DATE=10/26/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-240747
TITLE=C-I-A/MIDEAST PEACE-UPDATE (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO: THE RECENTLY SIGNED PEACE AGREEMENT BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE
PALESTINIANS CALLS ON THE U-S CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY TO MAKE
SURE THE TWO SIDES ARE KEEPING THEIR PROMISES.  THIS NEW, MORE 
VISIBLE ROLE FOR THE INTELLIGENCE-GATHERING AGENCY WORRIES THE 
HEAD OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE THAT OVERSEES INTELLIGENCE MATTERS. 
BUT A FORMER SENIOR C-I-A OFFICIAL WHO IS AN EXPERT IN THE MIDDLE
EAST SAYS THE AGENCY CAN SERVE A KEY ROLE IN THE PEACE PROCESS.  
V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS.

TEXT: SENATOR RICHARD SHELBY SAYS THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
HAS PLAYED A QUIET, BEHIND-THE-SCENES ROLE IN MIDDLE EAST 
DIPLOMACY FOR MANY YEARS.  BUT SENATOR SHELBY SAYS THE NEW 
AGREEMENT REACHED LAST WEEK IN MARYLAND GIVES THE AGENCY A MORE 
VISIBLE, AND HE BELIEVES MORE DANGEROUS ROLE.  HE SAYS THE SPY 
AGENCY IS SUPPOSED TO FIND OUT WHAT IS GOING ON, NOT ARBITRATE 
BETWEEN SIDES, SERVE AS BODYGUARDS, OR IMPLEMENT POLICIES.  

MR. SHELBY CALLS THE ROLE CHANGE "TROUBLING", AND PLANS TO HOLD 
CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS ON THE MATTER.

                        /// SHELBY ACT ///

         THIS IS AN EXPANDED ROLE FOR THE CIA AND I BELIEVE IT IS
         EXPANDING THE MISSION AND I BELIEVE IT WILL PUT PEOPLE 
         IN DANGER.  THE BASIC MISSION OF THE CIA IS NOT TO DO 
         THIS, IS NOT TO GO OUT IN THE OPEN, NOT TO BE VISIBLE.  
         NOT BE AN ENFORCER OF POLICY BUT TO BE INTELLIGENCE 
         GATHERERS.

                         /// END ACT ///

SENATOR SHELBY, WHO SPOKE ON THE FOX NEWS SUNDAY PROGRAM,  IS 
CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE -- ONE OF
THE KEY COMMITTEES THAT SUPERVISES THE AGENCY'S BUDGET AND 
POLICIES.  

HOWEVER, SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT SAYS THE C-I-A'S 
ROLE OF VERIFYING COMPLIANCE WITH THE NEW AGREEMENT IS SIMILAR TO
THE AGENCY'S WORK IN PRIOR AGREEMENTS.  SHE CALLS THE ASSIGNMENT 
APPROPRIATE.  

//OPT// A U-S OFFICIAL WHO ASKED NOT TO BE IDENTIFIED SAYS THE 
C-I-A HAS BEEN TRYING TO FACILITATE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE 
ISRAELIS AND THE PALESTINIANS.  HE SAYS THE GOAL IS TO BUILD 
CONFIDENCE AND TRUST BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES.  //END OPT//

A FORMER SENIOR OFFICIAL WITH THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY 
ALSO BELIEVES THE AGENCY CAN PLAY A KEY AND CONSTRUCTIVE ROLE, 
BUT MUST DO SO WITH CARE.  GRAHAM FULLER, WHO IS NOW A CONSULTANT
FOR THE RAND CORPORATION,  SAYS THE C-I-A WILL NOW BE ABLE TO 
VERIFY WHICH SIDE IS KEEPING ITS COMMITMENTS UNDER THE AGREEMENT.

                       /// FULLER ACT ///

         THE U-S IS IN A POSITION TO VERIFY OR NOT VERIFY THE 
         COMMITMENTS THAT BOTH SIDES HAVE UNDERTAKEN IN THIS 
         AREA.  MY IMPRESSION IS THAT THE PALESTINIANS IN 
         PARTICULAR ARE PLEASED WITH THIS ROLE, BECAUSE THEIR 
         VOICE, WHICH IS RATHER WEAK COMPARED WITH THAT OF THE 
         POWERFUL ISRAELI STATE, THEIR VOICE WILL HAVE SOMEONE 
         WHO CAN SUPPORT THEM IF, IF THEY ARE FULLFILLING PART OR
         MOST OF THE COMMITMENTS THEY HAVE MADE.

                         /// END ACT ///

A SENATE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE STAFF AIDE SAYS MANY OF THE 
DETAILS OF THE C-I-A ROLE IN THE PEACE ACCORDS HAVE NOT YET BEEN 
MADE CLEAR TO MEMBERS OF THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.  HE SAYS HE 
EXPECTS THE AGENCY TO BRIEF COMMITTEE MEMBERS VERY SOON. (SIGNED)

NEB/JR/WFR

26-Oct-98 5:03 PM EST (2203 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.