'GOLDFISH BOWL' HAMPERS PROGRESS ON INTELLIGENCE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00806R000200700034-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 21, 2010
• Sequence Number: 34
• Publication Date: May 6, 1986
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/07/21 : CIA-RDP90-00806R000200700034-5
Ap NAPLES DAILY NEWS (FL)
AMU
ON 4AGa~ "._ 6 May 19 8 6
'Goldfish Bowl' Hampers
Progress on Intelligence
B
MART
y
Y HONVECIUO
Staff Welter
Intelligence work in the United
States is like working In a goldfish
bowl, a former intelligence officer
said Monday. It's too easy for peo-
ple to find out what's going on.
? Maj. Gen. Jack Thomas is the
chairman of the Association of For.
mer Intelligence Officers and a
consultant to the Department of
Defense on intelligence matters.
He discussed the issues of govern-
ment leaks and media coverage of
intelligence matters at the Fourth
National Intelligence Symposium,
sponsored by the Naples Daily
News.
The symposium, held at the
Naples Beach Hotel, was coordi.
nated by AFIO. It featured four
speakers plus a surprise visit from
CIA Director William Casey. The
symposium ended in the afternoon
with a panel discussion which al.
lowed the audience to ask ques.
tions of the former . intelligence
officers.
"WE TEND TO live in a goldfish
bowl - unlike other intelligence
groups," Thomas said.
He said there is a cadre of au-
thors and reporters who will pub-
lish anything on intelligence and
the CIA that they can discover.
Thomas said publishing sensitive
information hurts the effectiveness
of U.S. intelligence groups.
"We'll never know how many
people didn't come forward with
information for fear that their
names would be exposed," Thomas
said.
He added that other foreign in-
telligence services also are afraid
to cooperate with the United States
for fear of exposure in the U.S.
media.
Because the U.S. intelligence
community operates under the re-
view of several committees and the
U.S. Attorney General, any covert
work is subject to leaks to the
media, Thomas said.
THE FOREIGN Intelligence Ad-
visory Board, the President's Intel-
ligence Oversight Board, and a
House and Senate select commit-
tee oversee the work of intelli-
gence agencies. Thomas said the
groups evaluate the effectiveness
of Intelligence work and the legal.
ity of the activities.
"We have a lot of people looking
over our shoulders," he said.
Although Thomas said intelli-
gence groups must learn to func-
tion in the goldfish bowl, he added
that he hoped a sense of improved
discipline could be developed
within the government.
Anyone who disagrees with any
aspect of the CIA's work can leak
information to the press. With the
information made public, any
planned covert action Is destroyed.
"We need a revival of a sense of
discipline within those with access
to information," Thomas said.
"Our intelligence capabilities are
part of the blade of the U.S.
sword."
Thomas also discussed his
worries about the future for U.S.
intelligence groups. The Gramm-
Rudman proposal of budget cuts
could seriously hurt Intelligence
agencies, he said.
"Intelligence is not a required
expenditure like Social Security,"
he said. "It's a discretionary ex-
penditure."
The department underwent seri.
ous budget cuts in the 1970s. But
in the last six years, the course
changed and intelligence depart-
ment budgets have expanded.
"Will the U.S. stay the course?"
Thomas asked. "This is a serious
concern."
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/07/21 : CIA-RDP90-00806R000200700034-5