LETTER TO DANIEL S. WHEELER FROM GEORGE V. LAUDER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00845R000100040001-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 8, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: October 29, 1986
• Content Type: LETTER

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/08: CIA-RDP90-0
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
STAT
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Phone: [phone]
Mr. Daniel S. Wheeler
Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE
700 North Pennsylvania Street
Indianapolis, IN 46206
Mr. William Giles' article, "Media Leaks: A Two-Way Street," in the
November 1986 edition of THE AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE inaccurately represents
the seriousness of the problem the US Intelligence Community and the nation
face with respect to media disclosures of classified information. Damaging
leaks of classified sources and methods have seriously affected the US
Intelligence Community's ability to protect the nation. Agents have been
arrested and have disappeared--they were probably executed; valuable technical
collection systems have been compromised and must be replaced at vast expense
to the taxpayer; and our relationships with other intelligence services have
been damaged by unauthorized disclosures.
Mr. Giles does not mention any of this and treats leaks of sensitive
data as a game. It is no game; it is a serious problem that should concern us
all.
Director Casey explained our concerns in some depth last April to the
American Society of Newspaper Editors. In doing so, he noted that he is
required by law to protect the vital sources and methods by which we collect
intelligence. He takes that responsibility seriously and he asked for the
cooperation of the media. When the nation's ability to protect itself is
damaged, all Americans suffer--journalists and non-journalists alike. While
the Government is responsible for protecting properly classified information
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/08: CIA-RDP90-00845R000100040001-2
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/08: CIA-RDP90-00845R000100040001-2
Mr. Daniel S. Wheeler -2-
28 October 1986
and for disciplining those who violate their oaths of office by illegally
purveying such information to the media, the media must also bear the
responsibility for acting as a "fence" for stolen goods and for its
involvement in damaging the nation's security.
The media and the Intelligence Community must reason together on national
security matters for the protection of all Americans. We are always ready to
do so.
Sincerely,
George V. Lauder
Director, Public Affairs
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/08: CIA-RDP90-00845R000100040001-2