CIA PARTICIPATION IN IHC WORK PROGRAM

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Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP80M01082A000200010018-4
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RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
C
Document Page Count: 
13
Document Creation Date: 
December 15, 2016
Document Release Date: 
April 19, 2004
Sequence Number: 
18
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
May 9, 1974
Content Type: 
MF
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PDF icon CIA-RDP80M01082A000200010018-4.pdf609.9 KB
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CONFIDENTIAL C~~X'~~C~~ J'S! Approved For Release 2004/05/12: CIA-RDP80M01082A000200010018-4t ~ DCI~IC 7~+-1121 9 'May 197 MEMORANDUM FOR: General Graham, D~DCI~IC PD~DCI~IC SUBJECT : CIA Participation in IHC Work Program 1. CIA is-the only agency that has not yet designated a principal and alternate representatives to IHC. IHC work is stalled. Our credi- bility is at risk. 2. I submit the time has come to treat this roblem through formal cotranand channels. Informal approaches by and myself have resulted in a turn-down by Ed Procter, a 'may e rom and a rejection of our original candidate 3. When you raise this issue, CIA Deputies are likely to respond: "What is IHC going to do and why should I be concerned?" a. To answer that question, attached staff study proposes an IHC work program. It is heavily oriented to improving the productipn and use of intelligence. It puts ADP and telecommuni- cations in support roles for producers. b. You are requested to approve this work program now in principle only -- in order to demonstrate its general scope and focus. This program follows the 8 May 7~+ draft of DCI Objectives and Milestones that D~DCI~IC has sent forward to Mr. Colby. I will make adjustments later, if necessary, to conform to the final draft of DCI Objectives, and reS~ut~mit for your specific. approval. ~+. My views on where CIA representation in IHC could come from are at paragraph ~+, page 6 of attached. 5. Please note that I am now referring only to CIA participation in the Committee. I am not now talking about the necessity to augment IHC Support Staff frpm CIA. That is a sepaxate issue we must face later when the work program is officially approved. 6. If CIA participation effectively cannot be obtained, we should notify USIB that IHC is being disbanded. c ing alrm USIB~IHC 25X1 C O N F I D E N T I A L Approved For Release 2004/05/12: CIA-RDP80M0~108~a4000200010018-4 Approved For Release 2004/05/12: CIA-RDP80M01082A000200010018-4 Distribution: Original - Gen. Graham 1 - 1 - Registry ~/ 1 - IHC Membership File 1 - IHC Reading 1 - NCF Chrono 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/05/12: CIA-RDP80M01082A000200010018-4 C O N F I D E N T I A L Approved For Release 2004/05/12: CIA-RDP80M01082A000200010018-4 Attachment to DCI~IC 74-1].21 9 MaY 197+ SUBJECT: CIA Participation in IHC Work Program A. PROBLEM CIA is the only organization that has not yet designated representa- tives and working level people to participate in the IHC. The IHC cannot function without continuing CIA participation in approved community pro- jects. Continued delay by CIA threatens the DCI~s credibility. B, FACTS BEARING ON THE PROBLEM 1. The DCI addressed IHC members on 2~ April 7~+ supporting the com- mittee`s reactivation, His remarks are at Attachment 1, 2? SA~DCT~ following up on Mr. Colbyfs comments, identifie is assignment from the DCT to investigate new ways of pre- senting intelligence information within the community and his need for IHC support. His remarks are at Attachment 1. ~+. The statement of DCI Objectives (draft of 8 May 7~+} includes a specific Objective and Milestones on information handling and presenta- tion. The Objective is: "To improve techniques far information handling and pre- sentation,and develop new approaches to the ana7,ysis of intel- ligence data in the Community, through the application of advances in information science and man-machine relationships.~This is seen as a continuing long term effort.)" S? D~DCI~IC proposed guidelines Uy memorandum to the DCI of 5 April 7~+ (DCI~IC 74-0987) entitled "Coping with the Information Hand- ling Problem." These include use of IHC as a community fatal point for knowledge on information systems, compatibility of software between systems, encouraging increased use of central files, and promotion of investigations of new information science methods and techniques, 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/05/12: CIA-RDP80M01082A000200010018-4 C O N F I D E N T I A L Approved For Release 2004/05/12: CIA-RDP80M01082A000200010018-4 6. IHC Proposed Work Program. Based on the foregoing guidance, the Acting Chairman IHC proposes the following work program. All projects are directly responsive to DCI Objectives and Milestones. a. Inventory of Community Information Handling Systems (CIHS) (1) Task. To prepare and maintain an update of the 