REMARKS OF WILLIAM J. CASEY, DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE, BEFORE THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF NEWSPAPER EDITORS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88G01116R001202400002-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 18, 2010
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: August 8, 1986
• Content Type: MEMO

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EXECUTIVE SEC ET/
ROUTING SUP
INFO
Compt
(Counsel/
C/S
f
DATE
Remarks
To 17: For background in preparation for
discussion with DCI, DDCI, et. al.:upon
DDCI's return.
cutive Secretary
8 Aug 86
STAT
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REMARKS OF WILLIAM J. CASEY
DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
BEFORE THE
AMERICAN SOCIETY OF NEWSPAPER EDITORS
WEDNESDAY, 9 APRIL 1986
J. W. MARRIOTT HOTEL
WASHINGTON, D. C.
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GOOD AFTERNOON. IT IS A PRIVILEGE AND A PLEASURE FOR ME
TO BE WITH YOU TODAY TO DISCUSS NATIONAL SECURITY AND THE MEDIA.
NATIONAL SECURITY HAS MANY DIMENSIONS BUT I WILL FOCUS ON ONE
ELEMENT -- INTELLIGENCE -- WHICH IMPACTS MILITARY FORCES AND
WEAPONS ACQUISITION, TERRORISM AND REGIONAL CONFLICTS, DIPLOMACY
AND ARMS CONTROL, AND VIRTUALLY EVERY OTHER ASPECT OF OUR
FOREIGN AND DEFENSE POLICIES.
THE WORK OF THE AMERICAN INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY IS MUCH
LIKE YOURS. WE BOTH WORK AT THE COLLECTION AND PROPER
PRESENTATION OF ACCURATE INFORMATION THAT LEADS TO INFORMED
JUDGMENTS. OUR OFFICERS OVERSEAS, LIKE YOUR CORRESPONDENTS,
WORK DAY AND NIGHT TO OBTAIN VITAL INFORMATION. LIKE MANY
SKILLED JOURNALISTS, CIA ANALYSTS SPEND HOURS PORING OVER
REPORTS FROM MANY DIFFERENT SOURCES IN ORDER TO PRESENT FACTS
IN THE CONTEXT OF BROADER EVENTS AND ISSUES.
NEITHER YOU NOR THE CIA CAN DO ITS JOB WITHOUT HAVING
SOURCES AND METHODS OF COLLECTING INFORMATION WHICH OFTEN
MUST REMAIN UNIDENTIFIED TO THE PUBLIC. I AM REQUIRED BY
LAW TO PROTECT THE SOURCES AND METHODS BY WHICH WE COLLECT
INTELLIGENCE. THIS IS A SERIOUS RESPONSIBILITY AND ONE I DO
NOT TAKE LIGHTLY. YOU IN JOURNALISM TAKE JUST AS SERIOUSLY
THE CONFIDENTIALITY AND PROTECTION OF YOUR SOURCES.
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OUR COUNTRY HAS INVESTEU TIME, EFFORT, NNL TALENT OVER
MANY YEARS AND SPENT MANY BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TU DEVELOP
METHODS OF COLLECTING THE INFORMATION NEEDED TO ASSESS MISSILES
AND OTHER WEAPONS AIMED AT US, TO DETERMINE THE INTENTIONS AND
VULNERABILITIES OF OUR ADVERSARIES SO THAT WE CAN DEVELOP
EFFECTIVE DEFENSES AND COUNTERMEASURES, TO PROTECT OUR CITIZENS
AND INSTALLATIONS AROUND THE WORLD FROM TERRORIST ATTACKS, AND
TO ASSIST OUR DIPLOMATS. GOOD INTELLIGENCE SOURCES ARE CRITICAL
TO OUR NATIONAL SECURITY, INCLUDING OUR HOPES OF EFFECTIVE
ARMS CONTROL AND THE SAFETY OF AND LIBERTY OF OUR CITIZENS.
SECRECY AND CONFIDENTIALITY AS TO HOW AND THROUGH WHOM WE
COLLECT INFORMATION IS ESSENTIAL TO OUR EFFECTIVENESS.
WE MUST CLASSIFY AND RESTRICT THE CIRCULATION OF INFORMATION
ABOUT HOW AND WHERE WE COLLECT INTELLIGENCE AND OF THE REPORTS
AND ASSESSMENTS BASED ON THAT INTELLIGENCE IF THEY MIGHT REVEAL
OR COMPROMISE OUR SOURCES OR METHODS. THE KGB AND OTHER HOSTILE
INTELLIGENCE SERVICES SPEND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS EACH YEAR IN
AN EFFORT TO ACQUIRE THIS INFORMATION. AND THE UNAUTHORIZED
PUBLICATION OF THIS RESTRICTED INFORMATION HANDS TO OUR
ADVERSARIES ON A SILVER PLATTER INFORMATION THAT THEIR SPIES,
THEIR RESEARCHERS, AND THEIR SATELLITES ARE WORKING 24 HOURS A
DAY TO UNCOVER AND USE AGAINST US.
