CIA RDP96 00791R000100030062 7
This three-page unclassified memorandum, dated 12 June 1995, was written by the CIA's Office of Research and Development (ORD) for CIA Public Affairs. It announces a 14 June 1995 meeting with the American Institutes for Research (AIR) to begin CIA's panel review of past CIA and DIA programs that investigated remote viewing for intelligence collection, undertaken in response to a Congressionally Directed Action. Anticipating media questions—particularly from an ongoing ABC News inquiry—the memo supplies prepared Q&A responses. It states that CIA is not currently developing or using parapsychology; that CIA funded research at Stanford Research Institute (SRI) from about 1972 to about 1977, discontinued roughly 18 years earlier; and that DIA involvement occurred primarily during the last ten years. It references the National Research Council's 1988 review of a US Army training program, which recommended discontinuation. The memo characterizes the programs as modest, speculative, involving few personnel and dollars, and never used to influence major intelligence assessments. Results of the review were expected to be made public before the end of the calendar year. An attached fax cover sheet routes the memo from CIA/ORD/EPG (846 Ames Building) to DIA as a courtesy notification.
Description
An unclassified internal CIA memorandum from the Office of Research and Development (ORD) to CIA Public Affairs, dated 12 June 1995, providing preliminary talking points ahead of a panel review of past CIA and DIA remote viewing programs by the American Institutes for Research (AIR), prompted by an ongoing ABC News media inquiry and a Congressionally Directed Action.
Claims
CIA funded remote viewing research and development at Stanford Research Institute from about 1972 to about 1977.
85%CIA is not currently developing or using parapsychology and is conducting a panel review of past programs in response to a Congressionally Directed Action.
85%DIA involvement in remote viewing programs occurred primarily during the last ten years (relative to 1995).
80%The CIA program was never a major effort and its results were not used to influence any major intelligence assessments.
70%The National Research Council reviewed a US Army training program in 1988 and recommended it be discontinued.
85%Results of the panel review would be made public before the end of the 1995 calendar year.
75%
Events
Jun 11, 1995
Memo issued to CIA Public Affairs
ORD provides preliminary media responses regarding the remote viewing declassification review.
Jun 13, 1995
Meeting with AIR to begin panel review
CIA begins its panel review of past CIA and DIA remote viewing programs with the American Institutes for Research.
Dec 31, 1987
NRC review of US Army program
National Research Council reviewed a US Army training program and recommended it be discontinued.
SRI research funding period
CIA funded remote viewing R&D at Stanford Research Institute from about 1972 to about 1977.
Dates mentioned
Keywords
Entities
Organizations
Phenomena
Topics
Extracted text (OCR)
SG1J SG1I SG1l SG1I Unclassified 12 June 95 MEMO FOR: CIA Public Affairs FROM: ORD SUBJECT: CIA Remote Viewing Declassification As you know from our conversation yesterday, I will be meeting Wednesday (14 June) with the American Institutes for Research (AIR) to begin CIA’s panel review of past CIA and DIA programs where remote viewing was investigated for intelligence collection. This is not a public meeting and AIR is not planning to meet with the media during the review. Since there is an ongoing media inquiry by ABC News, however, it is possible that ABC will learn of AIR’s activities in support of CIA and will attempt to contact them or us. For-professional reasons, AIR seems predisposed not to comment until the panel has completed its review. However, anticipating possible questions regarding the review, I have prepared some preliminary responses for you: « Why is CIA studying parapsychology? CIA is not currently developing or using parapsychology. CIA is conducting a panel review of past programs at CIA and DIA in response to a Congressionally Directed Action. * What was the nature of these past programs? These programs involved the investigation of parapsychological phenomena, mainly remote viewing, for intelligence collection. * Did these programs produce positive results? Until the panel review has been completed, we cannot comment on how effective past programs were. Parapsychology has always been an extremely controversial area. The National Research Council previously reviewed a US Army training program in 1988 and recommended that it be discontinued. The NRC did not evaluate past CIA or DIA programs at that time. e When was CIA involved, and with whom? CIA funded research and development activities at Stanford Research Institute (SRI) during about 1972 to about 1977. This activity was discontinued about 18 years ago. Much of the work performed by the investigators at SRI, however, was later published in the open literature. ¢ When was DIA involved? Approved For Release 2003/09/46. a €t4-RDRY96-00791R000100030062-7 Approved For Release 2003/09/16 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000100030062-7 Unclassified Since we have not completed the review, we can’t provide the exact time frame but primarily during the last ten years. e Who is conducting the review? The CIA's Office of Research and Development with the aid of a blue ribbon panel of experts in the behavioral sciences at the American Institutes for Research. * Will the results of the review be made public? At this point, there is no reason why the results cannot be made public, when the review is complete, and when CIA has completed additional declassification of various program documents. * How can we find out more about these programs? The CIA is in the process of reviewing and declassifying it’s previous research and development activities. The results of the panel will be available before the end of the calendar year. * How much was spent on this activity, and how many people were involved? These were modest programs, involving few personnel and dollars. * How were the CIA program results used? The CIA program was never a major effort, nor as far as we know were its results used to influence any major intelligence assessments. CIA discontinued this program activity before it could be institutionalized. At the time it was conducted the program was considered to be speculative. Approved For Release 2003/09/46 a €44-RDRY6-00791R000100030062-7 ¥ Approved For Release 2003/09/16 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000100030062-7 UN CLASSIFIED mage: ~S Sune Gs_ EnterginG FROM: CIA/ORD/EPG - P ROGRAMS 846 AMES BUILDING Gzoue SG1A © conprpentiaL. =O Fouo SG1A SG1J TO: DIA FAX NUMBER] SG1l FROM: _| ORO suayect: Welvce Te CIA Publre Affairs PLEASE NOTIFY THE ABOVE NAMED PERSON OF THIS ARRIVAL AT #:_ PAK Room #: NUMBER OF PAGES: S) (Including Cover Page) REMARKS/COMMENTS SG1J ___] L Knows You bere concerned about notity ia 4 “your own nub a fhoies office, so fC Phevght as a Courtesy Tod Shee you wheaf ure todd Ours. / SG1I Approved For Release 20M 9/16 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000100030062-7 UNCLASSIFIED
Related files
Connected through the network
SF-2026-001040
1994 CIA Memo PAG-TA SAIC request for technical papers on the Parapsychological Association 7-10 August 1994 Amsterdam
SF-2026-000722
An Evaluation of the Remote Viewing Program: Research and Operational Applications (AIR Draft Report)
SF-2026-001028