SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED ACTION

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CIA-RDP96-00791R000300010004-1
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RIPPUB
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S
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10
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November 4, 2016
Document Release Date: 
August 31, 2004
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4
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REQ
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Approved For Release 2005/03/24: CIA-RDP96A6fiR00010-b0 SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED ACTION REQUEST: The DCI is requested to construct a retrospective review and technical analysis of the data that has been produced by the program since its inception 20 years ago. This includes an inventory and analysis of the files held in the CIA, while it administered the program as well as in DIA. The study should also address the compliance with Congressional direction. (C) Response: The data for this retrospective review, technical analysis, and compliance with Congressional direction has been retrieved from current DIA activity files. CIA will conduct its own program review. DIA is not the home of record for results obtained by DoD Service organizations regarding this phenomena during the 1970's. (S/NF/WN) During the period between 1975 and 1979 the following DoD Service elements supported psi research: -- The U.S. Navy program was to evaluate an individual's ability to perceive remote visual stimuli. This effort was to answer the question whether the phenomena exist. No additional information is on file regarding the Navy program. -- The U.S. Air Force's National Air Intelligence Center, formerly the Foreign Technology Division (FTD), initiated its program by asking whether the phenomena existed and whether it could be used to collect intelligence. Their analysis revealed that further research was required before RV could become an effective tool. As a result, FTD began to explore areas that would have a direct bearing on improving the application of RV to include the effects of feedback and effectiveness over distance. In addition, FTD focused on the former Soviet Union and initiated attempts to replicate foreign experiments. No further information is on file as to FTD's work in this arena. -- The U.S. Army's Missile Research and Development Command (MIRADCOM) had SRI under contract during the period from August 1977 to 1978. The work was done under the sponsorship of the Missile Intelligence Agency (MIA). The REPRODUCTION REQUIRES APPROVAL OF ORIGINATOR OR HIGHER DOD AUTHORITY FURTHER DISSEMINATION ONLY AS DIRECTED BY PAG OR HIGHER DOD AUTHORITY MITED DISSEMINATION SECRET NOT RELEASABLE TO FOREIGN NATIONALS STAR GATE Approved For Release 2005/03/24: pIA-RDP96-00791 R000300010004-1 CLASSIFIED BY MULTIPLE SOURCES DECLASSIFY ON OADR WARNING NOTICE-INTELLIGENCE SOURCES OR METHODS INVOLVED SG1 A Approved For Release 2005/03/24: CIA-RDP96-00791 R000300010004-1 objective of the MIA program was to determine whether selected individuals could interact and influence, by mental means only, sensitive electronic equipment. The extension of MIA's effort was related to the general question concerning the existence of the phenomena. Under the division of labor in the Army GRILL FLAME project, MIRADCOM had responsibility for developing a Remote Perturbation experimental program. The project was to have been conducted in two phases. -- From May 1979 to September 1979 SRI assisted MIRADCOM in developing sensitive measurement equipment for the experiment. Phase II was to be another contract with SRI possibly involving human test subjects. -- The MIA portion was to be passed to another MIRADCOM element (the Missile R&D Laboratory). No further information is on file regarding's MIRADCOM's efforts in this arena. (S/NF) The Army Material Systems Analysis Activity (AMSAA) extended the applications oriented research lines begun by other organizations. Its interest was RV, and it sought immediate applications of the phenomena by targeting SRI viewers on daily field exercises. In September 1978, AMSAA contracted with SRI to do a number of tactically oriented RV tasks. In 1979, AMSAA extended the contract with SRI to April 1980. No further information is on file. (S/NF/WN) During this same period of tine the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command (USAINSCOM) was'also asked whether RV could be used to collect intelligence data. As a result, USAINSCOM established