STATUS OF NSCID'S

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP02B05208R000100080011-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 15
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 19, 2013
• Sequence Number: 11
• Publication Date: May 9, 1979
• Content Type: MEMO

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NATIONAL FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE BOARD
RM-79-1335
9 May 1979
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
VIA Deputy Director of Central Intelligence
Deputy to the DCI for Resource Management
FROM Walter Elder
Secretary
SUBJECT Status of NSCID's
The attached analysis of NSCID's completes the
memorandum, "Status of DCID's," dated 4 May 1979.
WALTER ELDER.
Attachment:
As Stated
STAT.
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NSCID 1 Basic Duties and Responsibilities
Synopsis: This directive, effective February 1972, describes
the intelligence effort of the United States as a national re-
sponsibility which must be organized and managed to exploit
to the maximum the resources ,b,f the government and to satisfy
the intelligence requirements' of the NSC and the departments
and agencies.
The DCI is authorized and directed to coordinate the
foreign intelligence activities of the US.
A National Security Council Intelligence Committee
(NSCIC) is established: to give direction and guidance on
substantive national intelligence needs;to provide a continuing
evaluation of intelligence products from the consumers' view-
point. The NSCIC members are: SAP/NSA (Chairman, AG, DCI,
UnderSecState, DepSecDef, and Chairman, JCS.
The DCI will discharge four major responsibilities:
- planning, reviewing, and evaluating all
intelligence activities and the allocation of all
intelligence resources,
- producing national intelligence required
by the President and other national consumers,
- chairing and staffing all intelligence
community advisory boards and committees, and
- establishing and reconciling intelligence
requirements and priorities within budgetary
constraints.
To carry out these responsibilities, the DCI is
authorized and directed to do a number of specific things.
These include:
- preparation of a consolidated program/budget,f.
7 issue DCID's as detailed implementations of
the NSCID's.
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NSCID 1 Contd.
- formulate policies on arrangements with
foreign governments, and
- develop and review security standards and
practices as they relate to the protection of
sources and methods.
An Intelligence Resources Advisory Committee (IRAC) is
established. It consists of the DCI (Chairman), senior
representatives of State, Defense, CIA and OMB.
The United States Intelligence Board (USIB) is established
to advise and asist the DCI on the following:
- establishment of appropriate intelligence
objectives, requirements and prioritieSc,
- production of national intelligence,
- superirision of dissemination and security
of intelligence material,
- protection of intelligence sources and
methods, and
polities on arrangements with foreign
governments.
The USIB membership is: DCI 'Chairman), DDCI (Vice
Chairman), Director INR/State, Director, DIA, Director, NSA,
representatives of Treasury, AEC, and the FBI. The DCI may
invite others to sit with USIB as appropriate.
There is a section entitled "National Intelligence" which
defines national, departmental, and interdepartmental intel-
ligence. Procedures are set forth governing the dissemina-
tion of national intelligence to the President, the NSC,
other elements of the government, foreign governments, and
international organizations. The directive prescribes that a
national intelligence estimate shall be prepared when an
impending criss situation may call for immediate action by
the President or the NSC.
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NSCID 1 Contd.
The DCI shall ensure the development of policies and
procedures for the protection of intelligence sources and
methods. Each department and agency shall remain responsible
for protection within its own organization. They will inves-
tigate their own unauthorized disclosures. The DCI is I
directed to establish a review procedure for all classified
intelligence information proposed for release.
Finally, there is a section entitled Community
Responsibilities which sets objectives for the DCI to attain
as essential to the efficient and effective functioning of
the Intelligence Community.' It calls for responsivenes to
requirements, authoritative and responsible leadership, ,a
more efficient use of resources, elimination of inefficient,
unnecessary or outmoded activities, and improvement of the
quality, scope, and timeliness of the Community product.
The DCI shall call on departments and agencies to ensure that
the Intelligence Community is supported by the full know-
ledge and technical talent available in or to the government.
He shall have intelligence continually reviewed as a bais
for improving its quality. He shall take measures to
facilitate the development of compatible referencing systems.
The CIA and other elements will provide central reference
facilities as a service of common concern.
There is a section covering the assignment of personnel
to CIA. Community elements will provide each other with
mutual assistance. Agencies will not duplicate each o9iers'
activities.
The DCI will be. provided with all necessary information
from within the Executive Branch.
Departments and agencies will take steps to control
and limit undesirable publicity about intelligence activities.
Comment: Not only has time passed (taking the NSCID and IRAC
into oblivion), but also EO 12036 has superseded and sur-
passed this NSC directive.
1
There is an adequate specification of the DCI's duties
and responsibilities in the Executive Order. There is 'a
hortatory tone about NSCID 1 which can only benefit from
rescinding the directive.
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NSCID 2 Coordination of Overt Collection Activities
Synopsis: This directive, effective February 1972, estab-
lishes overall policies and objectives for theinterdepart-
mental coordination of overt intelligence collection activities
not covered by NSCID's 4, 5, and 6.
The DCI shall ensure that collection and reporting
activities avoid undesirable duplication and provide adequate
coverage.
