BRIEFING: TRANSFER OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE OFFICER FOR COUNTERTERRORISM (NIO/CT) RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE COUNTERTERRORISM CENTER (CTC)

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06789951
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: October 29, 2024
• Document Release Date: August 22, 2024
• Case Number: F-2014-01553
• Publication Date: August 14, 1989

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The Director of Central Intelligence
Washington, D.C. 20505
National Intelligence Council
14 August 1989
MEMORANDUM FOR: Fritz Ermarth
C/NIC
FROM: Andre J. LeGallo
NIO/CT
SUBJECT: BRIEFING: Transfer of National Intelligence
Officer for Counterterrorism (NIO/CT)
Responsibilities to the Counterterrorism
Center (CTC)
The catalyst for setting counterterrorism apart as a discrete issue
was the kidnapping of General Dozier in Italy in 1982. The general
flailing and lack of coordination evident during the resolution of this
event was sufficiently serious that some centralization Was obviously in
order. A transition phase toward more institutionalized efforts in
counterterrorism had begun.
The NIO/CT position was created in 1984 following the perceived need
for a Community focal point for counterterrorism efforts in the
Intelligence Community.
SECRET
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-SEC-Rer
- The 1985 Vice President's Task Force on Combatting Terrorism
designated the NIO/CT as "the focal point to coordinate national
counterterrorism intelligence activities and to ensure counterterrorism
priorities are established for the intelligence community."
- NSDD 207 (January 1986) appointed the NIO/CT as Chairman of
the Interagency Intelligence Committee on Terrorism (lid), created by
the DCI and validated by NSDD 30 (April 1982).
- In 1985, the Critical Intelligence Problems Committee
concluded: "Effective Community Leadership is essential and should be the
responsibility of an NIO focused solely on counterterrorism."
The next important date was early 1986 when the DCI created the
Counterterrorism Center (CTC) in the Directorate of Operations. The
purpose of this new organization was to centralize intelligence resources
engaged in the counterterrorist effort. The CTC Charter also included
three interagency functions:
- Serve as a central entry point to the CIA for other counter-
terrorist components of the USG,
- Create a "Fusion Center", and
- Provide date base support, intelligence, technical
assistance, and training to other components of the USG.
Following the creation of CTC, the then NIO/CT became part of CTC for
a brief period. There were too many conflicts between the NIO/CT's
National Intelligence Council and CTC duties and he reverted full time to
the NIC. However, the motivation behind joining the two offices was
correct; in effect, the responsibilities first outlined for the NIO/CT,
serving as a focal point for the community, could be performed, and with
_SEGREi
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greater resources from CTC. As the NI/CT, following his brief stint in
CTC, is no longer aware of the operational issues, nor of the
counterterrorist matters sent to the DCI for resolution by CTC, another
attempt to join the traditional duties of the NIO/CT and of CTC seem in
order, assuming
- he will have greater resources to serve his focal point role,
- he will be better integrated in the counterterrorist
activities of the USG, and
- he will be better able to fulfill his role as the DCI's
senior advisor in terrorism and counterterrorism because he will be
better aware of the relevant issues being raised with the DCI.
As a result of the transfer of the NI/CT functions, CTC would
provide added coordination and leadership to the Intelligence Community.
Among its additional tasks, CTC would
- assume the chairmanship of the Interagency Intelligence
Committee on Terrorism (IICT);
- chair periodic threat assessment meetings and disseminate
their results;
- produce Intelligence Community spot analysis and typescripts;
- supervise FLASHBOARD and ensure its proper support;
- identify collection gaps and ensure appropriate remedies;
- provide Intelligence Community views and support in policy
meetings, including those held with foreign governments, and to senior
policy officials;
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- lead interagency teams as appropriate in meetings with
foreign counterparts; and
- manage the National Level Terrorism Threat System.
In effect, we are rounding out the transition of the Counterterrorism
Intelligence Function that began following the Dozier kidnapping.
Because the functions being added to CTC are of an Inter- agency
nature, the C/CTC would perform those functions not as a DO officer, or
for the DDO, but in the fulfillment of the DCI's Interagency
responsibilities; i.e., he would be serving as the DCI's Specia'
Assistant for Counterterrorism.
Andre J. LeGa 'o
National Intelligence Officer
for Counterterrorism
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