Clinton Marks CIA's 50th Anniversary

LANGLEY, Va. (AllPolitics, Sep. 16) -- It's no secret that the Central Intelligence Agency is about to celebrate its golden anniversary.

The spy agency will turn 50 years old on Thursday, and President Bill Clinton marked the anniversary with a visit today to CIA headquarters in Langley, Va.

With the CIA still reeling from some highly publicized double agents and intelligence failures, Clinton tried to pump up its employees during this 50th anniversary week. "As your first customer, let me reiterate, I depend on unique, accurate intelligence more than ever," he said.

"By necessity, the American people will never know the full story of your courage. You labor in obscurity by choice and design, serving with quiet patriotism that seeks neither spotlight nor praise," the president continued.

Now that the era of Cold War espionage is over, Clinton said, the agency faces new challenges like terrorism, nuclear proliferation and drug interdiction.

"You have risen to these challenges," he said. "In Bosnia, your information and analysis has helped our commanders to protect our troops and to give peace a chance to take hold. In North Korea, you warned us of their dangerous nuclear program and gave us the information we need to negotiate a halt to it.

"In Russia and the newly independent states, your support has helped us to lower the nuclear threat and to promote democracy and market reform. And here in our hemisphere, your work with law enforcement has helped us to capture every top drug lord of the Colombian Cali cartel," Clinton said.

The president also praised CIA cooperation with other law enforcement agencies to track down global terrorists. Clinton cited the example of Mir Aimal Kansi, the suspected gunman who killed two people and injured three others outside of CIA headquarters in January 1993.

"You showed that America will not rest in tracking down terrorists who use violence against our people, no matter how long it takes or where they hide. And I thank you for that," Clinton said.

After speaking to CIA employees, Clinton toured an exhibit of spycraft, where the artifacts included a Soviet lipstick-pistol.

CNN's Wolf Blitzer contributed to this report.

In Other News:

Tuesday Sept. 16, 1997

• Coffee Attendee Says Huang Made Pitch For Funds
• House Fund-Raising Hearings Delayed
• Clinton To Announce His Tobacco Pact Changes Wednesday
• Republicans Focus On IRS Reform
• Clinton Marks CIA's 50th Anniversary
• Interest Groups Spent A Bundle On '96 Campaign Ads

E-mail From Washington:
• Reno Shakes Up Justice Probe
• Whitman Spending Millions In Re-election Bid
• Immunity Requests Could Delay House Hearings