State will collect political, sociological, economic,
scientific and technical information. DOD will collect
military intelligence, including related scientific, technical,
and economic intelligence. The CIA may collect intelligence
overtly as a by-product of its assigned missions and functions
provided that it does not duplicate other assignments and is
coordinated with State.
The senior US representative abroad shall coordinate
collection activities not covered by other NSCID's:
Information collected abroad will be given to the
responsible field representatives abroad for onward trans-
mission. The original collector may send the information
to his own headquarters.
The CIA will be responsible for exploitatkon within the
US of non-governmental individuals and organizations; for
monitoring of foreign radio and television propaganda and
press broadcasts; and the exploitation of foreign language
publications.
Comment: These are all services of common concern which,
under EO 12036, may be assigned by the DCI to various
components of the Intelligence Community.
DCID's (or a sillgle one) would seem adequate unless
?
there is a jurisdictional quarrel which requires NSC inter-
vention to settle.
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NSCID 3 Coordination of Intelligence Production
Synopsis: This directive, effective February 1972, establishes
overall policies, objectives, categories of intelligence, and
allocations of responsibility for the coordination of intel-
ligence production activities.
Basic intelligence is defined, and the CIA is assigned
responsibility for maintaining an outline of the government's
needs in this area. Production and maintenance responsibilities
will be allocated among CIA and other Community components
according to their qualifications. Basic intelligence will
be compiled and maintained in National Intelligence Surveys
(NIS) to cover foreign count-ies, areas, or broad general
subjects in accordance with NSC-approved instructions.
The DCI will be responsible for coordinating production,
maintenance, review, publication, and dissemination of the
NIS!s. Government departments and agencies will be called
on to contribute as required.
Current intelligence is defined, and the CIA and other
Community components are authorized to produce and disseminate
such intelligence to meet their own needs. CIA-produced
current intelligence is intended primarily to meet the needs
of the President, the NSC, and other high-level consumers.
The directive reiterates the definitions of departmental,
interdepartmental, and national intelligence (taking these
definitions from NSCID 1).
To ensure the effective use of capabilities in producing
intelligence of common concern, the following primary pro-
duction responsibilities are delineated:
- State shall produce political and socio-
logical intelligence on all countries and economic
intelligence on Free World countries,
- DOD shall produce military intelligence,
including scientific, technical, and economic
intelligence pertinent to DOD missions,
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NSCID.. 3 ' Contd.
CIA shall produce economic, scientific,
and technical intelligence and other such intel-
ligence as required to discharge the DCI?s
statutory responsibilities, and
- Production of intelligence on atomic
energy is a responsibility of all US IB represen-
tatives and is to be coordinated through the
JAEIC structure.
Should there be an intelligence requirement established
for which there ?is no ?existing production capability, ?the DCI
with the advice of USIB shall decide which agency will take
it on as a service of common concern,
Comment: This NSCID, which does not accurately reflect the
real state of intelligence production as it existed prior
to, during, or since 1972, has been superseded by EQ 12036,
There is a requirement for a general DCID on production
since DCID 1/1 has been rescinded. The new DCID would
provide the basic charter for production, The DCI's authority
is adequately set forth in EO 12036,
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STAT
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NSCID 5 US Espionage and Counterintelligence Activitj,es Abroad
Synopsis: This directive, effective February 1972, defines
espionage and counterintelligence, and makes the DCI responsible
for the following:
- ensuring centralized direction through
prior, comprehensive, and continuing coordina-
tion of authorized clandestine activities,
The DCI shall, after appropriate consultation:
- establish the procedures necessary to
achieve such direction and coordination,
coordinate all authoTdzed clandestine
activities,
- make arrangements, by mutual agreement,
for cover support, and
- resolve disputes arising in the
coordination of clandestine activities abroad.
The CIA has primary responsibility for clandestine
activities abroad and will provide the following services of
common concern:
- conduct of espionage to meet national
needs,
- conduct of clandestine counterintelligence,
- liaison with 'foreign intelligence services, and
- maintain a central index of counter-
intelligence information,
Other departments and agencies may conduct supplementary
espionage and counterintelligence activities.
The DCI, after consultation with the Secretary of
State, will ensure that the senior US representative over-
seas is appropriately advised on clandestine activities affect
ing his area. 'Senior military commanders will be kept advised
on a comparable basis.
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NSCID 5 Contd.
In active theaters of war where US forces are engaged
or when the President so directs, the entire CIA espionage
and counterintelligence organization conducting espionage
operations in or from a theater shall be under the direct
command of the US Theater Commander in accordance with agree-
ments separately reached between the DCI and the Secretary
of Defense. If there are exceptional political, diplomatic,
or other implications, the CIA may conduct independent
operations which shall be coordinated by the DCI with the
Secretaries of Defense and State.
The DCI and the Secretary of Defense shall establish
general procedures for coordinating liaison on clandestine
activities between US military commanders and foreign ser-
vices.
The DCI shall make appropriate policy recommendations
for NSC consideration on the overall US counterintelligence
effort overseas. He shall also provide for coordination of
counterintelligence activities abroad with those conducted
by departments and agencies with domestic counterintelligence
responsibilities.
