PROPOSED REMARKS BY WILLIAM H. WEBSTER DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AT THE BOHEMIAN GROVE LAKESIDE TALK JULY 22, 1988
Document Type:
Collection:
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST):
CIA-RDP99-00777R000400770001-6
Release Decision:
RIPPUB
Original Classification:
T
Document Page Count:
23
Document Creation Date:
December 27, 2016
Document Release Date:
May 14, 2014
Sequence Number:
1
Case Number:
Publication Date:
July 22, 1988
Content Type:
REPORT
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PROPOSED REMARKS
BY
WILLIAM H. WEBSTER
DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
AT THE
BOHEMIAN GROVE LAKESIDE TALK
JULY 22, 1988
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((INTRODUCTION: FOURTH TIME AT BOHEMIANGROVE -- PERSONAL
RECOLLECTIONS))
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TELL YOU
ABOUT SOME OF MY RESPONSIBILITIES AT THE CIA, AND THERE IS A CERTAIN
IRONY IN THIS FOR ME. AT THE FBI, I SPENT A LOT OF TIME TELLING THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT WHAT THE FBI WAS ALL ABOUT WAS LAW ENFORCEMENT,
NOT SPYING, NOW, I FIND MYSELF SPEAKING TO GROUPS THROUGHOUT THE
COUNTRY REVERSING ALL OF THAT -- ASSURING AUDIENCES THAT AT THE CIA
WE ARE NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT. AND THEN I TELL THEM
SOMETHING ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE THE MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES FOR
SPYING ON BEHALF OF THE COUNTRY.
THE GROUPS I HAVE TALKED TO HAVE BEEN FASCINATED BY THE WHOLE
BUSINESS OF SPYING, THOUGH I CAN'T TAKE CREDIT FOR THEIR INITIAL
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ENTHUSIASM. THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN PRIMED BY NEWSPAPER ACCOUNTS, AND
BY A NUMBER OF POPULAR BOOKS ON ESPIONAGE. ONE OF MY OFFICERS
CONFESSED THAT HE.DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO PUT HIS OWN COLLECTION OF
BOOKS ON INTELLIGENCE. BUT HE FIGURED THEY BELONGED SOMEWHERE
BETWEEN THE FICTION AND NONFICTION SHELVES.
THE MANY STORIES ABOUT INTELLIGENCE VARY OF COURSE IN STYLE AND
AUTHENTICITY. BUT THEY DO HAVE AN IMPACT. THE OTHER DAY AT A
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING, THE PRESIDENT TURNED TO ME AND
SAID, "BILL, I'VE JUST BEEN READING TOM CLANCY'S NEW BOOK, THE
CARDINAL OF THE KREMLIN, AND THE CIA IS IN TROUBLE.
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WE HAVE HAD .NUMEROUSAFFERS OF "HELP" .--.. PERHAPS IN PART BECAUSE
OF NOVELS LIKE TOM CLANCY'S. WE HAVE APPLICATIONS FROM QUALIFIED
AMERICANS COMING IN AT THE RATE OF 1,000 A MONTH. BUT WE ALSO HEAR
FROM THOSE WITH MORE ENTHUSIASM THAN PROSPECTS. --I RECENTLY RECEIVED
A LETTER THAT BEGAN, "TO THE HONORABLE JUDGE WEBSTER, NOT TOO LONG
AGO I APPLIED FOR A JOB AT YOUR AGENCY AS A SECURITY ESCORT
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OFFICER. I KNOW THAT AS A CONVICTED FELON IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO
OBTAIN A POSITION OF THAT NATURE. . . BUT THERE ARE SPECIAL
CIRCUMSTANCES. . I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR RESPONSE."2
I ALSO HEARD FROM A YOUNG AMERICAN WITH BIG PLANS. HE WROTE,
"DEAR CIA, I AM 12 AND HAVE BEEN SPYING SINCE I WAS 9. . I AM THE
LEADER OF THREE KID SPYING-CLUBS AND I SPECIALIZE IN MAKING CODES
AND BREAKING CODES, I SPY AROUND MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND ON MY
PARENTS. I KNOW A LOT ABOUT SPYING AND I LOVE TO DO IT. WHEN CAN I
JOIN THE CIA?" A REAL PROFESSIONAL, THE YOUNGSTER ALSO SENT ME HIS
BUSINESS CARD.3
SPYING HAS CAPTURED THE IMAGINATION AND ENGAGED THE TALENTS OF
AMERICANS SINCE THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. I HAVE A FACSIMILE COPY OF A
LETTER THAT GEORGE WASHINGTON WROTE TO MAJOR TALLMADGE ON
SEPTEMBER 24, 1779, IN WHICH HE OUTLINED SOME OF HIS THOUGHTS ABOUT
THE NEED FOR. AND THE REQUIREMENTS OF, GOOD INTELLIGENCE WORK. AND
I MAY AS WELL CONFESS TO YOU THAT MY OWN ANCESTOR, KATIE MONTGOMERY,
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WAS A SPY IN GEORGE WASHINGTON'S ARMY AND CARRIED MESSAGES IN HER
CLOTHING ACROSS THE ENEMY LINES. AND THAT, AS IT HAPPENS, IS MY
CLAIM TO EXPERTISE.
