MEMORANDUM FOR <SANITIZED> FROM <SANITIZED>

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06157976
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2022
• Document Release Date: September 26, 2017
• Case Number: F-2012-01432

Approved for Release: 2015/01/05 006157976
SE CRL
LDX
MEMORANDUM FOR:
FROM:
ATTENTION:
REFERENCE:
(b)(3)
We are in the process of a detailed review of the Soviet (b)(3)
response to the 22 March report.
(b)(3)
Secretary Haig's report was taken are researching
those points in the Soviet response that may need answering.
A careful analysis and publication of such a response, if deemed
appropriate, will take several weeks, In the interii let me
summarize our initial impressions to dat-6.
With almost no exceptions the technical issues raised
by the Soviets are so obviously specious Zhat to respond
to them would be counter productive. Oneapproach to the
more serious technical issues may be to have the "outside"
scientific world do the technical reporting
(b)(3)
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Approved for Release: 2015/01/05 006157976
Any response, especially one related to questions of
toxicology or natural contamination issues must be carefully crafted:
While I am sure evidence exists to refute the Soviet positions
point-by-point, much information is still unpublished or
classified.
Some recent information concerning
test results
from
should be incorporated
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
into any US response if
that becomes necessary.
We have still
not obtained all of that
data,
however, and we need to
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
examine it very carefully before ascribing conclusions to work
not under our control. Our preliminary reading is that it will,,
buttress the US position most eloquently
if it can be released
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
� The Soviet response.raised the question of linkage
between .the US defoliation program and Secretary Haig's report,
Some of the alleged relationships are silly, such as their attempt
to describe how our program with Agent Orange resulted in an
ecological 'epiphytotic" that resulted in the spread of
. .
FUSARIUM spores which has led to the findings of the mycotoxins,
This allegation should not be dealt with by the US in any response.
The claims in the paper of long term medical effects from
dioxin are serious enough as to require some very careful thought
prior to making any statement in rebuttal,
Ms.
2
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Approved for Release: 2015/01/05 006157976
(W(l)
(b)(3Y
In any event, responding to.these questions is not in the purview
of the Intelligence Community.
We strongly recommend that no' tethnital judgments from
any Agency be released by the State Department until after the IC
has had ample time to research the Soviet response more thoroughly.
We would have no objection to a statement that indicated that:
(W(i)
are currently revieWingithe Soviet's ODO)
critiques seriously, that preliminary review indicates that the
Soviets' concerns are adequately answered by the Secretary's report
and new data released since its publication, that both private
organizations and other countries- have publicly supported the Secretary's
report on the basis �of their own independent investigations, that
the bulk of the Soviet critique does not deal with �the primary
questions raised by the secretary's report,..the absolute proof
that people are dying from chemical attacks,,., and that the US
_feels the report stands on its own and encourages its being read
side-by-side with the Soviet response.
If you should determine that a point,.by-point rebuttal
(W(i)
of the technical questions raised by the Soviet 0:op
critique is necessary, we will Support a request to participate
in such an analysis. We estimate that approximately 100 manhours
of senior analytical time will be required to do an appropriately
thorough job in such an endeavor, and would need a suspense of
at least one week.
Approved for Release: 2015/01/05 006157976