CIA BOSS DEFENDS REPORT ON ENERGY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00845R000100240002-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 1, 2010
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: June 1, 1977
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/07/01 : CIA-RDP90-00845R000100240002-9
THE DENVER POST
1 June 1977
C I . 'Boss Defends
Report on Energy
To The Denver Post:
YOUR EDITORIAL of April 24, "CIA Report a Cooked-
Up Job," which referred to our recent report on the "In-
ternational Energy Situation," has just come to my atten-
tion. I take considerable issue with your allegation that
there was a "fraudulent air" about the analysis we pre-
sented to the President.
CIA has been involved in analyzing the strategic
aspects of the world energy situation as part of its in-
telligence mission since its establishment some 30 years
ago. Originally the concentration was on Comunist na-
tions, but as the world energy shortage and higher prices
developed in the 1970s our analytical work in this area
was extended to cover other parts of the world.
CIA's role in analyzing world energy trends is well
known by U.S. industry, the trade press and international
agencies concerned with this subject. Indeed, every other
week the CIA issues a widely distributed, unclassified
statistical survey, "International Oil Developments,"
through the Document Expediting Project of the Library of
Congress.
The particular study to which you have referred*was
started over a year ago. The President did not know of it
until a few days before he mentioned it at his press
conference. That's why I take exception to your remark
that "the CIA's warning of future oil shortages was a
cooked-up job, even though its general thrust was cor-
rect."
I also cannot agree with your allegation that CIA "man-
aged to inject" a "pessimistic lone" to its report for the
dramatic purpose of a "sales pitch." Our analysts jea-
lously protect their objectivity, and neither I nor they would
manipulate a report to support a government policy. T o do
so would make a travesty of our entire analytical process,
v:hich is designed to provide the President and the poli-
cymakers of our government with objective and accurate
analyses and estimates.
As for Mr. Carter's mentioning the report and its sub-
sequent declassification and release, I believe tha in;el!i-
gence community should make more information avai!-
able to the public on an unclassified basis. The public
deserves to benefit from our work to the extent possible
within the bounds of necessary secrecy.
The public should have as much objective information
as possibie on issues such as the energy situation, and
v.c will continue to declassify such reports on a variety of
subjects whenever possible.
ti"lashingcn, D.C.
STANSFIELD TURNER
Director of Central
.Intelligence
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/07/01 : CIA-RDP90-00845R000100240002-9
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/07/01 : CIA-RDP90-00845R000100240002-9
DENVER POST
24 APRIL 1977
CIA Report ~Cook~d-Up Job '
From the very moment it was "leaked" to the that the data incorporated in the report probably
news media, the report of the Central Intelli- came from. such vested interests as the oil com-
gence Agency (CIA) on worldwide oil shortages panies,' But not many Americans pay much at
and anticipated sizable price increases by 1985 tention to Mr. Nader any more and his hunch
had a fraudulent air about it. - was downplayed.. -
This was disturbing, insofar as President Now, however; comes the revelation that the
Carter a few days later made the CIA assessment CIA's. warning. of future oil shortages was a
the foundation of what.wasto become a week- cooked-up job=-even though its'general thrust
long sales pitch for a comprehensive U.S: en was correct. According to the Wall Street Iour
ergy conservation policy. nal,.U.S. energy officials belatedly concede that
the report released by the White House con-
Few Americans doubt that Mr. Carter's mo- tamed nothing new. In fact, all of the informa-
tives were pure or that the American profligacy `non utilized had been published previously;
in energy consumption must somehow be none of it deserved a "secret" label. It had
curbed. But to base his appeal on what was simply been rearranged within a drab frame.-
purported to be a fresh and detailed CIA look at work.
global energy reserves was unquestionably a Subsequent to' Mr. Carter's series of appeals
wrong tactic. to the American people,. the White House an-
Sparking the initial suspicion that the CIA nounced it is considering a. public service ad.
figures might not be all that revealing was the vertising campaign to keep hammering on the
fact that they roughly conformed to those of two President's energy message:.we-face a crisis and
respected Paris-based organizations, the Inter- . it must be resolved. Carter aides have asked the
national Energy Agency and the Organization Advertising Council, which conducts public
for Economic Cooperation and Development
.-(OECD).
However, despite using the same basic as-.
-aumptions as the. International Energy Agency
and the OECD, the CIA managed to inject a
considerably more pessimistic tone into its re-
port. This pessimism, it was acknowledged, was
-done for a purpose: to provide a dramatic back-.
'round for Mr. Carter's presentation.
In fact, Mr. Carter described the report (three
days before his first televised appeal to Pe-
,nation) as being "deeply disturbing."
Ralph Nader immediately questioned the
CIA's informational authenticity, maintaining
service campaigns, to present suggestions for
broadcast and print commercials on the gravity
of the energy problem.
This is all well and good. After all, no Amer-
ican in his right mind would question the need
and inevitability of energy conservation.
But if Mr. Carter is to push his program
through a balky Congress, he'll need the support
of the people, to-whom any advertising cam-
paign would presumably be directed.
This task can be complicated by such tactics
as the presentation of the CIA's dull recital as
high drama instead of hackneyed fact.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/07/01: CIA-RDP90-00845R000100240002-9