KALB QUITS STATE OVER PURPORTED FALSE LEAKS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00965R000100430006-1
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 20, 2011
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: October 9, 1986
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Declassified and Approved For Release 2011/12/20: CIA-RDP90-00965R000100430006-1
r." ;:tom. ,4P E.P D
ON FAGS,
Kalb quits
State over
purported
false leaks
By Richard Beeston
THE NMSHINOTON TIMES
The State Department's spokes-
man Bernard Kalb dropped a bomb-
shell yesterday by resigning on the
eve of President Reagan's departure
for Reykjavik over what he called
the administration's "disinformation
program" against Libya.
His resignation inevitably gives
credence to charges that the admin-
istration has been spreading "disin-
formation" in the American media in
an effort to help topple Libyan leader
Muammar Qaddafi. State Depart-
ment officials expressed concern it
would harm U.S. credibility right be-
fore the summit.
At an emotional last State Depart-
ment press conference, Mr. Kalb de-
clared, "I am concerned about the
impact of the disinformation pro-
gram on the credibility of the United
States and its faith. Faith in the word
of America, in my opinion, is the
pulsebeat of our democracy."
Mr. Kalb, a former correspondent
for CBS and NBC who has been
spokesman for nearly two years, said
he had been "grappling" with the is-
sue ever since last week's press re-
ports of the disinformation cam-
paign.
He said he had faced a choice of
"whether to vanish into unopposed
acquiesence, or to enter a modest
dissent:'
WASHINGTON TIMES
9 October 1986
In announcing his surprise resig-
nation, Mr. Kalb said his move was
no reflection on his chief, Secretary
of State George Shultz, whom he
called "a monument to integrity."
"Rather, I am dissenting from the
reported disinformation program:'
he said. In reply to questions, he said
he could provide no information on
the so-called disinformation cam-
paign. He added, "My resignation
does not endow me with sudden
freedom."
Mr. Shultz, in a brief statement,
said that he was "sorry to see Bernie
Kalb go." He said he respected him
"as a colleague and a friend" and
wished him well.
Earlier Mr. Shultz said, in an inter-
view on ABC's "Good Morning
America," that, while the adminis-
tration had sought to confuse Col.
Qaddafi, it had not lied to American
reporters.
"There isn't any intent to try to
spread around false information
here so that it gets there and con-
fuses him. That's not the idea at all:'
he declared, adding, "We shouldn't
get involved in any operation where
we try to mislead our news media or
our public.'
At the same time Mr. Shultz said,
"When we hit Qaddafi, it did disori-
ent him, and it did put terrorism
down for a while, and we want to
keep it that way." Asked whether Mr.
Shultz or the State Department had
in fact played a role in a disinfor-
mation campaign, Mr. Kalb replied,
"I am making no accusations:'
Last week Mr. Shultz declared, "I
know of no decision to have people
go out and tell lies to the media:' But
at the same time, he appeared to
modify that stand by quoting a
phrase by Winston Churchill, who
said, "In time of war, the truth is so
precious, it must be attended by a
bodyguard of lies."
Mr. Kalb, who appeared close to
tears during his resignation address,
ended his press conference on a
lighter note.
Asked what he intended to do
next, Mr. Kalb, known for his flam-
boyant neckware replied, "My plans
are to hold a memorial service for
my orange tie."
Declassified and Approved For Release 2011/12/20: CIA-RDP90-00965R000100430006-1