ATTACHED IS A DRAFT LETTER TO ARMITAGE, SOLOMON, AND RODMAN ON THE CREATION OF AN INFORMAL POLICY/INTELLIGENCE WORKING GROUP.

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88T00988R000200170001-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 18, 2011
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: August 28, 1986
• Content Type: LETTER

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/18: CIA-RDP88T00988R000200170001-2
THE DIRECTOR OF
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
28 August 1986
National Intelligence Council
NOTE TO: DDCI
Attached is a draft letter to Armitage,
Solomon, and Rodman on the creation of an informal
policy/intelligence working group. Let me know
if you want to make any changes.
Graham E. Fuller
VC/NIC
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/18: CIA-RDP88T00988R000200170001-2
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/18: CIA-RDP88T00988R000200170001-2
CO ENTIAL
The Deputy Director of I Intelligence
Washivm. D.. c.2OSOs
Mr. Richard Solomon
Director, Policy Planning Staff
Department of State
Washington, D.C. 20520
Dear Dick:
We have long shared in an interest in trying to strengthen the
inter-relationship between intelligence and policy. On occasion we all note
some degree of disconnect between what the intelligence community perceives
as happening -- and the policies as they are implemented by various agencies
in Washington.
I believe there would be considerable merit in establishing an informal
periodic working group which would examine those areas in which disconnects
between policy and intelligence would seem most evident. We have no
intention of trying to insist that the community's assessment is the
uniquely definitive one. We would like, however, to draw to your attention
potential problems -- particularly where our NIOs, who both chair Estimates
and are in contact with the policy community -- see these problems
emerging. Such meetings would afford an opportunity for each side to
discuss frankly why there might be an apparent disconnect between the two
areas. Do they spring from a frank disagreement as to what is happening, do
they reflect a broader policy agenda rather than a narrower intelligence
community view of a problem, or do the policy communities in fact see events
moving gradually in the right direction while recognizing inherent pitfalls
in the process?
We propose that this working group be made up of the Chairman and Vice
Chairman of the NIC, the appropriate NIO for the area of policy concerned,
Dick Solomon from Policy Planning, Peter Rodman from NSC, and Rich Armitage
from DoD. Any member could suggest a topic for discussion, but we would
look to the NIO first and foremost to raise areas for discussion where he
All portions classified
CONFIDENTIAL
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/18: CIA-RDP88T00988R000200170001-2
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/18: CIA-RDP88T00988R000200170001-2
CONFIDENTIAL
perceives possible disconnect. Periodic revisiting of these potential areas
of disconnect would also be useful in trying to gauge whether in fact the
negative trends pointed out by the intelligence community are diminishing or
growing. Your concerns and views as policymakers would also assist us in
better focusing NIEs on key political issues of interest to you. _
I would like to have the Vice Chairman of the NIC, Graham Fuller,
contact you shortly to discuss the implementation of such an informal
working group.
Sincerely,
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/18: CIA-RDP88T00988R000200170001-2
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/18: CIA-RDP88T00988R000200170001-2
CONFIDENTIAL
The Deputy Director of Central Intelligence
Washington. D. C. 20505
The Honorable Richard Armitage
Assistant Secretary of Defense
for International Security Affairs
The Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20301
Dear Rich:
We have long shared in an interest in trying to strengthen the
inter-relationship between intelligence and policy. On occasion we all note
some degree of disconnect between what the intelligence community perceives
as happening -- and the policies as they are implemented by various agencies
in Washington.
I believe there would be considerable merit in establishing an informal
periodic working group which would examine those areas in which disconnects
between policy and intelligence would seem most evident. We have no
intention of trying to insist that the community's assessment is the
uniquely definitive one. We would like, however, to draw to your attention
potential problems -- particularly where our NIOs, who both chair Estimates
and are in contact with the policy community -- see these problems
emerging. Such meetings would afford an opportunity for each side to
discuss frankly why there might be an apparent disconnect between the two
areas. Do they spring from a frank disagreement as to what is happening, do
they reflect a broader policy agenda rather than a narrower intelligence
community view of a problem, or do the policy communities in fact see events
moving gradually in the right direction while recognizing inherent pitfalls
in the process?
We propose that this working group be made up of the Chairman and Vice
Chairman of the NIC, the appropriate NIO for the area of policy concerned,
Dick Solomon from Policy Planning, Peter Rodman from NSC, and Rich Armitage
from DoD. Any member could suggest a topic for discussion, but we would
look to the NIO first and foremost to raise areas for discussion where he
All portions classified
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
25X1 k
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/18: CIA-RDP88T00988R000200170001-2
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/18: CIA-RDP88T00988R000200170001-2
CONFIDENTIAL
perceives possible disconnect. Periodic revisiting of these potential areas
of disconnect would also be useful in trying to gauge whether in fact the
negative trends pointed out by the intelligence community are diminishing or
growing. Your concerns and views as policymakers would also assist us in
better focusing NIEs on key political issues of interest to you. _
I would like to have the Vice Chairman of the NIC, Graham Fuller,
contact you shortly to discuss the implementation of such an informal
working group.
Sincerely,
Robert M. Gates
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/18: CIA-RDP88T00988R000200170001-2
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/18: CIA-RDP88T00988R000200170001-2
CONFIDENTIAL
The Deputy Director of Central Intelligence
Mshington.D C.20505
The Honorable Peter Rodman
Deputy Assistant to the President
for National Security Affairs (Foreign Policy)
Old Executive Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20506
We have long shared in an interest in trying to strengthen the
inter-relationship between intelligence and policy. On occasion we all note
some degree of disconnect between what the intelligence community perceives
as happening -- and the policies as they are implemented by various agencies
in Washington.
I believe there would be considerable merit in establishing an informal
periodic working group which would examine those areas in which disconnects
between policy and intelligence would seem most evident. We have no
intention of trying to insist that the community's assessment is the
uniquely definitive one. We would like, however, to draw to your attention
potential problems -- particularly where our NIOs, who both chair Estimates
and are in contact with the policy community -- see these problems
emerging. Such meetings would afford an opportunity for each side to
discuss frankly why there might be an apparent disconnect between the two
areas. Do they spring from a frank disagreement as to what is happening, do
they reflect a broader policy agenda rather than a narrower intelligence
community view of a problem, or do the policy communities in fact see events
moving gradually in the right direction while recognizing inherent pitfalls
in the process?
We propose that this working group be made up of the Chairman and Vice
Chairman of the NIC, the appropriate NIO for the area of policy concerned,
Dick Solomon from Policy Planning, Peter Rodman from NSC, and Rich Armitage
from DoD. Any member could suggest a topic for discussion, but we would
look to the NIO first and foremost to raise areas for discussion where he
All portions classified
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/18: CIA-RDP88T00988R000200170001-2
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/18: CIA-RDP88T00988R000200170001-2
CONFIDENTIAL
perceives possible disconnect. Periodic revisiting of these potential areas
of disconnect would also be useful in trying to gauge whether in fact the
negative trends pointed out by the intelligence community are diminishing or
growing. Your concerns and views as policymakers would also assist us in
better focusing NIEs on key political issues of interest to you.
I would like to have the Vice Chairman of the NIC, Graham Fuller,
contact you shortly to discuss the implementation of such an informal
working group.
Sincerely,
Robert M. Gates
CONFIDENTIAL
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/18: CIA-RDP88T00988R000200170001-2