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i'V ~ E!-- E 1T YEAR S, PuBL I CAT I UN JF CLASS: F I -i I NFORMAT I UN
BY THE MEDIA HAS DESTROYED OR SERIOUSLY DAMAGED INTELLIGENCE
SOURCES OF THE HIGHEST VALUE. EVERY METHOD WE HAVE OF ACQUIRING
INTELLIGENCE -- OUR AGENTS, OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER SECURITY
SERVICES, OUR PHOTOGRAPHIC At4D ELECTRONIC CAPABILITIES, THE
INFORMATION WE GET FROM COMMUNICATIONS -- HAS BEEN DAMAGED BY
THE PUBLICATION OF UNAUTHORIZED DISCLOSURES.
STORIES IN BOTH THE PRINT AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA HAVE SHOWN,
SOMETIMES IN GREAT DETAIL, HOW TO COUNTER CAPABILITIES IN
WHICH WE HAVE INVESTED BILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND MANY YEARS OF
CREATIVE TALENT AND EFFORT. THIS, TIME AND TIME AGAIN, HAS
ENABLED THOSE HOSTILE TO US TO ABORT HUGE INVESTMENTS, TO
CONCEAL AND OTHERWISE DENY US INFORMATION CRITICAL TO OUR
DEFENSE, AND TO DEPRIVE US OF THE ABILITY TO PROTECT OUR
CITIZENS FROM TERRORIST ATTACK. LEAKERS ARE COSTING THE
TAXPAYERS MILLIONS AND EVEN BILLIONS OF DOLLARS -- AND, MORE
IMPORTANT, PUTTING AMERICANS ABROAD AS WELL AS OUR COUNTRY
ITSELF AT RISK.
APART FROM OUR NEED TO PROTECT OUR SOURCES AND METHODS,
WE DO NOT WISH TO LIMIT YOU IN ANY WAY FROM GETTING THE
INFORMATION THE PUBLIC NEEDS AND SHOULD HAVE. I BELIEVE WE
ARE ALL WORKING TOWARD THE SAME GOAL -- MAINTAINING THE BEST
AND MOST FREE COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. WE FULLY SUPPORT AND ADMIRE
YOUR COMMITMENT TO INFORM THE PUBLIC AND THE DEDICATION AND
INGENUITY WITH WHICH YOU MEET THAT COMMITMENT.
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I DO ~_~ItVE WE ALL HAVE KESPUN)IbIL1111.S WL ;]UST
BALANCE. IT'S A VERY DELICATE AND DIFFICULT BALANCE TO
STRIKE. I THINK MKS. KATHARINE GRAHAM GOT IT RIGHT IN A
VERY THOUGHTFUL AND CONSTRUCTIVE SPEECH SHE MADE ON TERRORISM
AND THE MEDIA AT THE GUILDHALL IN LONDON LAST DECEMBER.
SHE TOLD HOW A TELEVISION NETWORK AND A COLUMNIST HAD
OBTAINED INFORMATION THAT WE WERE READING THE MESSAGES OF
PEOPLE ARRANGING THE BOMBING OF THE U.S. EMBASSY IN BEIRUT.
SHORTLY AFTER THIS PUBLIC DISCLOSURE, THAT TRAFFIC STOPPED.
THIS UNDERMINED OUR EFFORTS TO CAPTURE THE TERRORIST LEADERS
AND ELIMINATED A SOURCE OF INFORMATION ABOUT FUTURE ATTACKS.
MRS. GRAHAM WENT ON TO SAY: "THIS KIND OF RESULT, ALBEIT
UNINTENTIONAL, POINTS UP THE NECESSITY FOR FULL COOPERATION
WHEREVER POSSIBLE BETWEEN THE MEDIA AND THE AUTHORITIES.
WHEN THE MEDIA OBTAINS ESPECIALLY SENSITIVE INFORMATION, WE
ARE WILLING TO TELL THE AUTHORITIES WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED AND
WHAT WE PLAN TO REPORT. AND WHILE RESERVING THE RIGHT TO MAKE
THE FINAL DECISION OURSELVES, WE ARE ANXIOUS TO LISTEN TO
ARGUMENTS ABOUT WHY INFORMATION SHOULD NOT BE AIRED. [THE
MEDIA] WANT TO DO NOTHING THAT WOULD ENDANGER HUMAN LIFE OR
NATIONAL SECURITY. WE ARE WILLING TO COOPERATE WITH THE
AUTHORITIES IN WITHHOLDING INFORMATION THAT COULD HAVE THOSE
CONSEQUENCES-"
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I SUBMIT THbE PRINCIPLES APPLY 'wIT7 T
FORCE TO
COSTLY INTELLIGENCE CAPABILITIES AS THEY DO TO TARGETS THREATENED
BY TERRORISM.
