SG1I Approved For Release 2000/0804:R f& Rpp96-00789R002200440001-9 (S/NF) AS OTS was then sponsoring psychic research, although they were "not in the research business," they asked that something of genuine operational significance be done. To meet this challenge, Pat Price, a person with purported psychic abilities, was tasked to locate code rooms in two foreign embassies. He located both correctly. He also provided a lot of additional information, much of which was vague or incorrect. The operations officer stated, "It is my considered opinion that this technique--whatever it is--offers definite operational possibilities." However, the ORD project officers concluded that the research was not productive or even competent and that research support to SRI should be dropped. In OTS, the feeling was that their charter would not allow them to fund basic research. Therefore, all agency funding in paranormal research was stopped. As the operational utility was still conceivable, it was decided that Price would work for CIA under a personal service contract. (S/NF) Price was then given a set of geographic coordinates in Libya. He described a guerrilla training site and an underwater sabotage training facility several hundred kilometers away on the sea coast. The new information produced by Price was later verified by reconnaissance and the undersea facility was similar to the description given by a collateral agent. The Libyan desk officer quickly asked for more data and these requests were given to Price. Two days later, however, Price died of a heart attack and the CIA-sponsored intelligence collection tests were ended. (S/NF) At this point the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) became interested in the field. The DIA interest resulted from an intelligence production request. This request resulted in the publication of a 1972 study entitled, "Controlled Offensive Behavior--USSR." A great deal of interest was shown in this study, particularly the sections on parapsychology. Several members of DIA met with CIA action officers to review the results of CIA parapsychology experiments. The DIA did not, however, fund any research until 1978. Between the point in 1975 when the CIA left the field and DIA’s entry in 1978, various research projects at SRI were sponsored by the Army, Navy and Air Force. Each of these will be discussed later. (S/NF) In his 1977 summary article on the CIA’s involvement with parapsychology ("Parapsychology in Intelligence: A Personal Review and Conclusions,") J makes a number of interesting points that should be examined in light of current information. He says, "It is my opinion that, as it relates to intelligence, sufficient understanding and 4 SECRET Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R002200440001-9
SG1I Approved For Release 2000/0§/B RIB-RDP96-00789R002200440001-9 (S/NF) SG1I assessment of parapsychology has not been achieved." He then alludes to observations and experiments that defy explanation by other means. P| believes that the principal problem is that the research has been funded by military and intelligence organizations. These agencies all wanted quick and relevant results with no attention to fundamental mechanisms or experimental variables. He further concludes, "Unless there is a major breakthrough in understanding, the situation is not likely to change." Unfortunately, GE « enarks went unheeded for nearly ten years. During that time, the sponsoring agencies insisted on applications research, while the elements needed for a fundamental understanding of the phenomena were given scant attention. Recognizing the points made by ens SG1l noting the participation of various DoD elements in funding parapsychology experiments, the DIA initiated a joint service research program in 1980. The goals of this program were to continue the applications-oriented work, but also to fund basic scientific experiments. It was also hoped that a joint contract would result in better utilization of funds. This program, called "Grill Flame," was moderately successful as will be discussed in detail in a later section. It was not until 1985, however, that an R&D organization financed a program to look for fundamental mechanisms, and basic science investigation began. (This, too, is covered in a later section.) (S/NF) In summary, the CIA spent $195,000 from 1971 to 1975 on parapsychology research. Various experiments were conducted and the experimental data gathered were very frustrating. A large portion was completely wrong, another portion was questionable, but there were almost always a few gems (e.g., the Price crane) that defied explanation and whetted the appetite for more. Other problems experienced by CIA projects were inconsistency and lack of reproducibility of experimental results. There were also problems with experimental design. Such problems will accompany this kind of research for many years, until we understand their causes and how to prevent them. Lack of adequate funding is also a persistent problem. Ultimately though, it appears that the CIA abandoned the research field, more because of internal political problems, than any scientific consideration. (S/NF) The CIA-funded research, did establish that remote viewing of geographical and technical features is possible, “i.e.,results cannot be assigned to any other known cause," and that descriptive aspects are better described than analytical concepts. Most important, the projects 5 SECRET Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R002200440001-9
Approved For Release 2000/08 BE fe EFROP96-00789R002200440001-9 (S/NF) showed that obtaining operationally useful data is possible. This was, to DoD funding agencies, the most critical finding as the operational potential was the element that made funds available. Additionally, the CIA work showed that a target can be accessed by geographical coordinates as well as by means of a person at the target site. While few data were acquired, it was postulated that standard medical/psychological screening is of little use. 6 SECRET Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R002200440001-9