Item 2.45: "Caller Bob" Redux -- CIA Style (See Item 2.25)
LWB note: By her response quoted below, CIA freedom-of-information chief Delores M. Nelson cranks up her formletterese machine to let me know that the Agency is going through the motions to process my FOIA request dispatched as Item 2.25 of this blog. But, dear reader: hold not thy breath over the prospect that her records search will produce even an iota of "Bob"-related evidence of the Eisenhower-Hughes's introduction to extraterrestrial mortality. At least Nelson's response confirms that the CIA hierarchy has abandoned its fight to deny my requester status as a "representative of the news media." Meanwhile, as of this writing, our mysterious "Caller Bob" remains incommunicative - the likelihood of his coming further forward being less probable than the Agency's producing the requested records.
== TEXT OF MS. NELSON'S LETTER OF JULY 15, 2009, TO LWB ==
Reference: F-2009-00693
Dear Mr. Bryant:
On 12 March 2009, the office of the Information and Privacy Coordinator received your 1 March 2009 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for "a copy of all CIA-generated and CIA-received records pertaining to the film footage revealed by 'Bob's' account." We have assigned your request the reference number above. Please use this number when corresponding so that we can identify it easily.
The CIA Information Act, 50 U.S.C. Sec. 431, as amended, exempts CIA operational files from the search, review, publication, and disclosure requirements of the FOIA. To the extent your request seeks information that is subject to the FOIA, we accept your request and will process it in accordance with the FOIA, 5 U.S.C. Sec. 552, as amended, and the CIA Information Act. We will search for records existing through the date of this acceptance letter.
Based on the information provided in your letter, we determined that your request falls into the "news media" fee category. You must pay only for the cost of reproducing released records, which is ten cents per page after the first 100 copies, which you receive free.
The large number of FOIA requests CIA receives has created unavoidable delays making it unlikely that we can respond within the 20 working days the FOIA requires. You have the right to consider our honest appraisal as a denial of your request and you may appeal to the Agency Release Panel. A more practical approach would permit us to continue processing your request and respond to you as soon as we can. You will retain your appeal rights and, once you receive the results of our search, can appeal at that time if you wish. We will proceed on that basis unless you object.
Sincerely,
Delores M. Nelson
Information and Privacy Coordinator
[U. S. Central Intelligence Agency]
http://ufoview.posterous.com
