COINS PRESSURES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01495R000100110008-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 2, 2005
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: April 15, 1970
• Content Type: MF

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U E
15 April 1970
MEMORANDUM FOR: Deputy Director for Intelligence
1. This memorandum, responding to a suggestion from the
ADDI, summarizes proposals contained in four memoranda received
during the past week by (CRS), CIA COINS Subsystem
Manager, from CGINS Project Manager.
The following paragraphs discuss the implications of these new
.proposals for the DDI and CES, and indicate my intended responses.
The proposals are illustrative of the pressures executed- on CIA by the
COINS management and of the lack of thoughtful planning by that
management. I have not presented alternatives, primarily because
this memorandum already runs too long. I am available for discussion
of any or all of the0proposals if you wish to consider other
responses or more details. The proposed negative responses to two
of the four are also attached. Copies of this memorandum have been
made available to for himself,
2.. COINS/139-70, Review of Data Bases in the COINS
Experiment, 25 March 1970. (Attachment A)
a. 'Sum in ar
This memorandum proposes that COINS files be evaluated
by 1 July 1970 for their utility to COINS participants and for
improvements that could be incorporated to give there greater
utility. CIA is requested to appoint a study officer to examine
COINS biographic files.
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b. Comment
SEC E
At a meeting with lair. Eisenbeiss
it was agreed that CIA should cooperate in this
study because it involves an evaluation of COINS utility and CIA
feels that this type of evaluation should begin at once. A senior
CRS biographic officer C1I5) was selected to
perform this study. Ise was told to focus his attention on current
COINS files and to avoid some of the issues raised by the NSA
memo, e.g., what additional files need to be established for COINS
and whether apparent duplicative file building efforts among agencies
should be eliminated.
3. COINS/144-70, Qualitative Review of the Substantive Information
in COINS Files, 2 April 1970. (Attachment R)
a. Summary
This. memorandum requests that specified agencies review
named groups of COINS files for their accuracy, correctness,
currency, and corr.i.pleteness. CIA is requested to review the
military order of battle files (approximately six files).
b. Comment
(1) The requested review is duplicative and counter-
productive. In the memorandum discussed above (Attachment A),
DIA is requested to evaluate the utility of military order of battle
files to COINS participating agencies. This is a logical assign-
ment of responsibility and it should include an assessment of the
accuracy, correctness, currency, and cog pleteness of these
files. It is illogical for CIA to undertake a concurrent, more
narrow review.
(2) Further, this proposal requires that CIA (logically
CS ) evaluate DIA and NSA work and report the findings to the
COINS, Project Manager, an NSA employee. This memoranda
also charges NSA with evaluating the three CRS biographic files
on the COINS system. CR5 is concerned that this politically
charged request could be counterproductive.
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(3) CRS is also concerned because this evaluation is
useful only under the assumption that the agency responsible
for the creation of the file will modify it in accord with the
findings of the evaluating agency. Under this assumption,
CRS would face an open-ended task of monumental size in
providing automated biographic data at the behest of other
agencies despite the fact that those agencies have already
stated that CHS's COINS files are only of marginal value.
I recommend a negative position on this proposal.
(Attachment 132)
4.. COINS/146-70, Proposal for an Experimental Biographic
Requirements File, 3 April 1970. (Attachment C)
a. Summary
This memorandum proposes the creation of a CGINS machine
file to give "requests or requirements (for biographic information)
the broadest possible dissemination" and to provide "a focal point
for collecting outstanding, unanswered requests or requirements."
The file would provide COINS users with information concerning;
others in the USIB community interested in particular biographic
information.
b. Comment
(1) This proposal is vague, poorly conceived, and
lacking in essential detail. Implementation would fall primarily
on CIA/Cf, , N,-,A-to the degree that their biographic efforts
are not transferred to Calla, and DIA. The cost to CRS would be
significant and open-ended but is presently unimieasurable. In 1969
CRS received some 25, 000 requests for biographic data and
produced from 10, 500 written biographic reports in a variety of
formats. Assumption of NSA biographic support might add from
10,000 to 15,000 requests annually. The costs to CRS would
include :
-- Detailed record keeping by the CRS country analyst
on the data listed in Paragraph 1 of Attachment C.
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(Such information is presently maintained in much
less detail. If a telephonic answer satisfies the
user and if limited time is required to dig up the
answer, the CR5 record now consists of only a
count.)
The data would have to be recorded in a machine-
readable form. Assuming a 35,000 annual request
level, the recording would involve some 160 records
per day or the full time of at least one clerk typist
or key punch operator.
-- A software package would be required at an unknown
cost. The unspecified, open-ended nature of Item lg
(type of information desired) could make the software
cost and the costs of the subsequent items indeed heavy.
-- The file would probably require space on direct access
storage equipment in CRw and daily or weekly computer
time for updating and maintenance.
- The file would require storage space and operational
time in the 0CS computer supporting COINS.
(2) The proposed file would make absolutely no direct
contribution to the production of finished intelligence. Even an
indirect contribution is not easily perceived. The value of the
file, if any, would consist of the light that might be shed on the
infra-Community use of biographic information. Such insight,
in my view, would not be worth its cost, is already evident in
most cases and in some would be sensitive information
inappropriate for dissemination. This information has never
been considered of sufficient value to warrant collection and
does not now appear necessary in this current period of budgetary
stringency. I intend to respond negatively to this proposal.
(Attachment C2)
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5. COINS/145-70, Proposal for Including Working Files in COINS,
2 April 1970. (Attachment D)
a. S.tmmary
The NSA member of the joint SIC/EIC Computer 'orking
Group talked I concerning wh ether COINS could
assist in providing data on foreign computer developments.
then briefed the Working Group on COINS and later
proposed (Attachment D) that various machine files be established
to support the Working Group.
b. Comments
(1) has discussed this proposal with Dr. Herbert
Rothenberg, O5l, Chairman of the Working; Group, and Norman Davis,
OSI, a member of the Working Group. Both expressed interest that
someone should volunteer to assist them, but they were very
skeptical that COINS could help them, i.e. , that it would prove
superior to current "shoebox't files. Neither is willing to provide
manpower support to the project. Attachment D is now circulating
among Working Group members.
(2) If the Working Group takes a positive attitude toward
this project, CPS would undoubtedly be requested to assist Agency
analysts in file building activities. (The only known machine file
in this area is maintained by OER, a member of
the Working Group who maintains a tile on computer org;anizationsm)
If this happens, CR5 would take the position that the concerned analysts
should be willing to devote a major effort to establishing the machine
files and that CRS: should take an advisory role regarding indexing,
coding, formatting, etc.
6. As noted above, we have agreed to cooperate on one proposal,
we plan to respond negatively on two, and we will take a wait and see
attitude on the last memorandum. The proposals contained in the attached
memoranda are typical of the types of.proposals that emanate from the NSA
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COINS Project Office though it is somewhat atypical to receive so many
within a short period. They may give you a feel for some of the problems
we are encountering in the COINS project and our reaction partially
explains why CIS. is accused of being negative on COINS matters.
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Direc ,, Central Reference Service
Attachxrments: a/s
7 ,. J. SMITI=t
Deputy Director for Intelligence
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