[1]DARAAN
[2]\q04-10332-10021 | 2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992 |
[4]oe Pye a oe a | Like
[6], . . . . SECRET
[8]26 September 1996
[10]MEMORANDUM FOR: Executive Director __
[11], Assassination Records Review Board
[13]FROM: John F. Pereira
[14]” Central Intelligence. Agency
[16]SUBJECT: Reconsideration of Release of
[17]““Warrenton” in the Lopez Report
[19]1. The attached memorandum is provided. in support of
[20]our request that the JFK board reconsider its decision to
[21]release the reference to Warrenton Records Center in the
[22]Lopez Report (p. 44).
[24]2. We request that this memorandum and attachment .
[26]be returned to CIA once the Board has completed its
[27]deliberations on this issue.
[29]Attachment
[31]SECRET
[34]13-00000
[36]wt, ; SECRET
[38]OFSS-96-3975
[39]25 September 1996
[41]MEMORANDUM. FOR: Information Review Officer,
[42]Directorate of Administration
[44]VIA:. Deputy Director for Administration
[45]Director of Facilities and Security Services
[46]Chief, Facilities Management Group, OFSS
[48]FROM: , Chief, Warrenton Training Center, FMG/OFSS
[49]SUBJECT: (S) Warrenton Training Center Cover
[50]Considerations
[51]1. (S) This memorandum is written pursuant to yesterday's
[53]discussion with regard to the release of JFK-related documents
[54]that refer to “Warrenton” and/or derivatives of a Records Center.
[55]It documents executive-level “evidence” as to why “Warrenton”
[56]cover needs to be protected. In brief, significant damage to _
[57]mission, people, and the very existence of the Warrenton Training
[58]Center (WTC) would occur as a result of the second- and third-
[59]order effects of any confirmed affiliation. with the Agency.
[61]2. (S) As background, the Central Intelligence Agency has
[62]gone to great lengths to protect sensitive missions and prevent.
[63]identification of covert personnel as Agency employees. The
[64]latter is especially profound as the very lives of these
[65]employees are'often placed in jeopardy at hostile overseas posts.
[66]The anonymity provided by cover is essential to their protection.
[67]Furthermore, the Warrenton Training Center (WTC) provides the
[68]sanctuary whereby Department of State and Diplomatic
[69]Telecommunications Service Project Office (DTSPO) personnel can
[70]train alongside Agency employees without fear of being “tagged”
[71]as working for the Agency. .
[73]3. (S). The cover mechanism itself is very fragile. Per
[74]mandate of the cover providers, the National Communications
[75]System (NCS), and the Department of the Army, the affiliation of
[76]wrc and the Agency, is classified SECRET vice CONFIDENTIAL. WTC
[78]CL BY: 2004977
[80]CL REASON: | 1.5(c)
[81]DECL ON: X1
[83]DRV FROM: LOC 5-82
[85]13-00000 |
[89]SUBJECT: (S) . Warrenton Training Center Cover Considerations
[91]cover operates solely on the ability to sustain plausible denial.
[92]In. spite of previous rumors of an Agency affiliation, categorical
[93]dénial of such has worked to the point that the media currently
[94]refers to WTC as a.“Top Secret military installation.” In
[95]addition, the public-at-large truly believes that WTC is a
[96]military installation. Given a generally inquisitive media
[98](one radio station, two newspapers -- all with connections to
[99]affiliates in the Washington Metropolitan Area) and recent
[100]publicity over a WTC ground water contamination issue, the re-
[101]lease of references to “Warrenton” in the JFK-related documents
[102]would precipitate an unwelcome focus on WTC. This would lead to
[103]the real possibility that cover would be compromised.
[105]4.  (S) With the closure of Vint Hill, WTC is the sole
[106]remaining federal facility in the Warrenton area. As a result,
[107]the affiliation of Agency records. or “Records Center,” under any
[108]ruse, will provide a direct link to the Warrenton Training
[109]Center. This will pose severe problems for installation
[110]activities. While the Agency Archives and Records Center is
[111]located at Station “A,” the media frequently refers to WTC in its
[112]entirety. Activities at the other three WIC Stations that would
[113]be compromised are as follows:
[115]a. Station B serves as the principal training site for
[116]the Office’ of Communications, DTSPO, and the Department of |
[117]State. However, it also is the site of sensitive activities
[118]engaged in by personnel from the Directorate of. Operations,
[119]the Office of Engineering and Development, the Directorate
[120]of Intelligence, and the Office of Technical Collections.