BUT AS FASCINATED AS AMERICANS ARE BY SPYING, THEY ARE OFTEN
SKEPTICAL AS WELL AND WANT TO DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM THE HARSHER
ASPECTS OF INTELLIGENCE. MY GOOD FRIEND GENERAL VERNON WALTERS,
FORMER DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE CIA AND NOW OUR AMBASSADOR TO THE
UNITED NATIONS, DESCRIBES THE VIEW MANY HAVE OF THE WHOLE
INTELLIGENCE BUSINESS: "AMERICANS," HE OBSERVED, "HAVE ALWAYS HAD
AN AMBIVALENT ATTITUDE TOWARD INTELLIGENCE, WHEN THEY FEEL
THREATENED, THEY WANT A LOT OF IT, AND WHEN THEY DON'T, THEY TEND TO
REGARD THE WHOLE THING AS SOMEWHAT IMMORAL." I THINK HIS COMMENTS
ARE RIGHT ON THE MARK. MY IMPRESSION IS THAT MOST AMERICANS, AT
THIS TIME, WANT A LOT OF INTELLIGENCE. AND TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO
TELL YOU WHY AND IN WHAT WAYS SPYING HAS NEVER BEEN MORE IMPORTANT
TO OUR COUNTRY. IT IS IMPORTANT IN PROVIDING INTELLIGENCE FOR OUR
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DEFENSE, IMPORTANT IN PROVIDING THE INTELLIGENCE THAT MAKES ARMS
CONTROL POSSIBLE, AND IMPORTANT IN PROVIDING THE SUPPORT NECESSARY
TO FORMULATE AND IMPLEMENT FOREIGN POLICY. OUR SUPPORT RANGES FROM
PROVIDING TIMELY ANALYSIS, TO IMPLEMENTING POLICY THROUGH COVERT
ACTION, TO SECURING THE SAFETY OF OUR EMPLOYEES ABROAD, TO
PROTECTING AGAINST HOSTILE PENETRATIONS THROUGH AGGRESSIVE
COUNTERINTELLIGENCE. BUT I HAVE ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT WHATEVER WE
ARE CALLED TO DO IN THE INTERESTS OF OUR NATION, WE MUST DO IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS AND THE CONSTITUTION THAT GOVERN US. AND
THIS ADHERENCE TO LAW HAS BEEN AND WILL BE OUR CHARGE AND OUR
- STANDARD.
I CANNOT REMEMBER, IN THE TEN YEARS I HAVE BEEN IN WASHINGTON, A
TIME WHEN THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS OCCURRING
ALMOST SIMULTANEOUSLY -- THE SOVIET WITHDRAWAL FROM AFGHANISTAN, THE
ARMS CONTROL INITIATIVES, ALL THE PROBLEMS IN CENTRAL AMERICA,
AFRICA, AND THE MIDDLE EAST, THE EMERGENCE OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC
OF CHINA AS A MAJOR ARMS SUPPLIER -- A WHOLE RANGE OF ISSUES.
