IRONY IN DEMOCRATIC SLAPS AT GEORGE BUSH
Document Type:
Collection:
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST):
CIA-RDP99-00498R000100010140-8
Release Decision:
RIPPUB
Original Classification:
K
Document Page Count:
1
Document Creation Date:
December 20, 2016
Document Release Date:
June 19, 2007
Sequence Number:
140
Case Number:
Publication Date:
November 7, 1975
Content Type:
OPEN SOURCE
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Attachment | Size |
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CIA-RDP99-00498R000100010140-8.pdf | 93.77 KB |
Body:
Approved For Release 2007/06/22 : CIA-RDP99-00498R000100010140-8
TLIE
7 Po~emb .r 19
Charles Bartlett
Irony in Democratic
slat s at..Gcor6e Bush
It is ironic to hear Demo-
crats say George Bush is
too political to head the CIA
..after their abusive use of
the agency as a political
punching bag.
?resident Ford's abrupt
The political tenor of
these inquiries is illustrated
by the Senate committee's
probe into the assassination
plots. Church leapt on the
issue after Nelson Rockefel-
ler reported that his com-
mission had lacked time to
explore it fully.`Avowing
"We won't duck it" and de-
scribing the CIA as "a
rogue elephant," Church
set off to prove that some
had little fellows conspired
on their own to kill off for-
eign leaders.
He promised a full report
by Aug. 1, but it is nowhere
in sight because Church's
researchers found that the
little fellows' conspiracies
were sanctioned-by Demo-
cratic and Republican
presidents. Goldwater is
accurate in saying that the
Church committee is
"locked in a tug-of-war be-
tween those who want to tell
the truth and those who
want to protect the Kenn.e-
dys." The Democrats are
maneuvering to use their
dominance to focus the dis-
closures on Nixon plots
against Chile's Salvador Al-
lende.
Church and Rep. Otis
Pike, D-N.Y., are catering
to purists who insist that
the cleansing effect of dis-
closure justifies a national
humiliation. But the disclo-
sures and leaks are eating
away the good along with
the bad. They have chewed
up Colby's career. They
have dried up intelligence
decision to bring Bush back.
from China, where: he is
ably performing an impor-
tant was wholly hinged
to an urgent need to rebuild
the nation's intelligence ca-
pacity !roar the risky tat-
ters ;n which congressional
investigators have left it. If
it ' -ere : got for these probes,
?sent director, an
a -:= -:roiessional, would
,ore than sufficed.
-e C?A, after 28 years of
ope t r g in isolation, need-
ed outside scrutiny, but the
Senate and House inquiries
have utilized the Watergate
atmosphere and the candor
of the director, William
Colby. to stage running hor-
ror shows. Sen. Frank
Church.- D.-Idaho, has
amassed a staff of 120 peo-
ple working to point public
attention-at mistakes which
were fully corrected two
years ago.
Meanwhile, the public's
view of the CIA has been so
soured that those senators
and representatives regu-
larly briefed through the
years on CIA activities feel
disinclined to speak up.
Barry Goldwater is almost
alone in attempting to keep
the agency's work in per-
spective.
sources, exploded some
sensitive situations, and
caused . foreign govern-
ments. private companies
and even U.S. ,agencies to
shrink from collaboration
with American intelligence.-
`:o intelligence. profes-'
sional can manage the huge
repair job so long as bitter
political winds are blowing
The hostile climate may
make the repair job impos-
sible for any director. But
Democrats who oppose
Bush can combine to block the best.chance to get a
fast, effective start on a
crucial task.
Bush has made no poli ti- 1
cal race for five years. The
respect and affection he l
kindled in Congress have
lifted him into a series-of
demanding tasks..:The-
grace and character with
which he presided over the
Republican National Com-
mittee through. the agonies
of Watergate cannot be
counted a liability in facing
the shambles left by the
Church-Pike probes. Rush's
readiness to take on the
task is a certain assurance
that he does not have in
mind any imminent bid for
elective office. . - 1
Instead of indulging in
further showmanship, the
CIA probers should seize
upon the Bush nomination
as a chance to build charac-
ter and good sense into a re-
vived intelligence system.
It is time to put aside the
punching bag.
STAT
Approved For Release 2007/06/22 : CIA-RDP99-00498R000100010140-8