OFFICIAL SAYS CIA COULD HELP FIRMS COMPETE OVERSEAS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP99-01448R000401700028-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 23, 2012
• Sequence Number: 28
• Publication Date: February 10, 1990
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

STAT
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/23: CIA-RDP99-01448R000401700028-7
Official Says
Could Help Firms
Compete Overseas
By David Zizzo
Staff Writer
Central Inte ' ence A enc information ma some-
da a usinesses in e m es compete wt
in industry in oreign countries a o ci to a
noma newspaper publishers 'i av
"Nearl eve other country in the world uses its
irate ence to ne an to a van e i own usi-
ness an we are oin to have to ... loo at a
cantissue. or c ERYerr sai , at is a si
"
Kerr told publishers attending the Oklahoma Press
Association mid-winter convention that the CIA al-
ready works with American business by asking exec-
utives for information on their operations and con-
tacts abroad. But he said it has not been CIA policy to
provide information to business that would give in-
dustries an advantage.
Kerr said recent fundamental changes in govern-
ments of some countries and tensions in others
around the world have increased the need for intelli-
gence gathered by the CIA.
He cited coup attempts in the Philippines, the U.S.
invasion of Panama and changes in South Africa. Of
particular impact is the outbreak of democracy in the
Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, he said.
"It is impressive and it is revolutionary," Kerr said.
The CIA must gather information that can be used
by American diplo-
mats in negotiations
on arms reductions
and control and verifi-
cation of compliance
of arms treaties, he
said.
The agency also
must keep tabs on po-
litical and economic
conditions in a coun-
try, as well as gauging
military strength of
adversaries and allies,
he said.
"The plate is full."
Kerr said of the CIA's
responsibilities.
Kerr said he expects
the Soviet Union to
face major problems
of ethnic unrest in its
numerous provinces.
The Wasnington post
The New York Time
The WeShington Timms
The Ws11 Street Journal
The Christian Science Monitor
New York Daily News
USA Today
The Chfeago Tribune
aka
Date /4
But he pointed out the
CIA's role is not to
make predictions, but
to gather information
with which to build a
base of knowledge for
use by U.S. policymak-
ers.
Another CIA role is
to hold terrorists in
check around the
world. Kerr said the
CIA has not been 100
percent successful in
that effort, but he said
the agency has been
effective in heading
off many planned at.
tacks.
"Our success there
is (that) you do not see
the results of terror-
ism," he said.
In response to ques-
tions, Kerr said the
CIA still is following
the plight of American
hostages in Lebanon.
But he said the frag-
mented struggle
among various fac-
tions there makes any
covert rescue opera-
tions very difficult.
"Lebanon is a place
where no one can op.
erate with ease," he
said.
Kerr praised Sen.
David Boren, chair-
man of the Senate In-
telligence Committee,
for supporting the
CIA.
George Tenet, staff
director of Boren's
committee, told pub-
lishers that committee
members and staff
have been successful
in preventing leaks of
sensitive information..,
Tenet said the com-
mittee is composed of
members from both
political parties and
he said partisanship
has not played a role
in the committee's
oversight of CIA activ.
ities.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/23: CIA-RDP99-01448R000401700028-7