PROPOSED LETTER TO DR. BRZEZINSKI REGARDING MEETING WITH CIA ANALYSTS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80M00165A000300210006-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 11, 2004
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: August 24, 1977
• Content Type: MF

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24 AU G 3977
MEMORANDUM FOR: Deputy Director for Intelligence
FROM: Director of Central Intelligence
SUBJECT: Proposed Letter to Dr. Brzezinski Regarding
Meeting with CIA Analysts
o r jgistry
autiv
1. I have your letter to Dr. Brzezinski requesting that he
meet with some of our analysts to amplify on his criticisms of
our political analysis. Let me suggest that it would not be
very productive to have such a meeting. I believe Dr. Brzezinski's
problem has several aspects that really do not cast criticism on
our present analysts:
a. Policy-makers always would like to have precise
information and forecasts about political trends. These
are always the most difficult and you will never make
policy-makers totally happy.
b. Brzezinski has expressed the view to me on a
number of occasions that it has been neglect of col-
lection efforts in the past that has caused the present
problem. Clearly, we have not concentrated on indigenous
targets in most countries of the world and we have totally
neglected areas like Africa south of the Sahara in years
past. Until we build up an infrastructure of collection
capability in those areas, our political reporting will
necessarily suffer.
2. Beyond that, if I could just stress to your analysts the
importance of the following guidelines:
a. Avoiding consensus or a least common denomi-
nator analysis just to get agreement within the
intelligence community.
b. Clearly stating the pros and cons or the
pressures for or against, rather than coming-,put
with flat predictions that the "Soviets would ...
25X1
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In short, what the policy-makers like Brzezinski
seek is an intellectual stimulation, not a defini-
tive prediction. They want to be able to take our
product and feel that it has helped them understand
the problem in a way that they can add their own
insight to it and come to their own conclusion.
3. In sum, I personally do not take Brzezinskifs criticism
as a personal affront to you, me and your analysts.
STANSFIELD'TURNER
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 the Director
Cr -1I Intelligence Agency
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As a follow up to ;our lunch -cation of
ay concerning CIA`?s political analysis, I
11 7
would like to request that you meet with a small
group of senior analysts from our Office of
Regional and Political Analysis so that they can
hear from you directly your political intelligence
needs and the ways in which we can serve you better.
The Honorable Zbigniew Brzezinski
Assistant to the President for
National Security Affairs
The Wh4e House
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SENDER WILL CHECK CLASSIFICATION TOP AND BOTTOM
UNCLASSIFIED CONFIDENTIAL SECRET
OFFICIAL ROUTING SLI
Executive aegi8tz
TO
NAME AND ADDRESS
DATE
INITIALS
Acting DDCI
s.
DCI
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ACTION
DIRECT REPL!
PREPARE REPLY
APPROVAL
DISPATCH
RECOMMENDATION
COMMENT
FILE
RETURN
CONCURRENCE
INFORMATION
SIGNATURE
Remarks:
There-h-as been genuine consternation
among the political analysts about the
expressions of dissatisfaction with their
work by the President and Mr. Brzezinski.
If it, is at all possible-, I would like
them to have the opportunity to discuss.
the problem directly with Brzezinski. They
are anxious to respond to the criticism,
but it is not easily transmitted though
I have tried on a couple -o-f occasions. I
ask that you sign the enclosed memo.
FOLD HERE TO RETURN TO SENDER
FROM: NAME. ADDRESS AND PHONE NO.
DATE
Deputy Director for Intelligence
JUL 19?7
UNCLASSIFIED CONFIDENTIAL
SECRET
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D # o 7 / 7 F - 7,
Executive f?*;piatey
Dear Zbig:
As a follow up to our lunch conversation of
Friday concerning CIA's political analysis, I
would like to request that you meet with a small
group of senior analysts from our Office of
Regional and Political Analysis so that they can
hear from you directly your political Intelligence
needs and the ways in which we can serve you better.
Yours,
STANSFIELD TURNER
The Honorable Zbigniew Brzezinski
Assistant to the President for
National Security Affairs
The White House
Distribution:
Original - Addressee
1 - DCI
1 - Acting DDCI
E ER
1 - D/ORPA
1 - DDT
1 - DDI Chrono
DDI:Sayre Stevens:mak:26 Jul 77
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