NFAC COMMENTS ON 'SATELLITE RECONNAISSANCE SECURITY POLICY ALTERNATIVES'

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP81B00401R002000130007-2
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
S
Document Page Count: 
1
Document Creation Date: 
December 15, 2016
Document Release Date: 
December 15, 2003
Sequence Number: 
7
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
September 7, 1978
Content Type: 
MF
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PDF icon CIA-RDP81B00401R002000130007-2.pdf48.9 KB
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Approved For Release 2004/01/20 : CIA-RDP81 B00101 R00?000130007-2 CXNTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY WASaIweTOw.D.C. 2O5Oe 7 September 25X1 MEMORANDUM FOR: 1978 s NFAC Representative to the Intelligence Community Civil Space Policy Working Groups SUBJECT . NFAC Comments on "Satellite Reconnai sauce! Security Policy Alternatives" REFERENCE : IC 78-5244, 5Sep78, Same Title as Subject 1. In general, the paper presents an adequate st4mnary'of the benefits and risks associated with potential declassification of thel"fact of", and release of imagery from, satellite photographic relconna4asance systems. 2. We believe, however, that the benefit cited for declassification of "fact of" is inadequately discussed. Given that tie "fact of" is a notorious non-secret, it appears improbable that declassification of only the "fact of" would allay public concern that wecan a4equately verify Soviet compliance with the terms of a SALT II 48reem4nt. Informed opponents of such an agreement are aware that certain qualitative limita- tions require more than satellite photography to moni~or So*iet compliance. Such opponents could combat the strategy of releasing;"fact;of" by stating the limitations of such photography in the motiitorirjg task and accusing the administration of taking an evasive action to clover up an inherently weak case for SALT. This could, in turn, cause increased pressures to reveal other sources to rebut such atatements.' I 3. Since the only benefit cited for declassifying "fat of" concerns allaying public concern with US monitoring capabilities , th a section of the paper needs to be addressed more fully. If there is in4eed some significant chance that the objective/benefit would no be achieved, it would hardly be worth taking the risk involved. -App owed For Release '20'04/011201 CIA-RDP81 B00401 R002