CIA-RDP96-00791R000100040021-1

Approved For Release 2004/09/09 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000100040021-1
SG11
Memo for : Comptroller
Via:
DDS&t
ExDir
D/OCA
Subject :
Response to CDA on Stargate
1.
The conference report contained language that transferred
ten civilian billets and, 500k dollars from DIA to CIA and
directed the DCI to submit a status report to the appropriate
committees by March 1, 1995. This status report is to include
a management strategy, transfer status, and identification of
a program manager.
I have been asked to pull this activity
together and to prepare a response to the CDA. That response
is attached. Because of the many issues associated with this
program and the potential for some controversy between us and
our oversight committees I seek a corporate buy in to the
proposed approach.
2. Language in the SAC report, originally directed at DIA but
incorporated by reference in the conference report, requests
that funds be applied equally to foreign assessment,
research,
and operational viewing. The SAC report expresses
concern that Congressional direction in the past regarding
the "solicitation of users across the NFIP and DOD and
development of joint programs with the Russians and Chinese
has only been sporadically pursued. They further note
"obvious reluctance on the part of DIA leadership for this
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program" and direct pursuit of liason activities and a relook
at the tight classification for the program. It also directs
a retrospective reviow and technical analysis of the data
that has been produced by the program "since its inception 20
years ago."
3.
On 14 December, during a briefing arranged by cms and
given by the current dia program manager, the program was
described as an operational activity that is accepting
requirements, conducting remote viewing operations, and
disseminating intelligence based on these operations. Over
90 such operations had been conducted during the past year.
Staffing consists of three remote viewers, a program manager,
a technical advisor and a secretary.
Asked his opinion for
the reasons the Congress had transferred the program to CIA,
the program manager stated his belief that he had failed to
respond to previous direction to conduct objective reviews
and pursue foreign liason activities. He also told us that
all of the program funds had been expended and that their
contractor (SRI) had stopped work on the R&D activities.
4.
Our proposed approach in responding to the CDA is to
conduct a multiphase program, beginning with the formation of
a blue ribbon panel to assess the current program and make
recommendations to us regarding how to proceed. With Army
support, we plan to contact the chairman of a panel that did
a review for the Arny of unconventional techniques ( including
remote viewing), for enhancing human performance, and ask him
to convene a similar group for our blue ribbon panel review.
4.
R2D 1
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5. D/OCA described this approach to Mr. Ricxhard D Amato, the
congressional staffer responsible for the language effecting
the transfer, and Mr DAmato expressed concern about the DIA
people, in particular the three remote viewers, during the
period that the panel is conducting our review. Our approach
to this is to tell DIA that we do not need a program manager
and will provide our own technical and administrative support
for the activity. The three operational remote viewers
should be kept as DIA employees until the Blue Ribbon panel
reports and our program plan is developed. If they are
continuing to conduct operations, they need to use the
tasking and dissemination methods already in place in DIA.
6. There are several potential issues that could arise and
need to be anticipated, and that cause me to raise this
Parapsychology is a very
subject with you at this time. (a)
controversial subject It has been studied for at least the
past hundred years by many renowned scientists without
reaching any yes/no answers regarding its scientific
validity. We do NOT intend to ask our blue ribbon panel to
challenge the parapsychological community
( tell us if there is or is not anything to the concept) rather
we intend to ask them to review the STARGATE program to
assess its overall value to the USG based on intelligence
7 product
value, (process validity)
customer satisfaction, and foreign
technical analysis s' data
-5730124
assessment activity as directed by Congress. (b) It is
possible that our panel will recommend that we do NOT proceed
with the program, and that has the potential for some
controversy with our oversight committees. (c)
If we do
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challe

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proceed with the program after blue ribbon panel review, we
need to plan for integration of the dia operational
activities into our agency.
This will include whether or not
the DIA operations people become CIA employees and where in
CIA this operational activity should be managed.
ILLEGIB
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