79-02-B1

- Main Page \ Reagan Radio Commentaries \ 1979

<< Previous Broadcast

Next Broadcast >>

Counterintelligence

Transcript I have commented before about what I think is the Justice Department's foolishness in rendering our F.B.I. and C.I.A. impotent, all in the name of protecting our privacy. Now, I don't want "big brother" to have a key to my front door or to listen in on my phone calls. On the other hand, when there is credible evidence that someone is plotting crimes and violence, I want agencies such as the F.B.I. to be able to do all the snooping necessary to apprehend the plotters. The Copley News Service recently carried a story by James Cary. So far I've seen no word of the story in any of the rest of the media. I hope you won't mind my passing it on. The "Black September" Palestinian terrorist group -- this is the outfit that murdered two of our diplomats in Khartoum in 1973 and 11 Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympics -- this "Black September" band sent agents to the U.S. in 1972 to kill former President Nixon, Henry Kissinger, and Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir and Jordan's King Hussein who were visiting America at the time. The plan was broken up by the F.B.I., thanks to tips received from Israeli intelligence. The plotters were quietly deported. So called illegal entry and wire taps were used by the F.B.I. to prevent the planned assassinations. Should the agents involved be arrested for violating the terrorists' privacy? In January of 1973 a citizen of Iraq entered our country by way of Montreal. Again there were tips by Israeli intelligence which, by the way, is one of the most effective intelligence forces in the world. The suspect changed residences frequently while gathering explosive materials. Were our F.B.I. agents committing a crime by trying to keep him under surveillance? Actually he almost managed to carry out his mission and would have if the hand of the Lord had not intervened. He placed his explosive devices plus five gallon cans of gasoline in automobiles which were then parked outside the Israeli airline at Kennedy Airport, and at two other locations in downtown New York. Fortunately, one one of the cars was in a no parking zone and the New York police towed it away. The detonating devices failed to work in the other two, while the F.B.I. and police were desperately trying to locate them. The police later exploded one of the devices in a remote area. They reported the fire ball would have killed anyone within 100 yards of the blast. The terrorist fled the country and is still at large, although he has been traced through four different countries. If we continue our policy of handcuffing our own law enforcement officers, he may decide this is the safest country in which he can operate. He has been indicted by two federal grand juries in New York. "Black September" agents, Mr. Cary reports, are still in this country in considerable numbers and pose a serious threat in Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia. This is Ronald Reagan. Thanks for listening.		Details Batch Number 79-02-B1 Production Date 01/19/1979 Book/Page RPtV-409 Audio Youtube? No
		Added Notes