CIA Director Admits Problems
Critics have long charged the CIA with tolerating, condoning and even participating in acts of cruelty and human rights violations abroad. In 1995, the CIA's director admitted some problems.
In an interview with the News & Observer, John Deutch, appointed CIA director in June 1995, said he wanted to ensure that U.S. espionage was consistent with "American interests and American values."Deutch told the Senate intelligence committee that he was concerned about charges of the CIA's "complicity in human rights abuses, payments to assets implicated in human rights abuses, actions in violation of government policy and failure to notify Congress."
Among the problems is the CIA's personnel system, which is "not attuned to attract and keep the best people," Deutch said.
Referring to allegations of CIA involvement in murders of Americans in Central America, Deutch said, "We'll start in Guatemala and work our way north, east, south and west."
The CIA's budget is part of an overall classified intelligence budget estimated at the time at $28 billion per year.
Source: "New CIA chief wants to revamp U.S. spying overseas," in the July 3, 1995, News & Observer.