an in-house unit to collect intelligence information in response to customer requirements. The USAINSCOM personnel that were assigned to the unit received initial RV training at SRI. In addition, USAINSCOM financed research efforts that were closely linked to its applications and operational mission. End of year funds were to have been requested in FY 1980. Additional Army HUMINT program funds were to have been included for Project GRILL FLAME for FY 1981. (S/NF/WN) The following funding summary for the U.S. Army portion of the program was extracted from Project GRILL FLAME documentation. Year Sponsor Funding Purpose CY 1977-78 MIA $80K Program VI PK CY 1978 AMSAA $220K Program VI RV CY 1979 MIA $118K Program VI PK REPRODUCTION REQUIRES WARNING NOTICE-INTELLIGENCE APPROVAL OF ORIGINATOR SOURCES OR METHODS INVOLVED OR HIGHER DOD AUTHORITY FURTHER DISSEMINATION ONLY AS DIRECTED BY PAG OR HIGHER DOD AUTHORITY LIMITED DISSEMINATION SECRET NOT RELEASABLE TOOR ~~FOREIGN NATIONALS Approved For Release 2005/0A ~24-2CIA-RDP96-00791 R000300010004-1 Approved For Release 2005/03/24: CIA-RDP96-00791 R000300010004-1 SECRET CY 1978-80 USAINSCOM $75K Program III RV CY 1979-80 MIRADCOM $90K Program VI PK CY 1979-80 MIRADCOM $190K Program VI Unknown CY 1979-80 INSCOM $25K Program III Operations FY 1981 DA Staff/ $150K Program III RV USAINSCOM FY 1981 DARCOM $700K Program VI RVPK (S/NF/WN) During the period that DoD Service organizations were involved, DIA also pursued some aspects of psychoenergetics. Its activities were restricted, however, to aspects clearly related to threat assessment and intelligence data collection. The DIA contracted research with SRI to train individuals to do RV and supported attempts by experienced remote viewers to collect intelligence on former Soviet sites of operational interest. (S/NF/WN) The joint program between DIA and USAINSCOM began in FY 1981. Although it may appear the DIA and INSCOM research lines diverge, both organizations were following their respective missions and both expanded the already identified research lines. A chronology is as follows: -- In FY 1981, the DIA program looked at ways to improve the reliability of RV data, assessed foreign research, began work on countermeasures, and explored methods to input RV data into a computer for storage and manipulation. Additionally, efforts were begun to develop a comprehensive training program for RV. USAINSCOM, on the other hand was looking for ways to improve the quality of data from its in-house capability, researched audio analysis and means of targeting remote viewers. -- The FY 1982 research was primarily an extension of the tasks begun in the previous year. One new area was initiated, however, involving one of the most difficult problems in RV research--how to evaluate RV-derived data. Although evaluation of RV data had been investigated for many years, this was the first identification of evaluation as a separate and special task. -- All but one of the areas researched during FY 1983 were follow-on efforts to the FY 1982 work. The one new task was an attempt to develop a search methodology for finding lost items or people. This was clearly an effort to improve the intelligence application of RV. REPRODUCTION REQUIRES WARNING NOTICE-INTELLIGENCE APPROVAL OF ORIGINATOR SOURCES OR METHODS INVOLVED OR HIGHER DOD AUTHORITY FURTHER DISSEMINATION ONLY AS DIRECTED BY PAG OR HIGHER DOD AUTHORITY LIMITED DISSEMINATION SECRET NOT RELEASABLE TO FOREIGN NATIONALS STAR GATE Approved For Release 2005/03/24 .CIA-RDP96-00791 R000300010004-1 Approved For Release 2005/03/24: CIA-RDP96-00791 R000300010004-1 SECRET -- The follow-on program covering FY's 1984 and 1985 filled the gap between the end of the Joint Service Program and the U.S. Army five-year program. The lines of research were extensions of work in the past fiscal year and focused on research needed to enhance RV to the point where it could be applied to intelligence problems. Training, evaluation, and search were emphasized. An additional effort concentrated on screening and selection of personnel. (S/NF/WN) In January 1985, PROJECT GRILL FLAME was transferred to DIA and was placed under the staff cognizance of the former Directorate for Scientific and Technical Intelligence. Moreover, a five-year psychoenergetics program (FYs'1986-1990) using Army Medical research and development funds authorized by the then U.S. Army Surgeon General was begun at SRI in FY 1986. The new program emphasized the medical and biological aspects of psychoenergetic phenomena. The stated objectives were to document that psychoenergetic phenomena are real and