LETTER TO WILLIAM FRENCH SMITH FROM RONALD REAGAN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88B00443R000903770011-7
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 24
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 28, 2011
• Sequence Number: 11
• Publication Date: September 14, 1983
• Content Type: LETTER

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After receiving the attached cable (Tab A)
from Bud McFarlane early Sunday morning, I
asked Bill Clark to bring together my
national security advisors on Sunday to
discuss Bud's recommendations which included
expanding the mission of the USMMtNF in Lebanon
to meet the Syrian threat. For most of
Sunday, the following people met in the
Situation Room and arrived at the recommended
modification in our Decision Directive (Tab
B). The participants were:
James Baker, William Casey, William Clark,
Philip Dur, Larry.Eagleburger,_ Rear Admiral
Jonathan Howe, Jean Kirkpatrick, Vice Ad.niral
Arthur Moreau, Richard Murphy, Rear Admiral
John Poindexter, Robert Pelitreau, George
Shultz,. Howard Teicher, Paul.Tbayer, Admiral
James Watkins and Caspar Weinberger.
On Monday this SECRET/SENSITIVE information
was revealed by the media reporting at Tab C,
resulting in Bud's diplomatic efforts being
frustrated if not blocked and his personal
security placed in jeopardy, resulting in
discussion of his possible resignation.-
Bill, as much as I regret the necessity of
this, I ask you to interview the above named
people to determine if anyone of them spoke
with any of the authors at Tab C or to any
other unauthorized person concerning the
subject Tatter reported, particularly
relating to Bud McFarlane. I ask. that you
use all legitimate means in your interviews,
_ENSITIVE
a t, L ENSITIVE
September 14, 1983
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SECRET/SENSITIVE
including use of the polygraph. As I have
said before, if you determine in your
personal judgment that reasonable cause
exists for believing anyone in my Adminis-
tration has breached his duty of confidenti-
ality or anyone fails or refuses to cooperate
with you in the interview, I will expect that
person to resign.
Sincerely
The Honorable
William French Smith
Attorney General
Department of Justice
10th & Constitution Ave. NW
Washington, D.C;. 20530
SECRET/SENSITIVE
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`0 F THE BATTLE
1. SECRET - ENTIRE TEXT.
2. THIS IS AN ACTION MESSAGE.
3. ADDRESSEES ARE AWARE OF INTENSE EFFORTS BEING t` ADE TO ACHIEVE
CEASEFIRE AND SUBSEOUENT NATIONAL DIALOGUE TOWARD POLITICAL
SOLUTION IN LEBANON. OTHER REPORTING HAS DIUCUSSED THE EXTENT
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TO WHICH THESE EFFORTS INVOLVE GOOD FAITH EFFORT OR SIMPLY A
DELAYING TACTIC BY SYRIA WHILE IT IMPROVES ITS POSITION THROUGH
SURROGATES ON THE GROUND. EVENTS ON THE BATTLEFIELD DURING
tTIGHT nF eFPTEMBER 10 r.ivF FIRh' E V I D E OF THE LATTER AND MORE
IM1PORTA'LU_ Nei NSTITUTED SERIOUS THREAT OF DECISIVE
141LITARY DEFEAT OF THE ARMED FORCES "ttt' E T OF
LEBA~tON 1'.H I CH COULD i NVOL V
THE FALL OF THE GOVERNMENT WITHIN 2 L HOURS. LET US BE CLEAR:
LAST NIGHT' S BATTLE WAS WAGED (AT SUO-AL-GHARB) WITHIN FIVE
KILOMETERS OF THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE (AND OUR RESIDENCE IN
YARZE). FOR THOSE AT THE STATE
DER -VRT-YENT, THIS WOULD CORRESPOND TO THE ENEMY BEING ON THE
ATTACK-DN CAPITOL HILL. A SECOND ATTACK AGAINST
THE SAME LAF UNIT IS EXPECTED THIS EVENING. LOSSES
SUFFERED LAST EVENING IN PERSONNEL, AMMUNITION (WE BELIEVE
THEY ARE DOWN- TO A DAY AND A HALF OF REMAINING 155M14
AM,MUNITION) AND MORALE RAISE SERIOUS POSSIBILITY THAT EMENY
B R I G A D E , W H I C H E N J O Y S GREATER-STRENGTH, RESUPPLY CAP ABILITY, :
AND UNLIMITED Fl RE SUP PORT COULD BRE AK THROUGH AND PENETRATE
THE BEIRUT PERIMETER. IN SHORT, TONIGHT WE COULD BE BEHIND
ENEMY LINES.
