WASHINGTON, Aug. 30 (UPI) -- The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency is suffering morale problems thanks to probes of its terrorism suspect interrogation program, a former official says.
A. B. "Buzzy" Krongard, who was a high-ranking CIA official during the Bush administration when the use of harsh interrogation practices that some consider torture were authorized, told Sunday's Washington Post that the release of portions of an inspector general's review of the program has affected the agency's morale.
The newspaper said Krongard contended the review, as well as an announcement that the Justice Department would investigate possible abuses by interrogators, will make CIA personnel less willing to take on controversial assignments.
"The old saying goes, 'Big operation, big risk; small operation, small risk; no operation, no risk,'" he told the Post. "If you're not in the intelligence business to be forward-leaning, you might as well not be in it," Krongard said.
Other unnamed former and current CIA officials, however, told the newspaper U.S. spies remain committed to their work while others said the investigations are needed to make the agency confront difficult issues.
