Historical Dictionary of United States Intelligence

gence. During the early 1980s, DCI William J. Caseyhad infused the

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) with resources that had greatly

expanded covert operational as well as analytic capabilities. At the

same time, the CIAwas beset by charges of illegal activity arising out

of the Iran-Contra scandal. Moreover, Webster’s deputy, Robert M.

Gates, whom the inexperienced DCI required for analytical support

and expertise, was himself suspected in the Iran-Contra Affair.

Webster’s mandate was to restore the CIA’s credibility. Aformer

federal judge, he had successfully played a similar role as director of

the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). His task was made eas-

ier by the Tower Commissionreport, which, while critical of the

CIA, made it clear that the Iran-Contra Affair was a National Secu-

rity Council (NSC) initiative and that the CIAas an institution—as

opposed to the actions of specific individuals—was not involved.

In his first 100 days, Webster worked hard to make the CIAac-

countable, insisting that the CIAbe subordinate to national policy. In

addition to strengthening ties to Congress, DCI Webster tightened up

the internal review process, defining rigorous standards by which

covert actionwould be judged for competence, practicality, and con-

sistency with American foreign policy and values.

DCI Webster was in office during the cataclysmic changes taking

place in world politics, such as the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the

collapse of communism, and the rise of terrorismand international

drug traffic as new national security threats. Consequently, he created

new fusion centers—interdisciplinary task forces—to cope with the

new problems. For the rest of his tenure, DCI Webster navigated cau-

tiously in a complex world dominated by long-service professionals

and employed a detached and conciliatory management style.

WHITE PROPAGANDA.See PROPAGANDA.

WINTER HARVEST (OPERATION). On 17 December 1981,

Colonel James Dozier, the highest ranking American army officer in

the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) southern Euro-

pean Command, was kidnapped by members of the Red Brigade ter-

rorist faction. Under Operation Winter Harvest, a small team of Delta

Force technicians was dispatched to Italy to provide assistance with

the search for Dozier. After a massive effort turned up nothing, the

U.S. sent a team of signals intelligence (SIGINT) specialists to Italy.

WINTER HARVEST (OPERATION)• 219

05-398 (2) Dictionary.qxd 10/20/05 6:27 AM Page 219