1972 IHC community inventory of (a) data systems and substantive files, (b) related applications metholologies, and (c) tele- communications systems. (2) Ratianale. Requested by SA~DCI and needed as a factual basis far flzrther studies e.g., see 'next paragraph). b. Sharing Community Responsibility for Data Bases (1) Task. To prepare studies and recommendations for USIB approval for coordinated community action in which member agencies, as a service of common concern, accept responsibility far the production and maintenance on a timely basis of selected major files that are of continuing interest to community intel- ligence production analysts. (2) Rationale. Responsive to PFIAB suggestions to DCI. Contributes to improvement in content, format and timeliness of files of community interest. Focuses responsibility for quality. c. Community Data Standards (1) Task. To report to DCI and USIB on where the intelli- gence community stands today in implementing standards for data organization and transmission, and to pxopose a plan for future coordinated action by community agencies. ~'(~).Ratanale. As the automated transmission of intelligence information increases, sizeable costs will be incurred by agencies that have not evaluated their in-and-out data flow in order to take advantage of community standardization where practicable. Potential cost avoidance, through cooperative efforts to improve standards, is estimated at several millions of dollars. Agencies disseminating information and agencies receiving information are equally impacted. Involves future forms of data delivery to analysts. d. Community Computer Terminal Study, (1) Task. To prepare studies and recommendations for USIB approval for coordinated development of computer terminal pro- grams-far ?the Community, with particular emphasis on the use of terminals to exchange crisis management information and to per- form indications and warning Functions. 25X1 C O N F I D E N T I A L Approved For Release 2004/05/12: CIA-RDP80M01082A000200010018-4 C O N F I D E N T I A L Approved For Release 2004/05/12: CIA-RDP80M01082A000200010018-4 (2) Rationale. D~DCI~IC and DIRNSA have called DCI at- tention to the problem of proliferating intelligence presen- tation systems using computer terminals for data display. Further growth of specialized sysi~ems, in the absence of community guidance on the coordination of community capabi- lities, can handicap rather than aid analysts and users, and can be unnecessarily expensive. e. Community Telecommunications and the "National Nervous stem - (1) Task a Support IC~PRD, by collec- ting through IFiC data for study of the national nervous sys- tem", in order to analyze the content of the information flow through communications networks. (2) Task b). Examine the completeness of planning for community networking of information systems and data flow: -- to serve Production analysts and users; and to provide a capability to the DCI to coordinate community intelligence presentations to users, particularly in crisis management. (3) Rationale. In response to NSDM 2~+2, a JCS committee (including DCI IC Staff) is now preparing terms of reference calling for a detailed report on interagency communications networks to serve crisis management. The JCS "strawman" pro- posal notes that IfiC can contribute to that effort. The JCS study excludes identification of the content of information flow, and effort is intended to fill that gap. Independent of NSDM 2 2, there is a question as to whether the DCI will have adequate capability to present rapidly to high level users intelligence products of high interest. f. Conferenced Text Editing (CONTEXT) (1) Task. To provide continuing technical assistance to IC~PRD, to establish a community operational capability for conferenced text editing using computer ter- minals. (2) Rationale. IHC and its Support Staff are the tech- nical support mechanism for projects. CONTEXT will serve a variety of community applications far analysts, including the coordination of finished intelligence products and the analysts' net concept 25X1 25X1 25X1 C O N F I D E N T I A Z Approved For Release 2004/05/12: CIA-RDP80M01082A000200010018-4 C O N F I D E N T I A L Approved For Release 2004/05/12: CIA-RDP80M01082A000200010018-4 g. Methodology Transfers from ARPA Network for Intelligence Ana sts (1) Task. To provide a forum and marshal orderly commu- nity participation for the identification of substantive in- terests of community production analysts in the software ca- pabilities of the ARPA network. To assist the Project Direc- tor to carry out the operating plan for examining ARPA data bases and software methodologies, where ARPA developments can contribute to improved intelligence analysis capabilities. (2) Rationale. Several intelligence agencies have expressed interest in exploring the data bases and applications software packages that are available via the ARPA computer network. IHC and IC Staff Product Review ]?ivision are identifsring interested