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FE SE
+ MORI DocID: 1451843
Lee TC Co NS . | panes
Feo Toe 7 5317 Briley Place
| . Washington, D. GC. 20016
| . © 10 January 1972
Mr. Lloyd Shearer .
. Editor at Large :
Parade Magazine . : oo
_. 733 Third Avenue a : ’
New York, New York 10017 .-
. Dear Mr. Shearer: : .
; In your issue of January 9th, one of Walter Scott's Personality
| Parade responses stated that CIA "uses political assassination as a
H weapon" and that Operation Phoenix "run by the CIA established a new
i high for U. S. political assassinations in Vietnam." Sincel have held
i responsible positions in CIA for many years and was also (during de-
i P Pp ]
f . tached service from CIA) responsible for U. S. support to Operation
H <1 Phoenix, 1 believe I am [uniquelyfquatified to testify (as I have in public
* session under oath to Senate and House Committees) that:
- i . a. CIA does not and has not used political as sassination as if
a weapon. ie pd
. . . AY
b. Operation Phoenix was run not by the CIA but by the [Se ~ 4
- | Government of Vietnam with the support of the CORDS el at | LLY
i : of the U. §. Military Assistance Command. A ~~ ee
! Bi . ¢. Operation Phoenix is not a program of assassination.
1 . Op 8
A od Members of the Viet Cong apparatus were killed in the course ~
H of military operations or resisting police arrest. Theresa Pp;
. vast difference in kind, not merely degree, between these/ {even ot
' - : including occasional -- and few -- abuses) and the Vict Congle .
to . aonscious campaign of terrorism referred to by Mr. Scott. -
.

- In order to clarify this important question to the millions of con-
cerned Americans who might be misled by Mr. Scott's column, I should
appreciate your publishing this letter.

| . , i Sincerely, .
— |" 4 wen A alward . :
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