LETTER TO HONORABLE DANIEL K. INOUYE FROM STANSFIELD TURNER
Document Type:
Collection:
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST):
CIA-RDP80M00165A002000100020-0
Release Decision:
RIPPUB
Original Classification:
T
Document Page Count:
4
Document Creation Date:
December 15, 2016
Document Release Date:
March 18, 2004
Sequence Number:
20
Case Number:
Publication Date:
September 8, 1977
Content Type:
LETTER
File:
Attachment | Size |
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Body:
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NOW,
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8 SEP 1977
Honorable Daniel K. Inouye, Chairman
Select Committee on Intelligence
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Mr. Chairman:
Almost exactly a year ago at the clear direction of
Congress, the DCI initiated an. in-depth review of the CIA
SIGINT Program and its relationship to other SIGINT activities
in the Department of Defense. The study proceeded as a joint
CIA/NSA activity. Attached to this letter are two documents
reporting the results of this lengthy and intensive study. The
first report submitted to the DCI jointly by the Director, NSA
and Deputy Director, CIA in January of this year, provides a
broad policy framework providing for a closer integration and
coordination of the CIA SIGINT Program with the National SIGINT
Program managed by the Director, NSA. This same report estab-
lished a date of September 1977 for completion of a detailed
implementation plan for the consolidation of the CIA SIGINT
Program with the NSA program. This Consolidation Plan has now
been completed and is the second document attached to this
letter.
As you will note, the Consolidation Plan provides greatly
improved mechanisms for insuring an effective and efficient
National SIGINT plan without unproductive program overlap or
needless redundancy. Further the plan provides for operational
tasking of CIA SIGINT activities by the Director, NSA and
requires reporting of collected product in accordance with his
direction, thereby achieving a more responsive and cohesive
SIGINT operation. At the same time the Consolidation Plan
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creates an environment which encourages the ingenuity and
the development of new initiatives so important in this large
and extremely valuable element of the National Intelligence
Program.
Specifically the Plan:
1. Provides for detailed and timely program
coordination between NSA and CIA during the annual
program planning and budget formulation phase,
2. Gives the Director, NSA review and approval
authority of the CIA SIGINT Program,
3. Establishes the Director, NSA as the opera-
tional tasking authority for CIA SIGINT assets,
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I know you share my view that the National SIGINT Program
is a vital element of this country's intelligence effort.. It
is also large in scope and costly. Since assuming my present
responsibilities last March, I have been impressed that although
the CIA SIGINT Program is a relatively small fraction, both in
terms of dollars and people, of the total National SIGINT Program,
CIA has unique operational flexibility provided by law and an
impressive assembly of talent and clandestine operational
experience. These two factors together with the broad base of
foreign operations enable CIA to make a valuable and singular
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contribution to our SIGINT effort and to my overall intelligence
mission. I trust you will agree that the attached Consolidation
Plan meets our mutual objective of providing an efficient,
responsive, coordinated and productive National SIGINT activity
while at the same time preserving the unique CIA capabilities.
Please be assured that I will follow the implementation
of this plan very closely. As experience indicates, I will be
directing adjustments to this plan toward the end of achieving
further efficiencies and operational improvements.. At your
convenience, I would be glad to meet with you personally or
with your subcommittee to further inform you on the results of
this lengthy, joint NSA/CIA study and to elaborate on the
rationale behind the final Consolidation Plan. In any case I
will be prepared to give you a status report during the FY-79
program and budget hearings.
Yours sincerely,
Js/ Stansfield Turner
STANSFIELD TURNER
Enclosures (2)
Distribution:
1 - Addressee w/att
2 - DCI wo/att
3 - ADDCI wo/att
4 - ER wo/att
5 - OLC wo/att
6 - Comptroller wo/att
7 - D/OSO wo/att
8 - DD/SPIT wo/att
9 & 10 - DD/SFT Reg.wo/att
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