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Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP96-00788R000100330001-5 SPECIAL EDITION -- TERRORISM -- 26 JUNE 1984 EDITORIALS FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM 8 May 1984 Computer on guard Instant information can be a help in securing the United States’ borders and in providing se- curity against terrorism. And that’s why the new Department of Justice international data processing center in Dallas is good news.. From all sides, the public — and the federal government — hears that the danger of terror- ists expanding their anti-American or anti-what- ever activities into the United States is real and is increasing. Any reasonable precaution against this, any preventive medicine, is merely pru- dent. ; The Dallas center. serving 700 terminals of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, will en- able quicker checks of persons attempting to enter the country than are currently possible through paperwork. Used properly, the computerized system should enable federal authorities to screen out foreign criminals, potential terrorists and those who for one reason or another are not eligible to enter the United States. Madness abounds in the world today, and America is an inviting target. There are enough Another view: Subversives mM = » From the Daily. Iowan, Iowa City : kun its ‘effort to combat terrorism, the Reagan §dminstration . recently submitted: legislation: to (Congress to deal with some proposed solutions. One of them allows the secretary of state to-determine which ¢ountries and groups are to be considered terrorist: fongress is to pass legislation providing stiff jail terms for anyone convicted of dealing with the groups so amed. . _ } That is a terrible idea, open to gross abuse: In the past, ALBANY, N.Y. KNICKERBOCKER NEWS homegrown criminals and potential terrorists without letting in those from abroad. If the com- puter system makes it more difficult for terror- ists to enter, if it saves one life or prevents one terrorist act, if it keeps even a few international criminals from plying their trade here, it will be worthwhile. Hf, as is already being done through contract . agreements with three states, the computer sys- - tem keeps undocumented alien workers — ille- galimmigrants— from defrauding state welfare systems, it will be paying for itself. Legal immigrants and legitimate, peaceful vis- itors to these shores should have nothing to fear from the computer information center. Indeed, in cases ‘of emergency, they might even be helped by it. And using the most modern technology to ‘screen out the others is merely an additional tool to protect U.S. citizens and foreigners with legiti- mate business here, whether it be sightseeing or commerce or taking in the Olympic Games, from harm. | It is ike an electronic border guard, and, un- fortunately, we neectall the guarding wecan get. 14 May 1984 ®hen for example the attorney general placed groups on he subversive list, the abuse has been flagrant: Church gros women’s groups and civil rights groups found emselves labeled as subversive because they opposed fhe administration’s policy at that time. Being put on the list meant that CIA and. FBI files were opened on the groups and members of the groups. It meant surveillance and sometime wiretaps. ¢ This new law is open to similar abuse. There is nothing bs prevent an administration from labeling an unpopular §tate or group as terrorist and then jailing those who gupport such a group. Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP96-00788R000100330001-5