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OF PARTICULAR CONCERN JUST NOW IS THE SITUATION IN THE PERSIAN
GULF -- A SITUATION MADE EVEN MORE VOLATILE BY THE RECENT INCIDENT
INVOLVING THE IRANIAN AIRBUS. :WE ARE NOW ---AND.HAVE_BEEN --
PROVIDING DAILY TACTICAL INTELLIGENCE SUPPORT TO NAVAL FORCES
OPERATING WITH THE U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND. OUR SUPPORT HAS INCLUDED
REPORTS ON IRANIAN ANTISHIP CRUISE MISSILE SITES, NAVAL BASES,
AIRFIELDS, AND COASTAL DEFENSE INSTALLATIONS. AS A RESULT, OUR
FORCES HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY CARRY OUT U.S. FOREIGN POLICY,
PROTECTING OUR OWN SECURITY INTERESTS AND THOSE OF OUR ALLIES.
I MIGHT ADD THAT WE ARE ENCOURAGED BY IRAN'S_ANNOUNCEMENT
EARLIER THIS WEEK THAT IT WILL ACCEPT U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION 598, WHICH CALLS FOR A CEASE-FIRE IN THE IRAN-IRAQ WAR.
WHILE WE WELCOME THIS DEVELOPMENT, THE ANIMOSITIES BUILT UP OVER
EIGHT YEARS OF BITTER CONFLICT WILL NOT SUDDENLY DISAPPEAR. THERE
IS NO DOUBT THAT A DIFFICULT PROCESS LIES AHEP.IN GETTING BOTH IRAN
AND IRAQ TO COMPLY FULLY WITH THE TERMS OF A CEASE-FIRE AGREEMENT,
AND SUBSEQUENTLY WORK TOWARD A PEACE TREATY.
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I RECENTLY RETURNED FROM A TWO-WEEK TRIP TO WESTERN EUROPE WHERE
I MET WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF OUR ARMED FORCES AND NATO ALLIES.
THIS TRIP REINFORCED FOR ME THE IMMENSE VALUE OF OUR INTELLIGENCE
SUPPORT, NOT ONLY WITHIN THE U.S. INTELLIGENCE AND POLICY COMMUNITY,
BUT WITHIN NATO.
VISITS I HAVE MADE WITHIN OUR OWN COUNTRY HAVE ALSO BROUGHT HOME
THE IMPORTANCE OF INTELLIGENCE TO OUR NATIONAL DEFENSE. SOME OF YOU
MAY HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT NORAD, ONE OF OUR PRINCIPAL
EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS. NORAD IS LOCATED, AS YOU KNOW, IN THE
CHEYENNE MOUNTAINS IN COLORADO SPRINGS. MY GOOD FRIEND BOBBY INMAN
. URGED ME TO VISIT NORAD SOON AFTER I BECAME THE DIRECTOR OF THE
CIA. A DAY THERE CAN'T HELP BUT MAKE ONE AWARE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF
EARLY WARNINGS. IN TERMS OF SURVIVAL, WE MUST NOW THINK IN TERMS OF
MINUTES RATHER THAN HOURS OR DAYS. I 'HAVE VISITED OTHER DEFENSE
FACILITIES, INCLUDING THE STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND IN OMAHA AND
CINCLANT IN NORFOLK. THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT INTELLIGENCE IS
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EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO THE COMMANDERS AND STAFFS OF THESE VITAL
MILITARY INSTALLATIONS.
AT CINCLANT, I SPENT SOME TIME ON THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER
"JOHN F. KENNEDY" AND ON A NUCLEAR SUBMARINE. THINGS ARE SURE
DIFFERENT THAN THEY WERE WHEN I SERVED-ASA LIEUTENANT IN THE U.S.
NAVY. I COULD NOT THEN HAVE IMAGINED. EITHERTHE MILITARY OR THE
TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES THAT WE HAVE TODAY.
OUR NATION'S SATELLITES, FOR EXAMPLE, HAVE THE ABILITY TO
IDENTIFY B-52'S, GARRISON FORCES, OR EVEN A GROUP OF PEOPLE LIKE
THOSE GATHERED AROUND THIS LAKE.4 AND NOWHERE HAS THE IMPORTANCE
OF OUR TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES BEEN MORE EVIDENT THAN_IN OUR WORK IN
THE AREA OF ARMS CONTROL.
THE CIA WAS A MAJOR PLAYER IN THE CONCLUSION OF THE INF TREATY
-- THE FIRST TREATY IN HISTORY THAT CALLS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF AN
ENTIRE CLASS OF WEAPONS. WE PROVIDED EXPERTISE TO THE U.S.
