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I".  ANNEX 
CRITERIA  FOR  DETERMINING     . 
PRIORITY  NATIONA.L  INTELLIGENCE  OBJECTIVES  * 
1.  Priority  National  Intelligence  Objectives  should  be  directly  related 
to  the  intelligence  required  in  the  formulation  and  execution  of  national, 
security  policy.  They  should  flow  directly  from  the  intelligence  mission 
as  set  forth  by  the  NSC  and  are  therefore  merely  more  detailed  specifica- 
tions of  the  intelligence  required  to  fulfill  that  mission.  They  should 
provide  the  basis  for  determining  appropriate  research,  and  collection 
requirements. 
2.  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. 
3.  In  order  to  afford  a  stable  basis  for  intelligence  planning,  a  state- 
ment of  Priority  National  Intelligence  Objectives  should  be  designed  to- 
remaia  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. 
4.  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  allocat- 
ion of  collection  and  research  resources,  but  not  so  specific  as  to  consti- 
tute in  themselves  research  and  collection  requirements. 
5.  Although  all  items  in  a  statement  of  Priority  National  Intelligence 
Objectives  should  be  worthy  of  special  attention,  it  Is  obvious  that  some- 
will  be  of  greater  urgency  or  importance  than  others.  Any  listing  of 
such  objectives  must  be  based  on  an  analysis  of  the  world  situation  and. 
US  security  interests  and  should  be  reviewed  annually. 
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  antici- 
pate and  counter  those  policies  or  actions  of  foreign,  stater, 
which  would  occasion  gravest  consequences  to  the  .US;  and  (b) 
to  stimulate  policies  or  actions  of  foreign  states  (or  actions 
within  them)  which  could  occasion  greatest  benefit  to  the  US. 
IL.  Second  Category:  those  which  will  permit  the  US  (a)  to  antici- 
pate and  counter  those  policies  or  actions  of  foreign  states 
which  would  have  serious  consequences  for  the  US;  and  (b) 
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to  stimulate  policies  or  actions  of  foreign  states  (or  actions  ^~ 
within  them)  which  could  occasion  great  benefit  to  the  US. 
*  —  • 
m.  Third  Category:  those  which  will  permit  the  US  (a)  to  antici- 
pate and  counter  those  policies  or  actions  of  foreign  states 
•which  would  have  harmful  consequences  to  the  US;  and  (b) 
to  stimulate  policies  or  actions  of  foreign  states  (or  actions 
•    within  them)  which  could  occasion  substantial  benefits  to  the  .  . 
US. 
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