4. FACED WITH THIS THREAT WHICH PROBABLY CANNOT BE CONTAINED
BY THE LEBANESE ARMY FOR MUCH LONGER WE MUST DECIDE WHETHER
THE US WILL, BY WHITHH0LDING DIRECT SUPPORT, ALLOW"THE FALL OF
THE GOVERNMENT. THE NEW ELEMENT WHICH SHOULD BE SERIOUSLY
ADDRESSED IN OUR CALCULUS-IS THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME THE
THREAT APPEARS TO BE UIi AMB I G000SLY FOREIGN. S P E C I F.I CALLY,
THE ATTACK LAST EVENING IS REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED
BY A PLA BRIGADE. IT IS COMPRISED OF PALESTINIAN
SOLDIERS COMMANDED BY SYRIAN OFFICERS AND DIRECTLY CONTROLLED
BY THE SARG. IN SHORT IF TRUE THIS REPRESENTS FOREIGN
AGGRESSION AGAINST LEBANON.
5. ;OUR RULES"OF Eti GAG EMENT._=AS.AMPLIFIED:BY_NATI0NAL_SECURI-T Ye-
,'DECISION D I_REC T I VE APPROVED SEPTEMBER 16_..ALLOW. THE USE OF US'
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le IL ITARY- FORCE- ONLYIt1-SELF-DEFENSE:` IN CONSIDERING THE
THREAT NOW POSED TO AMERICANS (THE MNF, OTHER US MI L I TARY
P E R S O N N E L I N B E I RUT AND THE U S D I PLOMAT I C PRESENCE) , 1'iE _MUST
RE COG NIZE'THAT.:-TO_:WA_I:T_UNTI L*-AN__ATTACK lS'-.AT.-0UR
D O O R S T E P - B E F O R E . - . R E S P O N D I N G -WOULD, B.E_ T O O . LATE.' T H I S RE OU I RES
A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF- JUDGMENT ON THE SCENE TO BE ABLE TO DEAL
IN A TIV,,ELY FASHION WITH A CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER. IN MY
JUDGMENT THAT DANGER TO AMERICANS WOULD EXIST IF SYRIAN-
SUPPORTED FORCES
BT
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CAPTURE SUO-AL-GHARB. C'ONSEOUENTLY, IT IS WITHIN OUR CURRENT RULES
OF ENGAGEMENT, IN MY JUDGMENT, TO TAKE ACTION TO PREVENT SUCH
A LOSS FROM OCCURING. TO STATE CLEARLY THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WHAT
I AM SAYING, fi._"AM`RECOMMENDING THAT US' FORCES SUPPORT THE"LAF.
II ITS DEFENSE-OF SU0-AL-GHARB WITH FIRE SUPPIPLI TO INCLUDE
T A C A l B V O I U uttISION IS TAKEN, BUT NOT AT TAE LOST OF DELAY PAST TONIGHT.
5. IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND, AS WE. HAVE STRESSED IN RECENT
WEEKS, THAT THIS IS NOT A PURELY CIVIL CONFLICT. THIS REALITY WAS
UNDERSCORED IN LAST NIGHT'S ACTION BY THE FACT THAT 'THERE WERE
APPARENTLY NO LEBANESE INVOLVED I N THE ATTACKING GROUND FORCES.
THE FORCE IS REPORTED TO BE COMPRISED OF A PLA BRIGADE AND IRANIAN
ELEMENTS. THE BATTLE WAS SAVAGE AND INCLUDED AXE FIGHTING AND
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BRUTAL HAND-TO-HAND COMBAT. I DO NOT SAY THIS TO BE
MELODRAMATIC BUT TO MAKE CLEAR THAT THE GOL MAY BE
THREATENED WITH IMPENDING TAKEOVER BY SURROGATE FOREIGN
FORCES. I AM VERY CONSCIOUS OF THE DIFFICULTY OF TAKING SUCH
A DECISION IN A CLIMATE OF PUBLIC AND CONGRESSIONAL IGNORANCE
S U C H AS E X I S T S I N THE US TODAY. THE FACT I S, HOWEVER, THAT WE7
MAY--WEL-L-*BE-AT-A TURNING- POINT WHICH W1 LL LEAD. IN'A MATTER OF
DA T0 'A SYRIAN TAKEOVER OF THIS COUNTRY NORTH OF THE AWALI.
CIT^ISYREOUESTED- THAT THIS SITUATION BE CONSIDERED BY THE-NSC
:AND--GUIDANCE- PROV IDED.WI-THIN -THE NEXT FOUR HOURS'SO AS TO
FACILITATE THE NE LANNING AND COORDINATION IF NEW RULES
OF ENGAGE'MfN.T .,ARE APPROVED. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I F WE DO NOT
ACHIEVE A CEASEf l`Rf AND THE ATTACK TAKES PLACE, WE MUST BE READY
TO CARRY OUT AN IM1;IEIDATE EVACUATION. IT IS CONCEIVABLE THAT
TONIGHT'S ATTACK WILL BE CONTAINED, THAT SYRIA WILL DISCONTINUE
ITS SUPPORT-AND THAT A CEASEFIRE CAN BE ES-TABL I SHED- THAT SEEMS
UNLIKELY TO ME. YEN IF _IYE- GETBY TONIGHT UNLESS \YE
'SEE A^C"HANGE' IN-SYR-IAN POL Y E.SURVIVAL-OF. THIS-GOVERN= -
!MENT-1S-MFASHRFD IN DAYS.` I SEND THIS CABLE VIITH THE
EMBARRASSMENT BORNE .OF DEALING WITH PEOPLE WHO EXAGGERATE.