NEGOTIATING TEAM IN GENEVA, AND FURNISHED BOTH CONGRESS AND THE
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ADMINISTRATION WITH CRITICAL INFORMATION THROUGHOUT THE RATIFICATION
PROCESS. OUR ANALYSTS HAVE PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN THE OVERALL
VERIFICATION EFFORT. AND WE HAVE GIVEN ANALYTICAL AND TRAINING
SUPPORT TO THOSE WHO ARE PARTICIPATING IN ON-SITE INSPECTIONS. BUT
WE KNOW THAT THE INF TREATY IS ONLY THE BEGINNING. ARMS CONTROL
ISSUES -- VERIFICATION AND MONITORING -- WILL CONTINUE TO-DRIVE THE
RESOURCES OF THE AGENCY WELL INTO THE NEXT DECADE, AND PROBABLY THE
NEXT CENTURY.
THROUGH TIMELY INTELLIGENCE COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS, THE AGENCY
HAS PROVIDED ADVANCE WARNING OF WEAPONS AND WEAPONS SYSTEMS ACQUIRED
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. FOR EXAMPLE, WE GAVE ADVANCE WARNING OF THE
MOST RECENT IRAQI OFFENSIVES IN THE IRAN-IRAQ WAR, CORRECTLY
ANALYZING THE INCREASED RELIANCE ON CHEMICAL WEAPONS.
WE ALSO DISCOVERED THE SALE AND IMPENDING SHIPMENT OF
CHINESE-MADE BALLISTIC MISSILES TO SAUDI ARABIA. BY PIECING
TOGETHER EVIDENCE FROM BOTH CHINA AND SAUDI ARABIA, WE WERE ABLE TO
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TELL THE COMPLETE STORY MONTHS BEFORE ANY OF THE MISSILES BECAME
OPERATIONAL. OUR ON-THE-SCENE INTELLIGENCE SUPPORT IN THE PERSIAN
GULF HAS DRAWN HIGH PRAISE FROM U.S. NAVAL COMMANDERS.
WHILE MUCH OF OUR INTELLIGENCE COMES FROM TECHNICAL MEANS, WE
CANNOT 0G- WITHOUT-INFORMATION-FROM HUMAN'SOURCES. IN FACT,
PROVIDING INSIGHTS INTO HUMAN MOTIVATION HAS ALWAYS BEEN WHAT MAKES
INTELLIGENCE AS MUCH ART AS CRAFT. AND IT DEMANDS AN UNUSUAL AMOUNT
OF APLOMB. I HAVE SEEN THE MARVELOUS DEVICES THAT CAN BE USED IN
THE INTERESTS OF TRADECRAFT, BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT NOTHING IS
FOOLPROOF. I WAS RECENTLY TOLD OF A YOUNG OFFICER WHO WAS MEETING
HIS AGENT IN THE DARK OF NIGHT IN A STRANGE LAND SOMEWHERE EAST OF
SUEZ. THE TWO WERE DRIVING THROUGH 105 DEGREE TEMPERATURE
--SOMETHING LIKE WASHINGTON THIS SUMMER -- AND THE OFFICER WAS
WEARING A CONSIDERABLE HEAD OF HAIR (WHICH BELONGED TO HIM) AND A
MUSTACHE (WHICH BELONGED TO US). THIS NIGHT, AS THEY DROVE STEADILY
THROUGH THE MUGGY AIR, OUR MAN FELT THE PERSPIRATION RUNNING OFF HIS
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BROW, DOWN HIS FACE, AND OVER HIS LIP. FINALLY: OUR MUSTACHE
DROPPED IN HIS LAP. UNPERTURBED, OUR MAN DROVE ON. HIS AGENT, IN A
CALM, UNHURRIED MANNER NOTED, "SIR, YOUR MUSTACHE HAS FALLEN OFF!"
