CONVERSATION WITH SECRETARY OF DEFENSE 11 MARCH 1980

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81B00401R002300090002-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 11, 2005
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: March 12, 1980
• Content Type: MFR

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NSA, DIA and OSD review(s) completed. lsM =;h
NGA Review Completed.
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12 March 1980
SUBJECT: Conversation with the Secretary of Defense, 11 March 1980
1. We disposed oft NIE 11-3/8 problem very quickly. I told the
Secretary we were taking?,r"e US No SALT projections and all I Imaterial. 25X1A
He said to me then, "It will be just like last year." I sai yes, it
will be just like last year, updated. He said that was fine with him.
The Secretary incidentally said that he had no objection to our doing
net assessments. He just didn't want them in NIE's because of the stature
they had. In talking with General Smith also, I detected the line of
argumentation against continuing even our quasi-dynamic analyses will
be that the NIE has such stature and these are so subject to misinter-
pretation that we shouldn't risk that.
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OSD He wanted to make sure we were having adequate exchange
REVIEW of information about Congressional reactions to 0 hearings
COMPLETE and to NFIP hearings. I told him I assumed that was taking
D place. I would appreciate reassurance.
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25X1 8. He asked about the biological warfare accident that the Soviets
25X1 had about a year ago He wondered if we had
tried to validate that report.
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His one suggestion would be that perhaps we should get
somebody from INR to join the PDB Staff and help make sure
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STANSFI D TUR R
Director
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problem was that it sounded in recent months more as though we were
12. I asked him if he had any suggestions on the PDB and mentioned
.the President's request for changes. He said he thought a lot of our
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General Items
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e Iran
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(DoD paper to be presented on Friday) f ~{
L-- W t Meg 0.GVd.
? Soviet BW accident
- At last meeting Brown asked if we had tried to validate
a DIA report
? Camp David
ILLEGIB
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- Brown asked about this last time and you were uncertain
as to where things stood
- LA Division has been in touch with his (Murphy's)
people and I believe things are on track (DDCI will
be having a meeting Thursday afternoon to review where
we stand on this)
is
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 Director for National Foreign Assessment
2 .: y~ ~-198
NOTE FOR THE DIRECTOR V 5 MAR 1888
Per your request for information about
the number of Soviet tanks in Afghanistan
and the number and kinds of tanks used by
the Afghan Army, I am forwarding the attached
memo which was prepared by the Afghan Task
Force and OSR. I am'also sending you a
description of the capabilities of the
Soviet MI-24 helicopter which is being
Soviet forces in Afghanistan
F sed bv
Since Secretary Brown requested the
information about the helicopter you might
want to send him a copy of the memo or
deliver it personally to him when you
A&ee him next week. _
Bruce C. Clarke, Jr. 25X1
IA-RDP81 B00401 R002300090002
 The Director of Central Intelligence
Washington. D. C. 20505
Dear Harold:
At your request I am sending you our assessment
of the capabilities of the Soviet MI-24 helicopter
which are currently being used by the Soviets in
Afghanistan. I am also including information about
the number and types of tanks being used by the
Afghan Army as well as the number and types of
tanks the Soviets are using in Afghanistan.
The Honorable Harold Brown
Secretary of Defense
The Pentagon
Yours,
STANSFIELD TURNER
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SUBJECT: Response to DCI Questions on Afghan and Soviet
Tanks and Soviet Helicopters in Afghanistan
1. The Afghan Army has received as many as 600 tanks
from the USSR over the years, and some 300 of these are still
operational. The Afghan tanks include mostly older models
such as the T-34, T-54, and T-55, but the Afghans also have
some of the newer T-62s. The tanks are scattered throughout
the country with most of the T-62s in the Kabul area.
2. The Soviet motorized rifle divisions and regiments
in Afghanistan brought with them their T-54s, T-55s, and T-62s
and:now:have more than 700 tanks in-country. We have no
evidence that the Soviets have moved either the T-64 or the
T-72 tank into Afghanistan.
4. The Soviets have introduced their MI-24 (HIND) attack
helicopters into Afghanistan. The MI-24 can carry a variety of
antitank guided missiles, bombs, and rockets. The HIND D is
armed with the AT-2 ATGM while the HIND E carries the AT-6 ATGM.
We have not yet seen any HIND Es in Afghanistan- Rnth m1
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5. The enclosures describe the capabilities of the MI-24
helico
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The Director of Central Intelligence
Washington. D. 020505
NFAC_. a5~? ?
Thank you for sending me a copy of he Afghanistan intelligence
priorities in the Department of Defense Not surprisingly, your list
of specific concerns closely matches t/e thrust of our intelligence
collection and production effort. At ached is a description of NFAC
and interagency intelligence produc on. It includes both items that
we have already produced and a bri description of those in progress.
I agree that a concentrated analytical attack on all facets of
the Soviet incursion offers a r re opportunity to test hypotheses and
otherwise generally improve ou understanding of their military
capabilities viewed in the br adest sense. Both collection and
production efforts in CIA ar being made to take maximum advantage of
the situation. For example we are now forming a multidisciplinary
analytical group in the Na ional Foreign Assessment Center to concentrate
on Southwest Asia and Ira . This group will include political, military,
and economic analysts with regional expertise on the Soviet Union and
counfrips in South siao It will bp nroduyino intelliaence on most
The Honor/able Harold Brown
Secretar of Defense
The Pen agon
Attachments
As stated
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No
cL -dam
STANSFIELD TURNER
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