DCI TALKING POINTS ON LEAKS FOR SIG(I)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88B00443R001604240034-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 6, 2010
• Sequence Number: 34
• Publication Date: November 13, 1984
• Content Type: MISC

cV RFT
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/01/06: CIA-RDP88B00443R001604240034-1
DCI Talking Points on Leaks for SIG(I)
14 November 1984
The publication of unauthorized disclosures of classified intelligence
continues as a major security problem. I would like to meet with you next
Wednesday to discuss ways to try to bring this problem under control. The result
of that meeting will be a memorandum for the President indicating specific
actions we will undertake as well as specific steps we offer for his consideration.
Meanwhile, I have sent the President a letter highlighting the gravity of
the situation and requesting his renewed support in reestablishing the discipline
in the government that is needed to keep our intelligence secrets secure.
I have brought copies of that letter, which I want you to read at this
meeting and return to me. During the coming week, I ask that you consider
what actions we need to take. I have asked the Chairman of the Security
Committee to prepare a draft SIG(I)- memorandum which reflects our views. This
will be provided to each of you at the week's end. At next Wednesday's
meeting, you should be prepared to contribute your advice and counsel regarding
the final form this memorandum to the President should take.
Before we turn to our scheduled business, I'd like to pass on to you a
couple of thoughts about unauthorized disclosures of classified intelligence
information.
First, regardless of what we recommend, there is a grave need for the
means to sort out unauthorized disclosures from policy statements which may
derive from intelligence sources and methods. It appears that those concerned
with policy may lose sight of the need to protect the invaluable intelligence
that provides a basis for the policy.
SECRET
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Any Presidential directive on this subject should not only forbid disclosure
of classified intelligence, but also must establish a mechanism to process
requests for the use of intelligence in unclassified statements. It is
clear that simply saying "Thou shalt not leak" one more time is not enough.
There has to be a mechanism in the Executive Branch to ensure that the risks
are known when someone wants to use or "declassify" intelligence information.
Furthermore, the President's power to punish leakers is presumably
limited to discharging those Federal employees who divulge classified information.
We need to generate Congressional support for legislation that will clearly
make it a crime to divulge classified intelligence information publically.
Anything less is vulnerable to criticism as Administration vindictiveness
against those who want the public to be informed. It will be difficult to
have such a law enacted. But it can be done if we properly prepare the
Congress and the public by raising their awareness of the numbers of unauthorized
publications of classified intelligence that are occurring.
I ask you to consider these points and the others that I have made in my
letter to the President and prepare yourselves to assist in this effort.
SFrRFT
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/01/06: CIA-RDP88B00443R001604240034-1