SECRETS DOOR IS CLOSING, HILL OVERSEER COMPLAINS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000201080018-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 11, 2010
• Sequence Number: 18
• Publication Date: March 17, 1982
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/11: CIA-RDP90-00552R000201080018-3
ARTI'CIY_r P?E..&RED
THE WASHINGTON POST
17 March 1982
a
re r "Oor S_
-verse
er Coin aill'
Vx.,:. urmm.m torEuous &I)enate.flebate on
SVaahington POSt5Saf[ Writer IritrlcaCle3- of a bill t I'
ingly reluctant to share secret : intel-
ligence information with Congress,
even . in closed-door sessions:;.with ?
oversight committees set up -to ;rem
U S
q e names o . chargedyesterday that the . Reagan _ telligence "operatives even if the in
o -A mina 7ze
Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D-Del.) -disclosure`" ff +i " f
formation-, comes from the public
.record
.The proposal remains'stalled as
Seri John H "Chafei~ (R'-R.I.) drives
to 'relax -the -standard'-"of proof and
member.. of the authorize convictions when' there i
Biden, -a senior s
Senate Intelligence. Committee, told reason to believe" that the disclo-
reporters . that "everything is ' just sure would impair or. impede, U.S.
closing down" in terms of that,-pan- intelligence operations
e1'a access to sensitive details. Biden,: pressing' fora more rigor-
"They used ta. tell us everything ous criminal-intent standard, blamed
we wanted to know, ,Biden said of mushrooming. - administration.; and
the kind of briefings that the com-. congressional, demands for -greater
mittee became accustorried to -from. secrecy on a; "Russians are coming"
CIA officials several years ago., mentality. _I-Iesaid he fears.it poses a
But now, he said, the committee serious threat,:to civil liberties-;that -
'chairnian and vice'chairman"are-fre- has already been manifested in se-v-
quently the only-ones 'informed of era! ,legislative proposals and' exec-
`certain matters. -In addition ; Biden utive orders: Sz
said, CIA officials., "have -a different yesterday's' debate on the 'iden
view of what `contemporaneous' no- tity-of-agents bill featured'' a re-
tification means" and seem more in--,sounding--call for it s ? enactment, in-.
=clined to delay their legally required cludina -the Chafee amendment, by
reports of significant intelligence ac John 'G To (Rfi ')' `.wh o
tivities. ' wer. ex. r
Blden?inade-the;remarksvduring
us a. detailed layout, Including : the
'-blemishes;'. Biden said.-,"Now' aU I'II"
get is what they:want .to tell us." 'rs - -
Too. often,.,Bidensaid". hei has- to
press for details and _ask precisely::
the right question to.get-a mepin g-
ful answer ? For : instancC,?-lie- said, "Ihave to,,-
ask ., the, precise question, `Do- -we-.
have proof of, a direct ;-, cQnnection
between the Sandinistas:- [in : Nicara-.
;guaj and thereliels`in El Salvador?"-
Too frequently, $Iden said;;, "the.
;response.. comes, .back,'.: "Why~won't
you trust
-The reduced':flow of information
`is not"entirely. ilia"admin'istration's
',-fault,- Biden `-said::"I' 'place' ~,lot"'of
.blame on= the; intelligences foinmit-
Mee,"he Bald 'T,~,:?
in El Salvador,' and they would give:. structure , throughout: the; world
come up, I could sayto,whoever:was ating the Soviet KGB Intelligence
testifying; `Tell us. what's happening.. agency, its "clandestine. infra-
described It-as a vital tool com-
"In '1979, when h.e agency would
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/11: CIA-RDP90-00552R000201080018-3