OPENING STATEMENT ADMIRAL STANSFIELD TURNER, U.S. NAVY AT CONFIRMATION HEARINGS BEFORE THE SENATE SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91M00696R000700110007-1
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 24, 2004
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: January 1, 1977
• Content Type: STATEMENT

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OPENING STATEMENT
ADMIRAL STANSFIELD TURNER. U,S, NAVY
AT CONFIRMATION HEARINGS BEFORE
THE SENATE SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE
MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE.COMMITTEE, I
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TODAY TO EXPRESS MY VIEWS
REGARDING INTELLIGENCE, AND MY NOMINATION BY THE
PRESIDENT AS DIRECTOR OF-CENTRAL-INTELLIGENCE FOR
THE UNITED STATES, I WOULD FIRST, HOWEVER, LIKE TO
THANK SENATOR PERCY AND SENATOR STEVENSON OF IMY
HOME STATE, ILLINOIS, FOR THEIR GENEROUS AND VERY
KIND INTRODUCTIONS.
GOVERNMENTS, NO LESS THAN INDIVIDUALS, REQUIRE
ACCURATE AND TIMELY INFORMATION ON WHICH TO BASE
DECISIONS, THE COLLECTION, EVALUATION, AND USE OF
INFORMATION TO PROTECT NATIONAL SECURITY AND TO
FORMULATE AND CARRY OUT A FOREIGN POLICY IS AN
ALTOGETHER NORMAL AND APPROPRIATE-FUNCTION OF A
SOVEREIGN STATE. MORE THAN THAT, IT IS VITAL TO ANY
NATION WHICH ASPIRES TO RETAIN ITS POSITION OF LEADER-
SHIP IN THE WORLD.
TODAY, IN AN ERA OF EFFORT TO REDUCE INTERNATIONAL
TENSIONS, THE UNITED STATES NEEDS AN INTELLIGENCE
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ORGANIZATION OF HIGH QUALITY AND RESPONSIVENESS
PROBABLY MORE THAN EVER.BEFORE. CONGRESS ITSELF
HAS RECOGNIZED THE FACT THAT THE SUCCESS OF.ON-GOING
NEGOTIATIONS LIKE SALT AND MBFR WILL DEPEND I N PART
ON OUR ABILITY TO VERIFY THAT. THE PROVISIONS OF PAST
AGREEMENTS ARE BEING MET. THUS, OUR INTELLIGENCE WILL
BE ONE BASIS FOR DEVELOPING MUTUAL TRUST. IF IT IS
FAULTY WE MAY MISJUDGE; IF IT IS INADEQUATE WE MAY
NOT READ THE SIGNALS CORRECTLY. WITHOUT GOOD INTELLI-
GENCE WE MAY MISS OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENSURING THE WORLD
OF PEACE. I INTEND TO HAVE THE BEST INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
IN THE WORLD. I THINK THIS CAN BE DONE AND STILL BE
FULLY CONSISTENT WITH AMERICAN VALUES AND LAW.
AT THE SAME TIME THAT WE ARE WORKING TOWARD
INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING, WE ARE ALSO WITNESSING
SUBSTANTIAL INVESTMENT BY THE SOVIETS IN MILITARY FORCES,
WHETHER THEIR FORCES ARE LARGER OR SMALLER THAN OURS,
OR STRONGER OR WEAKER, OR BETTER OR POORER, IS OPEN
TO PROLONGED DEBATE. IT DOES SEEM CLEAR TO ME, HOWEVER,
THAT WE ARE GOING TO REQUIRE ALL THE LEVERAGE THAT
GOOD INTELLIGENCE CAN PROVIDE TO OUR MILITARY FORCES IF
WE ARE GOING TO REMAIN ADEQUATELY STRONG FOR OUR NEEDS.
AND, THERE ARE. MORE THAN MILITARY CONCERNS IN TODAY'S
CHALLENGE TO AMERICAN -INTELLIGENCE. INTELLIGENCE MUST
BE AWARE OF FOREIGN POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL
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DEVELOPMENTS AS WELL AS MILITARY ONES AND TO RELATE
ALL OF THESE IN ASSESSING PROSPECTS FOR CRISIS AND
DISORDER SO THAT AMERICAN POLICIES CAN BE DEVELOPED
TO ABATE SUCH PROSPECTS.
THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT WE POSSESS
THE CAPABILITY TO HAVE THE BEST OF ALL INTELLIGENCE
SERVICES. TO DO THAT, THOUGH, WE MUST ENSURE THAT
OUR INTELLIGENCE RESOURCES ARE EMPLOYED IN AN OPTIMAL
FASHION.
IN THIS CONNECTION, THE PRESIDENT HAS WITHIN
THE LAST FEW DAYS MADE IT EXPRESSLY CLEAR TO ME THAT
HE EXPECTS THE DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE TO
BE ABLE TO ENSURE HIM THAT OUR NATIONAL EFFORT TO
COLLECT AND ANALYZE CURRENT INTELLIGENCE AND TO
DEVELOP NEW SYSTEMS OF COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS IS IN
ACCORDANCE WITH HIS PRIORITIES AND WITH MINIMAL DUPLI-
CATION OF EFFORT. HE ALSO WANTS TO BE ENSURED THAT
THE FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE WORK OF ALL AGENCIES OF THE
GOVERNMENT IS BEING CONDUCTED STRICTLY IN ACCORDANCE
WITH LAW AND AMERICAN VALUES. THE PRESIDENT INDICATED
THAT WHILE HE BELIEVES THAT THESE OBJECTIVES
ARE ENCO11PASSED BY EXISTING LAW AND EXECUTIVE
DIRECTIVES, HE INTENDS TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THE CONGRESS
ON ANY REVISIONS TO LAW AND TO EXECUTIVE ORDERS AS MAY
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BE DESIRABLE TO ASSIST THE DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL
INTELLIGENCE FULFILLING THOSE CHARGES.
I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN ADHERE TO THE PRESIDENT'S
GUIDANCE FOR GREAT EFFICIENCY AND RESPONSIVENESS WITHIN
FULL LEGALITY WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY MAINTAINING THE
AUTONOMY, THE IMAGINATIVE INITIATIVES, AND THE
INDEPENDENT VOICE OF THE VARIOUS AGENCIES OF OUR
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE STRUCTURE. AS A MILITARY MAN,
I APPRECIATE THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING A
DEGREE OF INDEPENDENCE IN OUR SUBORDINATE NATIONAL
INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES, AS WELL, OF COURSE AS IN
TACTICAL INTELLIGENCE OPERATIONS, I HAVE ALREADY
DISCUSSED THIS QUESTION WITH THE SECRETARY AND DEPUTY
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE AND KNOW THAT WE ALL APPROACH IT
WITH OPEN AND COOPERATIVE MINDS. WE ALL SEEK THE
GREATER EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFICIENCY FROM BETTER
DIRECTION AND COORDINATION: WE ALL ABHOR ANY THOUGHT
OF A DEGREE OF CENTRALIZATION WHERE ALTERNATIVE
JUDGMENTS CANNOT BE HEARD AND UNCERTAINTIES DISCUSSED.
AGAIN, THE PRESIDENT STATED THAT HE FEELS THAT DECISION-
MAKERS IN CONGRESS,- THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AID THE
MILITARY ARE BETTER SERVED IF THEY ALL WORK FROM
THE SAME FOUNDATION OF INTELLIGENCE. THIS IS NOT TO
SAY THAT CONSENSUS AMONG THE VARIOUS ELEMENTS WITHIN
THE COMMUNITY NEED BE FORCED OR THAT DISSE1TING OPINION
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NEED BE STIFLED. CONTRARY VIEWS MUST BE PRESENTED,
BUT IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE RATIONALE FOR SUCH DISSENT
IS CLEARLY EVIDENT,
IN FACT, WERE THE SENATE TO CONFIRM ME FOR
THIS POSITION, I WOULD LOOK ON MAINTAINING THE OBJEC-
TIVITY WHICH COMES FROM CONSIDERING DIVERGENT VIEWPOINTS
AS MY HIGHEST PRIORITY, OBJECTIVITY BENEFITS BOTH
THE PRODUCER OF INTELLIGENCE AND THE USER. OBVIOUSLY,
THE USER BENEFITS BECAUSE HE IS GIVEN ALL REASONABLE
ALTERNATIVES, AS A USER OF INTELLIGENCE DURING MY
ENTIRE CAREER, I UNDERSTAND VERY WELL THE IMPORTANCE
OF APPROACHING DECISIONS WITH A RANGE OF CHOICES IN
HAND, NOT JUST A SINGLE OPTION. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT
I AM AWARE OF THE DANGERS TO MILITARY PLANNING AND
OPERATIONS OF INTELLIGENCE ESTIMATES THAT ARE BIASED
IN ONE DIRECTION, THE PRODUCER OF INTELLIGENCE ALSO
