WE'VE GOT A SECRET

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-01601R001200920001-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 2, 2001
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: November 30, 1971
• Content Type: NSPR

Approved For Release 2001/03/04: CIA-RDP80-016
VENTURA, CAL.
STAR-FREE PRESS
NOV 3 0 1971
E - 31,084
- 30,953
We've Got A Secret .. .
NOBODY CAN ACCUSE THE Central Intelligence
Agency of overspending, because nobody seems to know
how much it spends. Some senators raised questions about
the CIA's super-secret S4 billion?) budget last week, and f
were 't01z t'6ii ind their awn business.
There are a couple of folks in Washington who claim
to know what the CIA's allowance is, but they aren't talk-
ing. Whether they really know or simply want other peo-
ple to think they do - they're keeping the secret, either
way.
One of the I've-got-a-secret senators is John Stennis
of Mississippi, who often sees money matters in patriotic
terms, and is a man of no small faith. "If you're wing to
have an intelligence agency," said Sen. Stennis, "you've
got to shut your eyes and take what comes."
Well, we have shut our eves, and we've taken what has
come: the Bay of Pigs, a U.S. invasion of Santa Domingo,
a few coups in Latin America, assorted assassinations of
enemy agents (or suspected double agents) in two hem-
ispheres and other hard-to-explain goings-on around the
world - not to mention Vietnam... .
If it's too much to ask. for the American people to know
what the CIA is up to, v; e should at least have some idea
how much of our money is being spent to do it. Whatever.)
the investment, the dividends haven't been very encourag-
ing to date. r.,
That is, unless you view them as Sen. Stennis suggests,
with both eyes shut tight.
Approved For Release 2001/03/04: CIA-RDP80-01601 R001200920001-0 .