LETTER TO ADMIRAL STANSFIELD TURNER FROM JOHN O. KINERT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80M00165A001300140006-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 12, 2004
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: October 17, 1977
• Content Type: LETTER

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JOHN O. KINERT. P.E., C.S.P.
SAFETY CONSULTANT
File: Personal
KINERT ASSOCIATES y' O,e
October 17, 19?7
Admiral Stansfield Turner, USN
Director of Central Intelligence
Washington, D. C. 20505
Dear Admiral Turner:
Thank you for your kind and thoughtful response to my letter
of August 16th.
I regret that my inadequately developed suggestion that "vio-
lation of the rights of a few, possibly innocent, citizens"
is sometimes justifiable caused you concern. What I had in mind
was defense against internal disorders, sabotage, terrorism and
similar threats. Action in these areas is, of course, the re-
sponsibility of local, state and federal police agencies up to
the point where declaration of martial law becomes necessary.
My willingness to accept violations of individual "rights"
even in these cases is strictly limited. Current, generally
accepted, examples are security systems employing photograph-
ic, TV and other types of surveillance; required submission
to search of vehicles as a condition for entry onto govern-
ment or private property; and required submission to search
of baggage and person prior to boarding commercial aircraft.
Again best wishes for success in your vitally important and
difficult post.
Sincerely,
=-'`r;GHN 0:` KINERT
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Mr. John 0. Kinert
Kinert Associates
1 875 Wilson Street
San Diego, California 92106
Dear Mr. Kinert,
Please accept my sincere thanks for your warm and thought-
provoking letter of August 16. I could not hope to respond to
all the points you raise, but I would like to address a few of
them.
My overall objective as Director of Central Intelligence is
to build a more effective intelligence service which better serves
the intelligence needs of our policymakers and the Congress.
President Carter and the top officials of his Administration
recently concluded an intensive study of the Intelligence
Community.. After lengthy consultations with appropriate Congress-
men, he has dltrmined that some centralization of authority in
the Intelligence Community under the Director of Central Intelligence
is necessary, but that the individual government agencies should
retain line control of the intelligence.units within their
organizations. I am enthusiastic about this decision. It gives
me the tools to more effectively and efficiently coordinate the
government's intelligence activities without inhibiting constructive
competition in the interpretation of raw data. It has been the
intent of the Executive and the Congress to strengthen the DCI
in this way since Congress assigned responsibility for the
coordination of intelligence activities to him with enactment
of the National Security Act of 1947.
I believe you will understand that a considerable amount of
intelligence is produced which is releasable to the public in
unclassified form. I believe we owe it to the American public to
provide them with as much of this kind of information as we can.
I am also convinced that a public better informed about what the
intelligence agencies do and why is the best way to assure the people
thattb a intelligence agencies are not violating their rights or
the laws of the country.. Moreover, as you know, President Carter
has established "openness" as a .policy for all his Administration.
In addition, being forthcoming where we can substantially
enhances my ability to protect those secrets that are vital to our
work. Pleaee be assured that I am dedicated to keeping those
secrets that are a Ito a rotection of sources and methods.
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 Finally, I confess I am disturbed by your suggestion that
"violation of the rights of a few, possibly innocent, citizens"
is sometimes justifiable. I must respectfully, but seriously
disagree. The intelligence agencies are charged with keeping
the policymakers informed of foreign dangers so that they are
better able to cope with challenges to our country and to"the
individual rights the people of this country have fought to
maintain. For the intelligence agencies themselves to engage
in violation of these rights would be to undermine what they
interest in the Intelligence Community.
concerns. I do appreciate your expression of views and your
have been established to help preserve.
I sincerely hope these comments have addressed your
Yours sincerely,
Typed 9/19/77:1 rkss
Distribution:
Original - Addressee
1 - Ex. Reg.
1 - A/DCI/PAO(comeback copy)
1 - A/DCI/PAO(hold back copy)
2E1 S0 11 10 JHH aft
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 oved For Releasd 2 J /1U1 @,1-1gR
Routing Slap
Oct
DDCI
15 DTR
,16 A/DCt/PA
21
DATE I INITIAL.
16: Please develop response for
DCI signature.
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