DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE DIRECTIVE NO. 1/3 - PRIORITY NATIONAL INTELLIG

Created: 1/9/1963

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

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DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE DIRECTIVE

PRIORITY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE OBJECTIVES

Pursuant to NSCID No.aragraphhe following list of Priority National Intelligence Objectives (PNIOs) is establisheduide lor the coordination of intelligence collection and production in response torelating to the formulation and execution of nationalpolicy. This list replaces that contained in DCIDhich is hereby rescinded.

In accordance with the criteria set forth ln the Annex, aU items in this listing are deemed to be critical national intelligence factorspriority attention and effort. Distinction is made, however,four levels of priority within the general priority category Order of haling within each of these four groupsatter of convenience in presentation and has no significance with respect to the relative priority ol specific items within the group.

iven subject may be listedatter of priority, not every bit of information relating to it will be required with equal urgency and some may be procurable by routine means. It is thereforeupon research personnel to exercise discrimination in allocating analytical resources and in formulating information requirements so as to accord priority only to those aspects of the listed subject which actuaUyriority research or collection effort. Similarly, if specific collection and analytic facilities are inadequate to satisfy all the requirements levied uponetermination of priority in their use will have to be made, under the general guidance of the PNIOs but in terms of specific operational capabilities.

In order totable basis for intelligence planning, thisis designed to remain valid over an extended period. It will beannually or on the request of any member of the United States IntelllRence Board. It Is recognized that urgent interim requirements may arise requiring ad hoc treatment.

DirectiveDCID

A , for release

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I. FIRST CATEGORY: Objectives of such vital importance as tomaximum intelligence effort.

ANNEX

CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING PRIORITY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE OBJECTIVES

Priority National Intelligence Objectives should be directly related to the Intelligence required In the formulation and execution ofsecurity policy. They should flow directly from the intelligence mission as set forth by the NSC and are therefore merely more detailed specifications of the intelligence required to fulfill that mission. They should provide the basis (or detennining appropriate research andrequirements.

Most of the intelligence required in the formulation and execution of national security policy will be the product of normal intelligence collection and research. Priority National Intelligence Objectives should be limited to those critical factors which require special attention and effort.

In order totable basis for intelligence planning, aof Priority National Intelligence Objectives should be designed to remain valid over an extended period. It should therefore exclude topics of urgent, but transitory, interest, which will require and receive ad hoc treatment in any case.

Broad generalities are of little practical use as priority guidance to collection and research. Priority National Intelligence Objectives should therefore be specific enough to provide guidance for planning the allocation of collection and research resources, but not so specific as to constitute in themselves research and collection requirements.

In determining Priority National Intelligence Objectives, dueshould be given to beneficial as well as harmful potentialities.

All Itemstatement of Priority National Intelligence Objectives should be worthy of special attention and effort, but obviously some will be of greater urgency or importance than others. The present statement is divided into four broad categories of priority distinguished, in the text, in terms of both their criticality and the appropriate level of intelligence effort above that which Is normal for general coverage. The following criteria will serve as guidance for determining the relative importance of Priority National Intelligence Objectives:

I. First Category: those which will permit the US (a) to anticipate and counter those policies or actions of foreign states which would occasion gravest consequences to the US; or (b) to stimulate policies or actions of foreign states (or actions within them) which could occasion greatest benefit to the US.

Second Category: those which will permit the US (a) to anticipate and counter those policies or actions of foreign states which would have very grave consequences for the US; or (b) topolicies or actions of foreign states (or actions within them) which could occasion very great benefit to the US.

Third Category: those which will permit the US (a) to anticipate and counter those policies or actions of foreign states which would have serious consequences for the US; or <b) to stimulate policies or actions of foreign states (or actions within them) which could occasion great benefit to the US.

Fourth Category: those which will permit the US (a) to anticipate and counter those policies or actions of foreign states which would have harmful consequences for the US; or (b) to stimulate policies or actions of foreign states (or actions within them) which could occasion substantial benefits to the US.

Original document.

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