MCCONNELL, IN SPEECH, ASKS COMBINATION ABM SYSTEM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP70B00338R000300100046-4
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 10, 2006
• Sequence Number: 46
• Publication Date: July 9, 1967
• Content Type: NSPR

Approvedf-or-ReWase-2006/04130 . - 38R000300100046-4
McCoineH, in Speech, Asks
onn. bi nation ABM System
By ORR KELLY
Star Staff Writer
Gen. John P. McConnell, chief
of staff of the Air Force, made a
ppblic appeal in a speech in
Detroit last night for construe-
tion of "a balanced combination
of terminal and area defenses"
against intercontinental ballistic
missiles.
p
c
in such a direct way.
The Joint Chiefs favor the
deployment of a system of long-
range defensive missiles com-
bined with intens' t t
i
I McConnell seemed to be reply-
tic missile (ABM) system had in's contention
' g to McNamara's
been carried into the
ubli
It was the first time that the
despute between the Joint
Chiefs of Staff and Defense
Secretary Robert S. McNamara
over the need for an anti Dallis-
year when Gen. Earle G. Wheel-
er, chairman of the Joint Chiefs,
read a specially prepared
statement to a congressional
committee urging deployment of
the ABM system.
,
being expanded to protect 50
cities. McNamara feels such an
ABM system would be coun-
tered by an increase in Soviet
missiles and would merely
accelerate the nuclear arms
race.
The difference of opinion
between McNamara and the
JCS was highlighted early this
occasion to note that our need any possible nuclear conflicts,"
for an effective aerospace he said.
defense capability has been There is growing pressure
further emphasized by reports for an early start on deployment
of Communist China's recent of a "thin" ABM defense de-
progress in the nuclear field." signed to protect the country
This contrasted with state- against an accidental missile
ments by defense officials that launch or an unsophisticated
the Red Chinese test of a hydro- attack from China. That would
gen bomb has not changed their cost $3.5 billion for an area
earlier estimates of the rate of defense and about $5 billion if it
Chinese progress toward deploy- included special protection for
ment of a nuclear intercontinen- the U.S. missile force.
tal~ballistic missile force. McNamara has not opposed
argued that there is no need to
rush into construction because it
that an ABM system would not will still be several more years
protect the country from de- before China can launch even ai
struction. low-intensity attack.
Sees Survival Chance Caution Need Stressed
t F- c ao "It has often been said that, in
fqr 25 cities
but capable of f
McConnell Cites China
:In his speech, prepared for
delivery at a Michigan aviation
and Space Week awards ban-
quet, McConnell declared:
"I think it is important on this
a general war, there will be no
winners-only losers in varying
degrees, McConnell said, "It is
thus unlikely that even the best
defense system can turn back or
destroy all of the attacking
forces of a determined enemy.
But an effective defense which
provides warning and protection
for our national resources would
allow us to emerge from a war
with the essential elements of
our society intact. It would
mean that the difference be-
tween our destruction or survi-
val as a sovereign state."
While the country is now well
prepared to meet any bomber
attack, McConnell said, it does
not yet have have a defense
against nuclear-tipped ballistic
missiles"-"the gravest threat
we face today."
He emphasized, as he did in
congressional testimony last
Feburary, his belief that an
essential element of any ABM
defense is a strong defense for
U.S. missiles, whose capability
to strike back with devastating
fury after any attack on this
country is designed to deter any
potential enemy.
His testimony at that time
l indicated that the other mem-
bers of the Joint Chiefs were
more concerned with providing
a defense system for the na-
tion's cities.
In his speech last night, he did
not spell out how strong a
defense system he favored, nor
how soon it should be built.
McConnell also emphasized,
the need for caution in making
sure that the best possible
system is deployed.
"We do not believe..." he
said, "that we should go all out
in building an extensive and
very costly system against the
ballistic missile until we are
reasonably certain that such asystem would not be outdated by
the time it became operational.
Fortunately, our present stra-
tegic offensive strength provides
us the time in which to examine
carefully our present technology
and future trends."
McNamara has estimated that
a full 50-city system-which he
feels would be demanded once a
decision had been made to
protect some cities-would cost
about $40 billion.
"Just how much damage-
limiting capability the U.S.
should acquire depends on the
technical problems, on the cost
Lino
Approved For Release 200'J
ata-''Jli 0O '338R000300100046-4
estimate of the value of less
than perfect defenses against,