IAGPA-OPOA
GONDOLA WISH
(U)
/ A/&</
THRU:
Chief, OPSEC
Spt DIV
PROM:
Cl Studies
Sec
902d MI Group
OPSEC Spt DIV
TO:
Commander
9Q2d MI Group
1.
(S)
PROBLEM .
To integrate
the Soviet and East European para-
psychology intelligence collection threat into
the all-source OPSEC
support scenario.
2.
(£>£)
ASSUMPTIONS .
(U)
a.
(S)
The Soviets have
a parapsychology research program whose
existence
is
classified and whose funding and control reside largely
with
the Ministry
of Defense and possibly with
the KGB.
This program
has been active since
the early 1960s,
is
staffed by competent
scientists and technicians,
and includes about 10 research units
that
range in size from a single laboratory
to large institutes employing
several hundred people.
Soviet researchers have gained experience
with
a greater variety of research methods
than have their US
counter-
parts
and have completed more of
the critical experiments needed
to
evaluate adequately
the applications
of paranormal abilities.
b.
(S)
The Soviets will continue
their attempts
to develop
the
paranormal abilities
of individuals
to
the point
that these abilities
can be used successfully
in applied
tasks.
c.
(S)
Based
on
the areas
apparently chosen by
the Soviets for
applications development and on the results
of US research,
the major
impact
of Soviet applied parapsychology research
is
in
the area of
intelligence collection.
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d.
(0S)
The CIA has successfully used parapsychological
techniques
for offensive intelligence collection,
US research has demonstrated
the ability
to use paranormal sensory mechanisms
f 0<F intelligence
collection numerous
times,
e.
(S) Based
on US "state-of-the-art"
,
the advanced state of
Soviet parapsychology research,
and KGB sponsorship
of
this
effort,
the Soviets are believed
to have
the ability to conduct intelligence
missions using parapsychology.
It
is reasonable
to assume that
the
Soviets have exercised
their ability.
3.
(S)
FACTS BEARING ON THE PROBLEM .
(U)
a.
(S)
Although
the offensive side of the intelligence community
has become involved in parapsychology, no agency has yet attempted
to assess
the security impact
of
the Soviet threat.
b.
(C)
Based on discussions with DIA,
the Soviet and East European
parapsychology intelligence collection threat would most likely be
directed against R&D
of advanced weapons systems and/or upper echelon
military organizations.
c.
(C)
The 902d MI Group
is
the only intelligence organization
with
the ability and
the mission capable
of providing meaningful
security support
to counter
the Soviet parapsychology threat.
d.
(S)
Initially MI personnel will require specialized
training
to be conducted by
a civilian institute
at minimal
cost.
As
a result
of
this
training these personnel will be able
to demonstrate
the
threat,
assess vulnerabilities,
and make recommendations
concerning
paranormal Intelligence collection methods.
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e.
(S)
The program, to be truly effective, would eventually require
a field operations
team,
trained
in
the use of parapsychology,
in
e
support of specific OPSEC missions,
4.
(iS)
DISCUSSION ,
(U)
a.
(S)
Definition:
GONDOLA WISH
is
a program designed
to
integrate
the Soviet
and East European parapsychology intelligence collection
threat
into
the all-source OPSEC support scenario.
This
is
to be
accomplished by training HI personnel
to be able
to collect sensitive
intelligence data through parapsychological means
(such
training has
been scientifically demonstrated
to be possible and
is
available)
and
then
to utili 2:e these trained personnel
to perform the OPSEC cycle
(i.e.
demonstrate the
threat,
identify EEFX exploitable by parapsychological
means,
determine vulnerabilities
,
and recommend countermeasures)
in
support
of selected
ins tallations /projects
In House Comment:
This program concept has been
discussed with
and
the Foreign Technology
Division
(FTD)
, USAF ,
They
t agree with
the con-
cept,
feel that
the 902d has
the best charter
to
pursue
it,
and encourage continued emphasis
of
the
program because
of
its vital importance
to national
security*
b,
(S)
Classification:
The
term GONDOLA WISH
is
a nickname and
is
unclassified.
When GONDOLA WISH
is used
in conjunction with the
description of
the project
it becomes
SECRET.
The project GONDOLA
WISH
is
classified SECRET UP- of paragraph 2-303a
) DoD 5200. 1-R.
In
addition
to
its
classification,
information relating
to
the project
must be maintained on
a strict
neec/ to know basis
and kept
11 close
hold’
for
the following reasons:
First,
over
the years
the study
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of parapsychology has been plagued by religious
and occult over-
tones
•
Because of this, many have been unable/unwilling
to accept
the realities
of parapsychological phenomena.