reproducible, to determine the underlying mechanisms, and to bring psychoenergetics research into the mainstream of human performance research. To accomplish these objectives, SRI began work to identify explanatory neurophysiological mechanisms and specify phenomenological properties. In addition, the Army Medical program sought to determine physical, physiological, and psychological correlates of RV and to develop optimal application strategies. (S/NF/WN) The FY 1991 Congressional language directed DIA to initiate a new program in anomalous phenomena. As a result, Project SUNSTREAK was renamed Project STAR GATE and restructured as a LIMDIS program vice its former SAP categorization. The program objectives and accomplishments are as follows: -- $2 million funding received and obligated ($1.5 M R&D, $0.5 M O&M). Sole source R&D contract ($1.5 M) with the Cognitive Science Laboratory, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) on line by July 1991. -- Objectives included formulating a long-range comprehensive plan, developing an integrated foreign data base, publishing foreign assessments, developing proper documentation, obtaining external assistance. -- Project STAR GATE established on 31 January 1991. -- Published Foreign Assessments, Long-Range Comprehensive Plan by 30 May 1991. -- Published/documented all other project requirements by June 1991. -- Emphasized foreign data base development; initiated select basic research/application research projects. REPRODUCTION REQUIRES WARNING NOTICE-INTELLIGENCE APPROVAL OF ORIGINATOR SOURCES OR METHODS INVOLVED OR HIGHER DOD AUTHORITY FURTHER DISSEMINATION ONLY AS DIRECTED BY PAG OR HIGHER DOD AUTHORITY LIMITED DISSEMINATION SECRET NOT RELEASABLE TO FOREIGN NATIONALS STAR GATE Approved For Release 2005/03/24 CIA-RDP96-00791 R000300010004-1 Approved For Release 2005/03/24: CIA-RDP96-00791 R000300010004-1 SG1 B -- Magnetoencephalograph (MEG) brain wave measurement work at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). Analysis of results were reported to be inconclusive. -- Planning completed for a new significant research project scheduled for 30 March 1992 that may isolate transmission mechanisms. (S/NF/WN/SG/LIMDIS) The FY 1992 Congressional Authorization directed that the following be accomplished: -- DIA realign ten civilian billets. Realignment completed and Project STAR GATE personnel placed in civilian billets. -- Prepare a two year architecture report within 120 days and provide it to the Committees on Appropriations. The report, "Project Architecture," ODT-S-1042-SL, 30 March 1992, was delivered to the Committees. -- Operational users should be identified in DoD and the Intelligence Community.... and that a tasking relationship be developed with the Department of Defense Special Operations Command. The "Project Architecture" report identified over 12 users to include SOCOM, CENTCOM, and Joint Interagency Task Forces East (formerly JTF-4) and West (formerly JTF-5), and JTF-6. Projects also initiated with DIA analytical elements. -- An even balance between foreign assessments operational activities and research.... such that the three areas are related to and enhance each other. The "Project Architecture" report developed approaches that were implemented for achieving this program balance. -- An additional Congressional plus up of $2 million dedicated for R&D. The contract was with the Cognitive Sciences Laboratory, SAIC. The focus of the research effort was to develop an integrated five year research plan; provide research support for applications development; and to conduct basic research leading to the an understanding of the mechanisms for AMP. (S/NF/WN/SG/LIMDIS) REPRODUCTION REQUIRES WARNING NOTICE-INTELLIGENCE APPROVAL OF ORIGINATOR SOURCES OR METHODS INVOLVED OR HIGHER DOD AUTHORITY FURTHER DISSEMINATION ONLY AS DIRECTED BY PAG OR HIGHER DOD AUTHORITY SECRET NOT RELEASABLE TO ~FpOTTRFEIGN NATIONALS Approved For Release 2005/03/24-5DI-L DP96-00791 R000300010004-1 Approved For Release 2005/03/24: CIA-RDP96-00791 R000300010004-1 SECRET SG1 B The FY 1993 Congressional direction authorized $0.6 million for STAR GATE and directed DIA/DR to determine the feasibility of transferring the project to the Armed Forces medical Intelligence Center (AFMIC), Fort Detrick, MD. Study undertaken and decision made to retain project at Fort Meade. Major accomplishments included: -- All research initiated by the $2 million funding received in FY 1991 completed. Major findings related to factors important in target/task selection, data enhancement methods, and in exploring select application areas. -- R&D