CRISIS IN CONFIDENCE STILL HAMPERS CIA OPERATIONS, AGENCY OFFICIAL SAYS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81M00980R000600060024-4
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 18, 2004
• Sequence Number: 24
• Publication Date: August 12, 1978
• Content Type: NSPR

A,'RTICIgRt&?pr Release -THE4/SACRANiENTt7 SEp1 MOO98OROOO6OOO6OO24-4
ON PAGE, 12 August 1978
Crisis In Confidence Still Hampers
CEO Operations, Agency Official Says
By TED BELL
Bee Staff Writer
The nation's secret intelligence
agencies are entering a "new era" In
their missions and relationship with a
free society but are still hampered
somewhat by a "crisis in confidence."
the deputy director of the Central
Intelligence Agency said in Sacrav
mento Friday.
Frank C. Carlucci addressed a news
than 400 of Sacramento's business and
political leaders. "Never; in toy
judgement, has there been so much
interest on the part of the executive
branch' and on the part of the Con-
gress 'in our intelligence product. And
that provides an opportunity,
"But, yes, we are still living in a
crisis of confidence (in the CIA and.
'other U.&,- intelligence agencies);"
Carlucci added. "And that crisis of
conference and later the nogn meeting confidence makes it very difficult f or
of the Comstock Club-at the Red Lion:.. us; to, take full: advantage' of those
Inn, inplace oftheCIAdirector,.Adm -. opportunities:" *~.~
Stansfield Turner.., who had been The 48-yeac-old former ambassador
scheduled too speak: but was called- to Portugal and undersecretary of the
back to Virginia late 'Thursday upon: Department ofIfealth, Education and
learning his father was critically ill.: Welfare, said that the `system of
"Intelligence-wise; these are differ:,-'-.'checks and balances placed upon the
ant times. they are exciting times;" - .'. ; U.S. intelligence agencies In, recent
Carlucci told an audience,of, more ' years inakes it "virtually impossible
for the kinds of abuses that occured in
the past to repeat themselves,"
But other measures invoked to al-
low greater public scrutiny of the CIA i
have raised serious problems, he said,
ranging from the Freedom of Infor-
mation Act and former CIA opera-
tives who seek to disclose secret infor-
mation, to the definition of the respon-
?ibilityof investigative reporters.
"I think we have to have clearly, an .
appreciation on the part of the Aniert
can people that secrecy is the heart of
am intelligence operation," Carlucc1-
said... "Certainly government heeds to.
be accountable. And certainly people.
like' (Bob) Woodward and:-'(Carl)
Bernstein render an, outstanding ser
vice in what they do and certainly we
we want want. to encourage journal...
ists to be investigative journalists, but :.
I don't . think we should - become be-
come carried away with the obsession
about uncovering one thing after the
other., - . _ ,.
Carlucci. emphasised that the reve-
lation of certain kinds. of intelligence
information can place the lives of-
people and their families in danger!
and sources of intelligence informa-
tion trust receive as much protection
as do journalists' sources.
"We are frequently critcizedby the
press for excessive secrecy," said
Carlucci, "and I'm willing to concede
that there may well be a considerable
amount of over-classification in gov.
ernment, I would. just hope that my.
journalist friends would argue just as-
vigorously for the protection of intelli'
genre. sources as they argue for they
protection of journalists' sources.. To
me, the principle is the same, except,
in the cases of intelligence sources- we
are frequently.-dealing with peoples
lives
The deputy director said. "We area
also, in the age of glorification of the
whistle-blower" at, it time when confi-
dence in government is at a critical
juncture.
Approved For Release 2004/06/14: CIA-RDP81 M00980R000600060024-4