LETTER TO MR. HENRY HUGLIN FROM DDCI

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01731R001900050010-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 17, 2003
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: August 27, 1975
• Content Type: LETTER

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Approved For Release 2003/07/29 : CIA-RDP80R01731 R001900050010-0
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Mr. Henry Huglin
Approved For Release 2003/07/29 : CIA-RDP80R01731 R001900050010-0
 Approved For Release 2003/07/29 : CIA-RDP80RO1731 R0019000500
Executive Registry
July 21, 1975
Lt. General Vernon Walters
Deputy Director, CIA
Washington, D.C.
Dear Dick,
I have followed your career with great interest since our paths
crossed here about six years ago.
For the last three years I have been writing and self-syndicat-
ing a weekly newspaper column on national security and internation-
al affairs. I now have 10 newspapers that subscribe to the column.
I thought you might be interested in the column I wrote recent-
ly on the Agency. Enclosed are copies of the original as sent out
to the subscribers and the shortened version as published by the
local paper. Also enclosed is a copy of the prospectus for the col-
umn which, if you are interested,tells what I am up to.
Incidentally, I think Colby, who I met once at Bob Komer's house
in Saigon in September 1968, is doing a terrific job in defending
the Agency in most difficult circumstances. And I am sure you are
giving him strong support both in his testimony and keeping the
work going while he is so preoccupied.
day.
All good wishes to you Dick. I hope our paths cross again some
Sincerely,
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 Approved For Release 2003/07/29 : CIA-RDP80R01731 R001900050010-0
SUNDAY FORUM
D-O Sunday, July 6, 197S ;
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SANTA BA S-Pass
'AFFAIRS OF NATION
CIA: Perspective needed
By Henry Huglin
The long, sometimes hys-
terical orgy of CIA-baiting goes
on and on. Material that should
,remain secret is being leaked,
and false or wildly exaggerated
charges feed the sensationalist
bent of some politicians, the
media, and the public.
The Rockefeller Commission
has presented a balanced, con-
structive report on the CIA's
'domestic activities. The ac-
tions recommended would help
preclude future improprieties
and would strengthen the CIA.
Hopefully, the Congressional
investigations on the overall in-
telligence activities of our
government at home and
abroad will be as balanced and
constructive.
The evidence presented by
the Rockefeller Commission
indicates that what CIA domes-
tic improprieties were com-
mitted, though sensationalized,
have done little if any real
harm to this country - and
certainly nothing compared to
that being done by the frenzied
domestic and foreign attacks
on this crucially important
agency.
The crescendoing charges -
many with little or no basis in
fact - blame the, CIA for al-
most everything dissaffected
or idealistic people want to rail
against at home and abroad.
Certainly, we do need to re-
establish a rational perspective
on the CIA.
The CIA is a vital part of our
government. We need to
strength, not weaken, it.
We have no chance for con-
tinued national security and
well being without an effective
intelligence agency. Further,
rising international crime, nar-
cotics traffic, and terrorism
are other strong reasons why
we, more than ever, need a
highly capable CIA.
YET, OF COURSE, the CIA
must not conduct illegal activi-
ties in the U.S. - which the
Rockefeller Commission dis-
closed had been done in the
past, although not extensively.
And, we certainly need to
strengthen our means of insur-
ing, through executive and con-
gressional oversight, that such
activities do not occur in the fu-
ture.
As far as covert operations
abroad are concerned, we
ought not preclude the CIA
from undertaking them - on a
sional oversight.
Covert operations may some-
times be the only effective
means of helping friends of our
country and democratic ele-
ments in a troubled nation
threatened by subversion -
without sending in our military
forces, as we did in Vietnam.
Such covert help can be the key
element in avoiding a crisis de-
teriorating into either war or
the capture of a nation by total-
itarian forces of the right or
left.
Why should even assassi-
nation, in extreme circum-
stances, be ruled out? Wouldn't
it have been far better for the
evil, dangerous Hitler to have
been eliminated before his me-
galomania brought on the terri-
ble destruction and tragedy of
World War II?
What can be done about the
excessive pillorying of the
CIA?
Well, we can let our senators
and congressmen and the
media know that we think this
orgy has gone on far too long -
and that, yes, we want our civil
rights protected, but without
the sacrifice of our society's
rights to be protected in a dan-
gerous world, which protection
very selective, presidentially. can only be sustained with an
directed basis, with congres-qr effective, well-supported CIA.
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