DESIST SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP87M00539R000901160007-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 17, 2009
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: September 6, 1984
• Content Type: MEMO

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Central Intelligence Avency
6019/6_
6 SEP 1984
MEMORANDUM FOR: Mr. John F. Donnelly
Director, Counterintelligence and Investigative Programs
Office of the Under Secretary of Defense
SUBJECT: DESIST System Documentation
REFERENCE: Your Memorandum, Dated 21 August 1984, Same Subject
1. Attached is information you requested concerning the origins of the
DESIST project. The decision to initiate a Community-wide data management
system on terrorism was made in 1982. It was in response to NSDD #30, which
focused on international terrorism and called for "greater cooperation among
agencies and immediate access to institutional expertise" during crises
involving terrorism. The DESIST project grew out of recommendations by the
Interagency Intelligence Committee on Terrorism to establish a single,
Government-wide, computerized data system to support analysts and users of
information on terrorism. In June 1982, the DCI informed Congress of a
request to 0MB for funds to begin the project (Attachment 1).
2. Resources to continue DESIST development were included in the 1984 CIA
Program as submitted to Congress (Attachments 2 and 3). At the time, over 20
counterterrorism offices throughout the Intelligence Community had reviewed
and endorsed the plans for DESIST; capacity for 121 users and 23 remote
terminals had been requested by offices outside CIA. Congress authorized the
program and appropriated funds for the development of DESIST software in 1984
(Attachment 4). Indications are favorable for continued Congressional support
in 1985.
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3. I believe the attachments meet your description of documents that
establish DESIST as a CIA-managed data system supporting the Community and
selected consumers of intelligence on terrorism. It should be noted that
DESIST is designed to support external users in 19 agencies and military
organizations with 38 remote terminals. Programmed operations will support a
modest expansion of service to outside users over the next few years. Any
extensive expansion would depend on external funding to increase central
processing capacity.
James H. Taylor
Executive Director
Attachments:
As Stated
'HT
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3 1 AU1G i1=?4
FROM: Daniel A. Childs, Jr.
Comptroller
SUBJECT: Response to DoD Request for Information on DESIST
1. The accompanying memorandum is recommended as a response to John
Donnelly's request for documentation on the origins of DESIST.
2. As you know, DESIST is a data management system on terrorism which
will be used by analysts throughout the Intelligence Community, and by
selected intelligence consumers, including some military commands. CIA has
the resources and the responsibility to develop and operate the core system,
but external users pay for their remote terminals and hookups.
3. DIA had planned to fund all DoD participation in the project, but
there is a statute (RS-3679) that requires each military component to fund its
own requirements. The memorandum from John Donnelly is aimed at obtaining
documentation needed to assure internal DoD reviewers that DESIST is a real,
Community-wide, Congressionally-approved program. He needs this in order to
ensure internal DoD support for 1986 new initiatives that are intended to
purchase and install DESIST terminals for some military users. At the same
time, DoD is asking for a modest increase in the number of remote terminals;
the DESIST people say that it will not overburden the system. This is
probably only the first of many external demands for system expansion. It
would be prudent to remind users that they will have to help pay for the CPU
capacity needed for system expansion.
4. The proposed response has
been coordinated with the DI.
Daniel A. Childs, Jr.
Attachments:
As Stated
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 Letter Approved For Release 2009/08/17: CIA-RDP87M00539R000901160007-5
Informing Congressional c er=
Leaders of Efforts to
Enhance Counterterrorism
The Honorable Joseph P. Addabbo
Chairman, Subcommittee on Defense
Committee on Appropriations
House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
In accordance with our agreements with the Congress, this letter is to
inform you that the Central Intelligence Agency has requested a release 'cv
Office of Management and Budget
to fund an enhanced Agency-wide counterterrorism program.