I HAVE WITNESSED ADMIRABLE RESTRAINT AND JUDGMENT BY
JOURNALISTS. I HAVE BEEN GRATIFIED BY THE READINESS OF MANY
OF YOU TO CAREFULLY CONSIDER SOMETIMES WITHHOLDING PUBLICATION
OF INFORMATION WHICH COULD JEOPARDIZE NATIONAL INTERESTS OR
TO TREAT OR PRESENT A STORY IN A MANNER WHICH MEETS THE
PUBLIC NEED, YET MINIMIZES POTENTIAL DAMAGE TO INTELLIGENCE
SOURCES. THE TRICK IS TO RECOGNIZE THE POTENTIAL FOR DAMAGE
AND TO CONSULT ON HOW IT MIGHT BE MINIMIZED. WE ARE ALWAYS
READY AND AVAILABLE ON SHORT NOTICE TO HELP ON THAT.
I HASTEN TO ADD, HOWEVER, THAT THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY OF
PREVENTING THESE TYPES OF LEAKS IS TO INCREASE DISCIPLINE
WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT. THE INABILITY TO CONTROL SENSITIVE
INFORMATION IS DESTRUCTIVE OF THE MORALE OF PEOPLE WHO DO
KEEP SECRETS, AS WELL AS DAMAGING TO OUR SECURITY. DURING THE
LAST SEVERAL YEARS, THE PRESIDENT HAS EMPHASIZED THE SPECIAL
OBLIGATION FEDERAL WORKERS HAVE TO PROTECT THE CLASSIFIED
INFORMATION WITH WHICH THEY ARE ENTRUSTED. WE HAVE INCREASED
OUR EFFORTS TO UNCOVER THOSE WHO VIOLATE THIS TRUST. WE ARE
STUDYING WHETHER NEW LAWS ARE NEEDED TO DEAL WITH FEDERAL
EMPLOYEES WHO DECIDE ON THEIR OWN TO DISCLOSE CLASSIFIED
INFORMATION.
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WHEN OUR INT~LLIGENCE SSESSNENTS REACH T-E MEUTA,
WHETHER AUTHORIZED OR NOT, WE ARE FREQUENTLY ASKED TO PRODUCE
THE EVIDENCE WHICH SUPPORTS OUR JUDGMENTS. SOMETIMES WE CAN,
BUT MUCH MORE OFTEN WE CANNOT WITHOUT JEOPARDIZING OUR SOURCES
OR TEACHING OUR ADVERSARIES HOW TO DENY US NEEDED INFORMATION
IN THE FUTURE.
IF WE CAN'T REVEAL OUR EVIDENCE OR DISCLOSE OUR SOURCES,
WHY SHOULD THE POLICYMAKERS OR THE PUBLIC TRUST INTELLIGENCE
ASSESSMENTS? OUR PRIMARY CREDIBILITY COMES FROM THE ACCURACY
AND RELIABILITY OF OUR PAST ASSESSMENTS AND FROM THE CONTINUED
DEDICATION OF THE PEOPLE AND THE INTEGRITY OF THE PROCESS BY
WHICH THEY ARE PRODUCED. OUR INTELLIGENCE PRODUCTS ARE THE
WORK OF CAREER PROFESSIONALS BASED ON INFORMATION FROM A WIDE
VARIETY OF SOURCES AND THE MOST SOPHISTICATED AND ADVANCED
INTELLIGENCE TECHNOLOGY WHICH EXISTS IN THE WORLD -- PHOTOGRAPHY,
SPACE SATELLITES, ELECTRONICS, ACOUSTICS, COMMUNICATIONS COLLECTORS,
SEISMIC AND OTHER SENSORS.
OUR NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE ESTIMATES ARE THE RESULT OF
LONG HOURS OF PREPARATION AND DEBATE BY ANALYSTS FROM THE
DIA, CIA, NSA, ARMY, NAVY, MARINES, AND AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE
AND OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY. THEIR
WORK IS REVIEWED BY THE CHIEFS OF EACH OF THESE COMPONENTS
SITTING AS THE NATIONAL FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE BOARD AND CHARGED
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oITh SEEING THAT THE RELEVANT INFURi'iATIUN AND JUDGMENTS HELD
iY THEIR ORGANIZATIONS ARE AVAILABLE. AS THE BOARD'S CHAIRMAN,
I SEE THAT ANY SUBSTANTIATED DISSENTING OR ALTERNATIVE VIEW IS
REFLECTED SO THAT POLICYMAKERS HAVE THE BENEFIT OF THE FULL
RANGE OF OPINION IN THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY.
