CIA CHIEF: LAWS NEEDED TO PROTECT SPY SOURCES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP05T00644R000301100058-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 15, 2009
• Sequence Number: 58
• Publication Date: August 2, 1980
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Approved For Release 2009/04/15: CIA-RDP05T00644R000301100058-7
?
THE DENVER POST -- Saturday, 2 August 1980
CIA Chief.: :L'as N'~ded
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By.FRANK MOYA.
Denver Post Legal Affairs Writer.
New legislation is necessary to. en-
sure ,the -confidentiality of American
spy sources if the Central Intelligence
Agency is to discharge effectively its
intelligence duties in the "precarious
decade of the 1980s," said CIA Director
Stansfield Turner.
Turner, addressing a 'Denver audi-
ence :Friday, said if the
United States is to re-
tain :any confidence . in
its' ability to guide for-
eign policy. based on-in-
formation surreptitious-
ly gathered in other
countries, .the CIA must
be able to guarantee the
sources of the informa-
tion will be kept secret.
The.importance of ef-
fective , intelligence 'is
more crucial today than_
it has been in the,past; ,
because the "Russians
have infinite agressive
intentions" and for the
first time are .:equals .of
the United States ; in
strategic and conventional
ourcesi.
Turner said he ? favored proposals
now before Congress that would: -
-Reduce from eight to two the num-
ber of congressional committees that
have to be informed whenever the CIA
decides to embark on a "covert. ac-
tion" -.an operation in which the CIA
secretly tries to manipulate events
without participants in those events
being aware of CIA intervention., :
- "There 'is -:a proper
.place for 'a limited
amount of covert action ,
in. our diplomatic port-
folio," .Turner said. But,
the likelihood that, the'
,,CIA can elicit necessary
cooperation 'in :covert
actions from sympathiz-
ers in foreign countries
is reduced substantially
when these potential al-
lies know some 200
members of Congress
will be apprised of the
CIA's every move.:
-Exempt CIA -sourc-
ADM. TURNER mandatory .',disclosure
sought under the federal
military Freedom of Information Act. 'Under
strength,' Turner said: the act, anyone, including agents of the
Turner,,who has headed the CIA, for Russian KGB, sometimes can require.
the past 3% years, -made his remarks the. government to provide information
before'an audience of about 400 jurists that' can lead to the identities of CIA
and lawyers gathered .. at the Brown operatives, Turner said. "Our agents
Palace Hotel for the concluding day of need reassurance"that they are specifi-
the annual 10th Circuit Judicial Confer- cally exempt from the Freedom of In-
ence. formation Act," he said.
He spoke on behalf of proposals be- -Permit, in some circumstances,
fore the Congress that he said would criminal penalties to , be assessed
give the CIA the necessary ability to against persons who disclose the
guarantee confidentiality to its sources names of CIA operatives abroad. Ac-
while simultaneously protecting Amer- cording to Turner, disclosures by such
icans from CIA -excesses that in the disaffected CIA agents as Phillip Agee
past had resulted in violations of con- have endangered CIA agents and, in
sfitutional rights. one case, led to the assasination of the
Those excesses - which prompted CIA's chief operative in Greece.
congressional investigations in the ear- -Install new procedures governing
ly 1970s that resulted in legislation when the CIA would be required to dis-
some believe has hindered the CIA's close classified information to defense
effectiveness - have been curbed, attorneys in criminal cases. In the re-
said Turner. But he intimated that leg- cent past, the government has elected
islative overkill in the aftermath of the to dismiss charges lodged against de=
congressional investigations threatens fendants rather than abide by court or-
U.S. security if new laws aren't adopt- ders to disclose sensitive intelligence
ed. information, Turner said.
Approved For Release 2009/04/15: CIA-RDP05T00644R000301100058-7