[122]It is also a training site for.covert employees from all
[123]Directorates, to include foreign language immersion for
[124]officers assigned overseas. In addition, secret Community-
[125]wide conferences are held at this low-profile location.
[126]Within the past year, conferences have ranged from the
[127]Agency’s NOC Conference to the Senate Select Committee on
[128]Intelligence to the strategic planning meeting by Community
[129]Executives, Ambassadors, and members of the White House
[130]Cabinet in preparation for the Bosnian Peace Talks.
[132]b. Station C serves as the Agency's primary
[133]transmission site for world-wide communications.
[135]13-00000
[137]fe yt . ; SECRET
[139]SUBJECT: (S) Warrenton Training Center Cover Considerations
[141]c. Station D serves as the Agency’s primary receiving
[142]site for world-wide communications. It also handles a
[143]significant quantity of message traffic for the White House
[144]and member organizations of the Intelligence Community on a
[145]24-hour basis. This message traffic is vital to national.
[146]security preparedness.
[148]WTC’s cover allows it to maintain a very-.low profile. It is that
[149]low profile which protects the personnel and missions as
[150]described above. Removal of that protective cover, by act or.
[151]deed, would provide easy targets of. opportunity for ;counter-
[152]intelligence activities, terrorist activities, demonstrations,
[153]and emotionally unstable individuals.
[155]5. (S) In summary, any affiliation of WTC and the Agency,
[156]no matter how insignificant the individual occurrence or document
[157]release may seem, has the very real potential to jeopardize
[158]lives, disrupt the Agency mission, disrupt world-wide classified
[159]message traffic, and, thereby, do irreparable harm to the
[160]national security of the United States.
[162]13-00000
[164]' CONFIDENTIAL ©
[166]-CL BY: 705641
[167]CLREASOW: Section 1.50 '
[168]‘DECL on: Xt
[169]Dav erm: COV 1-82
[171]TO:. John F. Pereira
[173]; Brian S. Latell
[174]FROM: Rebecca V. Strode
[176]DATE: 10/20/97 02:21 49 PM
[178]SUBJECT: (Re: Release Issue/JFK Board
[180]Thanks. | passed along to D/EXDIR and EXDIR. The D/EXDIR may want Brian Latell to pravide some more e background on this issue at
[181]the meeting tomorrow. .
[183]Original Text of John F. Pereira
[185]Original Text of John F. Pereira
[187]Following is in response to questions raised by the EXDIR:
[188]1. Members of JFK Board: -
[189]Chairman: Judge John Tunheim (Federal District Court, Minnesota}
[190]Four other members: Henry Graft: History Professor Emeritus, Columbia U.
[191]Kermit Hall: Dean of Humanities, Ohio State
[192]Wiliam Joyce; Assoc. Librarian, Princeton U.
[193]Anna Nelson; History Professor, American U.
[195]2. Intermediate steps before appeal to President:
[197]a) We are discussing our concerns with JFK Board Staff. and will ask the Board to
[198]reconsider its decision, -
[200]Wy We Th propese that a senior Agency officer brief the Board on the a sensitiity of
[201]Warrenton, ;
[203]: 3. Who would make. the appeal to the President ?
[205]Thus far, the process calls for the Agency's General Counsel to forward the appeal
[206]to the White House Counsel, with the approval of the EXDIR and/or DCI.
[208]4, Has there been an appeal to the President before ?
[209]CIA has submitted one appeal, in early 1996. The issues concerned identification of —
[211]certain European stations and liaison relationships. The White House directed the
[212]Board and the Agency to “work it out’, which was done. After the ADDO briefed the
[214]CONFIDENTIAL
[216]13-00000
[218]CONFIDENTIAL
[220]Board, a compromise was reached.
[221]The FBI has submitted three appeals, none of which was successful.
