The lack of intelligence
in Washington
[Letter submitted to the Washington Post, 18 January
1978]
Gentlemen:
During my Christmas visit to Washington from the "province of Michigan," I was "condemned" to listen to local news on TV and to read Washington's newspapers.* In almost every newscast and almost every newspaper, there was something about the CIA. How disgusting! I am a European-born American, and in Europe I almost never heard or read about England's MI-6, France's Deuxiemme Bureau, or any other. These organizations perform sometimes "dirty jobs," but the societies of these countries recognize the necessity for such work and support the men who perform it.
In 1945, Mr. Truman decided to drop the atomic bomb on Japan. By this "dirty" deed he saved thousands of American lives, prevented further Russian involvement in the Far East, and kept Japan from becoming another Germany. He asked simply whether the Japanese or the Americans would suffer, and decided in the national interest. Liberals will say that this was war, "dirty deeds" are not allowed in peacetime. I say that all secret organizations of all countries are always at "hot" war, a cruel and merciless war.
The enemy of the U.S.A. has the biggest intelligence apparatus of the world, the KGB. There is a special branch in the KGB with the task of executions of people all over the world (and they do not ask the American court for permission or if it is legal). The natural counterpart of the KGB in this country is the CIA, FBI, and other intelligence services. It is in Russia's interest to weaken these American intelligence organizations as it will make it much easier for them to perform their work (Khrushchev: "we will bury you").
All the recent investigations and exposures which are going on about the CIA and the FBI reveal a dangerous lack of common sense. They undermine the morale of our intelligence forces and make it more difficult for these patriotic and dedicated soldiers to perform their thankless duty for our country.
I am sure the Russians are willing to pay unlimited amounts of money to diminish the effectiveness of our intelligence services, and that they will support every "fifth column" activity to weaken our intelligence work. But now, here in America, the Russians do not need to do anything ... American Senators and the news media did their dirty job free of charge! (... or maybe not?...)
Now I am happy to be back home, and my opinion is: Common sense does not live in Washington, and I have my doubts that Washington represents the country.
[Signed as Stefan Zachartowicz; cc: ABC, CBS, NBC, Sen. Frank Church, Rep. Otis Pike.]
* The conservatively-oriented Washington Times came into existence only in 1982. - Webmaster.