COVERT ANTI-TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-01070R000301700004-5
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 11, 2010
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: May 12, 1985
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Approved For Release 2010/01/11 : CIA-RDP88-0107OR000301700004-5
RADIO TV REPORTS, INC.
4701 WILLARD AVENUE, CHEVY CHASE, MARYLAND 20815 [phone]
NBC Nightly News STATION WRC-TV
NBC Nightly News
May 12, 1985 6:30 P.M. CITY Washington, D.C.
Covert Anti-Terrorist Organizations
JOHN PALMER: Sources in Washington confirmed to NBC
News today that the United States last year set up a covert
anti-terrorist organization in Beirut to make preemptive strikes
against suspected terrorists. And the Washington Post reports
today that the group was hastily disbanded earlier this spring
after one of its units went on an unauthorized mission that cost
the lives of 80 people in Beirut.
More from Anne Garrels in Washington.
ANNE GARRELS: Secretary of State Shultz, who's current-
ly traveling in the Middle East, would not comment on the report.
He did, however, reiterate his strong stand against terrorism.
SECRETARY OF STATE GEORGE SHULTZ: I do have a very
strong view about terrorism, as is well known. And I also have
the view that at this stage, actions will speak a lot louder than
words.
GARRELS: And sources confirm that after terrorists
repeatedly bombed American targets in Lebanon, the Administrat-
ion, through the CIA, launched a covert counter-terrorism program
there, training Lebanese to stop terrorists before terrorists
strike Americans.
Such action was justified by National Security Adviser
Robert McFarlane earlier this year. The U.S., he said, can not
and will not abstain from forcible action to prevent, preempt, or
respond to terrorist acts.
Do preemptive strikes violate the presidential ban on
MaterialsuPPIie Approved For Release 2010/01/11: CIA-RDP88-0107OR000301700004-5 --exhibited.
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U.S. involvement in assassinations? House Intelligence Committee
member Richard Cheney says no, if there's good information.
REP. RICHARD CHENEY: I think we have to be prepared,
having developed that intelligence, to act upon it. I think we
ought to have the capacity, if you will, to retaliate against
terrorists, and hopefully, if possible, to head off those attacks
before they occur.
CARRELS: But on March 8th the Lebanese counter-terror-
ism program reportedly took on a life of its own. Without CIA
authorization, U.S.-trained Lebanese are said to have bombed the
Beirut residence of a suspected terrorist. Eighty were killed in
the bombing, 200 wounded. The suspected terrorist leader
escaped. The U.S.-backed program was scrapped.
According to U.S. officials, the whole terrorism issue
is a nightmare. There's a fine line between preemptive strikes
against terrorists and assassinations. And in Lebanon in
particular, there's no guaranty that those the U.S. trains will
do only what the U.S. wants.
Approved For Release 2010/01/11 : CIA-RDP88-0107OR000301700004-5