[222]§. Does ISCAP have a role 7
[224]Thus far, ISCAP has had no role with regard to JFK, as far as we are aware.
[226]Ce: . Regina A. Genton, Brian S. Latell, Edmund Cohen @ DA, James R. Oliver @ DA, Linda C. Cipriani, J. Barry Harrelson
[227]Sent on 20 October 1997 at 02:21:49 PM
[229]CONFIDENTIAL
[231]13-00000
[233]SECRET
[235]OIM-97-0010
[236]14 November 1997
[238]MEMORANDUM FOR: (U) Executive Director
[240]Assassination Records Review Board
[242]FROM: (U) Deputy Director for Administration
[243]- Central Intelligence Agency»
[245]SUBJECT: (S) -Required Protection of Warrenton Training
[246]Center (WTC) as CIA Facility
[248]1.- (S) This memorandum is submitted pursuant to the
[249]decision by the Assassination Records Review Board (hereafter
[250]“ARRB” or “Board”) to release the term. “Warrenton Records Center”
[251]in the context of a'CIA facility and the Board’s subsequent .-.
[253]‘decision on 17 November 1997 to reconsider this issue. It
[255]provides additional information as to why Warrenton Training
[256]Center (“WTC”) as a CIA facility must be protected from public
[257]disclosure and hence the cover of this clandestine facility
[260]2. (U) As a preliminary matter, I would respectfully ask
[262]. the Board and staff to note the classified nature of this
[264]document, to limit: access to those individuals properly cleared,
[266]> (8) The documents at issue contain the term “Warrenton. Records Center” :
[268]however the actual name of the CIA facility at Warrenton is the “Warrenton
[269]Training Center.” In point of fact, even CIA personnel tend to use the terms
[270]interchangeably. :
[272]. CL BY: 0700265
[274]. CL REASON: 1.5({c): .-
[275]DECL ON: X1
[277]’ DRV FM: LOC 5-82
[279]SECRET
[281]13-00000
[283]SECRET
[285]SUBJECT: (S) Required Protection of Warrenton Training Center .
[286]as CIA Facility ,
[288]and to return this memorandum for. retention to Agency
[289]representatives at the conclusion of your deliberations.
[291].
[293]3. (8) As we advised previously, identifiable and serious
[294]damage to the mission, the people and the very existence of WTC
[295]could reasonably be expected to occur as a result of any
[296]confirmed affiliation with the Agency. Before examining with
[297]particularity the damage that would flow from disclosure, I
[298]believe that it would be helpful to understand in some detail the >
[299]activities which currently constitute the WTC. mission and what
[300]new, costly and critical activities are being developed for WTC.
[302]4. (S) WTC is much more than a records archive for the CIA
[303]operating under the relatively fragile cover of the National
[304]Communications System (NCS) of the Department of the Army.”
[306]While it does serve this function, and thus houses at the site
[307]known as Station A some of the Agency’s most important and |
[308]sensitive Top Secret Codeword material,* it is currently the very
[309]heart of the CIA’s worldwide communications effort,.a eritical —
[311]7 (8) Pursuant to classification guidelines promulgated by the Director of
[312]Central Intelligence, this fact is currently and properly classified at the
[313]SECRET level. : .
[316]3 (8) Because of the sensitivity of CIA records, the Archivist of the United
[317]States has authorized the CIA to maintain this archive for both permanent and
[318]temporary records pending ultimate transfer to the National Archives no sooner
[319]than 50 years after their origination. This records center currently houses
[320]nearly 130,000 cubic feet of records classified up to.and including Top Secret
[321]codeword and composed of various media ranging from paper to original imagery
[322]from our national aerial and satellite surveillance platforms. In addition,.
[323]the center also houses the CIA's vital records which would provide the only
[324]basis for continuity of operations should disaster befall CIA headquarters.
