CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING PRIORITY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE OBJECTIVES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP61-00549R000100100013-0
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 13, 1999
• Sequence Number: 13
• Publication Date: August 16, 1955
• Content Type: REQ

SEACRET
Approved For Release : -RDP61-00549R000100100013-0
IAC-D-50/7
16 August 1955
CR1T ERIA FOR DETERMINING
PRIORITY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE OBJECTIVES
1. Priority National Intelligence Objectives should be directly
related to the intelligence required in the formulation and execution
of - national security policy. They should flow directly from the intel-
ligence mission as set forth by the NSC and are therefore merely more
detailed specifications of the intelligence required to fulfill that
mission. They should provide the basis for determining appropriate
research and collection requirements.
2-. Most of the intelligence required in the formulation and
execution of national security policy will be the product of normal
intelligence collection and research. Priority National Intelligence
Objectives should be limited to those critical factors which require
special attention and effort.
3. In order to afford a stable basis for intelligence planning,
a statement of Priority National Intelligence Objectives should be
designed to remain valid over an extended period. It should therefore
exclude topics of urgent, but transitory, interest, which will require
and receive ad hoc treatment in any case.
4. Broad generalities are of little practical use as priority
guidance to collection and research. Priority National Intelligence
Objectives should therefore be specific enough to provide guidance for
planning the allocation of collection and research resources, but not
so specific as to constitute in themselves research and collection re-
quirements.
5. Although all items in a statement of Priority National Intel-
ligence Objectives should be worthy of special attention.. it is obvious
that some will be of greater urgency or importance than others. Any
listing of such objectives must be based on an analysis of the world
situation and US security interests and should be reviewed semi-annually.
The following criteria will serve as guidance for determining the relative
importance of Priority National Intelligence Objectives.
1. First Priority Intelligence Objectives are those which
will permit the US: (a) to anticipate and counter those
policies or actions of breign states which would occasion
gravest consequences to the US; and (b) to stimulate poli-
cies or actions of foreign states (or actions within them)
which could occasion greatest benefit to the US.
Approved For Release : CIA-RDP61-00549R000100100013-0
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II. Second Priority Intelligence Objectives are those which
will permit the US: (a) to anticipate and counter those
policies or actions of foreign states which would have
serious consequences for the US; and (b) to stimulate
policies or actions of foreign states (or actions within
them) which could occasion great benefit to the US.
III. Third Priority Intelligence Objectives are those which
will permit the US: (a) to anticipate and counter those
policies or actions of foreign states which would have
harmful consequences to the US; and (b) to stimulate
policies or actions of foreign states (or actions within
them) which could occasion substantial benefits to the
US.
Approved For Release : CIA-RDP61-00549R000100100013-0
SECRET