Word: covert
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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With extraordinary security provisions in effect, the panel heard first from unnamed U.S. officials involved in covert operations, then questionedCIA Deputy Director Robert Gates for more thanfour hours...
...another development, CIA spokesman GeorgeLauder denied a published report that the CIAcomingled profits from the Iran sales in the sameaccount with funds for covert support for rebelsfighting the Soviet-backed government ofAfghanistan...
Lauder added that "CIA received no profits fromany transaction with the Iranians, nor were anyfunds that passed through agency hands diverted tothe Contras or any other covert action program...
...Washington, as in nature, every action tends to elicit an opposite reaction; but unlike nature, political reactions may not be equal. Already there are reports that legislation is being readied to rein in the NSC advisor and his staff. One idea is to prohibit their carrying out covert operations; another would be to require that the NSC advisor and possibly his top aides be made subject to Senate confirmation and make themselves available for congressional hearings, requirements from which they have been exempt as members of the White House staff...
...panel established by President Reagan under the chairmanship of former Senator John Tower would be wise to eschew endorsing such steps. Although responsibility for covert operations properly belongs in normal intelligence channels, formal constraints on the activities of presidental staff could set an undesirable precedent. More important, legislation might have the effect of restricting secret diplomatic efforts that in some circumstances would be in the nation's interest...