I WOULD LIKE TO CORRECT SOME OF THE IMPRESSIONS THAT YOUR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP99-00498R000300090014-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 27, 2007
• Sequence Number: 14
• Publication Date: April 30, 1977
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2007/03/01 CIA-RDP99-00
The Director of Central Intelligence
Wishing ton. D. C 20505
Dear Sirs:
I would like to correct some of the impressions that your
readers might have received from the editorial of April 26
entitled, "The CIA and the oil shortage.
The editorial stated that "it came as a shock" that the
CIA had "moved into the tricky art of estimating international
oil and gas reserves." In fact the CIA report on the "International
Energy Situation" did not estimate the size of world oil and gas
reserves but rather projected oil demand and supply to 1985. Also,
it should not be a "shock" that CIA is involved in the strategic
considerations of the world energy situation as part of its
intelligence mission. The Central Intelligence Agency has been
studying international energy problems since its establishment
some 30 years ago. Originally the concentration was on communist
nations, but as the world energy shortage and higher prices developed
in the 1970's our analytical work in this area was extended to cover
other parts of the world. We would be derelict if we did not do so.
CIA's role in analyzing world energy trends is well known by
U.S. industry, the trade press, and international agencies concerned
with this subject. Indeed, every other week the CIA issues a widely
distributed, unclassified statistical survey, "International Oil
Developments," (attached) through the Document Expediting Project
of the Library of Congress.
It is simply not true that the CIA analysis is "almost alone."
Most private and institutional projections of energy supply and
demand are quite pessimistic, and in light of our analysis of the
USSR and China situations we would expect them to evidence greater-*".,
pessimism.
We take exception to the remark that CIA has a "tattered
credibility" and is "an easy mark for White House manipulation." Our
analysts jealously protect their objectivity and neither they nor I
would accept manipulation, from any source, including the White House.
There is no evidence to the contrary.