IN ANNEZ f. TO DCD i/3 Wew Series} CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING | 0000. see PRIORITY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE OBJECTIVES : (Bfective 21 April 1958) . tee : neott 1. Priority National Intellizence Objectives should be directly related to the intelligence required in the jormulation and execution of national security policy. They should flow directly from the ictelligence mission © as set forth by the NSC and ore therefore merely more detailed specin- cations ef the intelligence required fo fulfll that mission. They should . provide the basis for determining appropriate research, and collection, requirements. ; . te 2. Most of the intelligence required in the formulation and execution. - aa of national security policy will be the product of normal intelligence col- lection and research. Priority National Intelligence Objectives should be limited to those critical factors which require special atiention and effort. . 3. In order to afford a stable basis for intelligence planning, a state- ment of Priority National Intelligence Objectives should be desigmed ia‘ remain valid over an extended period. It shouid therefore exclude topics of urgent, but transitory, interest, which will require and receive ad hoc treatment i in any c2se. 4, Broad generalities are of little practical use as priority guidance to collection and research. Priority National Intelligence Objectives shovld therefore be specific enough to provide guidance for planning the alloca- tion of collection and research resources, Dut not so specific as. to con- stitute in themselves research and collection requirements. 5. Although all iterns in a staternent 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 folowlng a criteria will serve as guidance for determining the relative importance te ; of Priority National Intelligence Objectives. oe I. First Priority Intelligence Objectives are those which wilt per-~ ee mit the US: (a) to anticipate and counter those policies or actions of foreign states which would occasion gravest comse- quences to the US; aad (b) to stimulate policies or actions of . , foreign states (or actions within them) which could occasion Lo et greatest benefit to the US. es Ii. Second Priority Intelligence Objectives are 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; and (b) to stimulate policies or actions of foreiat _ States (or actions within them) which could occasion Brea benefit to the US. :
III. Third Priority Intelligence Objectives ace those which. will per- mit the US: (a) to anticipate and counter those policies or oc- tions of foreign states which would have harmful consequences -to the US; and (b) to stiraulate policies or actions of foreign States (or actions within them) which could occasion substan-~ tial benefits to the US. . . . - < 7 ‘ ‘ Pa _ -- . oe ot ° - ° . . e e ° ° < ale wo e . ad t. v : . oo . . . my >, oe . e C4