SECURITY HANDLING OF TALENT PHOTOGRAPHY ACQUIRED OVER CUBA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP92B01090R002600080113-7
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 1, 2001
• Sequence Number: 113
• Content Type: MEMO

H MROL W V 001/091037C&A W1090R0 a 3*l- Z/A
CCHAN LS ONLY ZEBUB
Security Handling of TALENT
Photography Acquired Over Cuba
1. This memorandum proposes a change in the security
handling procedures regarding U-2 overflight photography acquired
over Cuba,
2. U-2 overflight of Cuba was initiated some time prior
to the Cuban invasion in order to provide intelligence for use therein.
Because of the sensitivity of that operation, as well as the use of the
U-2 for overflight of Cuba, a special compartment was established
within the TALENT Control System, This compartment, known as
ZEBUB, permitted only those who absolutely had to have it access to
the materials.
3. Conditions are now changed. The invasion has occurred?
Furthermore,, conditions have been sufficiently confused that there is
reasonable probability that low-flying aircraft may well have taken
aerial photography over Cuba incident to the invasion.
4. The Joint Chiefs of Staff and CINCLANT are today
required to be in a state of readiness in the event of any contingencies
bearing upon our relations with Cuba., Current developments with
regard to increments to the Cuban forces, their deployment? and
defensive purposes. as well as developments in the vicinity of Oua-n-
tanarno Naval Base are critical. The JCS has requested weekly
coverage .of selected targets in kee1* with their responsibility. It
is now proposed, because of the changed conditions and the present
needs, that the ZEBUB special compartment be abolished and that
the materials be afforded the protection of the TALENT Control System
alone. This will permit considerably wider use of the material both
in laboratories and in terms of users. It is further proposed that
sanitization of this material be permitted :in keeping with the proce-
dure long established for U-2 photography in the document known as
the "TALENT Sanitization Manual." It should be noted that photography
released as SECRET NOFORN under these procedures would not on
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TOP SECRET HANDLE VIA TALENT
ZEBUB CONTROL CHANNELS
ONLY
Approved For Release 2001/09/04: CIA-RDP92B01090R002600080113-7
 HANT ovJ `FF Xa 2001/09IT ?C?A" 01090E
CONTROL CHANNE ONLY ZEBUB W
film are eliminatedp as well as any reference to the TALENT System,
By enlargement it becomes impossible to deduce the altitude or the
focal length whereby the photographs were acquiredo
5o It is further proposed that information reports produced
as a result of photo interpretation should be released as SECRET
NOFORN, the information being attributed to reliable sources., Stand-
ard provision requests that in case of inquiry as to the source of
either sanitized photography or sanitized information reference is
made back to the CIA which has the responsibility for producing a
logical source other than U-2 or fabricating a plausible source.
6. The military service have concurred in these proposals.
General Cabell has been consulted and he proposes to authorize action
as outlined in paragraphs 4 and 5 above provided the State Department
concurs.
7, Recommendation: It is recommended that the State
Department concur in the proposals for:
a., The abolition of the ZEBUB System;
b., The control of Cuban photography normally
under the TALENT Control System with the application of
the procedure of the TALENT Sanitization Manual; and
c The information resulting from photo
interpretation to be authorized released at the SECRET
NOFORN level,
2
TOP SECRET' HANDLE VIA TALENT
ZEBUB CONTROL CHANNELS
ONLY
Approved For Release 2001/09/04: CIA-RDP92BO109OR002600080113-7
 d R~ a ?1 1/09/04: 'RD P.92JMI"90R0.0_2 ",89ISi=T>1-Z/A
CONTROL CHA ELS ONLY ZEBU B, *
Copy 1--DDP
11--AC/DPD
12--DDI(P) TCO
13- -OCI TCO
14--OSI TCO
15--ORR TCO
16--Director, NPIC
17--TSO CIA
18,19--C/DIM/NPIC
20--DDP TCO
21--Intel Staff/DPD
22--SO/DPD
Z3-20--C/SRS/DPD/DDP
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TOP SECRET HANDLE VIA TALENT
ZEBUB CONTROL CHANNELS
ONLY
Approved For Release 2001/09/04: CIA-RDP92BO109OR002600080113-7