THE CASE OFFICER MADE THE ONLY DECISION A MAN OF "SAVOIR FAIRE"
COULD MAKE -- A BRIEF "ANA! -SO IT HAS. -HE REACHED ONTO HIS LAP,
PICKED UP THE MUSTACHE, AND PUT IT IN HIS BREAST POCKET. WE MAY
HAVE SATELLITES THAT CIRCLE THE GLOBE, BUT THE SECRET OF AN
EFFECTIVE SPIRIT GUM STILL ELUDES US.5
BUT WE HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF MAJOR SUCCESSES THIS YEAR,
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MY POINT AT THE OUTSET WAS THAT SPYING HAS NEVER BEEN OF MORE
IMPORTANCE TO OUR COUNTRY. BUT I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT HOW THE CIA
CARRIES OUT ITS RESPONSIBILITIES IS.OF EQUAL-IMPORTANCE TO OUR
COUNTRY. WE MUST MAINTAIN ABSOLUTE FIDELITY TO OUR CONSTITUTION, TO
OUR LAWS, AND OUR RULES -- RULES IMPOSED TO ENSURE OUR CITIZENS THAT
WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE. I DO NOT THINK THAT THE CIA IS EXEMPT FROM THIS
PRINCIPLE. IN FACT, I BELIEVE THAT IT IS THE KEY TO PUBLIC
ACCEPTANCE OF OUR VITALLY NECESSARY WORK.
UNDER LAW IT IS OUR DUTY TO NOTIFY THE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEES
OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE -- IN A TIMELY FASHION -- OF ANY SIGNIFICANT
INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES. THIS INCLUDES ANY ACTIVITIES REQUIRING A
PRESIDENTIAL FINDING. JUST WHAT CONSTITUTES TIMELY IS A MATTER OF
CONCERN BOTH TO CONGRESS AND TO THE ADMINISTRATION. THE HOUSE IS
CONSIDERING, AND THE SENATE HAS APPROVED, LEGISLATION THAT WOULD
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REQUIRE NOTIFICATION OF A SPECIAL ACTIVITY TO CONGRESS WITHIN 48
HOURS OF A PRESIDENTIAL FINDING.
I ANTICIPATE THAT THE PRESIDENT WILL VETO THIS LEGISLATION.
THERE IS A SERIOUS CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTION HERE. THIS IS NOT MY
PROBLEM TO ARGUE, BUT IT EXISTS NONETHELESS. ADDITIONALLY, SOME
ALLOWANCE MUST BE MADE FOR THAT RARE CASE WHERE LIMITED DELAY IN
CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION IS CRITICAL TO PRESERVE THE ABSOLUTE
SECURITY OF AN OPERATION -- WHEN, FOR EXAMPLE, LIVES ARE AT STAKE,
AND THIRD COUNTRY SOURCES, WHICH SUPPLY THE INFORMATION AND PROVIDE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE LIVES, REFUSE TO ALLOW US TO CONVEY THAT
INFORMATION TO THE CONGRESS.
THE PRESIDENT, IN HIS NATIONAL SECURITY DECISION DIRECTIVE,
PROVIDES THAT IF HE DOES NOT NOTIFY CONGRESS WITHIN 48 HOURS, HE
MUST REVIEW THAT DECISION EVERY 10 DAYS. IN MY EXPERIENCE ON THE
BENCH, AND IN THE EXERCISE OF DISCRETION, I THINK THAT THE EMPHASIS
ON REVIEW IS KEY. IF YOU EXERCISE DISCRETION, YOU DON'T EXERCISE IT
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WITHOUT REVIEW. IF YOU HAVE A DUTY TO EXERCISE DISCRETION, YOU MUST
REVIEW YOUR DECISION. AND IN THIS CASE, THE PRESIDENT HAS AGREED
THAT HIS DECISION WILL BE REVIEWED EVERY 10 DAYS UNTIL CONGRESS CAN
BE NOTIFIED.
BUT THE CIA'S RELATIONSHIP WITH CONGRESS --ON 'THIS AND OTHER
ISSUES -- IS CRUCIAL. BECAUSE I KNOW OF THE NEED TO BE ABSOLUTELY
CANDID WITH CONGRESS, AND THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT INTELLIGENCE
PROFESSIONALS HAVE TO PROTECT SOURCES AND METHODS, I HAVE
ESTABLISHED GUIDELINES GOVERNING OUR DEALINGS WITH CONGRESS. AND I
HAVE MADE IT ABSOLUTELY CLEAR THAT IN DEALING WITH CONGRESS THERE IS
NO EXCUSE FOR DECEPTION.
WE WILL NOT GIVE HALF-ANSWERS OR AROUND-THE-CORNER ANSWERS TO
CONGRESS. IF THERE IS A PROBLEM, WE WILL SAY THERE IS A PROBLEM.