[325]In addition and because of the security offered, the Center serves a similar
[326]role for the National Security Council and the Office of the Management and
[327]Budget . :
[329]2
[331]SECRET
[333]13-00000
[335]SECRET
[337]SUBJECT: (S) Required Protection of Warrenton Training Center
[338]as CIA Facility
[340]element in our foreign signals intelligence effort, and a
[341]principal location for training and conferencing of officers
[342]engaged in highly clandestine technical intelligence collection
[343]activities. The facilities at WTC in support of these efforts
[344]include:
[346]e Station B serves as the principal communications training
[347]site not only for CIA (and thus for CIA communicators who
[348]are sent worldwide under official or non-official cover)
[349]but also houses the Diplomatic Telecommunications Service
[351](DTS) Program Office which is responsible for various
[352]CIA/Department of State communications. efforts and the
[353]actual Department of State Communications School. This
[354]site also supports extensive and very sensitive (a)
[355]technical procurement, testing and training, (b) human
[356]operational activities, and (c) conferencing; examples in
[357]this regard include: ,
[359]¢ covert employees of the Office of Technical
[360]Collection’ which procures, distributes, tests and
[361]repairs equipment for our signals intelligence
[362]program as well as other technical collection
[363]platforms such as the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
[364]which has played and continues to play a critical
[365]role in the Bosnian theater; Py
[367]‘ (8S) The Office of Technical Collection is a component within the
[368]Directorate of Science and Technology which is responsible for the _
[369]development, deployment and management of the CIA’s Signals Intelligence
[370](SIGINT) and Measurement and Signature Intelligence (MASINT) programs as well
[372]. a8 other technical intelligence collection programs. By way of example, our
[374]SIGINT program includes unilateral activities directed against foreign
[375]communications networks, liaison activities with cooperating foreign
[376]governments, and support activities for the DO’s human intelligence mission.
[380]SECRET
[382]13-00000
[384]SUBJECT :
[386](S)
[388]SECRET
[390]Required Protection of Warrenton Training Center
[391]as CIA Facility
[393]covert employees of the Office of External
[394]Development” and the various area divisions of the
[395]Directorate of Operations (hereafter “DO”) which
[396]are responsible for clandestine human intelligence
[397]operations overseas ;°
[399]senior officials of the Administration,
[400]Ambassadors, and senior executive branch offices
[401]in preparation for diplomatic initiatives, such as
[402]the Bosnian Peace Talks; and
[404]members and staff from the Senate Select Committee
[405]on Intelligence. ,
[407]Station C serves as the CIA’s primary transmit site for
[408]high frequency (HF) covert communications (covcom) and
[409]thus maintains communications with our most sensitive and
[410]secret officers and assets operating overseas largely
[411]with non-official cover; and
[413]Station D serves as the Agency’s primary receive site for
[414]world-wide classified and encrypted communications with
[416]5 (8) ‘The Office of External Development (OED). is one of the most sensitive
[418]components within the Directorate of Operations and is résponsible for the
[419]recruitment and placement of “non-official cover” (NOC) officers overseas who
[421]are responsible for the recruitment and management of foreign nationals who
[422]provide clandestine services for CIA.
[424]‘(8) The various DO area divisions utilize Wrc for immersion language
[425]training, covert communications training, and other seminars and studies where
[426]such training could not be accomplished through the Department of State or
[427]identified CIA facilities because of their pending overseas assignments.
[429]‘Hence, if WTC was associated with CIA, then the presence of a student at WTc
[430]would serve to identify that officer as a soon-to-be-assigned espionage
[431]officer for American intelligence -- an identification inconsistent with their
[432]pending diplomatic or commercial cover and the success of their mission.
[434]SECRET
[436]13-00000
[438]SECRET
[440]SUBJECT: (S) . Required Protection of Warrenton Training Center
[441]' as CIA Facility
[443]our covert foreign stations and bases, and, also
[444]processes a significant volume of highly sensitive
[446]. message traffic for the White House and the Secretary of
[447]State.
[449]5. (S) As detailed on the attached annotated photographs,
[450]WTC and its four constituent stations are a critical support
[451]element for the clandestine intelligence collection mission of
[452]the CIA and the United States. Whether sending a message to a
[453]covert foreign national asset in Havana, or receiving a message
[454]from the CIA Chief of Station in Moscow, or supporting military
[455]and diplomatic representatives in Bosnia, WTC is a key element in
[456]that effort. Moreover, it is extremely vulnerable to physical
[457]attack because of the proximity of uncontrolled public roads and
[458]spaces. Accordingly, and as considered in more detail in
[459]paragraph 6 below, any affiliation of WTC with the CIA, no matter.
