MINUTES OF 15 NOVEMBER 1977 MEETING

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91M00696R000300020009-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 15
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 5, 2004
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: November 16, 1977
• Content Type: MF

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DCI/IC-77-6390
16 November 1977
MEMORANDUM FOR: Members, Intelligence Definitions Working Group
ice of o icy and Planning
Intelligence Community Staff
SUBJECT: Minutes of 15 November 1977 Meeting
1. A summary of the 15 November 1977 meeting of the Intelli-
gence Definitions Working Group is attached for your information.
Also attached is a complete list of definitions approved by the
Group to date. The most recent additions are asterisked.
2. The next meeting of the Working Group will begin at 1330,
Tuesday, 22 November 1977, CHB Room 5509.
Attachment
As stated
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ATTENDEES
DEFINITIONS WORKING GROUP
15 November 1977
Capt. L. D, Dahl
Mr. Arthur Long
191T. R. F. a son
ORGANIZATION
State/INR/DDC
Treasury
CIA
FBI
DIA
NSA (.IHC)
NSA
IC Staff (HRC)
IC Staff (OPP)
PHONE
632-9032
566-5988
324-5483
695-6669
688-7608
688-6527
376-5544
376-5587
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INTELLIGENCE DEFINITIONS WORKING GROUP
15 NOVEMBER 1977
1. I lopened the meeting by proposing to the
Group that its objective be expanded to include three distinct
aspects of the definitions problem, to wit:
? Intelligence Community usage - may include multiple
definitions
? Definitions appearing in public documents, such
as Executive Orders
? Legal definitions
B. Acronyms and Abbreviations
C. Index of dictionaries and glossaries which include
intelligence terms, e.g., JCS Pub 1 or collection
committee glossaries
suggested that such a comprehensive definitions
publication would be of far greater utility to the Community than an
intelligence glossary which stood alone. He asked the Group to con-
tribute to this proposed objective, especially part C. above. He
asked the Secretary to obtain glossaries from the DCI collection
committees and to compile those and others in an appropriate index,
After discussion, the Chairman agreed with the added suggestion
that a way be found--in the event of duplicate definitions--to
highlight the preferred Community definition in each case,
2. The Group considered and approved definitions of terms using
the words clandestine and covert. These are included in the attached
list of terms approved to date.
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3. The Group considered and approved definitions of
monitor, evaluate, and assess, also included in the attached
list.
4. As you know, the list of approved terms is updated
after each meeting to include newly approved definitions. At
NSA's request, the most recent additions will be identified by
asterisks each time the list is amended,
5. The next meeting of the Working Group will begin at
1330 on Tuesday, 22 November 1977.
Executive Secretary
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DEFINITIONS WORKING GROUP
APPROVED DEFINITIONS AS OF 15 NOVEMBER 1977
ACTIONABLE INTELLIGENCE: Intelligence information that is
directly useful to consumers without having to go through
the full intelligence production process. It may address
strategic or tactical needs, or close-support of US nego-
tiating teams or action elements dealing with such matters
as international terrorism or narcotics.
ALERT MEMORANDUM: A document issued by the DCI to NSC-level
policymakers to warn them of possible developments abroad,
often of a crisis nature, of major concern to the US. Alert
Memoranda are coordinated within the Intelligence Community
to the extent time permits.
ANALYSIS: A process in the intelligence cycle in which
information is subjected to review. in order to identify
significant facts and derive conclusions therefrom.
*ASSESS: To appraise the worth of an intelligence activity,
information, or product in terms of its contribution to a
specific goal, or the credibility, reliability, pertinency,
accuracy, usefulness of information in terms of an intelli-
.gence need. When used in contrast with "evaluate," access
implies a weighing against resource allocation, expenditure,
or risk (see evaluate).
CIPHER: A cr tos stem in which the cryptographic treatment
i.e., the method of transforming plain-text by predetermined
rules to obscure or conceal its meaning) is applied to
plain-text elements (such as letters, digits, polygraphs or
bits) which either have no intrinsic meaning or are treated
without regard to their meaning (e.g., if the element is a
natural-language word).
*CLANDESTINE: Secret or hidden; conducted with secrecy by
design.