funding ($2 million) received in FY 1992 put on-line and most of the research/support objectives initiated. An additional $131K of R&D funding was programmed for the remainder of FY 1993. Emphasis placed on psychophysical correlates, potential mechanisms, improved analysis methods, foreign data base development, and expanded foreign assessment support. (S/NF/WN/SG/LIMDIS) The FY 1994 Congressional direction directed the Director of DIA to prepare a program plan and to submit an appropriate budget request for a research effort, over several years, to determine whether the STAR GATE program can show results that are cost-effective and satisfy reasonable performance criteria. The plan and any research under this program, was to be subject to peer review by neutral scientific experts. The Director of DIA was also directed to prepare the research and peer review plan within existing program funds. -- Project STAR GATE Research and Peer Review Plan, PAG-TA-1068-SL, was published in June 1994 in response to CDA. With the receipt of FY 1995 Congressional language, the plan initiatives were not competed. along with other DIA unfunded production requirements. -- SAIC R&D program funds expired in May 1994. SAIC was put on two "no cost to the government" extensions with final expiration of the contract on 31 December 1994. REPRODUCTION REQUIRES WARNING NOTICE-INTELLIGENCE APPROVAL OF ORIGINATOR SOURCES OR METHODS INVOLVED OR HIGHER DOD AUTHORITY FURTHER DISSEMINATION ONLY AS DIRECTED BY PAG OR HIGHER DOD AUTHORITY LIMITED DISSEMINATION SECRET NOT RELEASABLE TO FOREIGN NATIONALS STAR GATE Approved For Release 2005/03/24 6CIA-RDP96-00791 R000300010004-1 - Approved For Release 2005/03/24: CIA-RDP96-00791 R000300010004-1 SECRET -- Customer base expanded through visits to SOCOM, CENTCOM, Joint Interagency Task Force-East, JTF-6, El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC), and with in-house DIA elements. -- Intelligence requirements in support of the Foreign Assessment Program were briefed to key CONUS based interagency and DoD collection elements. -- Forty five SRI/SAIC contract generated R&D project reports were approved by DIA for declassification. (S/NF/WN/SG/LIMDIS) Since FY 1980 the manpower structure devoted to Project STAR GATE remained constant (10 billets). During the same period 0&M and R&D dollars fluctuated. The funding summary which was extracted from DIA documentation is as follows: FY Year Other (0&M/R&D) Remarks 1980 $ 450K None 1981 $ 250K None 1982 $ 175K None 1983 $ 750K None 1984 $1300K None 1985 0 1986 $1900K Army Surgeon general 1987 $2300K Army Surgeon General 1988 $1150K Army Surgeon General 1989 $1000K Army Surgeon General 1990 0 1991 $2000K Congress +up 1992 $2000K Congress +up 1993 $ 600K DIA 1994 $ 500K DIA 1995 $ 500K DIA (S/NF/WN/SG/LIMDIS) The technical analysis presented below is drawn from SAIC supplied data. SAIC drew three primary conclusions from the overall efforts of the external Cognitive Science Program R&D effort with SRI and SAIC for the period 1973 to present: -- The evidence for a valid information transfer anomaly (i.e., anomalous cognition (AC) meets all recognized statistical and methodological criteria. This means the anomaly cannot be explained by poor experimental design, incorrect protocols, faulty analyses, or fraud. The magnitude of this anomaly is considered to be medium-to-large when compared to other known human behaviors. REPRODUCTION REQUIRES WARNING NOTICE-INTELLIGENCE APPROVAL OF ORIGINATOR SOURCES OR METHODS INVOLVED OR HIGHER DOD AUTHORITY FURTHER DISSEMINATION ONLY AS DIRECTED BY PAG OR HIGHER DOD AUTHORITY LIMITED DISSEMINATION SECRET NOT RELEASABLE TO FOREIGN NATIONALS Approved For Release 2005/0/24R:71A RDP96-00791 R000300010004-1 Approved For Release 2005/03/24: CIA-RDP96-00791 R000300010004-1 SG1 B SAIC supplied data shows that the applied research focus for the period 1973 to present was as follows: -- Regardless of the final use of any research (i.e., applications or academic understanding), the problems are similar. To improve the quality of the results, it is necessary to: -- Identify individuals (called receivers) who possess skill in AC. -- Develop training methodologies to improve AC performance. -- Create protocols which are optimized to elicit AC. -- Invent sensitive and efficient analyses of AC data. (S/NF/SG/LIMDIS) These topics and their supporting activity (e.g., database construction) are included in what is defined as applied research. (S/NF/WN) A summary of applied basic research results for these four topic areas are as follows: -- Approximately 1% of the general population