AND THAT WE CANNOT ANSWER THE QUESTION AT THIS TIME. BUT WE WILL
NOT LEAVE THE CONGRESS FEELING THAT IN SOME WAY WE HAVE BEEN
DISINGENUOUS WITH THEM. I THINK TENSION BETWEEN CONGRESS AND THE
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EXECUTIVE BRANCH WILL ALWAYS EXIST, BUT WE WILL BE ABLE TO WORK IT
OUT IF THERE IS AN ELEMENT OF TRUST IN THE HONESTY OF THE STATEMENTS
WE MAKE.
THE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION WE PROVIDE TO CONGRESS IS
SUBSTANTIAL. FIFTEEN YEARS AGO: WE GAVE 175 BRIEFINGS TO CONGRESS.
LAST YEAR.ALONE, WE GAVE. VER 1,000 BRIEFINGS TO THE HOUSE AND
SENATE ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS. THESE TOPICS INCLUDED ARMS CONTROL
ISSUES, INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM, NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING -- EVEN THE
SPREAD OF AIDS IN AFRICA. IN THE LAST YEAR THE CIA SENT OVER 5,000
INTELLIGENCE REPORTS TO CONGRESS.
DURING THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS, WE WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE
POLICYMAKERS AND CONGRESS WITH INTELLIGENCE ON CRITICAL ISSUES
FACING US.
WE WILL BE MONITORING AND REPORTING ON THE SOVIET WITHDRAWAL
FROM AFGHANISTAN AND ITS EFFECTS ON THAT COUNTRY. WE WILL ALSO BE
PROVIDING INSIGHT INTO WHAT GORBACHEV'S EMPHASIS ON "NEW THINKING"
IMPLIES FOR HIS OWN COUNTRY AND FOR THE WORLD.
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WE ANTICIPATE GREATER INSTABILITY AHEAD IN BOTH DEMOCRATIC AND
AUTHORITARIAN COUNTRIES AND WILL BE LOOKING AT POLITICAL CHANGES.
THAT COULD AFFECT U.S. INTERESTS. IN THE FAR EAST, FOR EXAMPLE, THE
STABILITY OF THE PHILIPPINES CONTINUES TO BE A MAJOR CONCERN. AND,
IN SOUTH KOREA, WHICH IS TROUBLED BY INTERNAL DISSENT AND THE THREAT
OF HOSTILE ACTION FROM THE NORTH, WE WILL BE EVEN MORE WATCHFUL AS
THE OLYMPIC GAMES IN SEOUL APPROACH. IN THE PERSIAN GULF, WE EXPECT
POLITICAL INFIGHTING TO INTENSIFY WHEN KHOMEINI DIES.
WE CANNOT ANTICIPATE ALL THE DEMANDS THAT WILL BE MADE OF US, NO
MATTER HOW OR WHERE WE SERVE. ONE DAY, THE LEADER OF THE MILITARY
BAND AT A MAJOR U.S. INTERNATIONAL COMMAND CALLED CIA HEADQUARTERS
TO SEE WHETHER THE AGENCY HAD THE SCORE OF THE NATIONAL ANTHEM OF A
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SMALL AFRICAN COUNTRY. ONE OF THE SENIOR LEADERS FROM THAT COUNTRY
WAS PAYING THE COMMAND A VISIT. SURE ENOUGH, OUR LIBRARY HAD THE
NATIONAL ANTHEM AND TOLD THE BAND LEADER SO. THERE WAS A LONG PAUSE
ON THE TELEPHONE WHILE THE BAND LEADER WAS PRESUMABLY THINKING HOW
HE WOULD GET THE NECESSARY MUSIC. FINALLY, HE BLURTED OUT: "COULD
YOU SING IT TO ME PLEASE?"6
I DON'T KNOW HOW WELL THE RESEARCHER WAS ABLE TO SING THE
ANTHEM, BUT I KNOW WE ANSWERED THE REQUEST. AND GIVEN THE QUALITY
OF THE PEOPLE I'VE SEEN DURING MY 14 MONTHS AT THE CIA, IT DOESN'T
SURPRISE ME THAT WE WERE ABLE TO RESPOND.
OUR MACHINES, OUR SYSTEMS, AND OUR SATELLITES ARE THE WONDERS OF
THE AGE. BUT INTELLIGENCE IS PREEMINENTLY AN AFFAIR OF PEOPLE. IT
IS THE CALIBER OF THE MEN AND WOMEN OF AMERICAN INTELLIGENCE --
THEIR CREATIVITY. DETERMINATION, BRILLIANCE, AND COURAGE -- THAT
SPELLS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SUCCESS AND FAILURE.