*CLANDESTINE ACTIVITY: Secret or hidden activity designed to
influence foreign governments, events, organizations, or
persons in support of United States foreign policy. Covert
action may include political and economic action, propaganda,
and paramilitary activities.
*CLANDESTINE COLLECTION: The acquisition of intelligence in-
formation in ways designed to assure the secrecy of the
operation.
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*CLANDESTINE OPERATION: An intelligence information collection
activity and covert political, economic, propaganda and
paramilitary activity conducted so as to assure the secrecy
of the operation. Encompasses both clandestine collection
and covert action.
CODE: A cr tos stem in which the cryptographic equivalents
usually called "code groups"), typically consisting of let-
ers or digits (or both) in otherwise meaningless combinations,
are substituted for plain-text elements such as words,
phrases, or sentences.
COMBAT INTELLIGENCE: That knowledge of the enemy, weather,
and geographical features required by a commander in the
planning and conduct of combat operations.
COMMUNICATIONS INTELLIGENCE (COMINT): Technical and intel-
ligence information derived from intercept of foreign com-
munications by other than the intended recipients. COMINT
does not include the monitoring of foreign public media nor
the intercept of oral or written communication obtained
during the course of foreign counterintelligence investi-
gations within the United States.
COMMUNICATIONS SECURITY (COMSEC): The protection resulting
from the application of any measures taken to deny unautho-
rized persons information of value which might be derived
from telecommunications or. to ensure the authenticity of
such telecommunications.
CONSOLIDATED INTELLIGENCE RESOURCES INFORMATION SYSTEM
CIRIS : CIRIS is the automated management in ormation
system used to identify and display the expected distribu-
tion of all intelligence resources within the National
Foreign Intelligence Program.
COORDINATION: The process of seeking concurrence from one
or more groups, organizations, and agencies regarding a
proposal or an activity for which they share some responsi-
bility, and which may result in contributions, concurrences
or dissents. In the production of intelligence, the process
by which producers gain the views or other producers on the
adequacy of a specific draft assessment, estimate, or report.
Coordination is intended to increase a product's factual
accuracy, clarify its judgments, resolve disagreement on
issues that permit, and sharpen statements of disagreement
on major unresolved issues.
COVER: Protective guise used by a person, organization, or
installation to prevent identification with clandestine ac-
tivities.
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*COVERT: See Clandestine. Covert Action has special meaning.
See below.
*COVERT ACTION: A clandestine activity designed to influence
foreign governments, events, organizations, or persons in
support of United States foreign policy. Covert action may
include political and economic action, propaganda, and
paramilitary activities.
*COVERT OPERATION: See "clandestine operation" (preferred
term). A covert operation encompasses covert action and
clandestine collection.
CRYPTOLOGIC ACTIVITIES: The activities and operations
involved in the production of signals intelligence and the
maintenance of communications security.
CRYPTOLOGY (CRYPTO): The branch of knowledge which treats
the principles,of cryptography and cryptanalytics and is
used to produce signals intelligence and maintain communica-
tions security.
CRYPTOSECURITY: The component of communications security
that results from the provision of technically sound crypto-
systems and from their proper use.
CRYPTOSYSTEM: All associated items of cryptomaterial (e.g.,
equipments and their removable components which perform
cryptographic functions, operating instructions, maintenance
manuals) that are used as a unit to provide a single means
of encryption and decryption of plain-text, so that its
meaning may be concealed. (In addition, code, cipher, and
cryptographic systems include any mechanical or electrical
device or method used for the purpose of disguising, authen-
ticating, or concealing the contents, significance, or
meanings of communications.)
DECEPTION: Those measures designed to mislead a foreign
power, organization or person by manipulation, distortion,
or falsification of evidence to induce him-to react in a
manner prejudicial to his interests.
DECONTROL: The removal of compartmented material from
special security controls stipulated by the compartment.
The decontrolled material is unchanged and remains in its
original form except that the control and accountability
markings for the specific compartment are removed.
DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY: Refers to DIA, NSA and the
Military Services Intelligence offices including DoD col-
lectors of specialized intelligence through reconnaissance
programs.
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DEPARTMENT(AL) INTELLIGENCE: Foreign intelligence produced
and used within a governmental department or agency in order
to meet unique requirements of the department or agency
mission.
DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE (DCI): The Director of
Central Intelligence is the President's principal foreign
intelligence adviser appointed by him with the consent of
the Senate to be the head of the Intelligence Community and
Director of the Central Intelligence Agency and to discharge
those authorities and responsibilities as they are pre-
scribed by law and by Presidential directives.
ELECTRONICS INTELLIGENCE (ELINT): Technical and intelli-
gence information derived from foreign noncommunications
electromagnetic radiations emanating from other than atomic
detonation or radioactive sources.
EMISSION SECURITY (EMSEC): The component of communications
security which results from all measures taken to deny to
unauthorized persons information of value which might be de-
rived from interception and analysis of compromising emana-
tions from crypto-equipment and telecommunications systems.
ENERGY INTELLIGENCE: Foreign intelligence relating to the
technical, economic and political capabilities and programs
of foreign countries to engage in development, utilization
and commerce of basic and advanced energy technologies.
Energy intelligence includes the location and extent of
foreign energy resources and their allocation; foreign
government energy policies, plans and programs; new and im-
proved foreign energy technologies; and economic and security
aspects of foreign energy supply, demand, production dis-
"tribution, and utilization.
ESPIONAGE: Actions directed toward the acquisition of
information through clandestine means.
ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF INFORMATION (EEI): Those items of
information regarding a foreign power, forces or targets and
their environment essential for timely decisions.
ESTIMATIVE INTELLIGENCE: A category of intelligence pro-
duction which attempts to project future foreign develop-
ments and their implications for US interests, whether of a
national or departmental character. Estimative Intelligence
may or may not be coordinated.
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*EVALUATE: To appraise the worth of an intelligence activity,
information, or product in terms of its contribution to a
specific goal, or the credibility, reliability, pertinency,
accuracy, usefulness of information in terms of an intelli-
gence need. Evaluation may be used without reference to
cost or risk, particularly when used in contrast with "access."
(See "access").
EVASION AND ESCAPE (E&E): The procedures and operations
whereby military personnel and other selected individuals
are enabled to emerge from enemy-held or hostile areas under
friendly control.
EVASION AND ESCAPE INTELLIGENCE: Processed information pre-
pared to assist personnel to evade capture if lost in enemy-
dominated territory or to escape if captured.
FOREIGN COUNTERINTELLIGENCE (FCI): Intelligence activity,
with its resultant product, devoted to countering the
effectiveness of foreign intelligence activities and under-
taken to protect the security of the United States, its per-
sonnel, information and installations against espionage,
sabotage, and terrorism. Foreign counterintelligence does
not include personnel, physical, document, or communications
security programs.
FOREIGN INSTRUMENTATION SIGNALS INTELLIGENCE (FISINT):
Information derive, from the collection and processing of
foreign telemetry, beaconry, and associated signals.
FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE (FI): The product of collection,
processing, and analysis of foreign intelligence information
relating to the national security, to the foreign relations
or economic interests of the United States by a government
agency that is assigned an intelligence mission.
FUSION: In the military operational context, the blending
of intelligence with operational information; or, in the
tactical intelligence context, the blending of information
from multiple sources to produce a single intelligence
product.
FUSION CENTER: A term referring to an organizational ac-
tivity, associated with the Department of Defense and under
the control and supervision of a field commander, having the
responsibility of blending both compartmented intelligence,
with all other available intelligence in order to support
military operations. (See "Actionable Intelligence" and
"Tactical Intelligence.")
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INFORMATION(AL) NEED: The requirement of an official in-
volved in the policymaking process or the intelligence
production process of the US Government for the best avail-
able information and intelligence on which to base policy
decisions, recommendations, or intelligence production.
INTEGRATION: A process in the intelligence cycle in which a
pattern is formed through the selection and combination of
evaluated information.
INTELLIGENCE: A generic term which includes foreign intel-
ligence an foreign counterintelligence.
INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES: A generic term used to describe
the efforts and endeavors undertaken by the departments,
agencies, and elements comprising the Intelligence Com-
munity.
