DCI PRE-BRIEFS/SEMINARS/ETC. (Sanitized)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81B00401R002400110016-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 10, 2003
• Sequence Number: 16
• Publication Date: September 10, 1980
• Content Type: MF

Approved For Re*e 2003/OAiHETCIWQ 81 B00401 RO 400110
10 September 1980
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
FROM : PB/NSC Coordinator
SUBJECT : DCI Pre-Briefs/Seminars/etc. (U)
1. A year ago, when presidential briefings were shifted from a
weekly to a biweekly occurrence, we attempted to set up a schedule of
briefings/seminars in order to meet your needs/interests. By using the
time in the off-briefing week, we were able to provide a forum for a
discussion of a wider variety of subjects than would have been the case
if we were focusing on the presidential briefings alone. I believe
that, on balance, this opportunity for an intellectual exchange of ideas
was of benefit both to you and to those with whom you met (whether by
way of feedback/stimulus to analysts in the work in which they were
or for DDO personnel in constructing meaningful CA programs.)
2. Unfortunately, schedules and events have reduced the effective-
ness of this concept. The first to be affected was the Thursday morning
DCI Seminar. This never really got off the ground because, shortly
after the first meeting last fall, the events in Iran took everyone's
time (first there were daily SCC meetings and then they were held every
Tuesday and Thursday). The primary casualty of this has been any sort
of regular meeting with the NIOs (in fact,e there have been
only two such meetings in the last year).
3. Since June, the combined effects of the Venice Summit, vaca-
tions, the conventions and the Presidential campaign have effectively
changed the presidential briefing schedule from biweekly to monthly, and
what the schedule will be in the future is a matter of conjecture. As
a result of this, we have not been maintaining a regular schedule of DCI
pre-brief/screening sessions; this has further reduced the opportunities
for you to sit down with analysts, etc., on subjects of interest. (We
have, however, been able to have sessions on "crisis" topics (Iran,
Poland, Soviet CPX) which, while necessary and important, do not afford
opportunity to share ideas and shape other analytic efforts.)
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4. I believe that, by and large, most of the sessions that we have
had were worthwhile. I believe this to be true even in those circumstances
when a subject was discussed under the guise of a potential presidential
briefing subject that was determined at the session not to be so used
(but was remanded for treatment in the PDB, or regular memo or whatever).
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5. There are, at any given time, a variety of general or topical
subjects (other than Iran, Poland, etc.) which might be worth this type
of treatment, whether as potential presidential briefing topics or
simply as subjects for discussion. Would you want me to work with Gary
to try and set up at least a hour a week in order to have some such
discussion? Yes No. These meetings could either
follow the development of a thrust outline or could simply be discussion
sessions (for which we could suggest some questions in order to shape
the dialogue). Then, at the meeting, if you wanted a briefing/memo
developed, you could so indicate.
Following are some subjects that, depending on your time and interest,
you might want to have pursued. (Please indicate in the appropriate
space whether there is a subject you would like to have discussed and/or
a brief paper or thrust outline prepared whether or not it is determined
to be a potential presidential briefing subject):
Thrust Possible
Discuss Outline Pre-Brief Skip
? Meeting with NIOs (around the
world)
? Prospects for Namibia
? Turkey (where is it going?)
? What we know about the use of
BW/CW; e.g. Ethiopia, Afghan,
Kampuchea
? Collection tradeoff between
Poland & Iran (D/OSR's question
at last Poland Pre-Brief)
? Philippines (are there forces
for change?)
? Jamaica (will it be Manley or
Seaga?)
$ Nicaragua (is revolution in
trouble? being exported?)
? El Salvador (is US policy (?)
working?)
? China (does NPC and/or US
campaign suggest any changes
in US-PRC relationship?)
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Thrust Possible
Discuss Outline Pre-Brief Skip
? Soviet energy (is CIA's estimate
still valid?)
? Soviet mobilization planning/
potential (study on subject
almost complete)
? Effect of NPT conference on
US policy
? Prospects for LRTNF dialogue
? Prospects for Middle East Peace
(Camp David Accords)
? Update on situation on Korean
Peninsula
? Review of any CA programs
? Bolivia (when is next coup
likely?)
? Chile (prospects/constitutional
ratification/Frei's new
position--effect on US
policy)
? Argentina (moving toward or
from the US?)
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6. FYI: we are continuing to work on an Arabian Peninsula Security
briefing for possible use at the next (24 September(?)) presidential
briefing. Further, we will look at the two NIEs discussed at the NFIB
to see if they merit consideration.
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