CENTER LANE DISCUSSION WITH INSCOM COMMAND GROUP - 20-21 NOV 84

CIA-STARGATE

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The document is a memorandum summarizing discussions about the CENTER LANE (CL) program between the INSCOM Command Group and the author. The main points discussed are as follows:

1. The CL transfer to DIA (Defense Intelligence Agency) would not occur before December 31, 1984, and DIA planned to request a detailing of INSCOM personnel instead of a Permanent Change of Station (PCS).

2. The transfer to DIA was delayed because DIA needed to notify Congress and there was not enough time to complete the necessary paperwork by December 31, 1984.

3. The author discussed the option of detailing CL assets to DIA, although it may not meet the INSCOM Command Group's objective of removing INSCOM from the CL business. The author also mentioned potential risks associated with the transfer, including the presence of a Great Skill (GS) asset and the association with ASD (the specific association is not clarified).

4. The author met with MG Soyster to brief him on the CL transfer developments. DIA planned to pursue a detailing action rather than a PCS, and the process would require notifying Congress. The author explained the rationale for the Congressional notification and recommended the detailing option to protect personnel and resume the CL collection effort in a timely manner.

5. If MG Soyster approved the detailing proposal, the author would rewrite the MOA (Memorandum of Agreement) to protect INSCOM's interests and recommended placing CL in V0 (specific location or division is not defined).

Overall, the discussions centered around the CL transfer to DIA, the potential risks and benefits associated with detailing, and the need to notify Congress. The memorandum indicates that the INSCOM Command Group and MG Soyster were involved in the decision-making process.

Text

Body:  Approved For Release 2O01 /    FQ     T00788R001500090028-8
 IAGPA-F-SD                                                        27 Nov 84
 MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD
 SUBJECT:   CENTER LANE Discussion with INSCOM Command Group -
 20-21 Nov 84   (U)
 1.   (S/CL-2/NOFORN)   On  19  November  1984,  I  requested  an
 appointment with the Chief of Staff to discuss CENTER LANE (CL)
 developments  after  a series  of meetings  at  DIA earlier   that
 day.   My primary   objective was  to notify  the  INSCOM Command
 Group that the CL transfer to DIA most likely would not occur
 before  31 December  1984,  and that  DIA planned  to  request a
 detailing of INSCOM personnel rather than a PCS.
 2.   (S/CL-2/NOFORN)   On 20 November 1984,  from 1100-1140 hours,
 I met with COL Kirk and LTC Johnson to inform them of recent CL
 developments and covered the following topics.                         SG1J
 a.   (S/CL-2/NOFORN)   A summary of my meetings at DIA on 19
 November 1984, and the fact that DIA had a copy of the ACSI  4
 October 1984 letter to the CG,  INSCOM that authorized detailing
 if desired.   Either LTG Williams or                 would call the
 CG with that request.   A copy of the outcome those meetings is
 attached as Incl 1.
 b.   (S/CL02/NOFORN)   The CL transfer to DIA would not take
 place by 31 December 1984 as planned because of a need for DIA
 to notify Congress of the action.   There simply was not enough
 time to accomplish the letter writing campaign.   Additionally,  I
 provided an explanation as  to why  the  transfer would not be
 accomplished on time.
 WARNING NOTICE: CENTER LANE SPECIAL ACCESS PROGRAM
 RESTRICT DISSEMINATION TO SE WITH VERIFIED ACCESS
 TO CATEGORY TWO   (2)
 SENSITIVE INTELLIGENCE SOURCES AND METHODS INVOLVED
 NOT RELEASABLE TO FOREIGN NATIONALS
 CLASSIFIED BY:   CDR  INSCOM
 DECLASSIFY ON:   OAD?
 COPY I   OF[  COPIES
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 c.   (S/CL-2/NOFORN)   Detailing  of  CL  assets    to  DIA would
 work, although it would not meet the CG's objectives of "getting
 INSCOM  out  the  the  business."   I stated  that  I  did  not
 understand the CG's concerns about "something" going wrong," but
 I tried to convey the thought that risk was minimal.      During the
 discussion on risk, I added that there would always be some risk
 because  of  the  Great  Skill  (GS) asset  and  a  continued
 association with ASD because of the DASR.   An additional  risk
 would  be  incurred  because  INSCOM would  continue  to  be  a CL
 follow on "customer" and an association between an intelligence
 agency. and a psychoenergetic   collection activity would     carry
 some risk.
 COL Kirk accepted the problem,  understood its  complexity, and
 determined  it  was  time  for  me to  brief  MG Soyster  on  the
 developments.   An appointment was made  for  211030 Nov 84.    but
 was COL Kirk's position that he would approve the detailing,
 he was not sure of the CG's position. He stated he would alert
 the CG as to the purpose of the meeting.
 3.   (S/CL-2/NOFORN)  On 21 November 1984 from 1050-1135 hours,   I
 met  with  MG  Soyster  to  brief him  on recent  CL  transfer
 developments. The basis of the discussion was the talking paper
 at Incl 2.   I covered the following points.
 a.       (S/CL-2/NOFORN)   DIA management had a copy of the ACSI 4
 Oct  84 MOA approval   letter,  and  they planned  to move for  a
 detailing action rather than a PCS.   LTG Williams or
 would  telephonically contact MG  Soyster  in  the  near future to
 discuss the issue.
 b.    (S/CL-2/NOFORN)   DIA  saw  a  requirement to  notify
 Congress of the CL detailing/transfer.    The notification process
 and return reply from Congress would not  be  completed by  31
 December 1984, and the transfer/detailing could not  take place
 until the notification process had been completed.   That could
 delay the transfer until April 1985.        I provided the rationale
 for the Congressional notification which MG Soyster acknowledged.
 c.   (S/CL-2/NOFORN)   The pros  and cons  of  detailing/PCSing
 were presented. I  recommended the detailing option because       it
 protected the personnel better, and permitted the resumption of
 the CL collection effort on a timely basis.   In support of my
 recommendation,  I   downplayed the number of   INSCOM spaces   that
 would have to be "gapped".  CL has seven military spaces, one of
 which is a GS officer.   One officer is scheduled to PCS in June
 85,  so therefore there are only five spaces to be "gapped".       I
 cleared tip the misconception that INSCOM would have to provide a
 replacement  for the  June  1985  loss.   I  stated  that  detailing
 would  mean  indirect INSCOM  involvement    with  psychoenergetics
 until December 1985.
 SG1J
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 d.   (S/CL-2/NOFORN)   If  MG Soyster  accepted  the  detailing
 proposal, I would rewrite the MOA to protect  INSCOM's  interests
 so that full responsibility for CL operations would rest with
 DIA.   I    further recommended that if he approves detailing that
 he consider reaching an agreement to place CL in V0.
 MG Soyster did not rule out detailing and said that          if he did
 not receive  a  call  from DIA soon,  he would call
 for an update.    He reiterated his position of support for the CL
 technique.   However,   he  did not   desire  to  "keep  footing the
 bill." MG Soyster directed the preparation of a          letter that
 would notify ACSI of the delay.
 2 Incl                                BRIAN BUZBY
 LTC, MI
 as
 CENTER LANE Project Manager
 SG1J
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