BENEFITS FROM EMPHASIS.ON OBJECTIVITY BECAUSE HE IS
NOT ASKED TO COMPROMISE HIS INTELLECTUAL OR SCIENTIFIC
INTEGRITY TO SUPPORT AN ESTABLISHED POSITION, BUT
IS ASKED TO LAY OUT ALL SIDES OF A CASE INDICATING THE
LEVEL OF CONFIDENCE HE HAS IN THE DEDUCTIONS HE HAS
MADE FROM THE FACTS AT HAND. OBJECTIVITY MUST CONTINUE
TO BE THE HALLMARK OF OUR INTELLIGENCE EFFORT,
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MY SECOND POINT OF EMPHASIS WOULD BE TO ENSURE
THAT THE WORK OF THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY IS
CONDUCTED LAWFULLY. I BELIEVE, WITH MY DEEPEST
CONVICTION, THAT OUR GREATEST STRENGTH AS A WORLD
POWER IS OUR MORAL DEDICATION TO THE RIGHTS OF THE
INDIVIDUAL. IF ANY PART OF OUR GOVERNMENT IS PERCEIVED
TO FUNCTION OUTSIDE THIS FUNDAMENTAL AMERICAN TENET
IT CAN ONLY BRING DISCREDIT ON-THE WHOLE. I BELIEVE
THAT THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF EVERY AMERICAN ARE
INVIOLABLE AND THAT IT IS THE SOLEMN DUTY OF EVERY
AGENCY OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT
THOSE RIGHTS.
I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE VALID.NATIONAL
SECRETS AND RECOGNIZE THAT THE DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL
INTELLIGENCE IS OBLIGATED BY LAW TO PREVENT THE
UNAUTHORIZED DISCLOSURE OF INTELLIGENCE SOURCES AND
METHODS. THUS, THOUGH AMERICAN CITIZENS RIGHTFULLY
CAN EXPECT THEIR GOVERNMENT TO OPERATE OPENLY, THERE
MUST BE A RELATIVELY SMALL AMOUNT OF INFORMATION AND
ACTIVITY WHICH, FOR THE GOOD OF THE WHOLE SOCIETY,
MUST BE KEPT SECRET. AS LONG AS REPRESENTATIVE GROUPS
OF DULY ELECTED OFFICIALS, LIKE THIS COMMITTEE AND THE
CHIEF EXECUTIVE, ARE KEPT INFORMED, AND AS LONG AS THEY
CAN ACT FOR THE SOCIETY IN REGULATING SECRET INFORMATION
AND ACTIVITIES, I THINK THE DIFFICULT BALANCE BETWEEN
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NECESSARY SECRECY AND AN OPEN, DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY
CAN BE MAINTAINED,
FROM MY DISCUSSIONS OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS,
IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THIS COMMITTEE HAS TAKEN GREAT
AND SUCCESSFUL STRIDES IN IMPROVING COMMUNICATIONS
WITH THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY, I FULLY SUPPORT
THIS PROGRESS'AND PHILOSOPHY, WITHIN THE LIMITS*OF
THE CONSTITUTIONAL PREROGATIVES OF THE EXECUTIVE
BRANCH, I WOULD INTEND TO DO MY PART IN ENSURING
THAT CONGRESS REMAINS A FULL AND KNOWLEDGEABLE PARTNER,
SIMILARLY, I BELIEVE THAT IT IS INCUMBENT ON
THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY 10 MAKE A SERIOUS AND
CONTINUING EFFORT TO AVOID OVERCLASSIFICATION OF
INFORMATION AND EVEN TO ATTEMPT TO SELECTIVELY PUBLISH
UNCLASSIFIED INFORMATION WHICH IS OF HIGH VALUE TO
OUR CITIZENS,
EVEN THOUGH THE VARIOUS DISCLOSURES OF QUESTIONABLE
INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES DURING THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS
WERE NECESSARY, THEY HAVE DAMAGED THE PUBLIC REPUTATION
OF THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY, A THIRD AREA OF EMPHASIS
WOULD BE TO CONTINUE TO REBUILD THIS REPUTATION, THE
INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY BY AND LARGE IS COMPRISED OF
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WELL-QUALIFIED, HARD-WORKING INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE
AS DEDICATED TO AMERICAN IDEALS AS ANY OF US, AS
IN ANY ORGANIZATION, THEY NEED A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING
OF WHAT IS EXPECTED OF THEM THEY NEED THE IMPORTANCE
OF THE WORK WHICH THEY DO TO BE RECOGNIZED; AND THEY
NEED THE OPPORTUNITY FOR REWARD, I WOULD INTEND TO
MAKE THE REALIZATION OF THOSE GOALS ONE OF MY HIGHEST
PRIORITIES,.