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I HOPE THAT WE CONTINUE TO ATTRACT THOSE BEST SUITED TO CARRY
OUT OUR MISSION -- PEOPLE WHO ARE RISK TAKERS, BUT NOT RISK
SEEKERS. ,PEOPLE WHO ARE DEDICATED AND RESPONSIVE TO OUR LAW AND
DISCIPLINE. PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND AND PLAY BY THE RULES. PEOPLE TO
WHOM FAME AND FORTUNE IS NOT PARTICULARLY A NECESSARY PART OF THEIR
LIFE, BUT WHO.. CAN FIND IN OUR WORK AN AVENUE TO PURSUE THEIR HIGHEST
ASPIRATIONS FOR A SAFER AND A BETTER WORLD.
WITH SUCH PEOPLE WE CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE INTELLIGENCE
THAT POLICYMAKERS NEED TO MAKE WISE DECISIONS IN THE INTERESTS OF
OUR COUNTRY. PROVIDING INFORMATION TO MAKE WISE DECISIONS IS A
SIMPLE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION, "WHY SPY?" A MORE ELOQUENT ANSWER
WAS GIVEN BY SIR WILLIAM STEPHENSON, AN OLD FRIEND, IN THE
INTRODUCTION OF A BOOK WRITTEN ABOUT HIM SOME YEARS AGO. IN THE
INTRODUCTION TO A MAN CALLED INTREPID, SIR WILLIAM WROTE:
PERHAPS A DAY WILL DAWN WHEN TYRANTS CAN NO LONGER THREATEN THE
LIBERTY OF ANY PEOPLE. WHEN THE FUNCTION OF ALL NATIONS, HOWEVER
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VARIED THEIR IDEOLOGIES, WILL BE TO ENHANCE LIFE NOT TO CONTROL IT.
IF SUCH A CONDITION IS POSSIBLE, IT IS IN A FUTURE TOO FAR DISTANT
TO FORESEE. UNTIL THAT SAFER, BETTER DAY, THE DEMOCRACIES WILL
AVOID DISASTER AND POSSIBLE TOTAL DESTRUCTION ONLY BY MAINTAINING
THEIR DEFENSES. AMONG THE INCREASINGLY-INTRICATE ARSENALS ACROSS
THE_WORLD?INTELLIGENCE IS AN. ESSENTIAL WEAPON.. PERHAPS THE MOST
IMPORTANT. BUT IT IS, BEING SECRET, THE MOST DANGEROUS. SAFEGUARDS
TO PREVENT ITS ABUSE MUST BE DEVISED, REVISED, AND RIGIDLY APPLIED.
BUT AS IN ALL ENTERPRISE, THE CHARACTER AND WISDOM OF THOSE TO WHOM
IT IS ENTRUSTED WILL BE DECISIVE. IN THE INTEGRITY-OF THAT
GUARDIANSHIP LIES THE HOPE OF FREE PEOPLE TO ENDURE AND PREVAIL."
21
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/05/14: CIA-RDP99-00777R000400770001-6
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/05/14: CIA-RDP99-00777R000400770001-6
FOOTNOTES
1 Judge Webster mentioned President Reagan's comments about Tom Clancy's
new book, The Cardinal of the Kremlin, during a-luncheon with his
speechwriters on 13 July 1988.
2 The letter from a convicted felon who applied for a job as a security
escort officer at the Agency was addressed to Judge Webster. The letter is
attached.
3 The letter from a nine-year-old boy interested in becoming a spy was
sent to the Agency in March, 1987. The letter is attached.
4 The unclassified description of the capabilities of
satellites was provided by Roger Marsh, executive officer
Development and Engineering in the Directorate of Science
15 July 1988.
our nation's
of the Office of
and Technology, on
5 The story about the case officer whose mustache fell off was drawn
from the Agency's Historical Intelligence Collection.
6 The story about the Agency researcher who was able to provide a U.S.
military band commander with the the national anthem of a small African
country was drawn from the Agency's Historical Intelligence Collection.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/05/14: CIA-RDP99-00777R000400770001-6
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/05/14: CIA-RDP99-00777R000400770001-6
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