LETTER TO WILLIAM CASEY FROM ROBERT M. ZWEIMAN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83M00914R002800070035-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Sequence Number: 35
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2007/04/13: CIA-RDP83M00914R002800070035-1
Jewish War Veterans of tI'e 3niteb 'tates of America
1712 New 3iumpsbire Auenue, 311as4ington, 19.(II. 20009
The Honorable William Casey
Director, Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, D.C. 20505
Dear Mr. Casey:
0682465NX EA
June 23, 1982
We are writing out of deep concern for one of this country's top career diplomats,
Morton Abramowitz, who served withdistinct.i.on in senior positions in the State
Department and in the Pentagon under both Democratic and Republican administra-
tions. He exercised vision in fighting against the Carter plan to withdraw
American ground forces from South Korea. More recently, his dedicated efforts
as Ambassador to Thailand earned him the President's Award for Distinguished
Federal Service last year.
Given his expertise in East Asian Affairs, it was only natural that the President
personally called Abramowitz to say, "you're my man for Indonesia," and to offer
him the Ambassadorship there.
Inexplicably, the State Department recently withdrew his appointment. The sole
reason stated was that the Indonesian government would not accept Abramowitz as
Ambassador. It is now widely believed that a scurrilous and inaccurate anonymous
memorandum about Abramowitz -- which falsely maligned his politics and character --
was circulated by "personal" enemies from the Pentagon and the C.I.A. Eventually
this found its way into the hands of President Suharto of Indonesia, whose Foreign
Minister was later to tell Secretary Haig that "the well has been poisoned." In
doing so, Indonesia took the rare step of rejecting out of hand a Presidential
choice for Ambassador.
Who was responsible for this attack is a question of grave concern. At stake is
more than the able service of Ambassador Abramowitz. The Presidential appoint-
ment process is called into question. Moreover, the innuendo in the memorandum
that it "would be inappropriate to send a Jewish Ambassador to an Islamic country"
further undermines the credibility of the process by which we train professional
diplomats at home and exercise our foreign policy abroad.
Allegations suggest that this memorandum originated in art from the C.I.A.
possibly fr STA
Internal political an p
differences should never be allowed to Subvert our foreign policy system. This
is a precedent that cannot be countenanced, and it is of the utmost importance
that the unanswered questions surrounding this case be resolved.
A
Ii
roved For Release 2007/04/13: CIA-RDP83M00914R002800070035-1
 Approved For Release 2007/04/13: CIA-R DP83M00914R002800070035-1
Mr. William Casey -2-
June 23, 1982
We therefore ask that your office institute a complete investigation and offer
us a full explanation as to why Morton Abramowitz was denied his Ambassadorship
to Indonesia, and any role that the C.I.A. may have played in this affair.
Sincerely yours,
Robert M. Zweiman
National Commander
Approved For Release 2007/04/13: CIA-RDP83M00914R002800070035-1