CODIB TASK TEAM V REPORT BIOGRAPHICS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01139A000300040014-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 8, 2002
• Sequence Number: 14
• Publication Date: April 29, 1966
• Content Type: MF

Approved For Rel se 2002/05/09: cIA-RDP80B01134300040014-2,
CONFIDENTIAL
CHIVE/C-99-66
29 April 1966
MNPORANDUM FOR, Director, Central Reference
SUBJECT CODID Task Team V Report
(Biographic:4)
In response to your request, the following are some
of my views on the position to be taken with regard to
the CODIU Task TOM V paper on Siographicst
1. I agree with the COD/B Support Staff's
recommendation that the report should not be for-
warded to USI. My reason would be not so much
any concern that the Task Team failed to carry
out its US/B-assigned responsibility, since the
injunction "to develop a biographic intelligence
processing plan* is relatively nebulous, hut rather
because the Task Team failed to make sufficiently
meaningful recommendations to warrant USZU action.
Recommendations 1-4 are deficient since they do
not demand action but simply request the various
agencies "to continue to etrive for, "study the
feasibility of, "consider the approach to, eta.
The remaining tecommendations are either more of
the 'gutting to know you" type (i.e., So 6, 9) or
are so loosely formulated that they raise more
questions thatLthey resolve (y, 8).
2. I would also agree with the majority of
the criticisms made in the attachment to the
CODIB Support Staff's memo CSS/1M-76. There seems
little doubt that the Tack TOM foil d to accomplish
the goals set forth in its terms of reference as
defined in Annex 6 of the Team Report.
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3. As to what course of action should be taken
ansuming the Task Team report is rejected., I would,
first of all, counsel against any follow-on activity
that is not directed at tome concrete, realizable
goals. And by "realizable" I mean both politically
as well as technically. ;Nor this reason, I would
not support Gagon's proposal to establish a task
gronp to work in the positive intelligence bio-
graphic area since ho apparently has no specific
concept:lin mind as to how the existing system
might be improved. If, indeed, he has such a concept,
I would still take no action unless the plan not
only makes sense but there is some reasonable
prospect that parochial interests will be surrendered.
to the larger good, if such be required in order
to accomplish the objective sought. Certainly,
his proposal, as presently stated, that is, "to
describe adequately the present positive intel-
ligence biographic aysteme and to use this as
the 'basis for making recommendations for improve-
ment," fails to meet any of the tests I have in
mind.
4. Actually; there would appear to ha few ways
in which the positive biographic intelligence
picture could presently be improved. Complete
centralisation is probably not only politically
unfeasible, but likely to increase communication
and response time without the establishment of
appropriate communication networks including facsimile
transmission, etc. Other potential improvements,
such as the adoption of common record formats,
vocabularies, etc., would be relatively meaningless
until the extant systems are automated. Minor
changes could be effected now which would help
things somewhat, but direct contact between the
systems concerned could accomplish these as well
as any formal task team effort. Consequently, I
would not recommend any immediate COD/B activity
in the VI biographic area.
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5. If motion is to be taken, I would recommend
that it concentrate in the CI world. note, there
are not only more substantial and pressing problems,
but practical solutions which arc realizable given
an attitude of goodwill. Of great significance
is the fact that many of these systems are nearing
full automation which emphasizes the need to stand-
ardize if the inherent advantages of the new machine
capabilities are to be realized. Technically,
there is no reason at all why telecommunication
links could not be established between these file
systems, why common record formats could not
bo agreed upon, a standard name check form de-
vised, etc. Only the lack of any overriding
command authority stands in the way of real progress,
and yet, without such, or a commitment on the part
of the agencies concerned to accept the recommends-
tions of a study team, there is little point in
launching another study.
25X1A
Angskji
IL.nzer
Systems Design Group
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