SUGGESTED LIST OF TERMS TO BE DEFINED

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91M00696R000300020025-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 12, 2004
• Sequence Number: 25
• Publication Date: September 21, 1977
• Content Type: MF

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
WASHINGTON. D.C. 20505
HSG 1265/77
21 September 1977
MEMORANDUM FOR:
IC Staff (OPP)
FROM . Acting CIA Representative on Definitions
Working Group
SUBJECT : Suggested List of Terms to be Defined
This responds to the invitation to suggest
terms important to the Intelligence Community that should be
included in the proposed IC Glossary. The following list is
meant to be illustrative. It does not necessarily include
all terms of potential interest to CIA, nor do we insist
that all the terms suggested be included in the list finally
published. The appropriate scope of the Glossary depends,
among other things, on how it is intended to be used, by
whom, and with what level of authority. These matters
remain to be discussed.
2. resumably the Glossary would include at least
some of the terms unique to the Intelligence Community and
also those common terms and labels that have a special mean-
ing to the intelligence practitioners. While perhaps belab-
oring the obvious, we also would stress the need to seek and
identify a balance between the "common usage" of intelligence
terms and the need for greater precision in communication.
The common understanding of terms frequently incorporates
ambiguity; it is more or less easily accepted by various
elements of the Community because it is familiar and/or
because the ambiguity allows each user to interpret the term
in a way that meets his needs. On the other hand, some
efforts to reach new precision may result in definitions
that either are'~not iapproved, not used, or used with great
reluctance."
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3. II Please refer again to Dr. Stevens' memorandum
dated 11 August for certain concerns about the list of terms
circulated earlier by the IC Staff. Not all the kinds of
intelligence listed are important enough in the Community
context to merit inclusion in the Glossary. On the other
hand, many activities such as those listed in the National
"HUMINT" plan need to be included.
4. II Common terms used in special ways should be
considere assess, assessment, evaluate, evaluation, col-
lect, collection, process, produce, product, production,
report, disseminate, dissemination, information, intelli-
gence, source, review, sensitive, monitor, user, consumer,
community, sources and methods, task, tasking, guidance,
requirement, coordination, overt, covert, clandestine,
warning, strategic, tactical, objectives, perspectives,
defector, refugee, emigre, and estimate.
5. Ii Terms and phrases with meanings perhaps unique
to the Intelligence Community include: Acoustical Intelli-
gence (ACOUSTINT), Communications Intelligence (COMINT),
Electrical Intelligence (ELINT), Signals Intelligence -
(SIGINT), Human Source Intelligence (HUMINT), Overhead
Imagery, Radar Intelligence (RADINT); National Intelligence
Tactical Intelligence and perhaps Current Intelligence,
Basic Intelligence, Military Intelligence, Economic Intel-
ligence, Scientific and Technical Intelligence; clandestine
collection, domestic collection, covert action, counter-
intelligence, and the like.
6. II Finally, there are certain organizations and
documents that might be identified: the Intelligence
Community, the NFIB, NFIP, NITC, NSCIDs, PRC, SCC, Executive
Orders, DCI, DCIDs, Intelligence Perspectives, NIO, KIQs,
DCID 1/2 Supplement, National Estimates, etc.
7. 1 will be happy to discuss these suggestions
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SUBJECT: Suggested List of Terms to be Defined
Distribution:
Original & 1 - Addressee
1 Chief, HSG
1 - AC/R&E
,.Y DAC R&E
1 -
1 - xono
O/Compt/RES/HSG/
/21Sep77
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 MAORMAt I F Rele g
11b%t fIA-RDP91 M00696R0003000200
attended the IC Staff meeting
on Intelligence Definitions that was chaired by
In response to an informal request,
Dave provided a list of terms that might be
included in a Community Glossary. At subsequent
meetings there will be discussions of what terms
actually require definition. Therefore, there will
be opportunity to shift and adjust before a list
is finalized. The next meeting is scheduled for
4 October.
is proceeding on the premise that a
Glossary will be prepared with the format and
content yet to be decided.
S
NI0
Requirements 7 Evaluation Staff
Date 26 September 1977
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FORM I'hf USE PREVIOUS
5.75 V EDITIONS
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National Intelligehce Estimate: A thorough assessment of situations
abroad that are relevant to the formylation of national security policy,
projecting probable future coursd'of action and developments, structured to
illuminate policy issues and differences of view within the Intelligence
Communitu, and issue by the DCI with the advice of NFIB.
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