CASEY, NSA CHIEF APPEAL TO MEDIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000404660009-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 19, 2010
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: May 30, 1986
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

STAT
JIr% I
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/07/19: CIA-RDP90-00552R000404660009-4
ARTICLE APPEARED
ON PAGE L-
STAT9ey' NSA chief appeal to media
BALTIMORE SUN
30 May 1986
Mr. Casey and Mr. Gates both
said there were agents who had not
been heard from after disclosures in
"How the press covers this trial is
matter for the press to decide, not,
he government." agreed Benjamin
Bradlee, executive editor of The
ashington Post. Mr. Bradlee said
ter listening to the highest coun-
ils of government for a number of
onths, we have acted responsibly
balancing the national security
d the national interest. We will
ntinue to do so."
James I. Houck. managing editor
The Sun, said, "While we under-
stand and are sensitive to the gov-
ernment's national security con-
cerns, we believe It's our res-
ponsibility to our readers to cover
the Pelton trial with the same ag-
gressiveness that we would observe
in covering any trial."
On Wednesday, Mr. Casey and
General Odom had cautioned report-
ers at the Pelton trial in Baltimore
"against speculation and reporting
details beyond the information actu-
ally released at trial."
Legal experts, inside and outside
the government. quickly pointed out
that the government had no power
to regulate "speculation" by news or-',
ganizatlons.
Although they complained about
the'criticism of their statement. both
Mr. Casey and General Odom tem-
pered the remarks a bit yesterday.
if I had it to do over again. I
might not use that word." Mr. Casey
said. "1 might use 'extrapolation.' "
General-'Odom added. 'There's
nothing in there that says we're go-.
Ing to try to prosecute anybody
based on speculation."
They were asked why in the Pel-
ton trial the government is attempt-
ing to protect information that is
widely known to U.S. reporters and
widely believed to be known to the
Soviet Union - such as the wiretap-
ping by U.S. agents of telephones at
the Soviet Embassy here.
Mr. Gates responded: "How does
any member of the press know what
the Russians know? Does anyone in
the media have any penetrations of
the [Soviet) KGB [spy agency[? And
they don't know the degree to which
the information they provide ampli-
fies on what a spy may have given.
confirms what a spy may have given
or updates what a spy has given up."
WASHINGTON (AP) - The directors of the Central this country. They declined to pro-
Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency vide details,
shifted gears yesterday and appealed to news organiza- The interview came after a White
tions to cooperate in efforts to stem intelligence leaks House spokesman earlier in the day,
claim have cost both human lives and billions of had said reporters covering the Pel-
STATa~ dollars. ton trial should not disclose informa-
CIA Director William J. Casey and the NSA chief, Lt. tion beyond what is released by the
Gen. William Odom in a unique joint interview at CIA government and that journalists in
`1quarters, played down their recent threats of crimi oral should not disclose classified
STATj, cation against news organizations and eve 'formation-
backed slightly offa warning they had issued only th Edward Djerejian. the spokes-
night before to reporters covering the espionage trial of said a statement Wednesday
former NSA expert. Ronald Pelton. the CIA and the NSA cautioning
Mr. Casey General Odom and Mr. Casey's deputy. MPOrtem not to speculate beyond in-
Robert M. Gates agreed to the interview with the Associ. fn mleased at the Pelton trial
ated Press, in Mr. Gates' words, "to had ad been, ,, cleared by President
lower the noise level, turn down the Reagan's 4ational security advfrer.
volume and have a serious dialogue." John Poindexter. Mr. Djerejent
cent
"We haven't made ourselves al- added. "We are in full
ways as clear as we might be." Mr. with the thrust of that statement.*
Casey said. "And I think that cer- Newspaper and network work officials
tainly the press has been very hys- said yesterday they didn't view it as
terical about the thing, saying we're the responsibility of the government
trying to tear up the First Amend- counsel the media on how to cover
ment and scuttle the freedom of the the news. None of them said they
press. We're not tryi to do that." intend to alter their coverage be-
.. of the administration's con-
e
--a----- ------ -. --- :erns.
S I A I -
~., reporters working on stories that Geor
Watson an ABC vice
e
g
,
involve intelligence-gathering tech-
niques to call the CIA for guidance resident and chief of its Washing-
on which details might risk lives or on bureau, said. "We have always
compromise expensive information- n attentive to situations where
gathering equipment. disclosing information could clearly
"We're saying that you can write damage the national security. but
about the whole range of national the Pelton case does not fit that defi-
security issues without revealing nition.... I think it's gravely dis-
unique, fragile national intelligence zeal that the administration, in
sources," Mr. Gates said. its its zeal to dry up leakers, is making
Mr. Casey added. "We will work the press a target as well. We do
with you on that line. I wish you'd respect legitimate situations Involy-
make clear the narrow line we're tng national security, but informa-
treading here and the sensitivity we tion that Pelton provided the Soviet
have to the broader rights and needs Union is of course known to the So-
and contributions of the press." viet Union. It does not involve any
Mr. Casey and General Odom damage to the national security for
dd they were led to take their ex- the public to know what the Soviets
STATaordinary actions of the last sever- mow
al weeks because. General Odom Ron Martin, executive director of ,
said, "A series of recent signals-Intel- SA Today, said the government
ligence leaks over the last six vamings "sound a little like intimi-
months is the most serious we can dation to me. I don't think it's really
remember in a long, long time." up to Mr. Casey or the government
Mr. Casey added. "Every method to decide how trials are covered. Ob-
we have of obtaining intelligence: viously we will take into consider-
our agents. our relationships with ation anything a responsible public
other intelligence services, our pho- official says. just as we would any-
tographic. our electronic, our com- one else. But I don't think it's the job
munications capabilities have been of Mr. Casey to decide how the trial
damaged. Every one of them has should be covered. We will cover [the
been severely damaged by disclo- Pelton] trial as we would any other
surer of sensitive information that trial." he said.
lets our adversaries defeat those ca-
pabilities and to literally take them
away from us.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/07/19: CIA-RDP90-00552R000404660009-4