TO ACHIEVE THIS WE MUST CONTINUE THE WORK OF
RESTORING CONFIDENCE IN THE CREDIBILITY OF THE INTELLI-
GENCE EFFORT. THIS CAN ONLY BE DONE BY ACTION NOT
WORDS. REDUNDANT PROGRAMS, PAROCHIAL CAUSES, AND
NEEDLESS CONTROVERSY W ITH I N THE COMMUNITY MUST BE
ELIMINATED, EVERYONE'S FULL EFFORT MUST BE DEVOTED TO
PRODUCING THE FINEST QUALITY OF INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION
AND ESTIMATES OF WHICH WE ARE CAPABLE, THAT PRODUCT
WILL MEASURE OUR INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY'S WORTH, COUPLED
WITH GOOD COMMUNICATION WITH THE CONGRESS AND THE
MAXIMUM DISCLOSURE PERMISSABLE TO THE PUBLIC, WE
SHOULD BE ABLE TO CREATE THAT MEASURE OF CONFIDENCE AND
CREDIBILITY WHICH IS VITAL TO A SUCCESSFUL INTELLIGENCE
PROGRAM.
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THERE IS MUCH WORK AHEAD, AND, PERSONALLY, I AM
EXCITED BY THE CHALLENGE, I HAVE BEEN IN THE SERVICE
OF OUR NATION FOR OVER. 30 YEARS AND VIEW THIS APPOINT-
MENT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE THAT SERVICE I N AN
AREA OF SPECIAL IMPORTANCE,
GENTLEMEN, YOU HAVE MY BIOGRAPHY SO I SEE NO
NEED IN DETAILING FURTHER MY EXPERIENCE IN MANAGING
LARGE ORGANIZATIONS OR IN THE ANALYSIS AND RATIONALI-
ZATION OF IMPORTANT DEFENSE PROGRAMS.
IN CONCLUSION, THEN, MAY I SIMPLY REITERATE THAT
I RESPECT THE DEDICATED PROFESSIONALS IN OUR CIVILIAN
AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE ORGANIZATIONS, I WANT THEM
TO REALIZE THEIR FULL CAPABILITIES, I HOPE TO ENCOURAGE
THEM TO BE INNOVATIVE, QUESTIONING AND OBJECTIVE IN
THEIR APPROACH TO ALL PROBLEMS, THE MEN AND WOMEN OF
THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY HAVE GOOD REASON TO BE PROUD
OF THE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION THEY MAKE TO THIS NATION.
THEY ARE VITAL TO OUR CONTINUED FREEDOM BECAUSE THE
CONTINUATION OF FREEDOM IS DEPENDENT ON AN OBJECTIVE
AWARENESS OF ANYTHING WHICH COULD THREATEN IT,
AT THE SAME TIME, I UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR
HONEST AND RIGIDLY ACCURATE INTELLIGENCE ASSESSMENTS
IF THEY ARE TO BE USEFUL TO THE PRESIDENT AND THE
CONGRESS, IF I AM CONFIRMED, I WILL WORK VIGOROUSLY
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TO REESTABLISH THE FULL CREDIBILITY OF THE COMMUNITY'S
WORK, TO ENSURE THAT A WORTHWHILE CONTRIBUTION IS MADE
TO SUPPORT THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS, AND TO REQUIRE
THAT THE GATHERING AND DISSEMINATION OF INTELLIGENCE
IN THE UNITED STATES IS CONSISTENT WITH THE IDEALS
UPON WHICH THIS COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED.
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