'TO CALL US TERRORISTS IS A DANGEROUS FLIMFLAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000605830014-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 20, 2010
• Sequence Number: 14
• Publication Date: August 28, 1981
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/20: CIA-RDP90-00552R000605830014-6
ICLL APPEARED
C:1 PAGE--
THE WASHINGTON POST
29 August 1931
Ellen Ray, William H. Schaap and:'Louis Wolf
~ 'o Call Us Terrorists Is a. Dangerous Flifrfla
The Posts recent editorial ("The Philip Agees, the Louis
4j,'clfs") is dizzying in its contradictions and shameful in its
misrepresentations. As one of the targets of the so-called .In-
teiligence identities Protection Act, we feel we must respond.
We agree completely that the proposed legislation poses a
dangerous threat to investigative journalism-indeed,.to the
First Amendment in general But you must realize that your
editorial concern is diluted, to say the least, when you call us
"contemptible" and hope--vainly-that the bill will "respect
the rights of journalists and'others whose good faith is not
suspect." For one thing, we are journalists in the traditional
sense, with good faith, just as much as your reporters are; and
there is no way a law can distinguish between us. Your dia-
tribe only highlights the gap between the editorial offices and
the reporters, for your people are among the large number of
working journalists from virtually all the major printed and
electronic. media in the country who. call.upon.us daily for
help, researcbinformation and, of all things; names of intelli-
gence operatives in connection with articlestheyarewriting.
i Ioreover, they"protections" in the act are no protection
at all. You must know that the CIA takes the position that
any disclosures of any .kind. impede their activities.. How
could any journalist expose a major CIA operation-as
The Poet has. done. on several occasions-without wit- r
tingly understanding that the story would impede CIA ac- '
tivities? Whatever the language used; every version of the
bill would' allow the prosecution of; for example,' The
Washington Post and The-New York Times for stories
they run nearly every week.-;
But it is your personal attacks that are truly unjustfia-
ble. To say we would consider it .a. ".great victory" if First
Amendment liberties were abridged in our name is mind-
less rhetoric based on an utter failure to understand. who
we are, what we do and.why we do, it. We are opposed to
the CIA because we are against- clandestine manipulation
of the affairs ?of: other countries,'whethei accomplished
merely' by bribery; corruption and extortion, or, recruit-
ment of local citizens to'work for the,CIA, or as a resultof
bombing, arson, paramilitary mercenary: groups,-torture+
training or assassination.. Coyertoperations are the raison
d'etre of the CIA, and we oppose them. We have no quar-
rel with intelligence-gathering in The traditional sense-
but that isnot why the CIA-hascase officers and agents in
everycountry. in the world::
To call us "terrorists" is a dangerous flimflam. You may.
disagree with our contention that the United States--and'
especially the CIA-is responsible for more terrorism,;
more death and destruction, over the past several decades! i
than any other single institution in .the world, but you
could not read our publications without knowing that we
are opposed to violence and terrorism-and as American:
citizens fighting hard against that for which the CIA is re-
sponsible.- Not: one single. person has:.been -physically
harmed on, account of what we do, while the CIA has been.
responsible for literally millions of deaths-in Chile, in.
Indonesia, in Laos, in South Korea, in Guatemala, in Ja '
maica, to cite just a few examples.
It is sad- that you think our purpose is: to ,"destroy;
democracy," when the CIA represents the least demo-
cratic aspect of the entire U.S. government 'It is editorials
like yours that lend credence to the CIA's cause; and thati
will allow for the passage of this act and asignificant blov;A
against democracy.
Tice writers are co-editors of CovertAetian In4'
formation Bulletin
..'-+
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/20: CIA-RDP90-00552R000605830014-6