Regardless
of scientific
evidence developed by highly respected institutions, many feel
that
to recognize the existence of extrasensory perception
(ESP)
,
out^
of—body experiences
(OOBE)
,
or psychokienesis
(PK)
, undermines
the
very foundation of their belief system.
These individuals may be
compelled by there religious/moral aspirations
to reveal classified
information with
the belief
that
they are doing it "for
the good
of
the country".
Still another source
or resistance
to accepting
the
principles
of parapsychological phenomena is social or peer pressure.
Many feel that
if
they express
their interest
in such
a "weird"
subject
that they will be segregated from their peers, fired from
their jobs,
rejected by their families,
or labled
as
"some kind of
a nut".
On
the other end of the spectrum are
those individuals whose
belief struct^* is based on religious
or occult concepts which foster
parapsychology.
These individuals
tend
to lose their perspective
in dealing in this area and therefore would be dysfunctional
to
the
program.
Additionally,
these individuals may release project infor-
mation
to foster
their own personal philos oplfcLes which
they hold
to
be more important
than
the classification criteria,
c.
(
S) Background
(U)
(1)
(S)
DoD Involvement
(u)
(a)
DIA is presently monitoring all DoD activities
in
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time.
There are
two reasons
for
this.
First,
the source
(gifted
individual)
they were using, Patrick H.
Price,
died.
Second,
the
department
that was
in charge of
this program was
the same one
that
assassination plots.
That department was disbanded,
the personnel reassigned,
and much documentation was
destroyed.
DIA
postulates
that CIA will be conducting an "official*
1 collection
program in
the future when
the political climate
is better.
Additionally,
other DoD officials
consider
it possible
that individuals within the
CIA are persuing parapsychological collection techniques
on an
"unofficial” basis.
d.
(US)
US Research
(U)
a)
(is)
Stanford Research Institute
(SRI), Menlo Park,
CA,
is
under contract from FTD
to
conduct experimental research
to verify
the
information which FTD collects
in their attempt
to assess Warsaw Pact
country activities
in parapsychology.
SRI
conducts parallel experiments
to
those known
to be done
in Warsaw Pact
countries
and
thereby attempts
to determine their "state
of
the art".
SRI has published
a great
deal of unclassified information concerning parapsychology.
A SECRET
report which addresses
their contract with FTD was published
in July
1977,
(2)
(U)
Numerous academic and research organizations have
investigated parapsychology.
Some of
this work is
credible while other
work
is not because of
its lack of scientific principles.
At any rate,
there
is a great deal of unclassified "open source" literature on the
subject
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e.
(S)
Training
(U)
(1)
(S)
Both US and Soviet research have shown
that individual
e
paranormal ability
is
intrinsic and
that
this ability can be imhanced
through training and practice.
Such
training can include reinforce-
ment
techniques, meditative practice,
self-hypnosis , biofeedback,
and
in the USSR,
drug induced altered states
of consciousness.
(2)
(U)
The Monroe Institute of Applied Sciences
(MIAS)
,
Afton,
VA,
provides relaxation training
to industrial executives using advanced
biofeedback techniques.
MIAS
also provides
a multidiciplined program
designed
to enhance paranormal abilities
for interested individuals.
Results
of
this program are documented and appear
to be meaningful.,
(3)
(S) MIAS has been contacted and
is willing
to
conduct
training of MI personnel on a confidential basis.
MIAS
is
concerned
about
the Soviet threat and has been briefed on OPSEC concepts.
At
the present
time we are working with MIAS
to determine selection
criteria for
trainees.
f
.
(U)
Documentation:
The project officer for GONDOLA WISH has on
hand documents relating
to parapsychology from the following agencies
,
as well
as numerous "open source" publications:
The
CIA,
DIA, MIIA,
INSCOM,
ETD
(USAE)
, NIS
(USN)
,
and civilian contractors.
5.
(S)
CONCLUSIONS
.
(U)
a.
(S)
The Soviets have
the ability
to
collect intelligence using
paranormal means
and are believed
to be doing
so.
b.
(S)
The US Army
is
subject
to exploitation by
the Soviet para-
psychology threat.
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c.
(C) Action must be taken
to counter this
threat
if
the US
Army
is
going
to
remain effective
in the accomplishment
of
its mission,
d.
(S)
The OPSEC mission of the 902d MI Group
is best suited
to provide
the US Army with security support designed
to counter
this
new Soviet
threat.
6.
(U) ACTION RECOMMEMDED
.
a.
Recommend
that project GONDOLA WISH be continued.
b
.
Recommend that minimal
funds be made available for
training
MI personnel.
c.
Recommend that
the attached MBO plan for GONDOLA WISH be
adopted
1 Incl
as
sj
/U-ilcu'l /f
-
:asf
•fRODERICK H. ATWATER
2LT, MI
Cl Studies Section
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