TURNER SAYS CIA FAILED IN IRAN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP99-00498R000100180083-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 20, 2007
• Sequence Number: 83
• Publication Date: August 11, 1979
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Approved For Release 2007/06/20: CIA-RDP99-00498R000100180083-4
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Staff Writer
Central Intelligence Agency Dirk;-
tor, .Adm. Stanfield. Turner told., an
audience of several hundred lawyer's-
here Friday that the government can:?
keep its
..r-_ _
ing their effectiveness.' .i.:.' '
Turner described.the CIA agent of
the future as a person whose "forte
Would be "deducing the intentions of
foreign powers," as someone who
would be an expert oil a country's
economy and culture as well as mili-.
CIA: had
But' Turner, admitted the
raii.R-;;
failed in just that way in
s1
pro bleft
"We . predict-EgjTlots'; of;;'..
with political dissidents and economic .`
tiniest,, and. religious .opposition,': he
said.."What we didn't. see. was. that
under the aegis of a' 78-year-old ex-
sled religious, leader, a. revolutionary
'tnbvement could' become- so. strong"
t that. the. Shah :--with his police force
'
could "not control it."
The CIA director: was the 'first of,
`several prominent government offi-
cials, including three U. S. Supreme
Court justices, scheduled to speak in
Dallas during the American Bar. Asso C.
elation's ..annual- convention under
way through next \Ved esday
"~Ir1'.aYri; optimistif. If to slxech
'Ya,bout thatfuture.ot,U.;'S. intelligence
pgatiieririg Turnerrsaid,.a;society..tha
asks:its.spies to be Iegally accountable
does not force them to be ineffecti
At the. same time, Turner urged. the : ,?
s ....tear- '
prosecution of "irresponsible
torous" people who deliberately
close classified. information.* He said..
he has proposed- a new criminal slat;-"
ute to be used against people who re-,
veal the identities of undercover intel=;:?,?
?igence agents, and he said ? he.
ported pending legislation to limit the'
scope of what can be revealed under:`;
the Freedom of Information Act.
Turner said there are times when,;
the interests of national security am
-so vital that-the government `rtiilst'
forego prosecution of people accused
of espionage against the.' United.
States, if putting them on trial. means. i
11 August 1979
exposing the secrets they`are accused,;
of trying to steal.
On the other hand, Turner told the
lawyers he believed the government
has treated too much information as
"There has been far too much class
sification.: by the government," . he
said. And while he described it.as "an
- almost intractible problem,'.'. he, said
the CIA is trying, to counteract the
0. 1
trend by deliberately publishing more
and more of. the information it gath-
ers. ,
As an example, Turner pointed to
several crates containing CIA' research
papers on' such topics As "USSR::
Trends and ' Prospects in Educational;
Attainment" and "Soviet Strategy
and Tactics in Eronorr:ic and Comcrer- ,
vial. Negotiations with 'the"' United
I Stags," all of which was made avail-
able to the audience. ,.-?.,--r .
During a question-and-answer ses-
sion after his speech, Turner said CIA
recruiting efforts, especially on col-
lege campuses, have been highly suc-
cessful during. the past few years,
even though the period : has been
marked by unprecedented criticism of
the CIA's often provocative conduct in
foreign countries such ? as,. Vietnam,
-Angola and Chile. - ,
: President Carter. appointed Turner
to the CIA job in March 1977. Prior to
his, appointment, Turner. served as
head of the Naval War College in
Newport, R. I.. He held the rank of
Vice Admiral before his retirement
last year from the Navy. Alter he was
appointed to the job he now holds,
Turner weathered early criticism
from 66th In aril outside the CIA that
amagi g the' gency's effec-
he was damaging*
tiveness by dismissing :too*many.valu-
able veteran officials.
Turner devoted most of his remarks
to a'discussion of the CIA's ability to
protect state secrets against its obliga- !
tion to account for its conduct.'
"A great deal of publicity toward
the agency can only be destructive,"
he said. "The impact -PE high' visibility
has a substantial and traumatic effect.
"The plethora of ilhauthorized
leaks has created a perception that- we
cannot keep secrets. ,
Yet, Turner said he applauded re-
cent reforms that have given both the
White ? House. and Congress, better
means of ensuring "the legality and
propriety" of the CIA's activities.
"Vie must continually reassure the
American public that invasions of
their right to privacy will not occur."
Approved For Release 2007/06/20: CIA-RDP99-00498R000100180083-4