Comment: Once the charter for espionage was worked out,
the primacy of the DCI and CIA in espionage has been main-
tained. It has been subjected to severe tests over the
years. There is a basic dichotomy underlying this and other
intelligence directives which stems from the view, on the
one hand, that peacetime intelligence operations are intended
to preclude war. On the other hand, there is the view that
peace is but a preparation for war and that intelligence
assets should be honed towards that end.
A major difference today is the separation of counter-
intelligence as a distinct discipline under the aegis of the
SCC (CI).
EO 12036 states that CIA will conduct espionage under
the direction of the NSC. This is a service of common con-
cern, according to NSCID 5. EO 12036 charges the DCI with
promoting services of common concern by designated organiza-
tions. If "direction by the NSC" boils down to direction by
the PRC(I), then it can be argued that the DCI has adequate
authority to control espionage operations by his own dir-
ective series. It is possible to argue this issue in favor
of NSC control through an NSCID, and such a .156sition is more
than likely. It's one of those touchy ambiguities which,
in any event, should not be allowed to interfere with what
ha'been an effective working arrangement for more than 30
years.
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NSCID 6 Signals Intelligence
Synopsis: This directive, effective February 1972, is the
basic charter for the National Security Agency and will re-
main so if charter legislation is not forthcoming. The
essential points are also included in EO 12036.
SIGINT, COMINT, and ELINT are defined.
Consistent with his responsibilities as set forth in
NSCID's 1, 2, 3, the DCI shall:
- establish appropriate objectives,
requirements, and priorities to guide all US
SIGINT activities,
- review the needs and performance of
SIGINT activities in preparing a consolidated
program budget,
- establish polieies and procedures for
the conduct of SIGINT relations with foreign
governments, and
establish policies and procedures for
the protection of SIGINT.
The Secretary of Defense is designated the Executive
Agency of the Government for the conduct of SIGINT activities
and for direction, supervision, funding, maintenance, and
operations of the National Security Agency. The Director,
NSA, shall report to the Secretary of Defense and shall be
the principal SIGINT adviser to the SecDef, the DCI, and the
JCS.
The NSA is established under the Secretary of Defense
with a commissioned officer as director and a civilian deputy.
The Director, NSA, shall produce SIGINT in accordance with
objectives, requirements, and priorities established by the
DCI. No other organizations shall engage in SIGINT activities
except as provided for in this NSCID.
To centralize and consolidate the performance of SIGINT
functions, there is established a Central Security Service
under the Director, NSA, to perform SIGINT functions pre-
viously performed by various Military Departments and other
US government elements.
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NSCID 6 Contd.
The NSA shall not engage in the production of finished
intelligence.
Nothing in this directive shall interfere with the
unique requirements for clandestine operations covered by
NSCID 5. Those SIGINT activities which are specifically
designated by the DCI to be integral to clandestine opera-
tions shall be conducted under the provisions of NSCID 5.
The Director, NSA, shall conduct SIGINT activities as
required to support electronic warfare activities.
Nothing in this directive shall interfere with the
unique responsibilities of the FBI in the field of internal
security, including intercept and processing activities.
Comment: NSA is cited in E0 12036 and its responsibilities
are set forth in adequate detail.
There have been major changes in the way requirements
are established and the Collection Tasking Staff will pro-
bably have a primary interest in updating the directives
structure.
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NSCID 7 Critical Intelligence Communications
Synopsis: This directive, effective February 1972, establishes
communications for the transmission of critical intelligence
as defined by the DCI.
The Secretary of Defense shall be the Executive
Agent.
Comment: Under DCID 7/1, effective May 1976, Executive
Agent responsibility for the CRITIC program is delegated by
the Secretary of Defense to the National Security Agency.
E0 12036 directs the DCI to establish uniform criteria
for the determination of relative priorities for the trans-
mission of critical national foreign intelligence and to
advise the Secretary of Defense concerning the communications
requirements of the Intelligence Community for the trans-
mission of such intelligence.
An NSCID does not seem to be needed.
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NSCID 8 Photographic Interpretation
Synopsis: This NSCID, effective February 1972, confirms the
establishment.(in January 1961) of the National Photographic
Interpretation Center (NPIC) as a service of common concern
provided by the DCI.
The Director, NPIC, shall be designated by the DCI with
the concurrence of the Secretary of Defense. Community
departments and agencies shall jointly provide appropriate
personnel and other support for NPIC.
The NPIC shall not engage in the production or
dissemination of finished intelligence.
Community components shall continue to be individually
responsible for their own interpretation and production needs.
Comment: This NSCID was evolved in the light of experience
with U-2 and early satellite photography and was intended to
prevent the proliferation of interpretation facilities.
Photographic interpretation is not mentioned in
BO 12036, but it is clearly understood as a service of common
concern which may be reconfirmed in a DCID rather than an
NSCID.
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Distribution
Original DCI
1 - DCI Chrono
1 DDCI
1 DD/NFA
1 D/DCl/CT
1 - D/DCl/RM
1 ER
1 - RM Registry
1 - CT Registry
1 - NFIB Chrono
D/DCl/RM/NFIB/S/WElder/clin 5/2/79 STAT
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