THE INTELLIGENCE CONCERNING UAST NIGHT'S BATTLE MAY BE INFLATED
AND THUS NOTHING MAY HAPPEN TONIGHT. STILL IT IS OUR COLLECTIVE
JUDGMENT (MCFARLANE/FAIRBANKS/D ILL ON/ST I NER) THAT THE BALANCE
OF FORCES (TAKING INTO ACCOUNT SYRIAN SURROGATES AND SYRIAN
SUPPLIES) IS LOPSIDELY AGAINST THE GOL AND THAT ABSENT'A.POLITICAC
;SETTLEMENT,. THE GOL CANNOT--'PREVAIL ALONE:' THE USE OF U. S. TAC Al R
AND F IRE SUPPORT WOULD NOT "WIN THE WAR", BUT COULD PROVIDE
THE MUSCLE NEEDED TO GET THE SYRIANS TO BARGAIN SERIOUSLY. BECAUSE
THE FORCES EMPLOYED ARE STILL SURROGATES AND NOT DIRECT SARG
ARMY, THEY HAVE RETAINED A MEASURE OF DENIABILITY AND HENCE CAN
STILL AGREE POLITICALLY WITHOUT A TOTAL LOSS OF FACE. AS
YOU KNOW, I AM NOT GIVEN TO HAND WRINGING AND I AM FULLY
CONCIOUS THAT THE COMPETING DEMANDS IN
CENTRAL AMERICA AND ELSEWHERE MAY HAVE LED US TO A DECISION TO
CUT OUR LOSSES. IF SO, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THAT, SO AS TO DEAL
IN GOOD FAITH WITH THE GOL AND PLAN FOR THE PROTECTION OF
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SECRET
THE WHITE HOUSE
91075 Add-On
September 11, 1983
Addendum to NSDD. 103 On- Lebanon of September 10, 1983
SECRET
It has been determined that occupation of the dominant terrain
in the vicinity of SUQ-AL-GHARB by hostile forces will endanger
Marine positions. Therefore., successful LAF defense of the
area of SUQ-AL-GHARB is vital-to the safety of'US personnel
(USM,NF, other US military personnel in.Beirut, and the US
diplomatic presence). As a consequence, when the US ground
cc,-rimander determines that SUQ-AL-GHARB is in danger of falling
as a result of attack involving non-Lebanese forces and if
requested by the host government, appropriate US military
assistance in defense of'SUQ-AL-GHARB.is authorized. Assistance
for this specific objective may -include -naval gun-fire support
and, if deemed necessary,. tactical air strikes, but shall
exclude ground forces. (S)
I further direct that the Secretary of. St ate. immediately .
inform and consult with other 12,'F contributor governments
and appropriate Congressional leadership on this directive. (S)
SECRET
Declassify on: OPDR COr'j' Oi CO' : :IES
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finite House News Summary iaesday, Septanber 13, 1983 - B-2
NE ORK .-h-WS. SU2-'-Ry FOR MONDAY EVENING, Seutenber 12, 1983 {continued)
MIDEAS'T'--CBS's- Bob- Sirnon -retorts. from- Beirut: Ancient Lebanese blood-feuds are
(cont.) developing into one more contest between-.the superpowers. The
questions which were asked in Vietnam, which were being asked in
Salvador, are coming up again. Can the U.S. train, equip and motivate
enough Lebanese soldiers fast enough? And if not, what then? U.S.
officers say a pullout could change the map of the Mideast.
c Rather: 'Ambassador M Farlane has reccxrmended, that the r'arines be:`
allcwed-to use air strikes to defend their positions.' Larry Speakes
said no decision has yet been made on that recommendation. (CBS-2)
ABC's Peter- Jennings: Three more U. S. warships have arrived off the -
coast. They are carrying 2,000 more Marines. Marine positions have
been shelled again. Three were slightly wounded.,
ABC's-Hal-Walker: McFarlane met with Ge:nayel F-nid speculation that
negotiations under the auspices of American and Saudi Arabian
mediators may soon produce a cease-fire. The draft of a peace
proposal acceptable to Syria is said to have been signed by Jumblatt
and is being considered by the Lebanese government. A key issue
still to be..resolved is the arra.ngennt for removing the army and the
Christian militia from the central mountains. (ABC-4)
:NBC's Chris Name: Top Aorninistration-"officials-have asked -the-
- ; President to.. seriously consider a i r 5-.S., t-positions in Lebanon as- _a way__to --stop_w-hat they charge is Syrian--
aggression in the area. Administration officials make these points:
The air strike idea is still an option and any military action would
be coordinated through th'e multinational force. But advocates say an
air strike on Syrian positions would go to the source, stun the
Syrians and get them to stop causing trouble. One top official said
the point is not to wage war, the,point is to strengthen our military
position in order to strengthen our diplomacy. These officials say
the Syrians are the main cause of the current fighting in Lebanon.
