FURTHER GUIDANCE ON THE SIPDIS CABLE CAPTION

UNCLAS STATE 089712 SIPDIS SENSITIVE FOR ALL CABLE DRAFTERS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AMGT ACOA AOMS PINR KCCP SUBJECT: FURTHER GUIDANCE ON THE SIPDIS CABLE CAPTION REF: 05 STATE 226504 06 STATE 083673 SUMMARY ¶1. (SBU) The Department in December 2005 distributed general guidance (05 State 00226504) concerning the use of the new SIPDIS distribution caption (5FAH-2 H-440). The SIPDIS caption (which means SIPRnet distribution) facilitates inter-agency information sharing, a top State Department priority, via the US Government's Secret-level network. Washington bound SIPDIS-captioned cables are automatically copied to a State database accessible to USG users on ClassNet and SIPRNet/Intelink-S. Nearly 200 posts today routinely use the SIPDIS caption. Use of the SIPDIS caption will ensure that post's reporting cables are automatically posted to the NetCentric Diplomacy (NCD) homepage as well as the mission's classified SIPRNet homepage via the NCD cable portlet. USE OF THE SIPDIS DISTRIBUTION CAPTION 2a. (SBU) The SIPDIS caption should be used on all telegrams appropriate for sharing with the broader US government community. SIPDIS-captioned cables are automatically copied to the Department's Net-Centric Diplomacy (NCD) database, which is accessible to Secret- cleared USG users on SIPRNet/Intelink-S (see http://ncd.state.sgov.gov/). The USG has held high-level discussions with our closest allies concerning the sharing of information. Based on these discussions, efforts are underway to increase sharing of classified military and intelligence information with certain US Allies via SIPRNET - see REFTEL STATE 083673. However, under this guidance diplomatic communications will not be released unless specifically labeled as releasable to foreign nationals. 2b. (SBU) SIPDIS-captioned messages may not include restrictive captions (e.g., NODIS, EXDIS, ROGER, STADIS, DS, DSX, and DS-BI) that explicitly limit distribution. If a message carries conflicting captions, the more restrictive caption will be controlling and the cable will not be loaded into the NCD database. 2c. (SBU) SIPDIS may be used in conjunction with NOFORN, CODEL, SENSITIVE, TERREP, and TERREP EXCLUSIVE. Use of the SIPDIS caption is highly encouraged in conjunction with TAGs associated with topics requiring broad interagency coordination [e.g., the Avian Flu TAG (KFLU)]. Cables containing content not releasable to foreign nationals must be marked NOFORN. �0A; 2d. (SBU) Posts remain responsible for the protection of PrivacyAct (Public Law 93-570) information. Messages containing Privacy Act information may not carry the SIPDIS caption - e.g., MED CHANNEL, HR CHANNEL, DS CHANNEL, DSX CHANNEL, and DS_BI CHANNEL. HOW SIPDIS WORKS ¶3. (SBU) NCD web servers publish SIPDIS-captioned messages to embassy and bureau classified homepages, as well as to NCD's homepage, http://ncd.state.sgov.gov/. Your embassy's classified web page administrator can add a cable portlet to your embassy homepage that will automatically present SIPDIS-captioned messages in a standard display. ¶4. (SBU) Current SIPDIS display options include reverse chronology, subject files based on TAGs, Hot Topic files based on Terms used by your post, and a full-text word search capability. Examples of the current standard display are available at http://www.state.sgov.gov/rm/irpcip/. ¶5. (SBU) The vast majority of SIPDIS-captioned messages are processed within minutes of transmission through the cable system. If a SIPDIS cable sent from post does not process in the system, there are a few common causes listed below: -- Posts are encouraged to follow the standard cable template, which includes a single blank line between the subject line and body text of the telegram. --SIPDIS cables must have at least 1 TAG or they will not be ingested into the system. --The TAGS line must say "TAGS:" If this is missing then the cable will not be ingested into the system. --The Subject line must begin with "Subject:" If it just says "SUBJ" or if the word "Subject" is missing entirely then the cable will not be ingested into the system. --DoD cables that are "Unclassified- Encrypted for Transmission Only" are not currently compatible with the system. --If the SIPDIS caption is used on the same line as another caption then the message will not be ingested. --Additionally, any user at post who sends a SIPDIS message that does not appear on the NCD or Embassy homepage should contact SIPDIS_Help@state.sgov.gov. ¶6. (SBU) As a reminder, SIPDIS is a distribution caption, not a TAG, and must be appended to the caption line of the message. If SIPDIS is used in conjunction with another distribution caption such as TERREP or CODEL, the SIPDIS caption should be placed on a separate line below the primary distribution caption. Post Information Management Officers can add "SIPDIS" to post's locally managed CableExpress or EACT application. No TERP-related action is required to process SIPDIS messages. ¶7. (SBU) SIPDIS HELP Current information and assistance on using the SIPDIS caption cab be found by going to http://www.state.sgov.gov/rm/irpcip/ on the classified network and clicking on the link for SIPDIS or by emailing SIPDIS_HELP@state.sgov.gov. ¶8. Minimize considered. RICE