INTELLIGENCE-RELATED ACTIVITIES (IRA): Those activities
specifically excluded from the National Foreign Intelligence
Program which respond to departmental or agency tasking for
time-sensitive information on foreign activities; respond to
national Intelligence Community advisory tasking of collec-
tion capabilities which have a primary mission to support
departmental or agency missions or operational forces; train
personnel for intelligence duties; or are devoted to research
and development of intelligence or related capabilities.
INTELLIGENCE ASSESSMENT: A category of intelligence production
that encompasses most analytical studies dealing with subjects
of some policy significance. Assessments are thorough in
their treatment of subject matter, as distinct from building-
block papers, research projects, and reference aids; but
assessments unlike estimates may not attempt to project
future developments and their implications. Assessments may
or may not be coordinated.
INTELLIGENCE ASSET: Any resource--person, group, instrument,
installation, or technical system--at the disposal of an
intelligence organization. -
INTELLIGENCE CYCLE: The processes by which information is
converted into intelligence and made available to users.
There are usually five steps in the cycle:
a. planning and direction--determination of intelli-
gence requirements, preparation of a collection plan,
issuance of orders and requests to information collec-
tion agencies, and a continuous check on the productivity
of collection agencies.
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b. collection--acquisition of information and the
provision of this information to processing and/or pro-
duction elements.
c. processing--conversion of collected information
into a form suitable to the production of intelligence.
d. production--conversation of information into in-
telligence through the integration, analysis, evaluation
and interpretation of all source data and the prepara-
tion of intelligence products in support of known or
anticipated user requirements.
e. dissemination--conveyance of intelligence to
users in a suitable form.
INTELLIGENCE ESTIMATE: The product of Estimative Intelli-
gence.
INTERAGENCY INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM (IIM): A national
intelligence assessment or estimate issued by the DCI with
the advice of appropriate National Foreign Intelligence
Board agencies.
INTERNATIONAL TERRORIST ACTIVITIES: Terrorism is the cal-
culated use of violence, or the threat of violence, to
attain political goals through fear, intimidation or coer-
cion. It usually involves a criminal act, often symbolic in
nature, and is intended to influence an audience beyond the
immediate victims. International terrorism is terrorism
transcending national boundaries in the carrying out of the
act, the purpose of the act, the nationalities of the victims,
or the resolution of the incident. These acts are usually
designed to attract wide publicity in order to focus attention
on the existence, cause, or demands of the perpetrators.
JOINT INTELLIGENCE: (Military Context) Intelligence pro-
duced by elements of more than one Service of the same
nation. (Intelligence Community Context) _Intelligence
Produced by intelligence organizations of more than one
country.
*MONITOR: To observe, listen to, intercept, record, or
transcribe any form of communication or media for intelli-
gence collection or communications security purposes, either
overtly or covertly.
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NATIONAL ESTIMATES: (See National Intelligence Estimate.)
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE ASSET: An intelligence asset, the
primary purpose of which is the collection, processing or
production of national intelligence. (See National In-
telligence.)
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE ESTIMATES (NIEs): Thorough assess-
ments of situations in the foreign environment that are
relevant to the formulation of foreign, economic, and
national security policy, and project probable future
courses of action and developments. They are structured to
illuminate differences of view within the Intelligence
Community, and are issued by the Director of Central Intel-
ligence with the advice of the National Foreign Intelligence
Board.
NEAR REAL-TIME: The brief interval between the collection
of information regarding an event. and reception of the data
at some other location, caused by the time required for
automated processing, commumications and display.
NET ASSESSMENTS: Comparative reviews and analyses of
opposing national strengths, capabilities, vulnerabilities
and weaknesses. Intelligence net assessments involve only
foreign countries.
NONCOMMUNICATIONS EMANATIONS: That class of radiations
which are emitted'-intentionally or unintentionally by
electrical or electronic equipments for purposes other than
communications, e.g., by radars, navigational aids, jammers,
or remote control systems.
OPERATIONAL CONTROL (OPCON): (Military Context) The authority
delegate to a comman er to direct forces assigned so that
the commander may accomplish specific missions or tasks
which are usually limited by function, time, or location; to
deploy the forces concerned, and to retain or assign tactical
control of those forces. It does not, of itself, include
administrative or logistic control.
