real MI6 has a high degree of
emotional intelligence, values teamwork and always has respect
for the law -- unlike Mr Bond."
(Reporting by Estelle Shirbon; editing by Stephen Addison)
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