ABC-TV 20/20 FILMING PLANS AT U.S. EMBASSIES ABROAD

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86M00886R002600050018-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 16, 2010
• Sequence Number: 18
• Publication Date: January 6, 1984
• Content Type: CABLE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/02/16: CIA-RDP86M00886R002600050018-3
ROUTING AND RECORD SHEET
SUBJECT: (Optional)
ABC-TV 20/20 Filming Plans at U.S. Embassies Abroad
FROM: EXTENSION.`
NO.
Harry E. Fitzwater
DDA 84-0064
Deputy Director for Administration
DATE
S
7D 24 Hqs
9 January 198
TO: (Officer designation, room number, and
building)
DATE
OFFICER'S
COMMENTS (Number each comment to show from whom
RECEIVED
FORWARDED
INITIALS
to whom. Draw a line across column after each comment.)
Deputy Director of
John,
Central Intelligence
2.
7D On qs
This is absolutely the most
asinine thing that State has done
in a long time. They should be
3.
turning this off rather than
cooperating with ABC. It provides
any terrorist with a blueprint that
4.
will focus on our strengths and
weaknesses.
5.
I have asked the Director of
Security to beat up on their D/0S
and I am calling Lamb and MZontgome
6.
If you agree with me you might want
to talk to Eagleburger.
ST
8.
Ha
td 6 Ja1 ST
Att: Cable
9.
cc: EXDIR
10.
12.
DDA:HEFitzwater:10ng (9 Jan 84)
a Distribution:
Orig PRS - DDCI ZIT/att
13.
1 - EXDIR w/att
1 - ER w/att
- 1 - DDA Subj w/att
14.
1 - DDA Chrono
1 - HEF Chrono
pC1
EXEC
15.
REG
FORM
1-79 E 6L ~ V l USE PREVDITIONIOUSS
TAT
AT
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AT
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PP RUEAIIB
DE RUEHC =3083 0060540
ZN' CCCCC ZZH
P 060009Z JAN 84 ZEX
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS PRIORITY
BT
C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 003033
E.O. 12356: DECL:CADR
TAGS: OPRC
SUBJECT:ABC-TV 20/20 FILMING PLANS AT U.S. EMBASSIES ABROAD
ABC-TV 20/20 PROGRAM PLANS TO FILM U.S. POSTS ABROAD.
SUBJECT MATTER WILL Sr. SECURITY AT U.S. EMBASSIES AROUND
THE WORLD, BUT THE MAJOR FOCUS WILL BE ON NEA POSTS. ABC
PLANS TO FILM IN JANUARY. FOR NEA, EMBASSY AMMAN HAS
BEEN ASKED TO BE FILMED AND AMBASSADOR VIETS AND RSO
DEWITT TO BE INTERVIEWED. ON CAMERA. ONE OTHER POST IN
EUR IS BEING CONTACTED BY DEPARTMENT IN REGARD TO SPECIFIC
REQUESTS. ALL OTHER POSTS SHOULD TAKE THEIR- GUIDANCE
FROM THE FOLLOWING GUIDELINES IF CONTACTED BY ABC OR OTHER
NEWS GATHERING ORGANIZATIONS.
2. DEPARTMENT OELIEVES OUR INTERESTS WILL BE BEST PROTECT-
ED BY MAXIMUM COOPERATION POSSIBLE. HOWEVER, WEIGHED
AGAINST THIS MUST BE CONCERN FOR SECURITY OF OUR PERSONNEL
AND FACILITIES. THIS IMPERATIVE WILL SEVERELY LIMIT WHAT
WE CAN DO, AT LEAST IN THE EYES OF ABC.
3. ABC HAS REQUESTED OPPORTUNITY TO FILM INSIDE OUR
EMBASSIES. AFTER MUCH CONSIDERATION DEPARTMENT HAS IN-
FORMED ABC IT SEES NO WAY THIS REQUEST CAN BE MET WITHOUT
JEOPARDIZING SECURITY. ABC HAS ALSO REQUESTED OPPORTUNITY
TO FILM SECURITY MEASURES TAKEN DURING THE DAILY SCHEDULE
OF ONE OF CUR AMBASSADORS. SINCE THIS WOULD CLEARLY
EXPOSE MEASURES TAKEN TO PROTECT A SPECIFIC INDIVIDUAL
AND OUR AMBASSADORS IN GENERAL WE WILL ALSO NOT BE ABLE
TO MEET THIS REQUEST.
4. THE DEPARTMENT HAS AGREED TO INTERVIEWS AND FILMING
ELETENTS OF THE COPING WITH VIC__NCE ABROAD TRAINING
PROGRAM AT THE FOREIGN SERVICE INSTITUTE AND TO PROVIDE
ON-THE-RECORD INTERVIEWS WITH DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS ON THE
SUBJECT OF THE TERRORIST THREAT TO EMBASSIES. GENERAL
SECURITY MEASURES THAT CAN BE TAKEN, THE DIFFICULTY OF
BALANCING SECURITY NEEDS AND PUBLIC ACCESS REQUIREMENTS
AND THE IMPACT OF SECURITY THREATS ON THE LIVES OF
.FOREIGN SERVICE PERSONNEL OVERSEAS. THE DEPARTMENT IS
ALSO DESIGNATING ONE OR MORE AMBASSADORS AND RSD'S OR
ADMIN OFFICERS TO GIVE ON-THE-RECORD INTERVIEWS ON THESE
SUBJECTS. OBVIOUSLY. AT POST DISCRETION, INTERVIEWS WITH
AMBASSADORS AND ADMINISTRATIVE OR SECURITY PERSONNEL
COULD TAKE PLACE IN THEIR OFFICES OR OTHER SUITABLE
LOCATIONS IN THE CHANCERY. AMBASSADORS AND PERSONNEL NOT
SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED BY THE DEPARTMENT SHOULD NOT GIVE
SUCH INTERVIEWS WITHOUT FIRST OBTAINING DEPARTMENT'S
CONCURRENCE. ABC WILL ALSO BE GIVEN ACCESS TO PORTIONS
OF THE MARINE SECURITY GUARD TRAINING PROGRAM IN THE U.S.
DDL
INCOMING
STAT
DD_"_ ---
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CONFIDE TI A L
84 3044236 SCP PAGE 002 NC 3044236
TOR: 060552Z 84
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. AS FAR AS THE DEPARTMENT IS CONCERNED -E U.S.G.
CANNOT CONTROL ABC ACCESS TO AND FILMING CF EXTERIORS OF
OUR FACILITIES FROM PUBLIC PROPERTY (SIDEWALKS, STREETS.
ETC.). WE WILL NOT INTERVENE ON THE BEHALF ABC CREWS
WITH HOST GOVERNMENTS TO OBTAIN THE NECESSARY ?ERt1ISSION
IF REQUIRED BY THE HOST GOVERNMENT. OVERALL PROTECTION
OF EMBASSIES IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF HOST z.VERNMENTS
AND THIS DECISION MUST BE LEFT TO THEM.
6. FRANK MATTHEWS. DGP/PA, 632-1743. WILL SERVE AS
PROJECT MANAGER FOR THE DEPARTMENT CN THE AEC-TV 20/20
REQUEST. POSTS ARE REQUESTED TO KEEP MATTHE',iS INFORMED
ABOUT ABC FILMING REQUESTS AND FILMING ACTIV:TIES ON THIS
SUBJECT. S'HULTZ
END OF MESSAGE CONFIDENT!-'!
F T
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