[460]how insignificant the individual occurrence or document release
[461]may seem, has the very real potential to jeopardize lives,
[462]negatively affect the Agency mission, and thereby do irreparable
[463]harm to the national security of the United States.
[465]6. (S) But in addition to this established mission and
[466]extant risks, there are new activities at WTC in direct support
[467]of the nation’s leadership which must be considered --
[468]specifically, the establishment of the Director of Central
[469]Intelligence (DCI) Emergency Relocation Site (ERS), and an
[470]alternative ERS site for the Secretary of State. WTC has been
[471]chosen to be the primary DCI ERS given its location,
[473]communications, information services, and life support
[474]capabilities. Needless to say, the fact that WTC is not an
[475]officially recognized CIA facility adds a dimension of secrecy
[476]which will be needed to enable the DCI to continue his work
[478]during any emergency situation. Additionally, active
[479]consideration is being given to. also designating WIC as the
[481]os
[483]SECRET
[485]13-00000
[487]SECRET
[489]. . _
[490]SUBJECT : (S) Required Proteetion of Warrenton Training Center
[491]as CIA Facility
[493]Agency’s primary Emergency Communications Center. Given the
[494]amount of time, money and resources which will be expended to
[495]insure that the facility is maintained in such a way that it will
[496]be prepared for any emergency situation, it would certainly be in
[497]the best interests of the US Government not to permit any
[498]official affiliation, no matter how minor, of WTC and the CIA.
[500]7. (S) The preceding descriptions of ongoing and planned
[501]activities at WTC presents, I believe, an intuitive sense of the
[502]damage to national security which would follow from a linking of |
[503]WTC with CIA. In sum, the conduct of covert . communications and
[505]support activities as well as the presence of officers who will
[507]soon be serving overseas under cover in highly sensitive
[508]positions can not take place at a facility linked to CIA. But
[509]there are some very specific damage issues that I wish to
[510]highlight and they include:
[512]e (S) Serious and Immediate Impairment to Physical and
[513]Personnel Security: Our Department of the Army cover -
[514]allows us to maintain a relatively low profile in the
[515]Warrenton community and a very low profile outside of the
[516]immediate area. .If WTC became recognized as a CIA
[517]facility, the increased visibility and scrutiny would
[518]place employees, facilities, and daily operations at
[519]greater risk. In sum, WTC would become an easy “target
[520]of opportunity” for the media, foreign counter-
[521]intelligence agents, terrorist and. militia activities,
[522]demonstrators, and emotionally unstable “individuals.
[523]Facts, examples, and specific concerns include:
[525]e WTC, like most domestic CIA sites, is a very
[527]lightly guarded facility in terms of personnel:
[528]guards and physical fencing. It survives and
[530]SECRET
[532]13-00000
[534]SECRET
[536]SUBJECT: (S) Required Protection of Warrenton Training Center
[537]as CIA Facility
[539]maintains security through a low profile.” | In the
[540]past in the United States, identification of CIA
[542]. facilities have led to a number of surreptitious
[543]entries, bombings, and physical disruptions.
[544]Simply stated, CIA isa target | for both hostile
[545]individuals and organizations;*
[547]e On the individual level and in the past. three
[548]years, WTC has experienced an increase in security
[549]incidents including a physical breach of Station D’
[550]compound security, two suspect package incidents,
[551]and additional unsolicited contacts and "gate
[554]7 (8) As detailed on the attached annotated photographs, the array of
[555]communications equipment and its proximity to public spaces and roads is
[556]clear. For example, Station C has two gates: the first is only 50 feet from
[557]a public road and the sécond is approximately 600 feet. There are no
[558]electronic intrusion alarms on the fence line and, most often, only one
[560]‘security officer is present at a gate. All facility signs simply state:
[562]“Warrenton Training Center / NCS / U.S: Army./ Admission By Permit Only” ©
[564]®* (8) The current Kasi prosécution provides ample evidence of the risks
[565]posed by the public identification of CIA domestic facilities. Any individual
[566]intent upon seeking retribution for perceived wrongs quite naturally seeks a
[567]target providing the largest possible public notice and while CIA. headquarters
[568]is an excellent target, a covert facility is even a better target, and a
[569]covert facility supporting the foreign espionage activities of the CIA is the
[570]best possible target for a political and public statement.
