LETTER TO MR. FRANK C. CONAHAN FROM LYLE L. MILLER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81M00980R000800080008-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Sequence Number: 8
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved FTc fR ' eT 6QIF11 NUk-'R h &MM% 000800080008-8
NOV1978
OLC 78-3271/a
Legislative Counsel
Air. Frank C C. Conahan
Associate Director
International Division
General Accounting Office
Washington, D.C. 20548
~9d
ejA-01~
Dear 1-rvir. Conahan:
This is in regard to your letter of 24 October 1978 requesting
information. as to the extent of the Agency's research on the Soviet
Union. The scope of our response was discussed with Mr. Joseph
Frumkin, staff assistant to Senator H. John Heinz III on whose
behalf your inquiry is being conducted. Mr. Frumkin expressed
assurance that the information herein provided will satisfy Senator
Heinz's requirements as concerns the Central Intelligence Agency.
Senior Government policymakers have jointly enumerated the
intelligence matters of particular concern to them, and the various
agencies of the Intelligence Community are charged with ensuring
that their research is responsive to these concerns. The CIA's
National Foreign Assessment Center (NFAC) has made a vigorous
and concerted effort to do so with regard to its own research on the
Soviet Union and has maintained contact with other agencies with a
view toward eliminating duplication of effort and filling gaps in
Community research. The interagency intelligence production
programs developed by National Intelligence Officers annually and
aperiodically provide one means of coordinating Community
research and analysis on the Soviet Union. It should be noted,
however, that the intelligence components of the Department of
Defense and Department of State also have research and analysis
programs responsive to specific departmental needs. These
agencies do not submit their production programs to CIA for
review.
CIA-produced finished intelligence that appears in Community
products (such as National Intelligence Estimates, Interagency
Intelligence Memoranda, and the National Intelligence Daily) is
coordinated with all members of the Intelligence Community within
the limits imposed by timeliness. Dissenting views are clearly set
forth. In addition, some finished intelligence is the joint product of
CIA and one or more other members of the Community. A large
research program may also be apportioned out among Community
agencies as appropriate.
Approved For Release 2006/11/16: CIA-RDP81M00980R000800080008-8
 ".1 c%eddrawslex ensiveiy on reseaDrcli ane$onQt SSv~ Ou r$iion
nuclear energy, laws, and guide books. Special emphasis is now placed
on science and technology and military matters--ranging from Strat? f;ic
Arms Limitation Talks to Soviet civil defense. We also continue to
emphasize the acquisition of books on economic conditions, commerc .s-,
and national production, and works on Soviet political theory.
academia and private research institutions. CIA research and aaalyu,-,
personnel routinely attend conferences and seminars on their areas ol
specialization and many take additional graduate work as well. The
Agency library has routinely purchased works on the Soviet Union (ir
Russian and English) in the following fields: technical books. collection
of scientific papers by academicians, books on industrial rnanagc'menl
agronomy, communications, meteorology, mining, regional travel,
history, geography, industry, economics, weapons, civil defense,
Unclassified projects undertaken by academic or private researcii
institutions for the CIA are routinely listed in the publication "Goverziiaeat
Sponsored Research on Foreign Affairs" prepared by the State Department.
Enclosed is a copy of the listing of unclassified CIA publication.. made
available to the public through the Library of Congress DOCEX systeL. for
1972-1977. Note that pages seven through eleven list studies on the Soviet
Union. Also enclosed is a listing of publications on the Soviet Union made
available in 1978.
Please inform Senator Heinz that we would be more than happy `o
discuss any aspect of our response with him personally should he so
desire.
Sincerely,
LSi
Acti el
Distribuiton:
Orig - Addressee
1 - NFAC/CSS I Iw/o/encls
1 - Comptroller w o encls
1 - ER w/o/encls
1 - OLC Subject
1 - OLC Chron
OLC:PLC:jms (18 Nov 78)