PUBLICATION OF THE STRATEGIC WARNING STAFF

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83B01027R000300170025-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 29, 2007
• Sequence Number: 25
• Publication Date: March 10, 1980
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 2007> DP83BO1027R
S-OO28/SWS
MEMORANDUM FOR: NIO/W
FROM : Director, SWS
SuW01I : Publications of the Strategic $iarnjttg Staff
1. Following discussio,ls with you and the members of the Strategic
Warning Staff, I have come to the conclusion that the Staff`s output
should take several different fonts, most of which have historical
precedent. I propose ti produce:
-- Blind Memoranda originated by the Staff on items of irr idfate
warning interest that would contribute to decisions to initiate Alert
Memoranda'and to their substance. If Alert Memoranda were not appropriate
at the time, the Blind Memoranda themselves could be disseminated further
in the government.
Str3t~'~; _'1?,~? it Eriefs to be published as such ire a speciej
section in the National Intelligence Daily (NID). These notes would
contain warning information that would not necessarily require immediate
action, but would, no-et" Bless, be of policy
believe, conforms with sy charge from the DCI to revitalize the SWS, and
='~ r:.levan:. Our ....'cent ar-`;-icle on the si?uation in t=~:
Pc,lir+.,,~la is a partial precedent for publication in'
n the N';). Difficulties
in producing the recent article persuade m(.e that i :, cannot be done
efficiently by forcing it into the mold of the normal current intelli-
gence analysis section in the Ni), 'it should be characterized separately
as warning intelligence, i.e., a section entitled "Strategic Wal,ning Brief."
By so doing, I believe that we would maintain our independence and would
be ab'e to continue to act as "the conscience of the Intelligence
Community with regard to strategic tarnizg"
-- SIBS SLerial Rppoorts for which there are precedents and which would
contain information more analytical in nature than that put into the NID
but would be more topical in nature than that found in a Research Report.
SWSResearch_Reports containing analysis Of the warning problem
but not discussions of current events
the SWS Information Report and undesignper . atedespec.ias reportswoflthe paste
 Approved For Release 2007/05/X1;042 B01027R000300170025-3
? i
2. 1 would be glad to discuss the foregoing with y.~u if you have any
problems with it. If there are no problems I will procez d with the
administrative details such as having NIA print a standby stock of
appropriate cover sheets for the special finished reports--the SWS
Special Report and SWS Research Report. I will also contact Dick Kerr
and make the arrangements for future NID items.
3. Under most circumstances believe the abo-re a t;; at;;, f r7s will
provide a medium for our output and will provide an outlet for analyses
by members on the Staff. Occasionally, however, wt_ mi.-ht attest to
Jointly produce an item with either DIA or CIA analysts in their house
publications, when the result of the analysis of a Staff member does not
have conclusions that bear directly on the warning problem. such occasions
occur from time to time when investigative analysis of what seemed to be a
warning problem results in findings of current intelligence interest but
of no signific?-nt warning interest.' I believe such analyses shouldn't
be discarded if there is a readership. Joint efforts with MA and CIA
analysts might provide us the easiest outlet.
V5X1
Release 2007/05/29: CIA-RDP83BO1027R000300170025-3