[572]°. (§) The breach of compound security was by an out-of- -state vehicle which
[573]followed an employee through a remote gate and the driver had no credible...
[574]explanation for their actions; the incident is considered suspicious and
[576]‘unexplained. The suspect package incidents include a box which was placed
[578]{not dropped) next to our facility which we believe was intended to test and
[579]thus observe our response to suspicious packages. Gate turn-arounds number 8-
[580]10 per month and include only those vehicles which ignore clear signs that
[581]they are entering a classified government facility but proceed in any event to
[582]our gate; it is instructive to note’ that, very few of these individuals state
[584]7.
[586]SECRET
[588]13-00000
[590]SUBJECT:
[592](S)
[594]SECRET
[596]Required Protection of Warrenton Training Center
[597]as CIA Facility
[599]Moreover, in the past several years, the federal
[600]government has had a heightened awareness of the
[601]violent domestic organization threat posed by the
[602]self-styled “militias” which have a stated intent
[603]to destroy government communications capabilities
[604]and facilities. We know, from information
[605]provided by federal law enforcement authorities,
[606]that the target list of such organizations
[607]includes federal communications centers and WTC
[608]Stations C and D exactly fit this target profile;
[610]By way of examples in this regard, in June of this
[611]year, the Sheriff of Fauquier County reported to
[612]WTC information regarding, first, a local militia
[613]group, and, second, "unusual" comments from
[614]individuals living near Station C that we were
[615]communicating with UFO'S;,
[617]Any higher profile would realistically and
[618]seriously threaten the physical and personnel
[619]security of WTC. And, as evidenced by the.
[621]‘attached map of wrc, such threats do not need to
[623]penetrate the fence line: Agency: officials are of
[624]the opinion that a bomb commensurate with the one
[625]which exploded at the Oklahoma ‘City federal
[626]building could do substantial damage to the
[627]Agency’s communications equipment and could kill
[628]numerous federal employees at WTC ‘from outside. the.
[629]fence line in circumstances we.do not control . and -
[630]could not prevent.
[632]or imply that they know that wre is a CIA facility and, hence, it would appear
[633]that our cover, in fact, is quite good.
[635]8
[637]SECRET
[639]13-00000
[641]SECRET
[643]SUBJECT: (S) Required Protection of Warrenton Training Center
[644]as CIA Facility
[646]e (S) Likely Future Compromise of Covert Employees in .
[647]Overseas Assignments: As discussed above, numerous CIA
[648]employees involved in communications, technical
[649]intelligence collection, and human intelligence
[650]collection train and operate at WTC for the exact reason
[651]that it provides a secure environment disassociated from
[652]the CIA. We know from ample evidence that foreign
[653]intelligence services have as a primary goal the
[654]identification of US citizens’ who appear to be ordinary
[655]public servants or private business people but are, in
[656]actuality, clandestine intelligence officers. 70 Simply
[657]stated, the identification of this facility with CIA will
[658]label any and every individual associated as a likely.
[659]intelligence officer and thus substantially negate their
[661]“operational ability if not place their lives in jeopardy.
[663]e (8S) Loss of Emergency Relocation Site for DCI:
[664]Emergency: relocation sites (ERSs) -- whether they be for
[666]the President or Cabinet officials -- have value only as
[667]long as their identity is secret. The public disclosure
[668]of the fact that WTC would serve as such an ERS site --
[669]‘which could come from a general compromise of WTC as a
[670]CIA facility plus subsequent visual surveillance -- would
[671]negate Agency planning in this regard, vitiate
[672]expenditures, and leave the Agency with» few realistic
[673]options for survivability. We must assume that any
[675]30 (8) We know from captured STASI (the former intelligence service of East
[676]Germany) and clandestinely-acquired KGB files-that substantial resources have
[677]been directed at such identifications. Typically, a suspect American will: be.
