Dates of NIE/SNIE

[Frederick Wettering]

Brian Auten asked about dates of NIEs and SNIEs.

NIEs on items of regular strategic interest during the cold war , such as
Soviet armed forcers tactical and strategic capabilities, were usually dealt
with by annual NIEs.  The preparation of these was labored and lengthy-
there were almost always major perceptual differences between the armed
services and civilian analysts, with considerable number of bureaucratic
agendas being promoted. An estimate published in February such as the one to
which you refer likely began its life six months or more before.

NIEs in general were on subjects of policy interest that did not have short
fuses or require quick action.  They could be requested by any agency of the
Intelligence Community or the National Intelligence Officer could schedule
one himself (I did this quite often).  Many issues the foreign affairs
bureaucracy actually did not want examined in an estimate (especially the
State Department).  A typical NIE would take me eight to sixteen weeks,
depending on the extent of controversy.

SNIEs were usually in response top a new situation of policy interest, or
new intelligence suggesting a potentially new situation.  They were done
under a fast-track authority.  I once wrote and coordinated one in three
days.  SNIEs were invariably much shorter in length.

Regards,

Frederick Wettering, former NIO for Africa,1985-87
wettrng at mindspring.com



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