THE CIA'S TORMENTERS REPLY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000605830025-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2010
• Sequence Number: 25
• Publication Date: August 5, 1980
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

STAT
Youri-recent, editorial ('Another : _ vering; ' 'strictlylimated,to col:;
watchman.ta watch;;':July:'17) at. lecting'lnformation.' you perpetu-'
tacking our- work presents?a dishon- ate the CIA's favorite myth, that it is
est -brief for. -thee Central Intelli primarily an intelligence gathering
gene Agency; (The work involves agency- We have never. objected to
public,exposuie';of-,ralleged, CIA intelligence gathering; we object, to
agents abroad, .which resulted' in- covert interference in the affairs of
theshooting up ofan American- offi- i other nations. SVe object'to bribery,
cial'shousein Jamaica: corruption.. blackmail?arson- and
Your assertion.' That ;the- CIA- is," murder; all of which have been, and
"long. si'nce'officially declawed" is remain, the operational toolsof the
ludicrous-For' more-than"_ three CIA..There-is no. law which prevents
years, the Congress' labored:with no .,the ClA from buying elections, oper-
successto pass a?charter for the CIA ? sating phony. "news!' services, arm
-.riot to declaw.it,..but merely to ' ing"rebels, orbombing-buildings,
minimize the possibility of-the more..- for example, all of which it does. ; t..
blatant-abuses-for which.-the-CIA, is --- At.'1'east-you-recognize:thatthe-
noted.-.No significantly restrictive-" Intelligence Identities Protection:
legislation-affecting the CIA has Act-is:a law aimed. solely at .the Co-
ever.beenpassed..... x , "vertAction:= Information.. Bulletin..
And'when:,you refer, to the CIA's You do. not note,- howeverthat we
activities?asa' undercover.maneu are private citizens who, having
never worked for the government-
nor signed'any agreements, are re-.
.searching unclassified material-''and, with no inside sources.care
fully reaching our own journalistic.:
conclusionsThe' First =Amendment
does not allow such conduct tobe
,criminalized, as-this act would pur
port to' do. That you, as a newspaper,;
'danoprecognize this fact, is danger
?ous-~to%ali"the