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NRO APPROVED FOR RELEASE . 

DRAFT 11/9/64 

NOW THE UNITED STATES SHOULD. SEEK TO "LEGITIMIZE" 

AND TO DISCLOSE FURTHER ITS SATELLITE RECONNAISSANCE CAPABILITY 

1. i;,,TRO'VCTIO. 

in recent years satellite raeonnaissance has been the major source 

, . 

of U.S. strategic military intehigence of the Soviet Union and Communist 

China. This reconnaissance technique has supplied crucial information 

upon which the U.S. has greatly relied in evaluating these countries' 

military capabilities and in determining its own force structures. It has 

also provided important military intelligence about other countries, such 

as France, Indonesia and the Congo. Satellite reconnaissance intelligence 

has been especially important to the U.S. evaluation of Soviet strategic 

missile and other offensive weapon capabilities and of the Soviet and Chinese 

strategic miOitary research and development programs. 

• Denial of satellite reconnaissance information to the U.S., or a reduction in the program's effectiveness; would have a significant adverse impact 

on U.S9 national security. Because of the greater availability to the Soviets 

of strategic military intelligence about the U.S., the adverse effect of 

denial would almost certainly be greater upon the U.S. than upon the Soviet 

Union, which also conducts an extensive satellite reconnaissance program. 

i. :^• CKC--:01J!,D OF THE PROBLEM OF "LEGiTiMIZATION" AND 'DISCLOSURE: 1

There has been extensive consideration within the Executive Branch of 

t',-;at U.S. policy toward legitimization and disclosure should be. NSAM 156, 

caccd ;;oy 25, 1552, ekpressed first formai concerns about the legitimacy of 

satc-flite reconnaissance (Tab A). Recognizing the,great national security 

•. _•, 

importance of zne U.S. program, it directed an inter-ag'ency committee to 

• 

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