GRILL FLAME UPDATE (U)

CIA-STARGATE

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This CIA document, dated February 19, 1981, provides an update on the GRILL FLAME program, which involves military research and application of psychic phenomena. The document states that Army response to a CBS News inquiry on psychic phenomena should be "DA neither confirms nor denies the report." The joint contract between the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) and the Stanford Research Institute (SRI) in the GRILL FLAME program is still in limbo due to disagreement between the Army and the Department of Defense (DOD) General Counsels on whether it should be coordinated as a "human use" issue. Efforts are being made to resolve this impasse. The document also includes the views of MG Thompson on the "human use" issue and the joint contract. The undersigned assumes staff action officer responsibility for GRILL FLAME from MAJ John Hay.

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Body:  Approved For Release 2003/09/16 : CIA-RDP96-00788RO01100440049-0
 SECRET
 SUBJECT: GRILL FLAME Update (U)
 19 February 1981
 1.   (U)   Following is an update of GRILL FLAME activities:
 a.   (S)  On 18 Feb 81, Bob Schieffer of CBS News asked the DA PAO
 for information relating to Army activities in the fields of military
 research and application of psychic phenomena.   The Army response will
 be included in a spot feature to be aired on CBS Evening News. LTC
 Caggiano of DA PAO was advised by the undersigned that his response
 S G F OIA3         should be: "DA neither confirms nor denies the report."
 c.   (S)   The DIA/DA joint GRILL FLAME contract with the Stanford
 Research Institute (SRI) is still in limbo.  The reason for the limbo
 status is the inability of the DA General Counsel and the DOD General
 Counsel to agree whether or not the proposed contract should be coor-
 dinated as a "human use" issue (see Incl 1 for DA OGC memo to OSD GC
 concerning this subject).   The Army coordinated its participation in
 GRILL FLAME as a "human use" issue in December 1980.   The OSD GC does
 not believe the proposed contract between DIA/DA and SRI involves
 "human use". Representatives from the DA 0GC and the OSD CC will meet
 on 20 Feb 81 to attempt to resolve this impasse.
 d.   (S)  Mr. Tim Hatch, GRILL FLAME POC in the DA OGC, requested
 an update of MG Thompson's views regarding the "human use" issue and the
 proposed joint contract.   On 18 Feb 81, MG Thompson stated the following:
 SECRET
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 Approved For Release 2003/09/16 : CIA-RDP96-00788RO01100440049-0
 SECRET
 (1)   (S)  The DECISION MEMORANDUM regarding GRILL FLAME, initialed
 by the Under Secretary of the Army, dated 24 Dec 80, fully coordinates
 Army participation in GRILL FLAME UP Section 3, Procedure 18, DOD 5240.
 1-R ("human use").
 (2)   (S)  With the "human use" issue resolved within Army, he
 has no objection to the DOD GRILL FLAME contract being coordinated as
 a "non-human use" issue.
 (3)   (C)  He desires to have Army participate with DIA in a GRILL
 FLAME contract with SRI.
 2.   (U)   Effective this date, the undersigned assumes DA staff action
 officer responsibility for GRILL FLAME from MAJ John Hay.
 1 Incl                                     NNIS M. O'KEEFE
 as                                       Major, GS
 Action Officer, DAMI-ISH
 SECRET
 2
 Approved For Release 2003/09/16 : CIA-RDP96-00788RO01100440049-0