PRC (I) PRIORITIES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81B00401R002000170005-0
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 20, 2002
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: June 14, 1978
• Content Type: MF

SECRET
Approved For Release 2006I14ii: i ;CIA-RDP81 B00401 R0021J00170005-0
THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20301
3.4 lil:{7 S78
MEMORANDUM FOR DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
SUBJECT: PRC(I) Priorities
As you requested in your memo of 1 May, we have reviewed your
revised PRC(I) priorities lists. I believe we are gradually improv-
ing the lists, but I still have significant concerns with them.
Several of my specific changes were not included. In the long-
term list, the most critical of those were: NATO commitments,
advanced countries' military policy issues, Soviet foreign intentions
and military projections, and the global effect of U.S. military aid.
Those that were most significant, yet missing in the current list,
include Soviet weapons development purposes, the Soviet concept and
expectations for a "win" in a nuclear exchange, and the Soviet
strategy in Africa. It seems to me that each of these items is of
a very high priority in national terms, not only from a military
point of view.
As promulgated, your latest PRC(I) lists indicate significant
shifts in priorities, downward for military and upward for both
political and economic. If taken on balance and applied to NFIP
resources, the net effect would appear to be an eventual net loss
in DOD's return on intelligence investment. Although I recognize
that a very significant amount of NFIP goes toward the satisfaction
of Defense requirements, the Department of Defense is still left
with key and critical needs unfulfilled.
While I fully recognize the need for political and economic
intelligence, most significant problems which have occurred over
the past twenty years have been in substantial part military.
The President and the Secretary of State, as well as myself, must
be highly aware of the threat we face from the Communist Bloc and
its worldwide military initiatives. I do not think it is the
intent of the PRC(I), the NSC or.the President to reduce significantly
or alter the support provided by the NFIP for Defense requirements.
In that light, I would strenuously object to significant shifts in
resources away from intelligence needs critical to Defense, should
that result from constrained resources and altered priorities.
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The enclosure contains my detailed recommendations for changes
to the lists. The Chairman, JCS supports my changes. Finally, I
believe it would be appropriate for the eventual final list approved
by the PRC(I) to be issued by that body.
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THE SECRETARY OF STATE -----------
WASHINGTON F ; Y t
------------
WASHINGTON IL78-819/lo i
May 15, 1978
'I am pleased to concur in the final version
of the Intelligence Priorities lists and in their
release to the Intelligence Community as PRC(I)
guidance.
I think you are to be congratulated on your.
leadership throughout this entire project. I
know you agree that in a more important sense
it represents an on-going process that has only
begun. If the good work done so far is to result
in better intelligence collection and analysis,.
the topics and priorities set out in the two
lists must be continuously updated and refined
to reflect the precise questions of the day. I
am glad to see, therefore, that you are providing
for periodic reviews. I intend to lend my support
to this process and encourage the kind of inter-
action between the policy makers and Intelligence
Community that will make it successful.
Sincerely,
Admiral Stansfield Turner, U.S.N.,
Director,
Central Intelligence Agency.
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