LETTER TO COL. WILLIAM E. ODOM FROM (Sanitized)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01138A000100010024-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 7, 2002
• Sequence Number: 24
• Publication Date: March 15, 1966
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2002/10/21 : CIA-RDP80B0l138A0 100010024(7 j/`,
25X1
March 15, 1966
CD1. William L. Odom
DCS/1. USAFE
APO, Now York 09633
I want to thank you personally for your kindness to
Tidwell and myself during our recent visit. I have already
dropped a note to General Holloway ab~ut it. Wt had a very
interesting and informative series of visits. As you know, I
have been on many overseas visits, but this one was by all odds
the best.
I have been thinking about your now Intelligence Rees
Center and, as a result, have posed to myself some intereatiiag
questions about how the whole system. should work in a perfect
world, how it must work in the current environment, and how
does one actually make it work better. In the first place, I
start with the fact than a considerable amount and wide variety
of all source data is available to you. This includes not only the
information, you collect with your own resources, but that from
all Air Force and from other national. and third party efforts.
In addition, you or your command has a definite and more or
less clearly specified geographical area of interest about which
considerably more detail must be accrued for your internal
interests than is necessary for higher echelons to receive. At
the same time, you must furnish summary or "big picture's
information to those higher echelons. The first direct questio
is: Should the Information which you forward be integrated by
you or sent piecemeal for their integration? (it is, of course,
obvious that you must posse** an internal integration capability
On file USAF release
instruction opQi ,d For Release 2002/10/21: CIA-RDP80B0l138A000100010024-7
 Approved For Release 2002/10/21 : CIA-RDP80B01138AOW100010024-7
to meet your unique detailed needs so only the # cope of your
integration efforts is under discussion, not its existence. )
The second basic question relates to the tasking of
collection efforts. Here the problem is to optimize such
along so the needs of your Command are met while, at the
same time, the national needs are considered. This is somewhat
complicated by the fact that collection sources are not generally
completely understood. Strengths and limitations tend to be
obscured by remoteness, both in a bureaucratic and security
sense. This well may lead to an over-dependence on one's
own resources which are known instead of tasking the resources
of others which are not so well know, and, in fact which may
have credibility problems. Another facet of tasking has to do
with the answers to the first basic problem, if you integrate
all source data prior to forwarding to higher echelons, your
needs may be quite different, and probably larger, than if you
integrate for your own internal consumption.
As I see it, the IRC is a step toward creating a viable
integration capability. I believe it to be a very good and large
step. However, the end goal might be more clearly defined.
Does this goal include, at some appropriate level, either within
EUCOM or USAFE, integration of all Photo and SIGINT ? Can
this integration be performed optirnumally by a staff organization
as opposed to the IRC type integration of different source
photography? Should other (non-Photo and non-SIGINT) data
be integrated at your level? If so, does not this integration
require a full-time organizational unit with this assigned
mission, just as IRC has a specific assigned mission? Should
the integration capability be oriented outwardly as well as internally?
And, finally, should not the same organization charged with the
integration for your internal use also be charged with, or at least
have a large vote in, the tasking of all collection sources?
One alternative Is to visualize a jointly manned organizational
element responsive to EUCOM with executive authority delegated
Approved For Release 2002/10/21 : CIA-RDP80B01138A000100010024-7
 Approved For Release 2002/10/21 : CIA-RDP80B01138A0QG100010024-7
STATINTL
to USAFE (like EEIC), located at Weisbaden, whose mission
would be to integrate all Photo, SIGINT, and other source
information for the production of the required, unique, finished
. CTATIKITI
In addition to tar
information which would also contain penetration factors
logistical support, demolition, etc. ). Of course. the intimate
knowledge of required inputs would exist in this organization
said, hence, It could serve as a central point for tasking and
collection requirements. Another major responsibility could
be that of setting up and maintaining an operational anti
frequently tested capability to furnish targets and associated
information in the extremely short time periods characteristic
of continuing combat of a limited, conventiio nature over
would be detailed OB information required for the specifics
of all assigned contingency planning (such as evacuation.
of the order of many days. Thus, for a Luropean
or Middle East ;'Viet Nam, " at least Intelligence would possess
the reaction time necessary and through this might make it
possible for operational planners to also attain the required
reaction time. The important elements of this alternative are,
first, the true integration of all source information and,
second, a reaction time appropriate to a wide variety of situations
ein all source information could be used. I do not believe
staff organizations not involving direct authority and use of
highly skilled technicians and specialists in data handling.
that these objectives ca be feasibly attained through norm
e that the foregoing is likely difficult to achieve.
And there may be othor alternatives which could satisfy the
ect ves. Furthermore, a cursory two-day visit hardly
qualifies me as a real expert. Yet the problems are real and
ganized approach to their solutions is likely to be useful.
I believe a useful procedure might include.*
ar statement of the goals, includ
etio. a and agreements suitable to the Commands
Approved For Release 2002/10/21 : CIA-RDP80B01138A000100010024-7
 Approved For Release 2002/10/21 : CIA-RDP80B01138A000100010024-7
b. An assembly of the alternative possible
ways to work toward these goals, including the cost
and likely payoffs of each.
c. Based on b. , a selection of the best course
of action with specific time phased steps spelled out
together with the growth in capability associated with
each step.
To follow the above procedure, a joint task force organized
at the EUCOM level (or at least concurred in by them) might be
a useful mechanism. If you plan on being in Washington soon. I
would be glad to talk further about it. I really believe that you
have a unique opportunity to take the lead in attacking problems
that apply in many other areas besides your own, and, at the
same time, to make a large contribution to our interest and
posture in the European area. The existence of friendly and
capable J-Z's of EUCOM and of USAEUR appears to me to
create a very benign environment for the solution to ,joi
intelligence problems.
Sincerely,
STATINTL
Approved For Release 2002/10/21 : CIA-RDP80B01138A000100010024-7
 Approved For Release 2002/10/21 : CIA-RDP80B01138A000100010024-7
MEMORANDUM FOR: Bud,
Is it o. k. with you if I send this? I have
known Col. Odom a long time and would like
to help him. USAFE is forming what they call
an Intelligence Research Center designed to
combine in one place TKH and non-TKH
photography. Their obj ective is to strive for
better utilization of input information.
I have checked this with and he
concurs that it might be help -Tull to USAFE.
FORM N O4 101 REPLACES FORM 01
I AUG 5 WHICH MAY 13E USED.
17 March 1966
(DATE)
25X1
25X1
Approved For Release 2002/10/21 : CIA-RDP80B01138A000100010024-7