MEETING ON ASD/I PROPOSAL FOR TASKING COLLECTION SYSTEMS IN A CRISIS SITUATION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91M00696R000600150003-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 28, 2004
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: October 15, 1975
• Content Type: MFR

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25X1 THE DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
National Intelligence Officers
15 October 1975
Copy C5
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
SUBJECT: Meeting on ASD/I Proposal for Tasking Collection Systems
in a Crisis Situation
25X1
1. I attended a meeting yesterday called by Mr. Hank Knoche to discuss
the ASD/I proposal (see attachment) as part of his preparation for drafting
a re 1 for Mr. Colby. Also present were Messrs. Walsh,0 Heyman,
25
25X1 I[ Chairman, SORS), (CPAD/IC Staff), and 25
25X1 (SIGINT Committee Secretariat).
2. A general discussion of the background to the ASD/I proposal
uncovered the following: (a) Morton Goulder of ASD/I told 25
that it was being made now because it was clear that the DoD, and specifically
the NMCC, should be the focal point for tasking intelligence collection
systems in a crisis situation; (b) of DIA told Mr. Knoche 25
that even though the NMCC was the logical choice for this role, the ASD/I
letter was intended to give the DCI the opportunity to have his say in the
25X1 matter; (c) aid that the proposal was the most recent representa-
tion of the long-standing view of the ASD/I that the Intelligence Community
was not set up to function in a crisis, and especially to support military
operational needs--something only the NMCC could do.
25X1 3? position essentially was that a special committee or
special arrangements are not needed. The real question is not 25X1 of tasking collection systems, but their ca acit
e
Poland was an illustration of how the existingvCommunity arrangements were
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SUBJECT: Meeting on ASD/I Proposal for Tasking Collection Systems
in a Crisis Situation
effectively mobilized to cope with it. He observed that these arrangements
were not fully understood by Community analysts and others, and that they
sometimes included guidance provided by the WSAG (as was done, for example,
during the October 1973 Middle East war). He concluded that the present
USIB machinery was adequate, that the notion of "routine" USIB Committee
action in a crisis was nonsense, and that what was needed was a mechanism
to set collection priorities in which process the NMCC would be one--if
not the most important--of the participants.
4. Mr. Knoche said he was not aware of any arrangements within the CIA
that enabled analysts to forward what the might view as necessary collection
guidance in a crisis situation. said that an analytical task force
was normally set up for intelligence production and that this mechanism
typically was used for that purpose.
5. Mr. Walsh suggested that the DCI's reply must address the funda-
mental principle of who controls what and that it should make the following
points: .(a) some kind of "mechanism" is needed; (b) the NMCC does not
appear to be it; (c) its premature to say what is because the work of many
study groups addressin this and related matters is still underway. Mr.
Knoche and will each draft a reply for the DCI's signature.
I asked tha[z e ra synthesis of this effort be made available for review
by Mr. Carver. Mr. Knoche assured me that this would be done.
25X
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Attachment
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SUBJECT: Meeting on ASD/I Proposal for Tasking Collection Systems
in a Crisis Situation
Distribution:
Cy 1 - NIO/SP
2 - D/DCI/NIO
3 - EA/NIO
4 - NIO/USSR
5 - NIO/CF
6 - NIO/ME
7 - NIO/RI
25X1 NIO/SPI 1150ct75)
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