RONI'S FUTURE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80M01133A001100030001-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 19, 2004
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: December 18, 1975
• Content Type: MF

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18 December 1975.
MEMORANDUM FOR: -Deputy to the DCI for the Intelligence Community
SUBJECT: RONI's Future
1. It is probably time to. consider a revival of the long-dormant
RONI. We would, in fact, like to produce issue No. 3 in March 1976;
if we do so, plans should be developed now and actual work begin in
January. Thus, this memo.
2. RONI was blessed by USIB in July, partly as a consequence of
a general appreciation of the need for some means to evaluate the quality
of national intelligence, and partly as a result of a general (though not
:unanimous) feeling that RONI was at.least a.step in the right direction.
And presumably, had the. House Select -Committr-e on Intelligence not
s~terveriecl,:; i;ss:ii ;s. No.: 3'a i1 4 .watilcl' now be`.a:'part oI: history.':, . }3y ."+.
March, God willing, apprehensions related to HSC exposures will have
diminished, and our audience, both within and without the Community,
will be ready for another round.
3. The question addressed here is, what should the next RONI
look like; i. e. , what changes should we make in its form, content,
and objectives? Clearly,- some changes should be made:
e Attitudes within the Community are changing, adjusting
to new pressures and opportunities, and RONI should
reflect and help shape movement in new directions;
The structure and the leadership of the Community are
also. changing, and RONI will have to respond to new
circumstances; . .
o Outside interest.in the Community's performance, and
in evaluating that performance, is growing, and RONI
should reflect (and capitalize on) this particular development;
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Our own perceptions--informed by experience and by
reactions to the first two issues--are changing, and
RONI should display our increasing awareness of what
this medium can and should do for the DCI.
. 4. We envision, in general, a RONI that would be more responsive
to the DCI's interests, broader in scope, open to more contributors,
and slanted more toward the concerns of Community consumers. It
would be less particular in approach, placing less emphasis on current
intelligence, statistical breakdowns, and individual regional and topical
commentaries.
5. Specifically, we would begin RONI with a Section devoted in
the main to a presentation of the DCI's views concerning substantive
and managerial issues of his choosing. Two of the major items in
half the first section of the June issue were drafted at the DCI's request;
we. would simply hope to expand the proportion of DCI items here, and .
encourage him to :.se in RONI a way to.express his interests and
concerns in writi g.ta a widespread-:(:but elitte!) at drence:.
6. Section II, which in the past treated all areas and topics and
provided statistical summaries (in bar charts), would offer individual
assessments of important papers (e. g., major NIEs) or explore
significant substantive issues (e. g. , the Community's disagreement
and disarray vis-a-vis China). It might in addition present the views
of consumers concerning papers and issues, perhaps as revealed via
the NSCIC Working Group." And it might also provide papers (perhaps
prepared by CPAD or MPRRD) concerning the collection, processing,
and funding of intelligence.
7. The next section would, as now, consist of special articles
and studies of presumed interest to the Community at large. These
could be contributed by the NIOs (and might reflect their KIQ evaluation
RONI could offer consumers' a quick, convenient, and. effective
way to communicate with the Community--to offer suggestions,.
express misgivings, or even, occasionally, serve up praise.
Excerpts from minutes of the NSCIC Working Group, interviews
with or letters from individual consumers, surveys of consumer
opinions, etc. , all could be used to good effect.
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reports), or DIOs, or officers in the DDI/CIA, or whatever. We
would, of course, also hope to continue to publish worthwhile letters
from readers.
. 8. All in all, the new book. would be less "picky, " more con-
cerned with problems of broad scope, more of an IC Staff (vice PRD)
publication. It would not discourage candor, nor would it shun
controversy. But its overall tone would be, by design, more clearly
constructive than in the past. RONI, in short, could serve consumer
and DCI alike and become a.strong and positive force in the Community
at large.
Distribution:
.O-Adrse
1 IC/Registry
1 - AD/DCI/IC
1 PRD Chron
1 - PRD /RONI
1 - RWS
:mjs
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