components in CIA and other agencies. Policy discussions are now underway with ARPA on a range of mutual interests, of which this project is one. h. Community TV Requirements (1) Task. To identify present and planned uses of TV by the intelligence community, including the presentation of current intelligence "news" analyses and the communication of near real time information among intelligence managers. (2) Rationale. -This capability was suggested by the DCI in discussion with Director OMB on 17 April 74 (DCI~IC 7~+-1006). IHC conducted in 1973 a "Community Secure TV Test", at the conclusion :of which participating agencies, including JCS, recommended that IHC sponsor fU rther work and continue as a community focal paint in exploration of the needs for and characteristics of such a community capability. i. Other IHC Activities. The IHC work program should allow for the capability to address the following maters: (1) Ad hoe support to__ ~ ~I? (2) Res once to issues raised by IHC member agencies, where community interest and impact ~.re~ e~~. ~~ (3) Continuing working liaison with the Information Science Center, CTA Office of Training, on matters concerning information science education and training. (4) Monitor R&D Council on information science matters.. (5) Support IC Staff components in aspects of .their Milestone projects involving information handling, communi- ciations, and intelligence product presentation.. -4- Approved For ReleasLre a0~4~0~/1~ ~C~~L}P~0~101082A000200010018-4 25X1 C O N F I D E N T I A L Approved For Release 2004/05/12: CIA-RDP80M01082A000200010018-4 C. DISCUSSION 1. The immediate ,problem addressed by this staff study is the un- willingness to date of CIA to designate a member and alternate(s) to par- ticipate actively in the IHC. a. SA~DCI, made informal inquiries a few days ago. He gat a negative response from Dr. Proctor. has sug- 2 5X1 Bested that I contact who may be mare persuadable, but I have not done so since T believe the time is past for in- farmal action at my level. M y original effort was to obt&in 0 25X1 ~~ as the IHC member, but this was referred t 25X1 C O N F I D E N T I A L Approved For Release 2.004/05/12: CIA-RDP80M01082A000200010018-4 Approved For Release 2~04/~~2E CIATRDP80M01082A000200010018-4 3. As a further demonstration of the future orientation for IHC, the following guidelines are proposed. a. IEiC undertakings will be directed specifically toward im- provements in the analysis, production, presentation and use of intelligence. The exploration of technical subjects -- computer and communications capabilities -- will be guided by this primary production-oriented purpose,;which those technical fields support. b. IHC is a community forum and focal point. Its work out - puts should reflect the overall community significance of its investigations. c. Major IHC projects will be undertaken with prior approval of D~DCT~IC and SA~DCI, in order to validate their focus and importance. 4. MY views on the source of the CIA members in THC are as follows: a. The principal member should, preferably, be from DDS&T. That directorate deals both with Collection~Processing and with Production. It deals with on-coming systems, that pose computer and communications problems. Its management may be more receptive.. b, The alternate member could come from DDI. c. Because of the fragmentation of CIA among directorates, it would be advantageous -- if feasible -- that another alternate member be available to provide entrees to the technical activities of OJCS and OC. 5. CIA members in IHC have a two-fold role: a. Ta participate in the formulation of problem statements and the conclusions and recommendations of IHC studies. b, To arrange for CIA working level participation, as required for IHC 'studies, monitoring it to assure its. effectiveness. 6. Two IHC projects are presently handicapped because of lack of CIA participation. a. Data Standards. A11 agencies except CIA have nominated participants. DIRNSA's agreement to provide an experienced, senior chairman for the IHC Standards Panel is at Attachment 2. b. Communit Invento' A data ca17. that will require CIA inputs is now being prepared, s requested the completion of this inventory as a priory ma er. -6- C p N F T D E N T T A L Approved For Release 2004/05/12: CIA-RDP80M01082A000200010018-4 C O N F I D E N T I A L Approved For Release 2004/05/12: CIA-RDP80M01082A000200010018-4 D. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 1. The IHC work program and guidelines presented herein should be approved in principle by D~DCI~IC, in order to serve now as a tangible basis for demonstxation to CIA and DCI that this work program is sub- stantively oriented toward support of producers and users of intelligence. 