DATE=5/6/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-213875
TITLE=SENATE / CIA (L)
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON'S CHOICE FOR C-I-A DIRECTOR SAYS THE
AGENCY MUST WARN AND PROTECT THE UNITED STATES AGAINST NEW
THREATS -- BUT CAN NOT YET IGNORE SOME OF ITS LONGTIME COLD WAR
RIVALS. THE NOMINEE, GEORGE TENET, IS RECEIVING A BETTER
RECEPTION ON CAPITOL HILL THAN HIS PREDECESSOR. V-O-A'S DAVID
SWAN REPORTS.
TEXT: AT A SENATE CONFIRMATION HEARING (TUESDAY), MR. TENET
OUTLINED A MODERN VISION FOR AN AGENCY MANY BELIEVE IS STILL
STRUGGLING WITH THE END OF THE COLD WAR. HE SAYS THE
INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY MUST KEEP A RELENTLESS WATCH ON STATES
LIKE IRAN, IRAQ AND NORTH KOREA -- AS WELL AS INTERNATIONAL
TERRORISTS, DRUG LORDS AND ORGANIZED CRIME.
// TENET ACT //
AND WHILE WE FOCUS ON ALL THESE TARGETS WE CAN NOT
AFFORD COMPLACENCY ABOUT THE UNFINISHED TRANSFORMATIONS
THAT ARE OCCURRING IN CHINA AND RUSSIA AS LONG AS THERE
IS ANY QUESTION ABOUT THEIR FUTURE DIRECTION OR EVEN THE
SLIGHTEST REMAINING DOUBT ABOUT THE ULTIMATE FATE OF THE
NUCLEAR WEAPONS THEY CONTROL.
// END ACT //
MR. TENET, THE SON OF (ALBANIAN) GREEK IMMIGRANTS, IS NOW THE
C-I-A'S DEPUTY DIRECTOR. HE SAYS COVERT ACTIONS ABROAD ARE A
CRUCIAL TOOL OF AMERICAN POLICY BUT MUST NOT BE THE DRIVING
FORCE AS THEY WERE IN THE IRAN-CONTRA SCANDAL.
PRESIDENT CLINTON TURNED TO MR. TENET AFTER HIS FIRST NOMINEE,
FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR ANTHONY LAKE, BACKED OUT OF A
FIERCE CONFIRMATION FIGHT. REPUBLICANS CHARGED HE KEPT CONGRESS
IN THE DARK ABOUT CRUCIAL DECISIONS ON BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA AND MAY
HAVE ALLOWED THE N-S-C TO STRAY INTO PARTISAN POLITICS. MR.
TENET SOUGHT TO ASSURE SENATORS HE WOULD KEEP THEM INFORMED AND
WOULD TELL HIS WHITE HOUSE CLIENTS THE UNVARNISHED TRUTH.
// TENET ACT //
TO THE PRESIDENT AND ALL OTHERS WHO RELY ON OUR NATION'S
INTELLIGENCE CAPABILITIES -- I WILL DELIVER
INTELLIGENCE THAT IS CLEAR AND OBJECTIVE AND DOES NOT
PULL PUNCHES. TO THE CONGRESS -- YOU CAN EXPECT
FORTHRIGHT AND CANDID VIEWS ABOUT OUR MISSION, PROGRAMS
AND PRIORITIES. I WILL NOT HOLD BACK.
// END ACT /
THE C-I-A HAS BEEN CRITICIZED ON SEVERAL FRONTS IN RECENT YEARS
-- FROM THE UNMASKING OF SOVIET MOLE (AGENT) ALDRICH AMES TO
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE AGENCY'S ROLE IN HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN
GUATEMALA. IF, AS EXPECTED, THE SENATE CONFIRMS MR. TENET, HE
WILL BE THE C-I-A'S THIRD BOSS SINCE PRESIDENT CLINTON TOOK
OFFICE.(SIGNED)
NEB/DS/KL
06-May-97 2:04 PM EDT (1804 UTC)
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