COMMENTS ON 'REPORT BY: THE GRILLFLAME SCIENTIFIC EVALUATION COMMITTEE'

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This document is a memorandum from Dr. J. Verona, the Chairman of the GRILLFLAME Working Group, providing comments on a report by the GRILLFLAME Scientific Evaluation Committee (SEC). The memorandum states that the SEC report contains factual errors, ambiguities, and is incomplete, which could lead to inaccurate guidance for policy makers and planners. The GRILLFLAME Working Group highlights aspects of the SEC report that they support, including the documentation of unexplained human capabilities and the need for further investigations into their utility. They also recommend the establishment of a central authority to manage and fund exploratory investigations in the intelligence community. However, they strongly disagree with certain viewpoints expressed in the SEC report, particularly the recommendation to terminate certain Army intelligence activities.

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Body:  Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP96-00788R001300060001-2.
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 ,MEMORANDUM FOR                                            o I'
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 FROM   .  Dr. J. Verona, Chairman, .GRILLFLAME Workin ' Grou
 9 p
 SUBJECT:  Comments on "Report By: The GRILLFLAME Scientific Evuation
 Conmittee"                                      al
 ~_AME The GRILL      Working Group (GFWG) has
 conme,~,rts-of note on the substance and tone of the aboveareporthe t  fTheowiny
 t GRtLIf};LAM1= Scientific Evaluation C
 tions contains serious factual errors, an
 tee inordinate,numberPof ambiguities
 is incomplete and narrowly fpcused.  Because of the aforementioned
 difficulties, there is a genuine danger the report will provide r"y guidance to pol icy makers and planners ees onsile
 these types of investigations, arid. applications. (S)        p    Fle for
 2.  Although the cifficulties. in the SEC report have been considered
 in detail by the GFWG and are available upon . request, it was 'felt the
 first priority was to provide clear, co.nsisterrt guidance to those not
 well acquainted with these areas of investigation.  Using the collective
 experience and knowledge of the GFWG, a oons"t--
 most important conclusions and recommendations     develo"pednandf ist1e '
 4K-
 c0m offered.  We first emphasize those aspects of the SEC's report
 which we strongly support.  We support: (S)
 ONCLUSIONS,
 Unexplained  obtiervafions of human. capabilities to cletri
 i                                             et?ate data;
 of potental utility to intelligence have been documented
 .
 ?  Scientific acceptance of the~~unexpl`alned data generation capa-.
 bilitles or other claimed  PSI . ei;fects have not occurred
 because of inadequate investigations, and their possible non-
 existence.
 _
 NOTE:  The GFWG adds the: possibility that the unexplained capabilities
 are intrinsically non-scientific,'i.e., they could beilit~es
 inherently statistical;         i}, have intrinsic observer
 effects, etc.
 :.rassltled by
 h.xCra~ffy oft~~_ ..
 Approved. For Release 2000/08/07 CIA-RDP96-00788R001300060001-2
 Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP96-00788R001300060001-2
 Ornnrlr
 RECOMMENDATIONS
 Exploratory testing of the intelligence-related utility of-tf     -
 unexplained capabilities is justified and should be s~xparn;ed
 beyond current programs.
 9  Because of our elementary state of knowledge, it is not pb"ssibie--
 tn _predir.t the likelihood of success of investigating the
 e*i stence, -characteristics or util it.v of these cuji tfiil itf es.
 However, simple prudence dictates some such inacestigatMQns:..are
 needed,"perhaps, in proportion'to the apparent utility of the
 utexpl a.i ned capabilities,  Obv#yie order and priority of
 these investigations is utility determination, then, if possible,
 existence proofs, and finally fharacterization studies.
 c. Eff c.lericy' demands a central authority to manage and
 find tk.   o.;p'lot'eitory investigations for the Irth1ligr.?;ilc_L?
 C0iitmuraity and perhaps the entire Government.
 o  Foreign intelligence analysis on" claims of unexplained human
 capabilities should continue.
 The GFWG strongly disagrees with certain viewpoints expressed in
 the SEC's report. Thee area
 ?  The recori nendati on,,to' tcrmi note ithe Army's Missile Intelligence
 C -it;mLand's F'K and Mut:ot'?ik1 Systems Analysis ActJvi.t'ie's RV itiv~sa.~
 tt(!atiUri s G4 ]'l   ('d on a mis inte preta  ion of _            _                              r           caul`' `'r
 t*c ~d~i/
 0  Since:   the  most??-succes r'ful current,  exploitation   1ilVNN,?(.lq;.+i i