What alarms them most, they say, is that Syrian forces have begun
moving into areas from which the Israelis have just withdrawn. One
official said the Syrians clearly seem headed for Beirut. If the
Marines continue to take casualties, officials predict a major battle
within the Administration, one side arguing the U.S. cannot become
involved in a civil war, the other side arguing the U. S. must stand up
to the Syrians and their Soviet backers.
NEC's Brokaw and Wallace:
Brokaw: How are they figuring the Soviet angle?
Wallace: It is a big concern here. They understand that you have a
possibility of the two superpowers eyeball-to-eyeball. On the other
hand, the advocates of more military force say it's worth the risk,
that if the U.S. is to have any credibility in the world it rrrust be
willing to use force against its enemies.
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1,bite House News Summary
Tuesday, September 13, 1983 - B-3
N ^:ORK ?,cans SWAARY FOR MONDAY EVENING, Sevtenber 12, 1983 (continued)
MIDEAST-Brokaw: Within the Administration, who's for this idea of going after
(cont.) the Syrians and who's against it?
Wallace: There are some interestingcdalitions, t''ii~ual":coalitions.
,Our sources say McFarlane, the NSC staff and the-State Department)
are all calling for more military force. On the other hand,'Casey,-
'some defense officials, like Gen. Vessey:and the political types._at'
the Amite House are all worried about deeper U.S. involvement:_r
- (N--Lead)
CONGRESS-CBS's. Rather: 1vnat to do about the downing of the Korean jetliner was
just one of the orders of business confronting Congress as they came -
back from surm er recess.
CBS's Phil Jones: This is a somber Congress that returned to work
facing -a different world than it left five weeks ago. (Sen. Baker:
"There's a sob-wing realization that we've got a dangerous situation
on our hands.") It was clear that the Russians had managed to do what
Ronald Reagan had been unable to do, rally sincere and unanimous
bipartisan support for the President on a foreign policy issue.
A joint leadership resolution was introduced in the Senate for "one
of the most infamous- and reprehensible acts in-aviation history.' It
demanded a Soviet apology and coaupensation to families of victims.
And there was agreement that this had enhanced passage of funding for
controversial defense programs such as the-tX, that it had probably
killed for now efforts by the nuclear freeze movment to get the Senate
to pass a freeze. And it had even danage3 efforts in Congress to
limit the President's funds for covert activities in Central America.
But the 'President was in tirouble with his Mideast policy. (Speaker
O'Neill: "...it seems to ine the War Powers Act should be in effect.")
But James Baker came to argue with O'Neill against invoking the ? r
Powers resolution. On the Senate floor, Mathias offered a way out for
Congress and the President, -a resolution triggering the War Powers
resolution but authorizing Americans to remain in Lebanon for six
months. instead of 60-90 days. - So the mood here is not to do anything
that will give the idea the Congress and the President are divided.
(CBS-4)
ABC's Brit Hume: Congress returned to a political atmosphere much
changed by the Soviet downing of Flight 7 and by American bloodshed
in Lebanon. (Speaker O'Neill: T'This is not the time for us to
run. If we were to run out of Lebanon at this time, I mean, we lose
all credence and respect of the rest of the world.") (Sen. Baker:
"There's a sobering realization that we've got a dangerous situation
on our hands from a foreign policy standpoint.") In the House, 19
members rose to denounce the Soviets. And there was praise for the
President 'from both conservative Republicans and liberal D`nocrats.
But James Baker was here to scout a problem that still exists, despite
the improved outlook for the Reagan defense policies. Many still want
the War Powers Act imposed. Senior Administration sources tell ABC
that while the President will not himself invoke the act, he would not
veto a congressional decision to do so. (ABC-3)
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eu~all AumGrlzes
Marines ? o Call ~n
eirut Str"I
By Lou Cannon
and George C. Wilson
W snmr.o r-cx staff K'r.:us
;`President Reagan' hs authorized
es -gin Beirut -to call in ail
:sz.th es against forces shelling theirs
:positions,- seeing notice on Syria
t".at the United States is ready to
date its firepower in Lebanon,
ii hite House officials said last night.`
Althou h the authorization may
increase pressure in Congress to in-
voke the War Powers Resolution,
V, rite House officials told Demo-
cvatic House leaders yesterday that
Reagan remrns opposed to invoking
a section of the act that could re-
qui.-e withdrawal of U.S. forces from
Lebanon in 60 to 10 days.
