SCOPE OF THE USIB MINUTES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82R00129R000100010006-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 10, 2002
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: March 28, 1966
• Content Type: MF

Approved For Release 2002/05/01 : CIA-RDP82RO0129R000100010006-3
UNITED STATES INTELLIGENCE BOARD
OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
28 :March 1966
.aiEMORANDUM FOR MR. HELMS
SUBJECT : Scope of the USIB
I. At your suggestion following our discussion last
Thursday, this m:ernorandum submits a recon *adation on the
subject for approval in paragraph fa.
2. In response to your questions regarding existing
concepts as to the length and scope of USIB minutes, my under-
standing has been that the record of the Board' a discussion of
COMOR?rslated items should be comprehensive and full. This
concept sterna from Mr. &McCoue'a desires that, alter the Cuban
experience and post-mortem and in the light of operational
difficulties with some reconnaissance systems, all the factors
positions expressed during Board deliberations on COMCR
items should be recorded for information and future reference.
as well as an accurate statement of the actions and decisions
taken. the absence of other instructions or requests fox change,
Secretariat has continued to prepare such long and detailc
drafts, similar to that shown An Tab A.
3. On the other hand, the shafts on other types o:
Items recorded in the regular SECRET minutes or the cods-wore
Special Annexes have boon prepared generally in summary form.
Frequently, only the Board's decisions or actions. are recorder,
especially when there is a basic. reference document being considered
such as the "Watch Report, an IVIE or a USIE Committee report.
cushion focuses on particular factors or issues which
ould be useful for record or reference purposes, a tabulation of
those points is often included but normally without identify ng the
25X1 USi134 (28 Mar)
DISTRIBUTION:
0 - Fwd for DCI/DDCI signatures for rtn to USIB w/atts
I - DCI Signee file wo atts
I - DDCI Signee file wo atts
>- ES/USIB Chrono
I - USIB/S wo atts
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varying opinions or positions expressed by individual U/
Principals.hsu required or requessted in particular cases,
views of the principals on major issues may be specifically
recorded, especially when there are dissents involved in the
rd's final decisions. An eaample of a minute item appl.y.ng
these concepts is attached at Tab B.
4. Ter long and short forms of r lnutese. described above
both have advantages and disadvantages along the lines dAscusaed
below. However, there does not appear to be any real "middle
ground" between them because, once the views of some princia
are recorded, it is considered only fair and proper that all other
views expressed also be reported.
a. These I*" form unquestlonaily provides a ca mplete
record for history and future reference, and for detailed
guidance to these who must follow up on the Board's
decision, especially in preparing further reeportc.. It also
reports bow the special interests and responsibilities of
the member departments and agencies were taken into
account. On the other hand, it the participants know that
their comments are to be reproduced and circulated there
saucy to "talk for the record", thereby
a free and frank exchange of views in a sse si sing
all feasible alternatives. l~T:oreover, the circulation of
these long ,minutes even on a limited distribution furnishes
to many who were not in attendance detailed knowledge of
the Board's deliberations which may or may not be h=ipful
or needed in their work. In fact, to the extent that views
expressed during the discussion contrary to the finatly?
agreed decisions are circulated, doubt may be raised. in
the minds of the recipients who were not at the n,.ecting as
to the soundness of or degree of support for the decisions
reached.
b. T
the Board's dec
does it indicate
orm does not give a full background of
re reference or guidance. nor
extent to which various viewpoints were
expressed and debated. On the ether band, a short form
Identifying the basic i sa+s s and the factors considered and
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discussed, concluding with a precise statement c;
Board's decisions and actions, can provide an effective
and clear-cut instruction and guidance for appropriate
action by all concerned. Since positions taken by each
participant would not be recorded except as required or
requested, the short form could stimulate a more thorough
and objective exploration of all feasible & ptions even
though son-to might not represent any particular agency
position.
5. 0a balance, it is believed that the abort s n-mary form
of minutes, used in a flexible manner as required by the particular
item being considered, encourages free and frank deliberations which
should lead to clear and effective Hoard decisions and actions regardin
the critical problem. facing the intelligence community.
f. Accordingly, it is recommended that, if you concur, this
be submitted to the DCI as Chairman. USIH, with the
USIB Secretariat be authorized to prepare
the draft U S minutes on COMOR.related as well as all other agenda
items by flexible use of the short summary form described above,
unless a particular Item is deemed to require a full record ; f the
B ard's deliberations.
CONCUR;
P'
e/ Ric71 ,rd He ma
Richard Rebus
Director of Central Intellinence
APPROVE;
ve Secretary
3 0 MAR 1966
k, 0 MAP; 1956
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Chairman, USU