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(S) Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld Is Briefed on SIGINT and the Role
of SCS Mosul
FROM:
Deputy Chief, SCS Field Operations Office (F61)
Run Date: 01/06/2006
(S) SECDEF says SIGINT is crucial to success in Iraq and praises expeditionary deployments.
(TS//SI) The Officer-In-Charge (OIC) at Special Collection Service Mosul had a rare opportunity
to participate in a briefing for Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld at FOB* Courage on
Christmas Eve day. Major General Rodriguez, commander of Task Force Freedom, gave the
brief, which was also attended by commanders of Task Force North and the 172nd Stryker
Brigade, as well as officers in charge of local DIA and CIA operations.
(U) Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld speaks with a soldier in Mosul on December 24th. (Reuters)
(TS//SI//REL) The Secretary had a chance to hear the site role in collection, in identifying,
developing, and tracking high-value targets, and in providing threat warning, after-action
reflections, and voice identification of targets. OIC pointed out that this collection is
disseminated to local military units, and also used by NSAW and NSA Georgia for both tactical
and strategic reporting.
(TS//SI//REL) In response to specific questions from Secretary Rumsfeld, the process of voice
identification was explained. The Secretary was pleased to learn that although the phone is
actually what is targeted initially, linguists use the content of a call (or series of calls) and voice
together to provide verification of the target before action is taken.
(TS//SI//REL) Both MG Rodriguez and commander TF North lauded the value of SIGINT to their
operations, and complimented SCS and NSA, mentioning QUADRASPECTRE in particular. The
Secretary was also impressed when the General explained the fusion cell concept and how and
why it works so well, and was told that the number of fusion cells were limited only by the
number of active SCS sites.
(TS//SI//REL) Secretary Rumsfeld noted that the work of the site and the other SIGINT
warriors is the way the war will be won, and the war in Iraq attests to how our
military and intelligence agencies have to become more expeditionary, agile and interconnected. Upon hearing that SIGINT personnel in the SCS sites were PCS* to the combat
zone, he pounded his hand on the table and said, "Now, that's how we need to do it!"
*(U) Notes:
FOB = Forward Operating Base
PCS = Permanent Change of Station
"(U//FOUO) SIDtoday articles may not be republished or reposted outside NSANet
without the consent of S0121 (DL sid_comms)."
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DERIVED FROM: NSA/CSSM 1-52, DATED 08 JAN 2007 DECLASSIFY ON: 20320108