"We don't want to have ouz hands
tied that way," a senior administra-
tion offical said.
f The de,sion a 1 fig the marines'
;to call for air- strikes was made by-'
;too administration -"executives-arid
repress ntatn'es of the Joint Chiefs of
S ~f ih a series of meetings over the
weekend, sources said.The'strongest
--leas for additional military ac=
'tion, they said, ame in c rnmuJ-
`cations from Robert C. Mcr arlane,
:
_ea__an_ Middle-Fast special envoy'
His empts, officials said, was
not cniy that the marines must be
given mere protection by having au-
t::crity to can in their AVS Harrier
~_hte: ombes and Navy A6 bomb-
ers from the carrier USS Eisenhower
off Beirut, but also that the U.S.
zove:-ment mmt demonstrate to
A. ab nations that it is a reliable ally.
imong tbose'-mvolved i5".th
w aten d inertnrs were national .e7,
C: airy aI airs adviser Wiliam P
C
Secretary of State George' P.
'Shuitom _Se=ctary of Defer . aspar'
;W.-_Weinberger and Armv"Gen .?JoI ri._\V
Ve sev Jr.." chairman of the Joint Caiefs:
;officials said.
The president approved their recommen-
dations, an official said, and agreed that
marines in Beirut could ask for help from
Marine and Navy fighter-bombers without
always going up the chain of command to
Washington.
After the meeting on the War Powers
Resolution, White House officials said they
were receptive to alternative congressional
action that would put an 1S-month limit on
the mission of the marines in Lebanon and
restrict their role in the combat there.
The White House meeting was attended
by chief of staff James A. Baker 114, House
Speaker Thomas P. (Tip) O'Neill Jr. (D-
Mass.) and other Democratic congressmen.
At the State Department, spokes.-aan
Alan Romberg said there is "incr -sing ev-
idence" that Syrian-!sacked units oE-the Pal-
estine Liberation Organization are taking
part in the heavy fighting around Beirut
Senior apartment officials said privately
that there is no logger any doubt that PLO
forces are fighting alongside Lebanese fac-
tions working against President Amin Ge-
mayel and that Syria has been providing
a.,;,~s and logistical assistance.
White House officials said that congres-
sional leaders had been supportive privately
of administration actions in Lebanon, but
also said they believed that Reagan, under
a provision of the 1973 War Powers Res-
olution, is required to inform Congress that
U.S. troops are involved in a situation
"where imminent involvement in hostilities
is clearly indicated by the circu;rstances."
Once the president took such an action,
he would be obliged to withdraw U.S. forces
within 90 days unless Cencress during that
period approved keeping the marines on
station. Patting such a clock?on the mission
"would send the wrong signal-to our
troops. to our allies and to the Sv.-iar..-
said one administration official.
Another official said this also would be
likely to touch otT a domestic political de-
batee that would complicate U.S. diplomatic
efforts in the region.
U.S. officials say invocation of the r0-day
provision would be "a wrong signal' in that
it would encourage the Syrians to hang
hack from diplomatic efforts to end the
fighting in Lebanon. Some officials said
that, on the contrary, the Syrians would be
likely to increase their support of Gem2yel's
opponents in the hope of drawing U.S. ma.
rines into combat and increasing U.S. do-
mestic pressure for withdrawal
These officials said- that a presidential
signal of withdrawal also could be harmful
to the morale of the marines and might
encourage the French, who also I-ave troops
in Lebanon that have taken: casualties, to
reconsider their role.
According to administration officials.
House Foreign Affaire Committee Chair-
man Clement J. Zabiocki (D-\Vis.) and
O'Neill said they believe' the `imminent
hostilities" section of the War Powers Res-
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olution should have been invoked Aug. 29,
the day two marines were killed in Leba-
non.
%Vhite House strategy is to seek a com-
promise that would demonstrate congres-
sional -support for the U.S. peace-keeping
effort in Lebanon, without yielding on the
administrations basic legal position that
the disputed section of the War Powers
Resolution is inapplicable.
Officials said the \`-nirte '.-louse 4 willing
to accept a congressional initiative, also
provided for in the War Powers Resolution,
that would restrict the mission and role of
marines in Lebanon but could not force
their withdrawal within the next few
months.
"We're seeking bir.a.-tian support, not a
Tonkin Gulf resolution," said one White
House official, in reference to the unlimited
declaration of consreSsional support won by
President Johnson. That resolution became
the basis for brcadscale U.S. participation
in the V ietnam war.
