WATCH OFFICE PROCEDURES AND THE PROMPT REPORTING OF INFORMATION TO HIGHER AUTHORITY

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP80B01676R000100120019-0
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
S
Document Page Count: 
9
Document Creation Date: 
December 14, 2016
Document Release Date: 
August 14, 2003
Sequence Number: 
19
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
March 4, 1963
Content Type: 
MF
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PDF icon CIA-RDP80B01676R000100120019-0.pdf404.14 KB
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Approved For Relea,,2003/09/02 : CIA-RDP80B01676R0000120019-0 4 March 1963 NS - REVIEW COMPLETED, O6/g6/2003 CRANIUM FOR: The Executive Committee SUBJECT Watch Office Procedures and the Prompt Reporting of Information to Higher Authority OSD'REVIEW COMPLETED 9/16/2002 1. The recent episode involving the Voneuuelaa- ship Anzoategui revealed certain weaknesses in Washington in Watch Office procodWres and in prompt reporting of information to higher authority. While the CIA was not directly involved in this particular episode, the actions taken are of direct interest. 2. Attached for your information and guidance is a memorandum for the President dated 20 February and one from the President to the Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense and DCI. as well as a letter from the Deputy Secretary of Defense. commenting on their procedures. Will all members of the Executive Committee please insure that the appropriate personnel are advised of this material and that all of our procedures are correct and expeditious. (signed) Lyman r. - irlkpatrck Lyman B. Kirkpatrick Executive Director Approved For Release 2003/09/02 : CIA-RDP80B01676R000100120019-0 Approved Forease 2003/09/02: CIA-RDP80B0167001001 CONFIDENTIAL hl)'-' IORANDUV1 FOR THE PRt;SI1)ENT heoruai y 1963 Subject,: Analysis of Reports on Elie Venezu4:la n Ship Incident Wt a Registry The Department of State anti tie ,I) partri nt o' Defense furnished a chrueoloii;y of events in the liancilin; of the V~~nczu~Ian ship incident on t3ased on Ow se s;aterncents, the ioll~,Nv=n, sel-ni to be a fair or i.:isal of what occurred. Stt p'> b:.' Lt cc-,10 6- fai","-n to l'Ju. handling of any sirni~.tY' in ld! nts in the future are 11.T 'i' t;ed by these 1' uur1S,, 1) The watch officers ciakring the ni ht took what would normally be cos: iciered apDropr:iat(+ action. In the State I)-epartr-nent, thu Operations ,(.'.rift's telephoned the (vTE'Y"ie iii fan Cc %kC f: err, ,^:, Mc;>l:i?.', s` z,. and L:o< niunicated with Navy Plag 'ic,t, who laid aire,_ciy been interested Necitw;c' of the press reports. 'I l,-t.: Open atiL.i: :; ` ent r also ciL ('cke(l with te:ic_, CIA duty officer. lri this in~>to n1con there aoJ_,ars to be a lack a-. ap .:lp~?,ociat it>n of the -:ol.itical implications involved; it probably would ly_ave been appropriate to move this further up the lin(-- in the, St-Ito E)(-T,- trtrne'nt. Ad(':itionaily, Navy d(?ty officer should not have been in:lu.,nccd so he oily by the at U('1.3Irtt jent stt Yi'?tion vI 'www:~it until the Venne-zue_tans ''^Sk 'Lis for (if) About 5:45 a.rn, , the Navy Flag Plot reported to the State I)t z rt... n-lent Operations Center that the Navy had t 1)!' tix on the missiSS'r Ve tsel. (ii At 6:15 a. n-i. the CNO J lilt}' cai>tai..i m1ormt0 Acrnir ii 'ic.ketts of . I"' x on the missing, ship _ , w,,~lits directed that it be. passed b"'- telenhor.~ Naval Attache in Caracas. l,.ctrl".il' it Ricketts were br ieii.'i on Ih1:.' ,*Y''.=1 t'., t'il(lt'r Sc cer-1ry Fay and At 2.botc 9:30 s? Tn. , Vice L"ie1_klonc(I i . t o o l 1 17 i , i.t: ., _ . " t ' i i f l . toa?Ct; ... .... " , { ratter of Approved For Release 2003/09/02 : CIA-RDP80B01676R000100120019-0 CC)i' FaI)TT;N'TIAf Approved Fo CONFIDENTIAL ease 2003/09/02 : CIA-RDP80B016700100120019-0 locating the hi l); and at bout e hiesc froa n e N~l { it; (love 1 e ti,e -tc' i~..,U r..ye ,t w.t i. 1C2 \G ? ? r:Z "1: C, .3 -r:zcrll twas t ou t~ lv . ~11g AM the jJ( ~ ea ae"t ?!l,,,0 asy" oa t.UCOrn ng. ._ U- CQ in the s1-i (5) The first decision in the State L? a a te EAs.si Stan 03cc" ~::t y hin t t r rS t'-t 1_ _ , ( t"r. (' ]L LV 7`; t'I yLLdC' c t 9: C pl? re r x? . SL f ^