CASEY RETRACTS THREAT TO SUE MEDIA FOR DIVULGING SECRETS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00965R000504150010-9
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 25, 2012
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: May 16, 1986
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/01/25: CIA-RDP90-00965R000504150010-9
~ wASdINGTON TIMES
16 May 1986
Casey retracts threat to sue
media for divulging secrets
By Rita McWilliams - Justice Department and White House offi-
THE WASHINGTON TIMES cials have avoided public comment on his
threat to seek prosecution. In private, the
CIA Director William Casey yesterday have dismissed the idea as unsound. y
backed off his threat to prosecute The Wash- His tactical retreat notwithstanding, Mr.
ington Times and other major news outlets for Casey said disclosures of secrets by the press
publishing secrets he claims "destroyed or "is a severe problem we must address if our
seriously damaged" U.S. intelligence- fight against terrorism is to succeed."
gathering abilities. "In recent years, publication of classified
"Where there already has been public dis- information has destroyed or seriously dam-
closure about communications intelligence, aged intelligence sources of the highest
the law has been violated but the milk has value:' he said. "Every method we have of
been spilled:' Mr. Casey said. "I would not, acquiring intelligence - our agents, our rela-
therefore, at this time favor action for these tionships with other security services, our
past offenses."
But he said those laws "must be enforced" photographic and electronic capabilites, the
are to protect laws "must be our information we get from communications -
in the fh sa di we
as a nation and the safety of our citizens in has thorized been dama disclossud by the publication of unau
this age of international terrorism." ures:'
On another point, Mr. Casey said that since citing Mr. Casey told
narrow the lawnho was
protect i "very AJC
in-
the bombing last month that killed one U.S. formation dealing segment n n-
on dealing with communications intel-
soldier in a Berlin discotheque, the CIA dis- ligence."
covered "compelling. evidence" that four He said other nightclubs U.S. servicemen frequent would include su h nn information aslLibyan
were terrorist targets. communications the United States inter-
Those nightclubs were in Spain, Turkey and cepted relating to the bombing of the Berlin
Germany, and the planned raids were de- disco, since disclosure of the intercept would
signed to inflict "maximum casualties," he indicate what U.S. code-breaking capabilites
said.
Mr. Casey's remarks in a luncheon address were.
before the American Jewish Committee President Reagan later offered details of
eprethey
(AJC) represented his first public statement were those disclosed by communications, but only ra
on a flap that arose after he met with Wash- the press, he said.
ington Post editors earlier this month and can Mr. inform Casey said there are wdys reporters
warned them against publishing a story he tional ecthe public without disclosing n
claimed would violate laws agaist disclosing Much secrets.
intelligence data. talk at the 80th anniversary meeting
of the AJC centered on lobby Jewish leaders a to support i administration plans
Mr. Casey told the Post editors that the to
Reagan administration was considering sale to Saudi Arabia. In response to a question,
criminal charges against The Post, The Mr. Casey said, "Saudi Arabia does cooperate
Times, Newsweek and Time magazines - with other countries in dealing with the ter-
and, by some accounts, The New York Times rorist threat.
- for what he called then "absolutely cold "Moderate Arab countries are the best de-
violations" of a 1950 statute prohibiting fense ... [and] they are very helpful to our
"knowingly and willfully" publishing classi- efforts," he said.
fied information about "communication intel- ligence activities of the United States or any Mr. Casey noted the United States needs all
foreign government." the help it can get against terrorists, who he
Mr. Casey's yesterday got him and b
said "are everywhere, movin orders, and attacking with as silent
stealth
the administration off a public relations hook and surprise as they can manage."
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/01/25: CIA-RDP90-00965R000504150010-9