This official said that a resolution ex-
Dressing support for ad .inistration objec-
tives but imposing an 15-month limit would
.be "beneficial" from the point of view of
persuading the Syrians that Reazan's de-
ployment of marines has L.S. domestic
backing.
?nat adminis ation officials are most
anxious to prevent, a concern they say is
shared by some congr?sional leaders, is a
free for-all debate in Congress that would
be interpreted as a sign of U.S. weakness
The consultations yesterday were con-
ducted by a WVhite House team of Baler,
presidential assistant "Richard G. Darman
and chief of legislative liaison Kenneth Du-
be-stein with O'Neill, Zablocki and House
Majority Leader James C. Wright Jr. (D-
Tex.). They are scheduled to continue
today with other members of Congress
The negotiations came amid what U.S.
analysts say they believe is a stepped-up
Syr;
a*i effort to bring down the Gemayel
government.
State Department officials said that,
while the evidence is not conclusive, there
are some grounds for believing that the
groups attacking the Lebanese Army in-
clude some. Tian troops, wearing the uni-
forms of the irregular militias, and some
Iranian revolutionary 'cards known to be
in Lebanon to encourage pro-Khomeini
sentiment among the Shiite Moslem pop-
ulation.
These officials said u- e Palestinian right-
ers involved appear to be drawn both from
Syrian-sponsored Palestinian guerrilla
groups that have kept separate from the
PLO and from PLO units that recently reb-
elled against the leader hip of Chairman
asser Arafat and have come under Saran
a.^troL Syrian
! .1)e involvement of a estiniars has
been confirmed through - interception of
m - sales and identification of fighters
killed in weekend clashes with the Leba-
nee - nnv, these officials said.
Staff writer John M. Geshko con.rfb-
ufed to this report.
11
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/07/06: CIA-RDP88B00443R000903770011-7
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/07/06: CIA-RDP88B00443R000903770011-7
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ABOARD LENDING II BEGIN 511 YUVT L.' AT U4 r. r.r ~'VULI T BUT NAY +r.`aL.?T. r. r.1:T'Ir. r.T o Itl MOMENT.
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HEAD HAS C.:] SENT iii7 7 l ALL THIS INDICATES THAT TUL
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T TJ;;;_ T ., Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/07/06: CIA-RDP88B00443R000903770011-7
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/07/06: CIA-RDP88B00443R000903770011-7
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Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/07/06: CIA-RDP88B00443R000903770011-7
 k L I V L I
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/07/06: CIA-RDP88B00443R000903770011-7
WHITE HOUSE SITUATION ROOM
PAGE 01 OF 02 DAMASCUS 7212 DTG: 1305382 SEP '83'- - PSN:'970935.
511994 AN9121*02 TOR: 256/05412
DISTRIBUTION: Vt'FC JP - VP TEIC SIT EOB D -UR /919
\HSR COMMENT: CHECKLIST
OP I Mhi ED
DE RUEHDM =7212. 2569539
0 139538Z SEP 83 ZFF4
FM AMEMEASSY DAMASCUS
TO SECSTATE.WASHDC NIACT IMMEDIATE 3852
lt'HITEHOUSE WASHDC NIACT IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY J I D D A IMMEDIATE 6761
INFO AMEMBASSY BEIRUT IMMEDIATE 1139
S E C R E T DAMASCUS 97.212
EXDIS {
J IDDA PLEASE PASS MCF ARL ANE ~OONEST
E. 0. 12356: DECL:. OADR.
TAGS: PREL, OTRA (MCFARLANE, ROBERT), SY
SUBJECT MCFARLANE/FAIRB-ANKSM ISSION: TROUBLE` ON MCFARLANE'-
CREDUE.STF ORAPPOINTME1,T_WIT.H SY.RIAN _-PRES1_OEN_T"
i. ASSAD'
R E F S : A ) B E I R U T 1 0 9 8 3 ; B ) J I D D A 7 57 1
1. SECRET - ENTIRE TEXT. THIS' IS AN ACTION MESSAGE.
2. IN FOLLOWING UP ON OUR REQUEST FOR YOUR APPOINTMENTS
HERE WITH MFA, (WE HAVE RUN T,I_NTO-.:SAME 'OLD_ SONG AND. DANCE'.
(AB0UTYOUR-..SEEING.;:ASSAD MFA HAS TOLD. US THAT ASSAD IS ON
VACATION I N L AT,AK I A, AND I N ANY CASE, KHADDAM I S SARG' S
ANOINTED "NEGOTIATOR." I HAVE PRESSED FOR ASSAD APPOINT-
I'ENT T 1'dICE ALREADY, REMINDING SYRIANS THAT ASSAD HAS
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/07/06: CIA-RDP88B00443R000903770011-7
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/07/06: CIA-RDP88B00443R000903770011-7
WHITE HOUSE. SITUATION ROOM
PAGE 92 OF 92 DAMASCUS- 7212 DTG: 13135382 SEP 83 PSN:-979S33
RECEIVED A VARIETY OF VISITORS IN LATAKIA INCLUDING BANDAR,
JAPANESE, BULGARIANS, ETC. KHADDAM HAS SENT. BACK SAME -
ANSWER, I . E. , -HE WILL DO THE NEGOTIATING.
