CIA Can Keep Bay of Pigs Document Secret: Judge

The CIA doesn't need to reveal a probably-embarrassing Bay of Pigs investigative report to the public, a judge ruled yesterday, because it was never finalized. The National Security Archive, a private group promoting government transparency, had sued for the release of a volume entitled the "CIA's Internal Investigation of the Bay of Pigs Operation," which the CIA describes as "a polemic of recriminations against CIA officers who later criticized the operation."

The draft had been shot down by the CIA's chief historian for having significant deficiencies, the agency argued, and was thus protected by the "deliberative process" exemption to the Freedom of Information Act. The judge agreed, adding that its release would risk giving the public inaccurate historical information, reports the AP. But the National Security Archive was unconvinced, noting that the agency had willingly served up an earlier volume attacking John F. Kennedy and Robert Kennedy. "Apparently the CIA sees no problem in the American public reading 'polemic recriminations' against the White House," an Archive director said. (More CIA stories.)