—™ ANNEX CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING PRIORITY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE OBJECTIVES 1. Priority National Intelligence Objectives showld be directly related to the intelligence required in the formulation and execution of na- tional security policy. They should flow directly from the intellicence 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 for determining appropriate r research and col- lection requirements. . 2. >fost 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 2ford a stable basis for infelligence planuing, @ state- ment of Priority National Intelligence Objectives should be desio~iad - to remain valid over an extended period. It should fherefcre exclude topics of urgent, Sut transitory, interest, which will reguire and receive ad hoc treatmant in any case. 4. Broad generalities are of little practical use as priority guidance to collection and research. Priority Nationai IntcVigence Objectives - should therefore be specific encugh te provide guidance for planning the allocation of collection and research resources, buf not so specific as to constitute in themselves research and collection requirernenis, 5. In determining Priority National Intelligence Objectives, due con- sideration should be given to beneficial as well as harmful potentialities. 6. Allitems in a statement of Priority National Intelligence Objectiveg should be worthy of special attention and effort, bul cbviously 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 jevel of intelligence effort above that which is normal for generai 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. .
I. 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) to stimu-~ late policies or actions of foreign states (or actions within thern} 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 vould 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 (2) to anticipate and counter those policies or actions of foreign states which would have harmful consequences for the US; or (b) to stimuJate policies or actions of foreign states (or actions within them) which could . occasion substantial benefits to the US. 10 « «