Office of the Historian

264. Memorandum by the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)1

Washington, February 16, 1972.

MEMORANDUM FOR

  • The Attorney General
  • The Under Secretary of State
  • The Deputy Secretary of Defense
  • The Director of Central Intelligence
  • The Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff

SUBJECT

  • NSCIC Working Group Proposed Studies

The NSCIC Working Group has proposed two product evaluation projects. One is a study of intelligence support in political-military crises, beginning with a case study of the India/Pakistan crisis. The other is a study of intelligence support of the NSSM process.

I recommend that we approve the two studies. They will be directed by Andrew Marshall of the NSC staff. In order for these studies to be carried out, access to data and to individuals for interviews will be crucial. All Departments and Agencies will, I am sure, give full support. There will also be a requirement for assistance in manning the study efforts.

Both these studies, and others like them, focus mainly upon the performance of the Intelligence Community in supporting high level decision makers. Some lessons regarding the formulation and expression of needs may result. But these studies may not help us very much in better expressing our needs. Therefore, I urge the Working Group to continue its efforts to design a work program that will assist us in all of our tasks.

Henry A. Kissinger
  1. Source: National Security Council, Nixon Intelligence Files, Log Numbered Series, 1971–1973. Secret.↩