Hon. George J. Tenet
Director of Central Intelligence                                          Via Fax and Mail
Central Intelligence Agency
Office of Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20505

Dear Director Tenet:

The kidnapping and tragic death of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl raises a question that has over the years been a great concern to the American Society of Newspaper Editors.

We know that Mr. Pearl was not a CIA operative, and we know that the Agency issued a clear denial of any relationship. Still, Mr. Pearl was accused by his abductors of being an agent.

One way to ameliorate the possibility of such misconceptions in the future is for the CIA to declare unequivocally as policy that it will not use journalist covers for its agents. This has been done from time to time, but to our knowledge is not now being done. We would urge that the CIA make it official policy that journalist covers will not be used under any circumstances.

A change in this policy and an announcement of such is appropriate to assure the standing of newspaper journalists and, it seems to us, the integrity of the CIA.

Thank you very much for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Tim J. McGuire
ASNE President
Editor
Star Tribune, Minneapolis

Tony W. Pederson
Chair, International Committee
Executive Editor
Houston Chronicle