Introduction to the Pike Papers
by AARON LATHAM
the village VOICE
February 11, 1976
It may surprise some to discover that the largest single category of covert activity concerned tampering with free elections around the world. These election operations make up a full 32 percent of the covert action projects approved by the Forty Committee since 1965. The report says the operations usually mean "providing some form of financial election support to foreign parties and individuals. Such support could be negative as well as positive." Most of the money has gone to developing countries and generally "to incumbent moderate party leaders and heads of state." One "Third World leader" received $960,000 over a l4-year period.
The second largest covert action category is "media and propaganda." The committee found that 29 percent of the covert projects approved by the Forty Committee fell under this heading. The report says: "Activities have included support of friendly media, major propaganda efforts, insertion of articles into he local press, and distribution of books and leaflets. By far the largest single recipient has been a European publishing house funded since 1951... About 25 percent of the program has been directed at the Soviet Bloc, in the publication and clandestine import and export of Western and Soviet dissident literature."
The third largest category is "Paramilitary/Arms Transfers." These make up 23 percent of the total Forty Committee-approved. covert action, projects. Although these rank third in total numbers they rank first in expense. The committee report states: "By far the most interesting, and important fact to emerge was the recognition that the great majority of these covert action projects were proposed by parties outside CIA. Many of these programs were summarily ordered, over CIA objections. CIA misgivings, however, were at times weakly expressed, as the CIA is afflicted with a 'can do' attitude."
Contents
The Select Committee’s Investigation Record
Pike Committee, 1976
This document was an internal document that was leaked to the Village Voice
Part 2c. Manipulation of the Media
The free flow of information, vital to a responsible and credible press, has been threatened as a result of CIA’s use of the world media for cover and for clandestine information-gathering.
There are disturbing indications that the accuracy of many news stories has been undermined as well. Information supplied to the Committee suggests that some planted, falsified articles have reached readers in the U.S.
Intelligence agencies have long prized journalists as informants and identity-covers. Newsmen generally enjoy great mobility, and are often admitted to areas denied to ordinary businessmen or to suspected intelligence types. Not expected to work in one fixed location, both bona fide journalists and masquerading intelligence officers can move about without arousing suspicions. They also have extraordinary access to important foreign leaders and diplomats.
CIA, as no doubt every other major intelligence agency in the world, has manipulated the media. Full-time foreign correspondents for major U.S. publications have worked covertly for CIA, passing along information received in the normal course of their regular jobs and even, on occasion travelling to otherwise non-newsworthy areas to acquire data. Far more prevalent is the Agency's practice of retaining free-lancers and "stringers" as informants. A stringer working in a less-newsworthy country could supply stories to a newspaper, radio, and a weekly magazine, none of whom can justify a full-time correspondent. This may make the use of stringers even more insidious than exploitation of full-time journalists.
The Committee has learned that the employment of newsmen by CIA is usually without the knowledge or agreement of the employers back in the U.S. Publishers have been unable, despite strenuous effort, to learn from the Agency, which, if any of their employees have had a clandestine intelligence function. Newsmen-informants apparently do not often disclose this relationship to their editors. The Committee has learned of cases in which informants moved from one bona fide press position to another without ever making employers aware of their past or present CIA status.
CIA acknowledges that "stringers," and others with whom the Agency has a relationship are often directed to insert Agency-composed "news" articles into foreign publications and wire services. U.S. intelligence officials do not rule out the possibility that these planted stories may find their way into American newspapers from time to time, but insist that CIA does not intentionally propagandize in this country. CIA insensitivity to the possibility of its adultering news digested by Americans is indicated by its frequent manipulation of Reuters wire service dispatches – which regularly appear in U.S. media. Because Reuters is British, it is considered fair game.
A number of CIA officers employed by U.S. and foreign publications write nothing at all. Their journalistic affiliation is a "cover" – a sham arrangement making possible full-time clandestine work for the Agency. With these arrangements, the employer’s cooperation has been obtained.
After the Washington Star-News discovered a CIA-media relationship in 1973, Director Colby ordered a review of these practices. Subsequently, the Agency terminated the informant relationships of five full-time employees of American periodicals. Stringers and free-lancers are still on the payroll, despite their periodic reporting for a U.S. media usually unaware of the writer’s CIA connection.
The use of American press enterprises as a cover has been tightened somewhat. No longer, for example, can a CIA officer in the field arrange for cover without headquarters approval.
Director Colby, citing the Agency’s continuing need for reliable information and the increasing reluctance of private firms and the government to provide cover, has maintained that the recent reforms have reduced risks to an unacceptable level.
495 William E. Colby, Director of Central Intelligence, told members of the Committee staff at an October 25, 1975 meeting, that the Agency plants propaganda in the foreign press including English-language newspapers and can not be inhibited by the possibility that these planted stories may be picked up by American news services, etc.
498 The Deputy Director of Operations at the CIA explained that the Agency wants as few people as possible to know the Agency’s sources. Therefore, the CIA considers "stringers" and free-lancers to be free agents, working for many employers and so there is no necessity for the CIA to inform a "stringer’s" or free-lancer’s publisher of his other employer (CIA). Committee staff meeting on October 25, 1975.
499 An ex-CIA Chief of Station explained that our American media assets ". . . are given neither Agency guidance nor information which might influence a piece written for an American audience. These people are used entirely for intelligence gathering purposes, and are free to write what they would have written had there been no connection with the Agency... This method is quite different from our handling of foreign media assets writing for foreign audiences where Agency influence over the content of certain articles is selectively applied." He further states, "CIA will undertake no activity in which there is a risk of influencing domestic public opinion either directly or indirectly." But he turns around in the next sentence to say: "The Agency does have a responsibility for undertaking certain propaganda activities in foreign countries." Director Colby emphatically stated on October 5, 1975 to members of the Committee staff and Congressman Johnson that he "differentiates between AP and Reuters. I consider AP to be an American wire service and therefore off limits...but Reuters is a foreign wire service." It was pointed out to Director Colby that Reuters, a British wire service, was frequently used by American media, but this fact did not change his mind. In an effort to assure that official Washington is not deceived by planted articles in the foreign press, CIA maintains high-level liaison with the Department of State and the U.S. Information Agency to identify spurious stories.
500 The CIA’s Cover and Commercial staff files show that in 1975, 11 CIA employees used media cover with 15 news field companies—TV, radio, newspapers, and magazines. Five of these are of major general news impact, nine of no major general news influence, and one a proprietary.
501 When the CIA had fiduciary relations with five full-time correspondents of major American news organizations, three of their employers were unwitting, according to William E. Colby...
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