3. I RECALL THAT BANDAR EXTRACTED COMMITMENT FROM ASSAD
THAT HE WOULD SEE Y.OU IF YOU ARE-CARRYING A PRESIDENTIAL
MESSAGE OR AT TIME OF CRISIS. LATTER CONDITION CERTAINLY
APPLIES, BUT I ALSO SUGGEST .THAT YOU CAST YOUR DEMARCHE
IN THE FORM OF' AN ORAL MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT TO ASSAD.
4. WE ARE SEVERELY HANDICAPPED IN THIS MATTER SINCE ASSAD
I S O U T OF TOWN, AND ANYWAY WE O N L Y H A V E A C C E S S TO H I M
THROUGH THE MFA. I RECOMMEND THAT YOU ASK BANDAR, OR
BETTER YET KING FAHD HIMSELF, TO PHONE ASSAD OR OTHERWISE
GET MESSAGE TO HIM DIRECTLY URGING THAT HE- RECEIVE YOU.
E -
5. WOULD APPRECIATE EARLIEST POSSIBLE NOTICE OF YOUR
D FIRM ..TRAVEL PLANS FROM J IDDA TO- DAMASCUS.
6. AFTER ABOVE DRAFTED WE HEARD RAD I O ISRAEL 9899 HOURS
LT SEPT. 13 REPORT CDUOTl N-G--N~-C'AND_:ABC -NEWS` STOP, I-ESTTHAT~r
;.MCFARLkhE kf~D _STATE.DE.PTARE ADVOCAT:1 NG--AI R-"STRIKES":ON`r
TLE3ANON BUT;PENT:AG0N_`AND'-CJ A:'D I RECTOR'
SYR1ANF0R
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S
.
.
__
.
'CASEY--ARE?PRESE:NTLY"0PP0SED:.- _TH-IS COULD_HkV E SOME- fF-F.EC-T-
X !ON YOUR PROPOSED:^VI S:1 T HERE, TO SAY. THE LEAST-i'
S 7. BEIRUT-Il11IN IMIZE CONSIDERED. PAGANELLI
BT
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/07/06: CIA-RDP88B00443R000903770011-7
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/07/06: CIA-RDP88B00443R000903770011-7
tit i II I I IvvvL_ VII LI Th i IvI\ I )vvIVI ylU/L
PAGE?01 OF 03 BEIRUT 9947
SIT73E AN01P91&
D T G : 6561047 S E P 83 PSN:063556
TOR: 252/01132
DISTRIBUTION: WPC JP YP TEIC 511 EOB. /009
OP I I,,MIE D
DE RUEHBL =9947 2520105
0 090104Z SEP 83 ZFF4
~S 1r YASUDC N I ACT I MMED I ATE 2921
\iHITEH0USE IYASHDC IMMEDIATE
S E C R E T BEIRUT 09947
N NOD IS
0 WH11EHOUSE FOR JUDGE CLARK
SECSTATE PLEASE PASS TO SECDEF AND CJCS
FROM AMBASSADOR MCFARLANE
S E.O. 1235-6 DECL: OADR -
TAGS: PREL MARK MOPS
1 U 1 . I 1 U N J I -1."';i lT?`~--ti -rR?a ~'~''~
1. (SECRET - ENTIRE TEXT)
2. WHILE IN WASHINGTON LAST WEEKEND I EXPRESSED, IN' NSC MEETINGS
AND IN THE BRIEFING TO THE CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP, MY VIEW THAT
THE CENTRAL FACTOR IN THE LEBANON CONFLICT IS SYRIA'S DETERMINATION
TO MAINTAIN AN ENDURING INFLUENCE OVER LEBANESE POLICY. GIVEN HE R.-
OVERViHELMIN' G MILITARY POWER RELATIVE TO LEBANON, AND ABSENT MAJOR
THIRD COUNTRY MILITARY INTERVENTION IN BEHALF OF LEBANON, SYRIA CAN
ACHIEVE HER GOAL. SHE CAN EXERCISE HER INFLUENCE TO A GREATER OR
LESSER DEGREE BY, MAINTAINING OCCUPATION FORCES IN THE COUNTRY AND/OR
RELYING UPON LEBANESE POLITICANS I N THE CAB I NET WHO ARE SENSITIVE
TO SYRIAN CONCERNS. FACED WITH THIS PROBLEM, OUR POLICY HAS BEEN
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/07/06: CIA-RDP88BOO443R000903770011-7
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/07/06: CIA-RDP88B00443R000903770011-7
vvrii I C nVUJC JI I UN I i u i N IlJ'JiVI
P A G E D 2 O F D 3 BE I RUT 9947 D T G : 090 104Z SEP -3 PSN: 063556
TO INSIST UPON SYRIAN VII THDRA1''AL F ROM, LEBANON BUT TO AGREE TO THE
FORMATION OF A GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL UNITY, ACCEPTING THAT IT WILL
SU'RE'LY INCLUDE FIGURES BEHOLDEN TO SYRIA (E, 7&.. F R A N J IYYEH, -KARAMI
AND BAR RI). OUR POLITICAL STRATEGY HAS BEEN TO DEVELOP THE BROADEST.
