DCI'S MESSAGE TO THE CIA WORKFORCE ON THE BOMBING OF THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0001081728
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: June 22, 2015
• Document Release Date: September 17, 2009
• Case Number: F-2000-00007
• Publication Date: May 14, 1999

(b)(3)
APPROVED FOR
RELEASE DATE:
14-Sep-2009
at G A
May 14, 1999
Headlines: (U) DCI's Message to the CIA Workforce on the Bombing
of the Chinese Embassy in
I wanted to let you know my thoughts about NATO's bombing of the
Chinese Embassy in Belgrade.
We are still investigating exactly what happened here at CIA and
in the Intelligence Community, and Secretary Cohen is doing the
same at the Department of Defense. But we know enough at this
point to say that the Intelligence Community bears a significant
share of the responsibility.
CIA misidentified the Chinese Embassy as the Yugoslav Supply and
Procurement Directorate. In addition, the extensive process
concentrated within the Department of Defense to validate, check
and approve targeting recommendations did not catch the initial
error, principally because DIA, NIMA, and EUCOM databases did not
contain the correct location of the Chinese Embassy.
We all share the blame, but we can take no comfort in that. We
cannot minimize the significance of this. And we will not hide
behind excuses such as stretched resources or time pressures. It
is precisely when the pressure is intense and life or death
decisions are being made that the President and the American
public expect us to provide the best intelligence in the world.
Clearly, in this case we failed to do that. We did not do our
job.
As professionals, we must stand up and take responsibility for
our mistakes. We have an even greater responsibility to do
everything in our power to always get it right.
Several changes already have been made here at CIA, at NIMA, and
at DIA. I will report back to you shortly on additional steps we
will take to address the problems that contributed to the bombing
of the Chinese Embassy.
CIA began an effort last Saturday to look at what happened here
at the Agency and to recommend corrective actions. I have put an
 Intelligence Community team together to do the same thing across
the Community. I have asked that the report be completed next
week.
I know better than anybody else the excellent work that the
dedicated men and women of this Agency and the Intelligence
Community do every day--work that is vital to peace and stability
all around the world. And that includes the great work that we
have done on Kosovo--life-saving work that you can be proud of
and that I am very proud of. The bombing of the Chinese Embassy
stands in contrast to an otherwise outstanding performance.
Our work remains indispensable to our nation. I believe that the
President and the Congress and the American people fundamentally
understand that. I know that CIA is the world's best intelligence
agency and you are the best men and women in any workforce in the
world. And I will continue to say that anywhere and everywhere I
get the chance to do it. That does not mean we are infallible.
And it certainly does not mean that we cannot do better. We can
and we will do better. Thank you.
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