appear to meet strict statistical criteria for exhibiting a robust AC ability. -- While a number of training methodologies have been developed, CSL observed only limited success. However, in analyzing the results of a number of receivers, they found that these receivers do not lose whatever ability they started with. -- Without completely understanding the mechanisms involved, CSL developed a number of research and operational protocols that appeared to be consistently successful in both domains. (S/NF/SG/LIMDIS) SRI/SAIC's basic research focus for the period 1973 to present was to develop an understanding of the physical, physiological, and psychological mechanisms of AC by: -- Identifying its source. That is, what is the "stuff" that is sensed with AC in analogy to photons in vision? REPRODUCTION REQUIRES WARNING NOTICE-INTELLIGENCE APPROVAL OF ORIGINATOR SOURCES OR METHODS INVOLVED OR HIGHER DOD AUTHORITY FURTHER DISSEMINATION ONLY AS DIRECTED BY PAG OR HIGHER DOD AUTHORITY SECRET NOT RELEASABLE TO FOREIGN NATIONALS Approved For Release 2005/US3T -% RDP96-00791 R000300010004-1 Approved For Release 2005/03/24: CIA-RDP96-00791 R000300010004-1 SECRET -- Understanding the energy-transfer mechanism. That is, how does information propagate from point A to point B? -- Locating the "sensory" apparatus within the body. That is, what are the biological transducers and how is the information from those transducers processed by the central nervous system? (S/NF/SG/LIMDIS) These items are defined as basic research. The research by CSL has been based on a transmitter-receiver model as an underlying assumption. (S/NF/WN/SG/LIMDIS) SAIC's summary of the results of basic research for these three topics are: -- During the CY's 1992-1994, CSL-may have discovered the source of an AC signal. They found that the strength of the AC signal appears to be proportional to the total amount of "pure" information that is available at the target site. From information theory, this is technically called the total change of entropy. If this result can be confirmed by on-going research, 'target selection could be considerably enhanced. For example, we will know what target types will yield information from this brand of "sensor." In addition, this could provide a method of selecting potential viewers. If the information of a particular target remains constant, then it could be possible to correlate differences in the quality of data from various viewers with inherent talent. -- CSL identified a number of speculative theoretical approaches that could provide a transmission mechanism for a variety of AC signals, including the total change of entropy. Detailed models are difficult at this stage because AC, while statistically robust and behaviorally large, is "unreliable" in comparison to other physical systems. However, they developed one heuristic model, Decision Augmentation Theory, that organizes a 20-year database for a specific class of experiments. cREQUEST: The DCI's declassification committee should review the history and (nature of this program to determine what parts of it may be declassified and be converted into an openworld activity. (U) REPRODUCTION REQUIRES APPROVAL OF ORIGINATOR OR HIGHER DOD AUTHORITY WARNING NOTICE-INTELLIGENCE SOURCES OR METHODS INVOLVED FURTHER DISSEMINATION ONLY AS DIRECTED BY PAG OR HIGHER DOD AUTHORITY LIMITED DISSEMINATION SECRET NOT RELEASABLE TO FOREIGN NATIONALS STAR GATE Approved For Release 2005/03/24 g CIA-RDP96-00791 R000300010004-1 Approved For Release 2005/03/24 CIA-RDP96-00791 R000300010004-1 RESPONSE: In March 1994, and pr'for to the receipt of Congressional language to review program documents for Declassification, the DCA's Technology Assessment and Support Activity in concert with the SAIC's CSL initiated a review of SRI originated R&D reports covering the period 1973 through 1989. As a result of that review, 45 SRI originated project documents were reviewed and all references regarding DoD involvement were excised and the documents -, declassified. V DIA's General Counsel and Public Affairs Office concurred with the declassification action in September 1994. This DIA initiative should establish the precedent for the DCI's declassification committee to continue this effort once the program is officially transferred to CIA. (S/NF) REPRODUCTION REQUIRES WARNING NOTICE-INTELLIGENCE APPROVAL OF ORIGINATOR SOURCES OR METHODS INVOLVED OR HIGHER DOD AUTHORITY FURTHER DISSEMINATION ONLY AS DIRECTED BY PAG OR HIGHER DOD AUTHORITY SECRET NOT RELEASABLE TO FOREIGN NATIONALS STAR GATE Approved For Release 2005/03/24 16:IA-RDP96-00791 R000300010004-1