CRISIS IN CONFIDENCE STILL HAMPERS CIA OPERATIONS, AGENCY OFFICIAL SAYS

Document Type: 
Collection: 
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
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
August 12, 1978
Content Type: 
NSPR
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PDF icon CIA-RDP81M00980R000600060024-4.pdf129.26 KB
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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