It Is Proper to Honor CIA Officer Spann

It is certainly Jacob Heilbrunn’s prerogative to not give the CIA credit for doing anything right in its history (“CIA’s New Celebrity Exposes Its Failings,” Opinion, Jan. 27). What is beyond the pale, however, is his suggestion that Director George J. Tenet “seized upon” the death of CIA officer Johnny Michael Spann to “trumpet the CIA’s key role in the war effort” against terrorism. This assertion does a great disservice to Tenet and the agency he leads, as well as to Spann’s family.

The Times reported on Nov. 27 that a CIA officer may have been killed or wounded in Afghanistan, a day before the agency publicly acknowledged Spann’s employment--once his death had been confirmed and his remains had been recovered. Over the years, when circumstances have permitted, the CIA has publicly identified agency officers who have been killed in the line of duty. It was determined that Spann’s affiliation with the CIA could be acknowledged without doing any harm to intelligence sources, methods or operations. Just as important, the Spann family strongly supported the decision to confirm his employment and honor his sacrifice.

We may never be able to reveal the name of every CIA officer who dies in the line of duty. We will remain silent when we must, but we will honor the names publicly when we can, not with the cynical motive Heilbrunn suggests but, as with Spann, to honor true patriots whose heroic contributions to keeping America safe and free deserve the public’s recognition and gratitude.

Bill Harlow

Director of Public Affairs

CIA, Washington