The President, his National Security Advisor, and the Secretary of C ate
have all stressed the need to augment our efforts against terrorism. Under
the direction of the Executive Director, the Agency has developed a plan t:,
meet our responsibilities under NSDD #'30.
provide for the following high priority items necessary to begin
tion of the program:
Combine the CIA's counterterrorism anal7si3 and ooer=tions ele7e-ts
into a colocated center
-- Improve technical capabilities to defend against terrorist attacks,
including the creation of a quick reaction team to rescnnd to
terrorist incidents
-- Develop computer software for estatlis"ment of Co::.unit_?-.ide
counterterrorist data base
We plan to reprogram the needed funds to cnt_..~e *_~_s r ^_ 1?;3
she 1 d request r l l --e _ n4 ne de n.ue the
and .,.. Agency's S4 budget .,- - - ^c,. ..3
prograT forward.
I will be pleased to provide additional ___ ec..
Sincerely,
William J. Casey
Director of Central Intelligence
CRETE
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Central Intelligence Agency
The Honorable Edward P. Boland
Chairman, Permanent Select
Committee on Intelligence
House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
2 9 JUN 1982
In accordance with our agreements with the Congress, this letter is to
inform you that the Central Intelligence Agency has requested a release by the
Office of Management and Budget
to fund an enhanced Agency-wide counterterrorism program.
The President, his National Security Advisor, and the Secretary of State
have all stressed the need to augment our efforts against terrorism. Under
the direction of the Executive Director, the Agency has developed a plan to
meet our responsibilities under NSDD ;k30.
provide for the following high priority items necessary to begin implementa-
tion of the program:
-- Combine the CIA's counterterrorism analysis and operations elements
into a colocated center
-- Improve technical capabilities to defend against terrorist attacks,
including the creation of a quick reaction team to respond to
terrorist incidents
-- Develop computer software for establishment of Community-wide
counterterrorist data bass
We plan to reprogram the needed funds to continua this program in 1983,
and the Agency's 1984 budget request will iodide funds needed to continue the
program forward.
I will be pleased to provide additional information at your request.
Sincerely,
William J. Casey
Director of Central Intelligence
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Central Intelligence Agency
The Honorable Barry M. Goldwater
Chairman, Select Committee
on Intelligence
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
In accordance with our agreements with the Congress, this letter is to
inform you that the Central Intelligence Agency has requested a release by the
Office of Management and Budget
to fund an enhanced Agency-wide counterterrorism program
The President, his National Security Advisor, and the Secretary of State
have all stressed the need to augment our efforts against terrorism. Under
the direction of the Executive Director, the Agency has developed a plan to
meet our responsibilities under NSDD #30.
provide for the following high priority items necessary to begin imp ementa-
tion of the program:
-- Combine the CIA's counterterrorism analysis and operations elements
into a colocated center
-- Improve technical capabilities to defend against terrorist attacks,
including the creation of a quick reaction team to respond to
terrorist incidents
-- Develop computer software for establishment of Commiunity-wide
counterterrorist data base
We plan to reprogram the needed funds to continue this program in 1983,
and the Agency's 1984 budget request will include funds needed to continue the
program forward.
I will be pleased to provide additional information at your request.
Sincerely,
William J. Casey
Director of Central Intelligence
SECRET
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Central intelligence Agency
The Honorable Ted Stevens
Chairman, Subcommittee on Defense
Committee on Appropriations
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
In accordance with our agreements with the Congress, this letter is to
inform you that the Central Intelligence Agency has requested a release by the
Office of Management and Budget
to fund an enhanced Agency-wide counterterrorism program.
The President, his National Security Advisor, and the Secretary of State
have all stressed the need to augment our efforts against terrorism. Under
the direction of the Executive Director, the Agency has developed a plan to
meet our responsibilities under NSDD #30.
provide for the following high priority items necessary to begin imp ementa-
tion of the program:
-- Combine the CIA's counterterrorism analysis and operations elements
into a colocated center
-- Improve technical capabilities to defend against terrorist attacks,
including the creation of a quick reaction team to respond to
terrorist incidents
-- Develop computer software for establishment of Community-wide
counterterrorist data base
We plan to reprogram the needed funds to continue this program in 1933,
and the Agency's 1984 budget request will include funds needed to continue the
program forward.
I will be pleased to provide additional information at your request.
Sincerely,
William J. Casey
Director of Central Intelligence
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