Developing Informants Necessary for Counterterrorism » Publications » Family Security Matters

Developing Informants Necessary for Counterterrorism » Publications » Family Security Matters

In 1995, President Bill Clinton composed and signed an executive order prohibiting CIA officers from utilizing "unsavory characters" as informants? In other words, while gathering information or undergoing covert operations, intelligence officers overseas could not develop "assets" who were themselves terrorists, gunrunners, drug traffickers, organized crime gang leaders and members, or other denizens of the international underworld.

Besides Clinton, who was behind such obvious lunacy? It was then-Congressman Bob Torricelli (D-NJ), who prior to capturing a seat in the U.S. Senate attempted to pass a bill limiting CIA operations in 1995. It couldn't pass because of the Gingrich-led GOP victory in both houses of congress, so President Clinton issued an executive order.

Thanks to Clinton and Democrat lawmakers the CIA was prohibited from recruiting unsavory characters to penetrate terrorist cells .Under Clinton, the CIA was told to stop focusing on spying and start focusing on politically-correct goals such as climate change.