COMMENTS/SUGGESTIONS FOR THE NID

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91B00776R000100060017-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: January 4, 2017
• Document Release Date: April 21, 2008
• Sequence Number: 17
• Publication Date: December 19, 1983
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 2008/04/21: CIA-RDP91 B00776R000100060017-7
NIO/W
19 December 1983
NOTE FOR: Chairman, NIC
FROM David Y. McManis
.NIO/Warning
SUBJECT : Comments/Suggestions for the NID
in response to your recent request for
comments.
His service in the Situation Room has
given him a unique perspective, as you well
appreciate.
I'm not sure I agree with his video
disc proposal, but we should be thinking
of new media for the outyears.
Attachment:
As stated (h/w)
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 The Director of Central Intelligence
Washington, D.C. 20505
19 December 1983
National Intelligence Council
MEMORANDUM FOR: Chairman, National Intelligence Council
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0, C 0 N F I D E N T I A L?
O/NIO/Warning
SUBJECT Comments and Suggestions for the NID
1. Per your request at the NIC Staff Meeting, I would like
to offer a few comments and suggestions on the NID. The NID
serves its purpose in presenting fast-breaking events to its
consumers; however, it can offer both more and less in a
different production mode. The time requirements of its
consumers, especially at the White House and NSC, makes it
important that we offer them "less" with the promise of "more".
To address this problem I suggest including a one-page "Special
Interests" or "Checklist" section in the beginning of the NID
which summarizes, in five lines or less, specific articles which
may be of significant interest to the policymaking consumers.
The number can be relatively small but must include crucial items
designed for the needs and interests of policymakers and other
consumers. If they desire a complete explanation they can
proceed to the full article. In addition, on the "more" side the
NID articles should not only summarize and synthesize information
but offer alternative analysis to those facts already given,
drawing not only from the latest reports but from other agencies
and outside sources in order to tie together specific trends or
events. This also offers us an opportunity to identify
indicators which may have a bearing on the warning system. In
addition, the articles could also include those alternatives
which have already been examined and rejected.
2. Following the Comment section of the article we could
include, as is done in the Special Analysis section, a Prospects
section which could be added to summarize how the events just
reported fit into the larger picture involving stated U.S. goals
and objectives in that specific region or the overall global
picture.
3. Thus, the NID should not only examine the reported
intelligence and say "yes" but also examine "why" developments
occurred and how they may affect the more important questions or
moves not directly linked to those latest events. This will fill
C 0 N F I 0 E N T I A L
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. . .
C O N F I DEN T I A L
the gaps between events and implications of warning which affects--
warning.e
4.' While the next suggestion will not affect the NID at
this specific time it should be addressed for implementation in
the future, perhaps no more than five years from now. That is,
the possibility of a video disc NID. The "disc" would offer a
quick audio and visual briefing on the important events or
reports of the day. This would allow the consumers to view the
product quickly, cutting down on the time needed to review the
printed NID, since as the "disc" presents audio review it also
presents video of what it is stating. The "disc" can be
accompanied by a brief two-page written summary for those who may
require the reinforcement of the printed word for reference. The
"disc" also could be programmed and sent via the secure video
links which have and will be established between the different
agencies and specific consumers.. The secure video link offers a
control mechanism for distribution since the "disc" could be
programmed to run on specific video units. Thus, as the
intelligence community moves to a greater degree into near-real-
time analysis we can offer the high-level consumer and
policymaker a near-real-time intelligence product.
C 0 N F I D E N T I A L
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 Approved For Release 2008/04/21: CIA-RDP91 B00776R000100060017-7
Approved For Release 2008/04/21: CIA-RDP91 B00776R000100060017-7