P 021603Z JUN 06
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI

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. 
 
 
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