BRIEFING OF ADMIRAL JAMES L. HOLLOWAY III, USN (RET.), EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE VICE PRESIDENT'S TASK FORCE ON COMBATTING TERRORISM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP87B00858R000600930028-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 25, 2011
• Sequence Number: 28
• Publication Date: August 7, 1985
• Content Type: MEMO

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The Director of Central Intelligence
Washington, D.C. 20505
National Intelligence Council
NIC 03966-85
7 August 1985
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
Deputy Director of Central Intelligence
VIA: Chairman, National Intelligence Council
FROM: Charles E. Allen
National Intelligence Officer for Counterterrorism and
Narcotics
SUBJECT: Briefing of Admiral James L. Holloway III, USN (Ret.),
Executive Director of the Vice President's Task Force on
Combatting Terrorism
1. On 26 July, Generals Gorman and Whitehead and ADM Holcolm visited me
for a briefing on current Intelligence Community capabilities to support
counterterrorism. They informed me that they are serving as consultants to
Admiral Holloway, Executive Director of the Vice President's Task Force on
Combatting Terrorism. Following our discussion, Paul Gorman asked if I
would brief the same information to ADM Holloway. I did this on 2 August,
accompanied by who has been designated the CIA member on the
Task Group's staff, and my assistant Paul Gorman, Ennis
Whitehead, and Stacer Holcolm also attended.
2. I recapped for ADM Holloway the terrorist threat, the Intelligence
Community's general capabilities against that threat, and a number of
efforts underway to improve those capabilities. For his part, ADM Holloway
made the following points which may be of interest:
-- A major aspect of the work of the Task Force will be public in nature.
An unclassified version of the Task Force report or perhaps a White
Paper will be issued for public dissemination. Its purpose will be to
educate the public regarding the nature of the threat, current US
efforts to combat it, the inevitability of occasional failure, and the
need to persevere despite failure. The classified Task Force report
itself will review the US Government's structure and capabilities to
combat terrorism and will contain recommendations to the President on
those areas that need improvement.
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-- Congressional leaders have demonstrated considerable interest in the
Task Force. A Senate caucus on terrorism has recently been established
consisting of seven senators. Senator Denton, one of those seven, has
been particularly vocal about participating in the Task Force.
ADM Holloway has kept him at a distance with Constitutional arguments
regarding separation of powers.
-- The Task Force will listen to all critics and experts, public and
private; it will solicit their advice and cooperation. In so doing, it
will help educate the public through media coverage, and perhaps even
co-opt a few of its opponents.
-- The Task Force's Review and Working Groups will do most of the work with
the Executive Branch. Departments and agencies will be asked for their
resource requirements. ADM Holloway is sanguine about the prospects of
a supplemental appropriation. He thinks it would constitute a highly
visible commitment that would underline Administration resolve.
-- ADM Holloway does not expect to find the counterterrorism community an
"ugly mess." He anticipates the US counterterrorism effort is,
"about 80 to 85 percent on the mark. It just needs some work around the
edges."
-- ADM Holloway characterized himself as "not a dyed-in-the-wool
counterterrorist." He does not see the problem as having the stature of
the SDI and perhaps other Administration priorities. When challenged,
however, by General Gorman on the devastating effect terrorism can have
on US foreign policy, he conceded that terrorists have undone a previous
administration and are creating problems for the current one.
-- The question of what constraints exist with respect to intelligence
operations was raised and whether the Intelligence Community will
recommend changes to legislation. I replied that I had planned to meet
on this subject with members of the Directorate of Operations and the
Office of General Counsel and would be prepared to discuss the matter
sometime thereafter. At this point, however, it is our understanding
that restraints are imposed primarily by Executive Order.
-- ADM Holloway concluded by announcing that AMB Ed Peck would serve as
Deputy Director of the Task Force. The first meeting of the Working
Group is scheduled for 8 August in the Jackson Place townhouse which
will serve as Task Force headquarters.
3. Throughout the briefing, ADM Holloway appeared interested and
supportive. Terrorism is a new subject to him, and he clearly has much to
learn. I offered to provide him with an overall worldwide threat briefing.
He stated he probably would want to have the briefing, once he has settled
into his premises at Jackson Place.
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SECRET
SUBJECT: Briefing of Admiral James L. Holloway III, USN (Ret.),
Executive Director of the Vice President's Task Force on
Combatting Terrorism
DCI/NIC/NI0/CT-NARC/CA11en:map
Distribution:
Orig - DCI
1 - DDCI
1 - Executive Registry
1 - D/ICS
1 - DDO
1 - DDS&T
1 - DDA
1 - SRP
1 - C/NIC
1 - VC/NIC
1 - NI0/USSR
1 - NI0/NESA
1 - A/NI0/CT
1 - CS/NIO/CT
1 - NIO/CT-File
1 - NIO/CT-Chrono
7 August 1985) [0956A] NIC-03966-85 25X1
3
SECRETF
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