IN A WORLD WHERE THE SOVIET BLOC SPENDS LAVISHLY ON NEW
WEAPONS AND WORKS AGGRESSIVELY TO EXPAND ITS CONTROL AND
INFLUENCE AT THE EXPENSE OF FREE NATIONS AND WHERE SOVEREIGN
STATES, LIKE LIBYA, USE TERRORISM AS AN INSTRUMENT OF FOREIGN
POLICY, IT IS INCREASINGLY ESSENTIAL THAT THE PUBLIC LEARN
WHAT SORTS OF CHALLENGES HIS GOVERNMENT IS FACING.
WE MAKE EXTRAORDINARY EFFORTS TO RESPOND TO REQUESTS
FROM BOTH THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE BRANCHES TO SANITIZE
OR DECLASSIFY INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION AND ASSESSMENTS IN
ORDER TO MAKE THEM AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. PERHAPS THE BEST
EXAMPLE OF THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE
PUBLIC DEBATE ON IMPORTANT ISSUES OF NATIONAL SECURITY HAS
BEEN DIA'S ANNUAL PUBLICATION, SOVIET MILITARY POWER, WHICH IS
CLOSELY COORDINATED BY CIA. LAST SUMMER THE COMMUNITY AT THE
REQUEST OF THE WHITE HOUSE AND CONGRESS SANITIZED AND PRESENTED
IN OPEN TESTIMONY OUR ASSESSMENT OF SOVIET STRATEGIC FORCES.
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MORE FREQULNTLY, HUWEVEK, CIA Mi;TEKIAL IS DECLASSIFIED FOR
USE IN OTHER GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS, SUCH AS STATE'S WHITE
PAPERS ON TERROkISI'1 AND TWO PUBLICATIONS DISTRIBUTED BY THE
DEFENSE DEPARTMENT OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS ON SOVIET ACQUISITION
OF WESTERN TECHNOLOGY. WHENEVER INTELLIGENCE IS USED AS THE
SOURCE FOR UNCLASSIFIED PUBLICATIONS, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE
STAY WITHIN THE EVIDENCE TO MAINTAIN OUR INTEGRITY AND TO
PROTECT THE POLICYMAKER.
THIS ORDERLY AND CAUTIOUS APPROACH TO THE PUBLIC USE OF
INTELLIGENCE IS GUIDED BY THE HIGHEST GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES
AND INVOLVES THE CLOSE PARTICIPATION OF INTELLIGENCE PROFESSIONALS.
WHEN WE PROMISE OUR SOURCES CONFIDENTIALITY, WE IN MANY CASES
LITERALLY HOLD THEIR LIVES IN OUR HANDS. AS WE RESPECT THE
RIGHT OF THE PRESS TO GATHER AND PUBLISH NEWS AND APPLAUD YOUR
EXPOSURE OF WASTE, CORRUPTION, AND OTHER MISCONDUCT, I HOPE
YOU WILL RESPECT OUR RIGHT AND DUTY TO KEEP THE NATION'S
LEGITIMATE SECRETS. AMONG THE THOUSANDS OF EDITORIALS ABOUT
THE FAILINGS AND SHORTCOMINGS OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, I CAN
RECALL FEW, IF ANY, THAT TOOK A PUBLIC SERVANT TO TASK FOR
REVEALING CLASSIFIED INFORMATION. YET CLASSIFIED LEAKS ARE AT
LEAST AS DAMAGING AS THE COST OVERRUNS, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST,
AND OTHER TYPES OF MALFEASANCE SO PROPERLY CRITICIZED BY THE
PRESS.
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WE ARE EAGER TO DEVELOP BETTER UNDERSTAN!INU AND CLOSER
COOPERATION BETWEEN YOU IN THE WORKING PRESS, WHO PERFORM SUCH
A VITAL FUNCTION IN OUR SOCIETY, AND THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY,
WHICH PLAYS AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN PROTECTING THIS NATION.
AMERICA NEEDS A FREE, VIGOROUS PRESS AND IT NEEDS A SUPERIOR
INTELLIGENCE SERVICE. WE ARE BOTH SERVING OUR COUNTRY IN VITAL
AND FUNDAMENTAL MATTERS.
THANK YOU.
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