THE DCI'S ROLE IN NATIONAL ESTIMATES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP93T01132R000100020018-3
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 27, 2012
• Sequence Number: 18
• Publication Date: April 24, 1981
• Content Type: MISC

Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/08/27: CIA-RDP93T01132R000100020018-3
The DCI's Role in National Estimates
IlL111.11tElt
24 APR 1981
The National Security Act of 1947 assigns to CIA the responsi-
bility "to correlate and evaluate intelligence relating to the
national security."
National Security Council Intelligence Directive #1, issued
17 February 1972, states that "the Director of Central Intel-
ligence shall produce national intelligence that will carry a
statement of abstention or any substantially differing opinion
of a United States Intelligence Board member or of an intel-
ligence chief of a military department." Although Executive
Order 11905 called for a revision of this Directive, none was
ever issued.
Executive Order 12036 states that "the Director of Central
Intelligence shall have full responsibility for production and
dissemination of national foreign intelligence. .In doing so,
the Director of Central Intelligence shall ensure that diverse
points of view are considered fully and that differences of
judgment within the Intelligence Community are brought to the
attention of national policymakers."
In Practice
As the national estimates process evolved over the years it
came to be understood that the main text of an estimate repre-
sented the DCI's view. Dissents by other agencies were re-
flected in footnotes.
Mr. Colby modified this practice so that major dissents to the
DCI's position were expressed in the text as "alternate
views." He also instituted the use of "some believe...others
believe..." where the DCI chose not to take a position.
How the DCI relates to CIA in the estimates process has never
been fully resolved. Originally, the CIA position was by
definition that of the DCI. Since 1972 as DCIs have placed
more emphasis on their Community role, the Agency as
occasionally dissented from the DCI's position.
In NIE 11-3/8-80 Admiral Turner took issue with the entire
Community. He did not differ with the substance of the esti-
mate, however. Rather, he believed that the Community's Key
Judgments did not highlight the issues that he thought were
most important to the policymaker.
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Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/08/27 : CIA-RDP93T01132R000100020018-3
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/08/27: CIA-RDP93T01132R000100020018-3
Conclusion
The DCI can advise the President and the National Security Council
as he chooses. To the extent that he speaks as the representative of
the national Intelligence Community, however, he must reflect as well
any differing views that are held within the Community. Under 12036, he
is obligated to include differing views held by CIA.
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/08/27: CIA-RDP93T01132R000100020018-3