[678]surveilled for some time in order to identify his or her target and
[679]cooperating foreign nationals. To identify a communicator is one of the
[680]highest priorities since it provides a possible entrée to cryptographic
[681]compromise as well as an opportunity to “roll-up” or identify the numerous
[682]human intelligence. collection officers who rely on that particular
[683]communicator to transmit information back to the United States.
[685]SECRET
[687]13-00000
[689]SECRET
[691]SUBJECT: (S) Required Protection of Warrenton Training Center
[693]as CIA Facility
[695]entity which had the willingness and capability to attack
[696]the CIA would be inclined to inflict the maximum damage.
[697]Identification of WTC even as a generic CIA facility
[698]poses an unacceptable risk to this key aspect to CIA
[699]continuity of operations.
[701](S) Potential Compromise of Classified Communications or
[702]Technical Collection Platforms: In addition to the
[704]| foregoing physical threat to our communications
[706]facilities (e.g., the potential to destroy towers,
[707]satellite dishes and transmitting facilities by terrorist
[708]act), the disclosure of WTC as the transmit and receive
[709]site for CIA classified communications to foreign embassy
[710]sites as well as foreign assets in the field presents a
[711]significant opportunity for any number of foreign nations
[712]to enhance their signals and communications intelligence
[713]efforts at our expense. While the scope and
[714]classification level of this memorandum does not permit a
[716]detailed discussion, I am convinced that this disclosure
[718]would make WTC a target of hostile foreign intelligence
[719]services.
[721](S) Loss of Covert, Quick Reaction Procurement
[723]Capability: In support of OTC and other tenant elements,
[724]WTC uses its Army cover to procure items on a non-
[725]attributable basis to CIA.** - These items are acquired in
[727]‘near real time with minimal delay and direct delivery.
[729](S) The official term for such procurements is “SC-1” or “Sterility Code
[730]1” which means that the tangible items purchased cannot be traced to CIA but |
[731]only to a. non-sensitive government agency. For example, if an officer is
[732]assigned undercover to a foreign capital and is undeclared to that country,
[733]then it would be most imprudent to carry a personal computer and a cellular
[734]telephone which could easily be traced to CIA: .At a minimum, that officer
[735]would be subject to foreign counter-intelligence surveillance and all of his
[736]or her contacts compromised (i.e., identified.and neutralized).
[740]10
[742]SECRET
[744]13-00000
[746]SECRET
[748]x 7 , ' oo . . “y
[749]SUBJECT: (S) Required Protection of Warrenton Training Center
[750]as CIA Facility .
[752]If the WTC cover is eroded due to affiliation with the
[753]Agency, past procurements could be retroactively __
[754]compromised while subsequent procurement activity would
[755]necessitate involving headquarters elements, indirect
[756]delivery and forwarding to WTC. The loss of response
[757]time would negatively impact on the operational
[758]capabilities of WTC tenant organizations.
[760]e (S) Loss of Secure. Training ‘and Conference Capability:
[761]Station B is often used as a conference. facility not only
[762]by Agency groups, but also by other US Government . ’
[763]organizations. For example, Secretary of State Warren
[764]Christopher's pre-planning session for the Bosnian Peace
[765]Accord Talks was held at WTC based on the need for a
[766]discreet location in which Department of State (DoS)
[767]officials, to include two ambassadors, and the military
[768]could secretly discuss strategic planning without undue
[769]attention (media coverage). “If CIA affiliation is
[770]acknowledged in any way, WTC’s value to the entire US
[771]Government is greatly diminished. Additionally, its
[772]value to the Agency is also diminished in that personnel
[773]from OED and other operational elements who use this
[774]facility would be running a greater risk of exposure and
[775]cover compromise if they visited WTC. Since access roads
[776]can be monitored and registration lists,and/or luggage
[777]tags can be obtained at hotels used to accommodate some
[778]of these visitors, their association with the CIA would
[779]be much harder to protect...
[781]e (8) Heightened Scrutiny of Classified Mission: For more.