2. Upon acceptance by the DCI of his Objectives and Milestones for FY-75, the THC work program should be modified, if necessary, and resub- mitted to D~DCI~IC for specific approval. Based thereon, a Letter of Instruction can be directed by D~DCI~IC to Acting Chairman IHC. 3. Without further delay, appropriate official action should be taken to cause CIA to nominate a member and one or two alternate members fvr the IHC. These individuals should be instructed to participate on a continuing and constructive basis, and to take further necessary steps to mobilize CIA working level support to IHC approved projects as required. 4. If continuing, constructive CIA participation cannot be achieved, the IHC should be disbanded. That course of action will require a state- ment to USIB members. 25X1 Atts (2) Acting Chairman Intelligence Information Handling Committee C O N F I D E N T I A L Approved For Release 2004/05/12: CIA-RDP80M01082A000200010018-4 Attachment ~l Approved For Release 2004/05/12: CIA-RDP80M01082A000~O~D~I~~f-47tudy INTELLIG~N~y lNFORi41AT10N NAiVDLiiVG COn/is'~IITT~E ofi the U~11 i ~D STATES l~;T~LLI~ic~1CF'dC}ARD IHC-MNi- 7/ 74 3 May 1974 SUBJECT. Summar of Comments by Air. Colby (DCI) and (SA/DCI) at IHC Meeting, 24 pri Attached is a summary of the comments of Mr. Colby and based on notes taken by attendees at the IHC 4 April 19 74 . I thought you would be interested to xeceive these comments in advance of t-he official minutes of that meeting. These remaxks axe not classified, and I see no reason ivhy you .should not make whatever further distxibution you desire. Acting Chairman. Att Approved For Release 2004/05/12: CIA-RDP80M01082A000200010018-4 Approved For Release 2004/05/12: CIA-RDP80M01082A000200010018-4 Summar of Co~~ents b ?~Ir. Colby (DCI) and SA DCI) at IHC I~ieeting April 1974 1. Mx. Co1~iy made the opening comments, lending his support to the reactivation of the IHC. He said-that infor- mation handling technology will r~o doubt continue to develop at Ieast as rapidly during the 1970's as during the I960ts. .Thus, .the future impact of information processing capabilities on how the intelligence community does its business and the degree of success it achieves will be very great.. He went on to say that, although ir. the past decade the Collection function has tended to~dominate the intelligence process, in the next decade the Processing and Production functions may~tivell dominate, bir. Colby noted that an information explosion has already taken place, but no~+r we .are. on the .verge of a technology explosion which will lead to new methods of analysis and forecasting and to new ways of rapid coor- dination and more effective presentation of infor-motion. He said intelligence should Lead in putting advancir_g infor- mation technology at the service of users. He cautioned that the human aspects of the changes which take place must be considered and provided for. He informed the Co~.mittee that he has asked o concentrate on-new ways to package and presen in ormation in order~to increase its effectiveness with the users. He urged the Committee to see that systems are designed for the people who will . use them and that people be trained to use them. 2. SA/DCI outlined his area .of concern an ~.s progress to cote, noting that he is just getting started in his ne~,a assignment for the DCI. He is investigating. new ways of presenting intelligence information within the community and, therefore, he is interested in the nature of user needs; the form, format and style of informa- tion; hardware and software aids in handling information; and new methodologies of intelligence production.. He told. the Committee he-has made an initial survey of DoD, State, the ~+Ihite House Situation Room,' CIA, etc. during the past month covering: - . -Community information handling systems which supply facts to the analysts. ("btr. Colby wants alternatives to ink on paper."); --Ne~Y~ methaclologies for analysts; and --Ne~v ways. to present information. Approved For Release 2004/05/12: CIA-RDP80M010.82A000200010018-4 Approved For Release 2004/05/12: CIA-RDP80M01082A000200010018-4 ~, sai~~ he has prepared a I.iat of sorie 15 ~_ ~?o'~lem5 (e.g-> Indications and ti'~arning, Crisis Situations, Military Economic.Intelligence, etc.) and another list of some 25 methodologies of analysis (e.g., Delphi, Regression .Analysis, Linear Programming, Alatrix Analysis, etc.). He intends, he said, to try to demonstrate the usefulness of new methods for intelligence analysis and presentation. He indicated that he.needs as input to his efforts the update of the IHG Inventory of Systems, identified in the IHG meeting agenda. -He said this Inventory will serve, also,. to define candidate systems for eventual networking. He expects to discover. latent capabilities and demonstrate their usefulness for use by analysts and decision makers. A paper he is,writing for the DCI will contain his findings .to date, and copies will be provided IHC members if the DCI approves this approach. Prepared by: IHC Support Staff 3 I~1ay 19 7 4 Approved For Release 2004/05/'I~ :-CIA-RDP80M01082A000200010018-4 25X1 gpproved For Release 2004/05/12 :CIA-RDP80M01082A000200010018-4 Approved For Release 2004/05/12 :CIA-RDP80M01082A000200010018-4