So Neighbors Don't Get Spooked, CIA Sends Postcards
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - What's that noise?
Hearing unfamiliar sounds in any neighborhood is unsettling, but can be outright spooky if the neighbor happens to be the CIA (news - web sites).
So for three years the spy agency has hand-delivered postcards to homes near the fence that encloses its headquarters in Langley, Virginia.
It gives phone numbers to call if neighbors have questions about activities or odd sounds emanating from the bosky CIA campus.
Like the time a new air conditioning unit was being installed on top of a building and a helicopter delivered it up there. Or during the recent snowstorm the CIA rented snow melters which caused a stir.
"There are lots of houses that are adjacent to our fence line or close to it. Sometimes they see and hear things that gets them nervous," CIA spokesman Bill Harlow said.
"If they see something or hear something which disturbs them, they need to know who to contact," he said.
Harlow said it was standard for government installations to have outreach programs with the community.
The Washington Post, which printed the content of the postcard, said it asked residents to report "anything unusual or suspicious" to CIA's 24-hour Security Operations Center.
The postcard was signed "Marie."
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - What's that noise?
Hearing unfamiliar sounds in any neighborhood is unsettling, but can be outright spooky if the neighbor happens to be the CIA (news - web sites).
So for three years the spy agency has hand-delivered postcards to homes near the fence that encloses its headquarters in Langley, Virginia.
It gives phone numbers to call if neighbors have questions about activities or odd sounds emanating from the bosky CIA campus.
Like the time a new air conditioning unit was being installed on top of a building and a helicopter delivered it up there. Or during the recent snowstorm the CIA rented snow melters which caused a stir.
"There are lots of houses that are adjacent to our fence line or close to it. Sometimes they see and hear things that gets them nervous," CIA spokesman Bill Harlow said.
"If they see something or hear something which disturbs them, they need to know who to contact," he said.
Harlow said it was standard for government installations to have outreach programs with the community.
The Washington Post, which printed the content of the postcard, said it asked residents to report "anything unusual or suspicious" to CIA's 24-hour Security Operations Center.
The postcard was signed "Marie."
