LETTER TO THE HONORABLE LIONEL H. OLMER FROM WILLIAM J. CASEY RE THE IDEA OF PRESSING FOR COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS OF IMPORTANT INTELLIGENCE ISSUES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83M00914R002400100020-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 26, 2007
• Sequence Number: 20
• Publication Date: June 18, 1982
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2007/02/28: CIA-RDP83M00914R002400100020-7
SECRET
The Director of Central Intelligence
Mshingon.QC20505
The Honorable Lionel H. Olmer
The Under Secretary for International Trade
Department of Commerce
Washington, D.C. 20230
Dear Lionel:
8 JUN 1982
As you know, the idea of pressing for competitive analysis of important
intelligence issues has long seemed desirable to me and I continue to believe
that such analysis should be encouraged in areas that would benefit from a
wider range of viewpoints and approaches. It is not at all clear to me,
however, that East-West economic issues -- and particularly the strategic
trade and technology area that you highlight in your June 3 letter -- could
benefit significantly from much more analytic competition than.it's already
getting.
The fact is that this set of issues is now being worked by quite a
number of disparate groups both in the intelligence and policy communities.
They include, among others, the DIA/S&T Technological Capabilities Branch,
the CIA's Technology Transfer Analysis Center, the USDR & E Technology
Trade Directorate in Defense and State/PM's Technology Transfer Assessment
Staff. Indeed, one of my earliest actions as the new DCI last year was to
streamline and re-energize the Intelligence Community's activities in support
of strategic trade and technology export controls. I reported on the progress
of this effort to the Chairman of the Senate Select Committee last October,
as per the attached submission, which you may find of interest.
- There are, however, other aspects of the role of the United States
in the world economy that may offer better opportunities for competitive
analysis and that may well be areas where the Commerce Department enjoys
a comparative advantage. Specifically, I have long been concerned that
the US Government's understanding of the US competitive position in
technology and in key industries has been grossly inadequate. The loss of
US technological dominance in an increasing number of areas may or may not
be symptomatic of a reduced US economic lead, but it certainly has national
security implications. These implications include both the reduced US
control over exports of technology to unfriendly nations and the likely
growing dependence of foreign sources of supply for US military procurement.
There may be other national security implications that we have not yet
thought of.
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Although I have launched a modest research program at CIA to examine
some of these foreign industry/technology issues, our effort in this area
can only be peripheral. I would certainly encourage the Department of
Commerce to develop further its in-depth expertise on key industries,
especially, but not exclusively, the high technology industries. A sub-
stantial analytic effort on such industries would enhance the US Government's
and private sector's understanding of technological developments abroad;
monitor changes in the competitive position of US industries; explore
potential foreign sources of procurement for US military programs; and
provide deeper expertise on foreign availability of technologies in support
of the export control effort.
Yours,
7s/ W1&laam J. Case'
William J. Casey
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