SYMINGTON CITES SLASH IN RED-MISSLE GUESS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP70-00058R000200100110-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 11, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 1, 1999
• Sequence Number: 110
• Publication Date: February 8, 1962
• Content Type: NSPR

Approved For Release 1999/09/16 : CIA-RDP70-
FEB. 3 1962".
Symington Cites Slash
(n Red-Missile Guess
The official intelligence eatl- The gap sometimes changed,
mate of Soviet misrsfla strength he said, "by official proclama-
has been reduced by. 96.5 per Lion," and once. in 1959, by
cent in less than two years,
according to Senator Syming- adding unmg+nned bombers to
ton, Dcrnocrat of Missouri. planned American ICBMs and
Answering charges that he and leaving them oft of Soviet
other officinls had been acting estimates.
in bad faith when they pre-
dicted a dangerous missile Rap, "The contradictory. and con-
Senator Symington said many fusing esthnatea of Soviet ICBM
officials had said publicly, and strength that we have received
)ntelligence officers said prl_ In the past two years raises Be-!
vately that a? missile gap was gloss questions about the accu-
expected and would continue racy and effectiveness of our
for a loin Lisle. intelltgence Apparatus," Sena-
The uni7. however "had an':tor Symington said.
unaccountable way of narrow- "Fortunately, there is no rea-
ing, closing; and occasionally son to believe that President
vanishing; altogether," the Sell- Kennedy has underestimated"
ator said in an article .in Fie- the Soviet military strength,
porter magazine, out today. I the Senator said.
Senator Bymington pointed The President, he said, is fn-
out that the missile gap predlc- creasing the number of Polaris.
Lion had beert t'et+orted not only submarine missiles by 60 per
by DeutocraU; Including then cent by the end of 1964, has In-
Senator Senator K.eui.e