MEMO FOR: (Sanitized), CHIEF/INTELLIGENCE LAW DIVISION, OGC. SUBJECT: STAR GATE PROGRAM ISSUES

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP96-00791R000200130001-2
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
K
Document Page Count: 
4
Document Creation Date: 
November 4, 2016
Document Release Date: 
October 27, 1998
Sequence Number: 
1
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
April 14, 1995
Content Type: 
MF
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PDF icon CIA-RDP96-00791R000200130001-2.pdf99.84 KB
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Approved For Release 2000/08/10 : CIA-RDP96-00791 R000200130001-2 14 April 1995 SG 1 I MEMO FOR: SG11 FROM: Chief/Intelligence Law Division Office of General Counsel Chief, Undergrounds Program Emerging Programs Group, ORD SUBJECT: Star Gate Program Issues Thank you for considering the potential legal issues and responsibilities relating to ORD's actions during its review of DIA's Star Gate program. As you know from our previous conversation, Star Gate involves use of paranormal phenomena for intelligence purposes. The program has three basic aspects to it: assessment of foreign activities to develop or exploit the paranormal for any uses which might affect our National Security, application of "remote viewing" to collect intelligence against foreign targets, and the R&D of techniques to improve the use of paranormal phenomena for intelligence collection. The CIA (ORD in particular) was involved in its own program, similar to Star Gate, during the early 1970s which is now also the subject of this review. CIA's review of Star Gate is a directed action by Congress. Other requirements of this action include the transfer of Star Gate from DIA to CIA by July 1, 1995, and development of a management strategy for the new program at CIA. In response to this directed action, CIA already has taken steps toward assembling an open-world, Blue Ribbon Panel at the National Research Council so that an unbiased, technical review can occur. We have also begun to declassify some of our own records from the early 1970s and we are going to create a declassification review panel to eventually look at all the records. Finally, we have initiated an Approved For Release 2000/08/10 : CIA-RDP96-00791 R000200130001-2 SG1 H Approved For Release 2000/08/10 : CIA-RDP96-00791 R000200130001-2 ilr exhaustive, detailed review of all documents relating to program activity in this area partly in response to an FOIA request, and to satisfy congressional direction that we review all files at CIA and DIA. My questions regarding our actions in this process are as follows: The viewers sit in a room unattended where their thoughts apparently transcend time and space and they perform collections against targets anywhere in the world. For example, in one "operational scenario," they respond to tasking from various customers who have asked questions Approved For Release 2000/08/10 : CIA-RDP96-00791 R000200130001-2 Approved For Release 2000/08/10 : CIA-RDP96-00791 R000200130001-2 M-seret regarding what information the viewers can provide about a particular person, place or thing, etc. In another "training scenario," the viewers construct in their own minds the information perceived by a "beacon". The beacon is an individual looking around at a particular location. The product provided usually consists of drawings supplemented by written phrases further explaining the drawings. The product relates to whatever the target is, and often provides ancillary information. Again thank you for your assistance. We would appreciate having a written response to these questions so that our records will be complete. We anticipate potential scrutiny in these matters at some future date. In addition, if you have other advice, please let us know. Sincerely, Approved For Release 2000/08/10 : CIA-RDP96-00791 R000200130001-2 Approved For Release 2000/08/10 : CIA-RDP96-00791 R000200130001-2 Secret Distribution: Cy 1 - Addressee Cy 2 - - SG1I Cy 3 - EPG/Ames for logging Secret Approved For Release 2000/08/10 : CIA-RDP96-00791 R000200130001-2