STAP REVIEW OF THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY'S COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS EFFORT AGAINST FOREIGN USE OF CHEMICAL AND TOXIN WEAPONS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91B00046R000100040002-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 6, 2010
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: December 5, 1983
• Content Type: MEMO

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/01/06: CIA-RDP91 B00046R000100040002-5
STAP-0036-83
5 December 1983
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
VIA: Deputy Director of Central Intelligence
Director, Intelligence Community Staff
FROM: 25X1
Executive -Secretary
Science and Technology Advisory Panel
SUBJECT: STAP Review of the Intelligence Community's Collection and
Analysis Effort Against Foreign Use of Chemical and Toxin
Weapons
1. Action Requested: Formal tasking of the STAP to review the
Community's efforts to collect and analyze intelligence on the use of chemical
and toxin weapons. 25X1 led taskina
2. Background: The STAP effort proposed in the attac
mamoran(iq was prompted by discussions between yourself and 25X1
the Chairman of STAP. The issue had reviously b ~en raise in STAT
several discussions between of STAP, of STAT
CIA/OSWR and current Chairman of the Interagency Working Group on emica
Weapons/Toxin Use, former NIO at Large and Dr. Fred Ikle of
the Department of Defense. All agree that the process of acquiring CW/BW
samples, the method of technical analysis, the uq ality of human technical
expertise (especially in DoD), and the scientific exposition of the
intelligence judgments need to be reviewed and strengthened. This review will
also provide insights which may be useful in providing a DCI response, if
needed, to the ongoing Senate Select Comm li review of the
Community's performance on BW/CW matters. 25X1
3. The Critical Intelligence Problems Committee (CIPC) has been
assessing intelligence problems posed by foreign CBW capabilities and
activities for some time, and is now considering proposing the establishment
of an interagency working group to address these problems from a
comprehensive, all-source perspective. In this event, we will endeavor to
ensure that both the CIPC and STAP projects proceed in a closely coordinated,
mutually supportive fashion. 25X1
2525X1
CONFIDENTIAL
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0 CONFIDENTIAL 0
SUBJECT: STAP Review of the Intelligence Community's Collection and Analysis
Effort Against Foreign Use of Chemical and Toxin Weapons 25X1
4. The proposed tasking memorandum was largely drafted by. the Chairman,
STAP and reflects his understanding of the issues and requirements which have
evolved from numerous discussions with both analysts and managers in the
Intelligence Community.
5. Recommendation: That you sign tea ached tasking memorandum.
Attachment:
As Stated
CONFIDENTIAL
25X1
25X1
25X1(
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SUBJECT: STAP Review of the Intelligence Community's Collection and
Analysis Effort Against Foreign Use of Chemical and Toxin Weapons
STAP-0036-83
DISTRIBUTION:
1 - DCI
1 - DDCI
1 - ER
1 - D/ICS
1 - ES/STAP
1 - STAP Chrono
1 - ICS Registry
DCI/ICS/STAPI
(1 November 1983) STAT
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? CONFIDENTIAL ?
The Director of Central Intelligence
Washington. D. C.20505
19 DEC 1983,
MEMORANDUM FOR:
Chairman, DCI Science and Technology Advisory Panel
SUBJECT: Initiation of Scientific Intelligence Revie
Project on Chemical Weapons Intelligence
1. Action Requested: -That-you organize-a STAP review assessment of the
organization and methodology used to arrive at conclusions of the intelligence
community with respect to the use by Foreign Nations of chemical and toxin
weapons worldwide. The STAP should review the extent to which compartmented
information has aided the interpretation of clinical, toxicological and
chemical, and operational evidence of chemical and toxin warfare.
2. Background: Because of the recognized dangers of worldwide
proliferation and use of biological/chemical/toxin agents, the analysis of
physical and medical samples collected from the field deserves the best
coordinated and technologically informed management, and the best scientific
minds, in and out of the government. The members of the Review Panel should
apprise themselves of all of the evidence and anaylsis that have been gathered
and processed on this issue during the last two years, and of the management
structures applied to the coordination of collection and analysis. You should
consider the feasibility and value of gathering additional physical evidence
based upon our current understanding of the use issue, and the remaining
questions of a technical nature in the minds of the Community analysts working
on these subjects. I expect that this study will be constructive, and would
be most pleased if suggestions for alternative analytical procedures and
laboratories could be defined by the members. And finally, it is important
that both in terms of our current analytical efforts and our future plans that
this review group pay special attention to the level of resources being
applied to the analysis of both hard and soft intelligence data concerning use
of chemical agents.
3. I would like the chairman of this group to b~
Although I wish that be given the opportunity to select a sma
group of appropriately cleared individuals to serve with him, I strongly
recommend that two additional members of your STAP be included on the Panel.
I am thinking of you, as Chairman of STAP, and
Tech I would also suggest that a fourth memb
er could
Harvard University.' It may be that the Panel would, from time to time, wish
to avail themselves of several other cleared consultants at the SECRET level,
but the membership of the primary group must include only individuals cleared
at the special intelligence/codeword level. Their point of contact for access
to the analysts in the Commlinitv rhould hp the Chairman of m Working Group on
Chemical Weapons/Toxin Use,
CONFIDENTIAL
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1 X1
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0 CONFIDENTIAL ,
4. It would seem reasonable to me that a formulation of this study could
be accomplished in approximately one month and presented to you as Chairman of
the STAP for approval. I would also expect that a report with constructive
recommendations should be available to me in approximately six months.
25X1
5. I would appreciate your informing
and the members of 25X1
his Review Panel that my intention in commissioning is effort is not in any
way based on a dissatisfaction with the past analytical effort. It is,
however, a clear intention that past lessons can be used to sharpen future
efforts consonant with the increased priorities we have recently conferred to
this subject in Priority Collection Plan Four and other Community tasking
plans for collection and analysis.
6. In view of the skepticism mounted by some who may not be in a
position to receive classified information, you should also recommend the most
constructive steps needed for the acquisition and presentation of scientific
data for the widest scrutiny at an unclassified level, without compromising
sensitive sources. You will, of course, report at an appropriate level of
classification back to me prior to any further dissemination of your
conclusions.
/s/ Williatm J, `Casey/
William J. Casey
CONFIDENTIAL
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/01/06: CIA-RDP91 B00046R000100040002-5
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/01/06: CIA-RDP91 B00046R000100040002-5
SUBJECT: Initiation of Scientific Intelligence Revie
Project on Chemical Weapons Intelligence
DISTRIBUTION:
1 - Chairman, STAP
1 - DCI
1 - DDCI
1 -ER
1 - D/ICS
1 - ES/STAP
1 - STAP Chrono
1 - ICS Registry
DCI/ICS/STAP
STAT
(1 November 1983) STAT
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STAT
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