PERSONNEL SECURITY: The means of procedures, such as
selective investigations, record checks, personal interviews,
supervisory controls, designed to provide reasonable assurance
that persons being considered for, or granted access to,
classified information are loyal and trustworthy.
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PHYSICAL SECURITY: Physical measures--such as safes, vaults,
perimeter barriers, guard systems, alarms and access controls--
designed to safeguard installations against damage, disruption
or unauthorized entry; information or material against un-
authorized access or theft; and specified personnel against
harm.
PROLIFERATION INTELLIGENCE: Foreign intelligence relating
to (a) scientific, technical and economic capabilities and
programs and the political plans and intentions of non-
nuclear weapon states (NNE^WS) or foreign organizations to
acquire nuclear weapons and/or to acquire the requisite
special nuclear materials (SNM) and to carry on research,
development and manufacture of nuclear explosive devices,
and; (b) the attitudes, policies and actions of foreign
nuclear supplier countries or organizations within these
countries toward provision of technologies, facilities or
SNM which could assist NNWS or foreign organizations to
acquire or develop nuclear explosive devices.
RECONNAISSANCE (RECCE): A mission undertaken to obtain by
visual -oservation or other detection methods, information
relating to the activities, resources or forces of a foreign
nation; or to secure data concerning the meteorological,
hydrographic, or geographic characteristics of a particular
area.
SABOTAGE: Action against materiel, premises or utilities,
or their production, which injures, interferes with or ob-
structs the national security or ability of a nation to
prepare for or carry on a war.
SIGNALS INTELLIGENCE (SIGINT): A category of intelligence
.information comprising all communications intelligence,
electronics intelligence, and foreign instrumentation sig-
nals intelligence, either individually or in combination,
including as well nonimagery infrared and coherent light
signals.
SPECIAL NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE ESTIMATE (SNIE): National
Intelligence Estimates NIEs which are relevent to specific
policy problems that need to be addressed in the immediate
future. SNIEs are generally unscheduled, shorter, and pre-
pared more quickly then NIEs and are coordinated within the
Intelligence Community only to the extent that time permits.
SURVEILLANCE: The systematic observation or monitoring of
aerospace, surface, or subsurface areas, places, persons, or
things by visual, aural, electronic, photographic, or other
means.
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TACTICAL INTELLIGENCE: That intelligence required by
military commanders in the field to maintain the readiness
of operating forces for combat operations and to support the
planning and conduct of military operations under combat
conditions.
TACTICAL INTELLIGENCE ASSET: An intelligence asset, the
primary purpose of which is the collection, processing or
production of tactical intelligence. (See Tactical Intel-
ligence.)
TARGET: A country, area, installation, organization, weapon
system, military force, situation (political or economic),
person or other entity against which intelligence operations
are directed.
TRANSMISSION SECURITY (TRANSSEC): The component of communi-
cations. security which results from all measures designed to
protect transmissions from interception and from exploita-
tion by means other than cryptanalysis.
UNITED STATES SIGNALS INTELLIGENCE SYSTEM: An entity that
is comprised of t e National Security Agency (including
assigned military personnel); those elements of the military
departments and the Central Intelligence Agency performing
signals intelligence activities; and those elements of any
other department or agency which may from time-to-time be
authorized by the National Security Council to perform
signals intelligence activities during the time when such
elements are so authorized.
VALIDATION: A process normally associated with intelligence
collection, which provides official status to an identified
requirement and confirms that the requirement is appropriate
for a given collector and has not previously been satisfied.
(See Requirement.)
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CIRIS
COMINT
COMSEC
CRYPTO
EEI
EeE
ELINT
EMSEC
IRA
NIE
NNWS
OPCON
RECCE
SIGINT
SNIE
ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
Consolidated Intelligence Resources
Information System
Communications Intelligence
Communications Security
Cryptology
Director of Central Intelligence
Essential Elements of Information
Evasion and Escape
Electronics Intelligence
Emission Security
Foreign Counterintelligence
Foreign Intelligence
Foreign Instrumentation Signals
Intelligence
Interagency Intelligence Memorandum
Intelligence-Related Activities
National Intelligence Estimate
Non-Nuclear Weapon States
Operational Control
Reconnaissance
Signals Intelligence
Special National Intelligence Estimate
Special Nuclear Materials
Transmission Security
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