TALKING POINTS FOR DCI TELEPHONE INTERVIEW ON 26 AUGUST 1988 WITH THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90G01353R000700040002-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 16, 2012
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: August 25, 1988
• Content Type: REPORT

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Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/09/11: CIA-RDP90G01353R000700040002-3
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SUBJECT: Talking Points for DCI Telephone Interview on
26 August 1988 with the Christian Science Monitor
LESSONS LEARNED:
--Extensive U.S. efforts to locate and apprehend known
terrorists--such as Fawaz Yunis--have sent a powerful message to
terrorists. They cannot travel without fear that they might be,
caught and brought to justice.
--Governments must respond to terrorist actions with
firmness. Concessions of any kind--including paying ransom,
releasing convicted terrorists from prison, or changing policies
to accommodate terrorist demands--only encourage more terrorism.
--Cooperative agreements made by foreign governments with
terrorist groups (e.g., allowing terrorists to operate in their
country in return for promises not to conduct attacks in their
country or against their interests) are ineffective
counterterrorist measures. Sooner or later the terrorist group
will break the cooperative agreement--either out of
maliciousness, or because the group's operating realities,
missions, and goals change.
--State sponsors of terrorism must be made to pay a price
for their actions--ranging from the April 1986 bombing raids on
terrorist support facilities in Libya to political, diplomatic,
and economic measures, public diplomacy, and sanctions.
--A counterterrorist program must depend on practical
measures. Measures implemented currently include those designed
to bring terrorists to justice, to disrupt their operations, and
to destroy their networks. Increased cooperation with friendly
liaison services and foreign law enforcement agencies has led to
increasing success in identifying, tracking, apprehending,
prosecuting, and punishing terrorists.
--A multi-disciplinary approach must be employed to ensure
success in counterterrorist efforts. Close coordination is
required among senior policymakers and law enforcement and
intelligence officials.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/09/11 : CIA-RDP90G01353R000700040002-3
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SUBJECT: Talking Points for DCI Telephone Interview with
Christian Science Monitor
--Despite improved international counterterrorist programs,
the level of terrorist activity is likely to remain high as
terrorist organizations have demonstrated resiliency and an
ability to adapt to improved counterterrorist measures.
Moreover, enhanced security awareness and counterterrorism
measures in the west have caused terorrists to look for less
hostile environments in which to conduct their activities.
--Counterterrorist programs are critical to the physical
security of our citizens. However, in our war against terrorism
the Agency and other U.S. Government agencies carry out their
responsibilities in accordance with specific laws and we operate
under internal procedures approved by the Attorney General. In
addition, the Agency's Office of the General Counsel ensures that
Agency employees who deal with counterterrorist issues know and
comply with our laws and procedures. We also work closely with
the Department of Justice on those types of activities that may
require Attorney General authorization.
THE COUNTERTERRORIST RESPONSE:
--CIA, cooperating with other intelligence and law
enforcement organizations in accordance with the National
Security Act of 1947, has collected valuable information about
terrorist groups. The Agency provides close intelligence and
operations support to the U.S. counterterrorism community and
interacts daily with the core group of senior U.S. officials
responsible for terrorism policy represented by the National
Security Council, Department of State, the Federal Bureau of
Investigation and the Department of Defense.
--The Agency also uses its resources to track the
movements of wanted terrorists. If our Government has an
outstanding warrant for the arrest of such individuals, the
Agency provides information to judicial authorities to assist
them in locating and apprehending the terrorist. In some
cases--as in that of Fawaz Yunis, wanted in the U.S. for the June
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SUBJECT: Talking Points for DCI Telephone Intervie with the
Christian Science Monitor
1985 hijacking of a Jordanian airliner which carried U.S.
citizens, our information enabled the FBI to arrest Yunis in the
Mediterranean. In other cases, our government may request
extradition of terrorists arrested by foreign governments.
--Stronger cooperation with other countries has been a key
element of our counterterrorist efforts. We share information
with foreign governments on names of suspected terrorists,
aliases they use, travel plans and information on false
documentation. This allows foreign governments to add these
terrorists to their watchlists. In several cases this has
enabled foreign governments to arrest known or suspected
terrorists. This kind of information has also been used to deny
entry and safehaven to known terrorists and their associates.
THE TERRORIST THREAT:
--The level of international terrorist activity worldwide
continues to rise with almost 50 percent of the incidents
originating from the Middle East, largely involving radical
Palestinian or radical Shia groups. U.S. interests are at
particular risk:
a. Nine U.S. citizens and one resident alien remain
hostage in Beirut, held by radical Shia elements.
b. The Greek terrorist Group "17 November" has
accelerated its terrorist campaign against U.S. interests in
Greece, most recently assassinating our Defense Attache in
Athens.
c. Japanese Red Army terrorists have attacked official
U.S. facilities on several occasions over the past three years..
d. State sponsorship of international terrorism
remains a persistent problem, despite efforts by such
states--notably Afghanistan, Iran and Libya--to hide their role
by use of surrogate groups. Libya may have provided
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? SUBJECT: Talking Points for DCI Telephone Interview with the
Christian Science Monitor
encouragement and financial support for a series of anti-U.S.
attacks in Latin America and Europe that coincided with the April
anniversary of the U.S. raids on Tripoli.
? e. The Summer Olympics in Seoul and the International
Monetary Fund Conference in West Berlin, both in September, are
potential targets for international terrorist activity, although
impressive security measures are being taken.
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