MY JEC TESTIMONY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85M00363R000601440020-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: January 4, 2017
• Document Release Date: April 7, 2008
• Sequence Number: 20
• Publication Date: January 7, 1983
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 2008/04/15: CIA-RDP85M00363R000601440020-9
7 January 1983
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
Deputy Director of Central Intelligence
FROM : Henry S. Rowen
Chairman, National Intelligence Council
SUBJECT : My JEC Testimony
1. Regarding my JEC Testimony, Proxmire's staff director. apologizes for
the press release which has already been distributed, says that the lead is
intended to be Proxmire's statement not a quote from mine, and that they will
make this clear.
2. I told him that the impression created by the press release was very
misleading and that this was bad business especially right after Rep. Reuss'
distorted statement on the earlier CIA publication on the Soviet economy. He
said that they would encourage the press to read my-testimony which was short
and readable.
3. I didn't say that we might put out a statement of our own depending
on the press treatment of my testimony. If we decide to, a copy of what
Public Affairs might say is attached.
Henry S. Rowen
cc: DDI
AD/OEA
Approved For Release 2008/04/15: CIA-RDP85M00363R000601440020-9
 Approved For Release 2008/04/15: CIA-RDP85M00363R000601440020-9
Possible Public Affairs Statement
In his press statements accompanying the release of testimony by Henry
Rowen, ChairM an of the National Intelligence Council, on the Soviet economy,
Senator Proxmire chose to emphasize one theme: the self reliance and strength
of the Soviet economy. The testimony, in fact, presented a more complex
picture:
-- The marked slowdown in the Soviet economy in recent years.
Despite this slowdown, the continued increases in Soviet
military forces.
-- The underlying strengths of the Soviet economy, its size,
access to natural resources, strength of its human capital
assets.
-- The importance of Western imports in relieving critical
shortages even though, as a whole, the Soviet economy is highly
self sufficient.
-- The much harder choices faced by the Soviet leadership among
consumption, investment and defense.
-- The Soviet economy is not going to collapse, only grow very
slowly.
We encourage the press to read the full statement.
Approved For Release 2008/04/15: CIA-RDP85M00363R000601440020-9