INTERAGENCY OFFENSIVE MISSILES DEPLOYMENT WORKING GROUP

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86M00886R000400120002-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 3, 2008
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: October 12, 1984
• Content Type: MEMO

The Director of Central Intelligence
Washington, D.C. 20505
SP - 221/84
12 October 1984
Copy /D
FROM: Lawrence K. Gershwin
National Intelligence Officer for Strategic Programs
SUBJECT: Interagency Offensive Missiles Deployment
Working Group
1. As you may know, I recently convened an ad hoc interagency working
group to resolve various issues raised by the SS-20 deployment controversy.
The group, consisting of analysts from CIA, DIA, NSA, INR, NPIC, and Air Force
Intelligence, has been working well. I would like to utilize this approach on
a continuing basis as the Community addresses similar deployment-related
issues.
2. Accordingly, I am establishing a broader-based, permanent interagency
intelligence working group on offensive missiles deployment. This group will
be responsible for reviewing and establishing an Intelligence Community
position on Soviet offensive missile deployments similar to the DCI's Weapon
and Space Systems Intellience Committee's charge for technical judgments. The
group will:
--Develop common criteria for identifying various phases of activity
prior to deployment;
--Develop common criteria for characterizing the likelihood of a
particular site being for a particular weapon system;
--Ensure that terminology is consistent.
At present, these functions are accomplished on an ad hoc basis, through
preparation of the NID and various messages from individual agencies. This
method is clearly inadequate, and frequently leads to confusion in both the
policy and intelligence communities. We need good interagency work on
deployments similar to WSSIC's input for our National Intelligence
Estimates. The Civil Defense Working Group, which operates under NIO/SP
ate
 auspices, is also a good example of the kind of national intelligence work I
am looking for in this instance. The types of weapons systems covered by the
new deployment working group will include ICBMs, MR/IRBMs, SLBMs, and long-
range cruise missiles. I anticipate we will be dealing with the following
kinds of problems in the near future:
--Criteria for missile deployments;
--Introduction of new ICBMs;
--Retirement of older ICBMs;
--SLCM and GLCM deployments.
3. The composition of the permanent working group will be analysts from
CIA, DIA, INR, NSA, and NPIC; depending on the particular systems under
discussion, Air Force and Navy Intelligence will be included, and members of
the Arms Control Intelligence Staff will sit in. The group will
direction of the NIO for Strategic Programs. I have designated
of CIA/SOVA to chair the new group. I would ask that all agencies'
representatives to the working group be prepared to speak authoritatively for
their agencies at the meetings and be able to obtain information and achieve
coordination quickly from their agencies. Without such an understanding, the
working group cannot function effectively. We intend to hold regular monthly
meetings (a regular date will be determined at our first meeting), with the
agenda formulated in advance. However, we will often be asked to do our work
on an ad hoc, fast turnaround basis, and agency representatives should be
prepared to meet some tight deadlines.
4. I am sensitive to the possible concern that individual agencies'
prerogatives and normal individual intelligence functions would be
deemphasized, and I want to assure you that I will guard against this
happening. I am also conscious of DIA's responsibility for order of battle
data for use by the commands and for targeting; I believe we can conduct the
working group in such a way that the responsibility of DIA analysts will not
be impaired. The ad hoc SS-20 working group should provide a model, and I
think all the analysts who participated would agree that the advantages of an
interagency working group clearly outweighed the disadvantages.
5. Please provide the names of your agency representatives- mailina
address, and phone number and the name of one alternate, to
or 25X1
25X1
Lawrence K. Gershwin
2
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 Approved For Release 2008/09/03 : CIA-RDP86M00886R000400120002-6
Additional Distribution:
Cy 8 - DCI
9 - DDCI
10 - ER
11 - Chm/WSSIC
12 - Chm/JAEIC
13 - Chm/NIC
14 - VChm/NIC
15 - NIO/USSR
16 - NIO/S&T
17 - C/ACIS
18 - D/SOVA
4
SECRET