ON THE CIA S LACK OF '20/20 FORESIGHT'

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP99-00498R000300100007-4
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 28, 2007
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: December 1, 1978
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Approved For Release 2007/03/01: CIA-RDP99-00498R000300100007-4
Article appeared
on page A-18
THE WASHINGTON POST
1 December 1978
On the CIA's. Lack-of `20120 Foresight'
Press reports have told us the presi- for their unique capabilities
But there
.
.`dent is distressed about the failure of is no. technological substitute for the-.
the CIA to have predicted the recent man-or the woman-on the spot.
.turmoil in Iran, and has expressed that 'Revolts, revolutions, and terrorist- at
distress in strong'terms to Adm. Stans tacks are not customarily developed by
'field Turner, director of the CIA. ''- machines. In deliberately cutting our
Mr. Carter does not have far to look 'intelligence system off from the bars;
.";for the. answer., Some, months ago, it coffee houses and other non-technical
;will be recalled Adm,. Turner under. places where indications. of intentions
took a massive 'reorganization of the -as: distinguished from capabilities-.
':CIA. He did it bythrowing out several ? are mostapt;to be picked up,,we have
hundred top,, seasoned?"operational'. left- ourselves, as in. the case of Iran,
,voted chiefly to the personal'collection Even at best intelligence. is ari inex-
,. of intelligence. abroad, mostiy.by clan act and difficult business,-and to expect
destine means.; .The: reasons,-; we were 20/20 foresight in every,, case- is to ex
told, was that with all the highly sophis- pect.the impossible. The Israeli intelli-
ticated. electronic a'nd. photographic in-, gence - service,. one:. of the best in the
telligence-collection;? methods....-.. now. world, failed to anticipate the. Yom Kip-
available tows because of our superior pur war; But the'soonerwe recognize:
American technology, ,therei~?was ? no- > that. no-intelligence agency,
,can, possi-
l
onger any need for the more messy bly succeed without generous portions -
and inexact procedures of personal col- of the most traditional and essential in-
election. gredients of that ancient'artnamely,";
mental error on the part of a man with other humanbeings he
safer
this-
.
.
no significant .experience in ;or- under- United States of ours will be:
wonaers, ana.we should all be,grateful Washington ;:,,,,;' M,q t=z Y