[782]than 40 years, WTC has operated as an Army facility. We
[783]have been a good "neighbor" and have developed close
[784]working. relationships throughout the town. To confirm
[785]what many have suspected but could never prove (or what a
[786]few “knew” but willingly protected) will have a negative —
[790]11
[792]SECRET
[794]13-00000 (
[796]SECRET
[798]SUBJECT: (S) Required Protection of Warrenton Training Center
[799]as CIA Facility ©
[801]impact on our. credibility and will create an “open
[802]season” for the local media and others as they quite
[803]naturally attempt to learn any and all aspects of our
[804]mission -- those clandestine officers who could come and
[805]go previously with little notice will now be a highly ©
[806]visible target.””
[808]°® (8S) Endangerment of Department of State Officers and
[809]Loss of WTC as Training Site for DoS: As the Department
[811]of State is an integral part of WTC, their concerns must
[813]_ also be taken into consideration. They have advised of
[814]their significant concerns that a loss of WTC cover will
[815]lead to the mis-identification of DoS communicators
[816]overseas as CIA officers. They have stated that it is
[817]the fact of the current WTC cover which permits them to
[818]train DoS communicators alongside Agency communicators at
[819]a very efficient cost. The only solution to the loss of
[820]-cover would be to move the DoS communications school to-
[821]another location, a very costly endeavor in both time and
[822]money .
[824]8. (S) In summary, it is my considered judgment that the-
[825]release of the term "Warrenton Records Center", which will create
[826]an affiliation of WTC and the CIA, would cause »major disruptions
[827]to CIA operations, possible physical harm to CIA facilities and
[828]personnel, and hence identifiable and serious damage to the
[829]national security of the United States. Accordingly, I
[830]respectfully request that the Board defer release of such
[831]information. In doing so, I am mindful of the Board’s mission
[833](8) It is not unreasonable to believe that the loss of cover for WTC would
[834]require a five fold increase in physical security personnel at WTC and even ;
[835]then security could not be ensured given the proximity of the facility to
[836]public spaces and roads. .
[838]12
[840]SECRET
[842]13-00000
[844]SECRET ;
[846]. , . : . : ‘ 4 .
[847]SUBJECT: (S) Required Protection of Warrenton Training Center
[848]as CIA Facility
[850]and the necessity for the American public to have the fullest
[851]possible disclosure regarding the assassination of President
[852]Kennédy, however, I believe that this reference is not relevant
[854]-to the public’s understanding and that disclosure would cause
[855]harms significantly disproportionate to‘ any public benefit.
[857]9. (U) If the Board should have any questions with regard
[858]to this matter, I have asked Lee Strickland, who serves as Chief
[859]of the Agency’s Information Review Group, to be available to the
[860]Board in order to provide such additional classified or
[861]unclassified information as might be required.
[865]Richard D. Calder
[867](S) . Attachment
[868]Annotated View of WIC Station ¢c
[870]13
[872]SECRET
[874]13-00000
[876]SECRET
[878]A
[880]SUBJECT: (8) Required Protection of Warrenton Training Center
[881]as CIA Facility
[883]14
[885]SECRET
[887]13-00000
[889]SECRET
[891]SUBJECT: (S) Required Protection of Warrenton Training Center
[892]as CIA Facility
[894](S) Attachment
[895]Annotated View of WIC Station D
[897]15
[899]SECRET
[901]13-00000
[903]SECRET
[905]x ; . . .o.
[906]SUBJECT: (S) Required Protection of Warrenton Training Center
[907]as CIA Facility ‘
[909]OFSS/FMG/WTC/SNAlcivar :kak/49570 (07 Nov 97)
[910]modified OIM/IRG/LSStrickland/31289 (13 Nov 97)
[912]Distribution:
[913]Orig - Addressee
[914]2 - DDA
[915]- OIM/IRG Chrono
[917]- D/OIM
[918]- OIM Legal Advisor
[919]- D/OFSS Oo
[920]C/FMG/OFSS
[922]- C/WTC/FMG/OFSS
[923]- DC/wTc
[924]- OFSS Registry
[926]PREP PPPPPBPB
[927]t]
[929]g:\ipcerdwp\general\lss\arrb_wtc.doc
[931]16
[933]SECRET