STAFF MEETING MINUTES OF 26 MARCH 1979

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84B00130R000600010022-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 24, 2007
• Sequence Number: 22
• Publication Date: March 26, 1979
• Content Type: REPORT

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- TOP SECRET -
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
Staff Meeting Minutes of 26 March 1979
The Director chaired the meeting.
reported that the Soviet military exercise is winding
down. two motorized rifle divisions have
been left behind in Mongolia. In response to the Director's question
of where these divisions came from, speculated that they were
moved from within the Far Eastern area. The Director asked that this
be sorted out specifying whether there are now 47 instead
of 45 divisions in t e Far East or whether the number of divisions remains
the same but has just been deployed differently. noted that the
General Petrov who was in the area of the exercise is the same individual
who was in Ethiopia.
Later in the meeting, the Director asked
to include in a retrospective analysis of the exercise whether
or not the Soviets have augmented or changed their military posture in
the Far East and whether or not they have established a new theater of
war command in the area. (Action: NFAC)
the facility in Korea
has been dismantled and the armor has vanished, presumably moving to the
east.
reported that Afghanistan is moving significant military
units closer to its border. 0 added that they were originally three
miles from the border and are now moving closer.
Bowie noted receipt of a call advising that Dick Lehman suffered a
mild stroke while in Honolulu and is returning to Washington today.
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- TOP SLUKLI
Calling attention to an article in the Washington Post (attached)
about the HPSCI evaluation of the performance of the Intelligence Community
during the recent Indo-Chinese crisis, Hitz said that Congressman Aspin's
press release had both positive and negative comments, but the press did
not pick up the negative. Hitz added that Congressman Aspin was helpful in
a disagreement over classification this weekend by deleting the number of
Americans slated to go to the Yemens from Defense testimony. Hitz said
that he would call and thank him for doing so.
Briggs noted that Waller has returned from his Far East trip.
Wortman advised that if Deputies take his memorandum seriously about
reducing the handwritten corrections in cables, DDA will be able to save
four man-years.
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?
Noting an item in Sunday's Washington Post about sections deleted from
the American version of former DCI Colby 's book that were printed in the
French version, the Director said that this was an embarrassing situation
that opens up the thorny question of whether or not the Agency treats
former employees' publications differently. He asked that Lapham address
the question of whether or not Mr. Colby and are in the same
category as Snepp and Stockwell. 0 noted that these cases were
different. The Director asked OGC to be certain the Agency could answer
questions about possible selective treatment of former employees' publica-
tions. (Action: OGC)
Noting that the State Department Iranian Working Group has suspended
publication, the Director asked NFAC to be sure and keep him and the
DDCI up to date on the general tenor of the Iranian situation, possibly
on a weekly basis, as appropriate. (Action: NFAC)0 25X1
In response to the Director's comment about State Department's
optimistic outlook on the oil situation, Bowie said that he has asked
OER for an assessment. (Action: NFAC) 0 25X1
Noting that he would be leaving the city for a few days, the Director
asked attendees to advise him of anything he could do for them at SAC
Headquarters. 0 25X1
Noting that an important meeting on SALT is scheduled for 30 March,
the Director said that Bowie would attend. The major issue should be
whether or not Brezhnev has responsed on the telemetry issue. The Director
asked EA/DCI 0 to arrange in advance for a secure phone in the Los 25X1
Angeles area on which he could discuss this issue with Bowie on 29 March.
(Action: EA/DCI) 0 25X1
Returning to the subject of the alternatives the Director 25X1
said that it has been agreed not to brief on this subject in any detail
until this matter is addressed by the SCC. He asked Hitz to keep him
informed if Congressional pressure continued to build for such briefings.
(Action: OLC)
In response to the Director's question, and Hitz responded 25X1
that there may not be a CIAP briefing before the House Appropriations
Committee. explained that House Appropriations Committee Staffer 25X1
Snodgrass is concentrating on IRA matters 25X1
4
SECRET
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TV I1J1111 \ V 1 It-F1 I I "OX
Mteiiigence Agencies Receive.
... g,
he.Iill
Unusual Accolade on t
By Don Oberdorfer
Washington Post Staff Writer along their ! common " 'border. China
In an unusual accolade for the per., had. anticipated Soviet actions by
lormance of U.S.. intelligence 'agen- evacuating large. numbers of civilians
aes, a House subcommittee chairman and .some vulnerable military units .
reported yesterday that they "served' from the area near the Sino-Soviet
the nation well" during the recent border.
C'hinese Invasion of Vietnam. Aspin said a memorandum pub-
Rep. Les Aspin (D-Wis.), chairman lished by U.S. Intelligence,-agencies
if the House Intelligence subcom- last November. erroneously held that
inittee on oversight, said in a written Vietnam would not overrun . all of
report that the Central Intelligence Cambodia--as Hanoi forces actually
Agency provided at least six weeks' did, starting around Christmas.
warning that China might take the
action it did. However, he 'said the 'Strategic
He said his findings were based on Warning Staff argued it is "difficult
classified testimony before the sub- to believe" that such a large Vietnam-
committee by State and Defense de- ese force deployed along the Cambo-
partment officials. dian border was intended for only a
Aspin quoted an "alert memoran- limited objective.
dum" issued by the CIA in early Janu- Aspin said, from a poll iymaker's
ary as concluding that "the Chinese viewpoint, intelligence shortcomings
in this situation were "minor" corn
? pared to the overall success In follow-
may choose to engineer a strong local- ing Vietnamese military preparations.
ized demonstration of Chinese power ? On the whole, .he concluded, the.
along the (Vietnamese] frontier." He ability of U.S. intelligence "rapidly to,
said the CIA continued to reinforce . r r
this view until the Chinese attack into"
observe, assess and report "military` 17- Vietnam s border area an Feb. ed preparations .informed , policymakers
On the other hand, he reported that' of impending Vietnamese, Chinese
U.S. ~ agencies "had trouble In`assess and Soviet actionsmell in advance."
lug the likelihood of Soviet Involve.,
He also praised the recent practice
ment" as China moved to the attack. of permitting the full presentation of
He quoted a report by the Strategic competing views,' which he attributed
Warning Staff, jointly manned by the to CIA Director Stanfield Turner.
CIA and :the Pentagon, as saying the : Aspin suggested that the' airing. of
Soviets ,almost. ,certainly: will competing views should be continued
attempt counterpressures along and strengthened, based on The record
?the Sino Soviet .border.. , :. ;, of intelligence performance 'in the.
This view was revised laterlto roc- Sino-Vietnamese war: ,
ognize that the likelihood of Soviet in ?;wy.-
tervention would depend on the'depth,
of China's penetration into. Vietnam,
Aspin said. f r
. As far ? as Is known, :the 'Soviet Un-
ion made no move against China
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