NSCIC Working Group Action Program

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84B00506R000100180015-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 14, 2004
• Sequence Number: 15
• Publication Date: February 6, 1975
• Content Type: MF

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6 February 1975
SUBJECT: NSCIC Working Group Action Program
25X1A9A
A study of the NSCIC'file leaves me with the
strong impression that we are permitting the potential
clout this Committee could marshal., to be frittered away
on numerous projects or. agenda actions of doubtful value
(I have noted a number of these at Annex A with comments
about disposal).
In looking at what the NSCIC WG might usefully
do, I went back to first principles. The President's
memorandum of\15 November 1971 assigned two primary responsi-
bilities to the NSCIC:
a. "Give direction and guidance on national
substantive intelligence needs" and
b. "Provide a continuing evaluation of intelligence
products from the viewpoint of the intelligence
consumer."
The nexus of my proposed`program for the NSCIC is
essentially to do that which has been assigned. Thus, the
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first two (and primary) objectives in a NSCIC WG Action
Program would be:
a. IMPROVED POLICY GUIDANCE FOR THE INTELLIGENCE
COMMUNITY.
-- This objective was set out in the DCI's Report
to the President (PFIAB) viz:
"We must improve communications between the
policymaker and the Community. The problem
of obtaining improved guidance from policy and
planning levels is far from solved..
additional emphasis has to be put on the need
for policymakers to take the Intelligence
Community into their confidence when they are
formulating plans so that intelligence assets can
be brought to bear in time to be effective."
(It seems to me that the NSCIC is a key instrument to
seek improvement in this connection - its members
contend that they are consumers/policymakers).
In pursuing this objective, we would seek ways
to improve communications, i.e., How can policy
questions that can benefit from intelligence input
be surfaced? Andy Marshall describes these as "top
level needs for selected topics."
(The interest of the WG in a part of this topic has
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n expressed by Dick Ober and others in
drafting KIQs. And Ellsworth spelled out for us
a list of items in which Sec/Def is interested.
Ober also said NSC wants "longer--range projections
of alternative political and economic developments.")
(A n
egative on focussing on this target w
25X1A9A sentiments like those held by Ed Procter and
and Carver's view (apparently
not really working)
that it is the "N1O's role to find out what requester
needs.")
b. PRODUCT EVALUATION (FEEDBACK) ON NATIONAL
PAPERS
--- The goal would be to develop a simple, regular
25X1A9Afeedback system.
says the need is to
"involve" the WG this would only work if the WG
members got their constituencies to conduct serious
evaluations.
-- We would seek to obtain guidance not on whether
paper was right or not, but on adequacy - was it
talking about the right things - if not, what should
be stressed to be helpful to policymakers.
The WG seems ready to be involved, i.e., Ober
says, "feedback is a function of the NSCIC";
Ellswor-th said "consumers lack a means of providing
feedback to the community"; State wants to evaluate
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current intelligence publications and their
"feedback."
--- I would envisage WG evaluating only National
level paper, e.g., NIEs, NIAMs, and "families"
of publications, e.g., current intell pubs, or
economic intell pubs.
I calculate it is on the above 2 Objectives the
NSCIC WG attention could be most beneficial (they
are also those which the WG members have said, in
one way or another, they want to do) providing WG
constituencies (are willing to roll up their sleeves
and really work. Other topics.that NSCIC WG could
treat are listed below, but they do not lend them-
selves as neatly to the WG, at least on first
glance:
a. Intelligence Resources Overview (People
Problem). Already on agenda, IC Staff.to prepare
a report for WG consideration on reduction of analyst
strength.
b. NAT. INTELL STRATEGY - should/can WG become
siezed with this problem in its early stages?
C. NAT. INTELL REQUIREMENTS PROCESS ?- ditto to
b. Also mentioned as a problem by DCI in report
to. the President.
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NOW/ 'ROW
d. FOCUS B EVALUATION - PRIORITIES OF
COUNTRIES/SUBJECTS
e. STUDY OF IMPACT OF CUTS IN RESOURCES, that is,
assist in identifying choices.
f. NET ASSESSMENT
g. NATIONAL/TACTICAL INTERFACE PROBLEM
h. INTELLIGENCE UNCERTAINTY -- press for inclusion
of KENT chart in National papers.
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ANNEX' A
A somewhat skeptical view of items currently on
NSCIC WG agenda. Subject to more informed views, I suggest
many should be dropped, turned aside with an evasive answer,
or. (if far down the road pressed to a quick conclusion)
so that WG can get on to more weighty (if perhaps fewer in
number) actions.
1. Comments on Perspectives for Intelligence,
1975-80. OK to get the comments and then drop.
In future, make part of the Policy Guidance
Program (Objective 1 of proposed program).
2. IC Staff report for WG (for NSCIC) concerning
handling of info in pre-crisis and crisis situation.
(Just another briefing - if WG becomes a vehicle
for more briefings, involvement will dwindle even
more.)
3. Pending Legislation (to amend Nat. Security .
Act of 1947). What can NSCIC do for community
or vice versa?
4. OMNIBUS NSCID - wind-up
5. NSCID No. 9??
6. Fact of Satellite Reconnaissance -- drop
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 ANNEX A, cont'd
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7. Various bleats raised in Nov. 20 "gripe session."
Many of the comments, particularly those by
Morell, should be handled by Morell-to-Procter
conversations. Take what is useful, i.e.,
feedback and, policy guidance, and deep-six
the rest or sanitize and pass on to intell
production folk. There were some useful
suggestions, i.e., get more econ content into
WIEs. (Morell wanted to know what happened on
these "suggestions" in last meeting.
(These items not yet.on WG agenda.)
8. Handbook for Consumers, an allocation of production
responsibilities, status of capabilities (Ells-
worth suggested). DROP.
But if it is a useful idea, pass off to IC Staff?
(with inputs from individual aqencies) to prepare.
DIOs, NIOs, Morell, etc. are the key points.- if
they are in business no handbook needed, in my
view.
9. Intelligence Uncertainty (Ellsworth & Ober).
Something that can't be handled in a committee.
Worthwhile to plug for Kent chart in Nat pubs?
Take up with Intelligence Panel?
7
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