S POSSIBLE SUPPORT FOR LEBANON' S FORMAL CALL FOR SYRIAN -WITHDRAWAL
THROUGH B I LATERAL CONTACTS. AND (IN THE DAYS AHEAD) THE UNITED NATIONS
I
.S
CONCURRENTLY WE HAVE ENDORSED THIRD COUNTRY SUPPORT FOR LEBANON'S
CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE IN PLACE, AN I!~I,EDIATE CONVENING OF THE LEADERS
FOR TH.E NATIONAL DIALOGUE, 14INOR. REDEPLOYI EN.T OF LEBANESE FORCES Ib
THE BEIRUT AREA AND AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE FOR THE ULTIMATE DEPLOY-
MENT OF LEBANESE ARMY FORCES TO MAINTAIN ORDER IN THE SHUF AND
BEYOND. TO GIVE CREDIBILITY TO THIS POSITION WE, AND OUR ALLIES,
HAVE GRADUALLY EXPANDED OUR 11ILITA1Y FORCE PRESENCE IN THE AREA.
IT HAS BEEN OUR HOPE THAT SYRIA WILL RESPOND TO THIS COLLECTIVE
POLITICAL AND MILITARY PRESSURE AND ACCEDE TO THE CEASEFIRE THE
FORMATION OF THE GNU, AND WITHDRAW HER FORCES, ETC. INTELLIGENCE
REPORTS RECEIVED WITHIN THE PAST TWO DAYS AND PRINCE BANDAR' S
DEBRIEF OF DUPLICITOUS AND MERCURIAL RHETORIC TO THE EFFECT THAT
THEY ARE PREPARED TO PUT 26,000 SOLDIERS INTO THE SHUF DISGUISED.
AS P S P I F N E C E S S A R Y T O C H A J d G E T H E G O V E R N M E N T I I- B E I R U T , J UST I FY A
REVIEW OF OUR STRATEGY AGAINST THE POSSIBILIG THAT SYRIA HAS NOT
YET FOUND OUR STRATEGY CREDIBLE. WEBEL I EYE FURTHER THAT PROPOSALS
SUCH AS ARE CONTAINED IN THE STRATEGY PAPER AND DRAFT NSDD FOR THE
GRADUAL EXPANSION OF FORCE PRESENCE TO RESOLVE THE LEBANESE CRISIS
COULD BE AT BEST IRRELEVANT, AND AT WORST CATASTROPHIC UNLESS APPLIED
IN THE CONTEXT OF A SPECIFIC STRATEGY DESIGNED TO BRING AN EARLY
POSITIVE CHANCE IN SYRIAN BEHAVIOR. ON THE OTHER HAND WE BELIEVE
THAT THE STRATEGIC ESCALATION -- IN BOTH POLITICAL AND MILITARY
TERMS -- COULD ACHIEVE THE DESIRED RESULT.
3. IN PRACTICAL TERMS WE BELIEVE THERE ARE THREE CRITICAL CONDITIONS
WHICH SHOULD APPLY BEFORE SUCH AN ESCALATION IS CONTEMPLATED. FIRST,
THAT W 7E ARE A B S O L U T E L Y C L E A R A B O U T OUR OWN POL I CYAND ITS L 1141 TS
AND COND I T IONS; SECOND, THAT W',E HAVE' THE ACTIVE SUPPORT OF OUR MNF
PARTNERS: THIRD, THAT THE KEY MODERATE ARAB STATES, PARTICULARLY
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 i f 1 11 1 L.. 1 l vvv I.~ VI I v/ l I Iv! I I ' t.'III
P A G E ' 0 3 O F 0 3 BE I RUT 9947
-1 DTG: 090104Z SEP S3 PSN:063556
SAUDI ARABIA, BACK UP . OUR STRATEGY AND OPPOSE SYR I A. THE STRATEGY
WOULD B E B A S E D U P O N T H E P R E M I S E THAT SYRI..A HAS 1 0 INTENTION OF
AGREE I NG E I THEIR TO A CEASEF IRE, TO THE SUPPORT OF A NATIONAL
DIALOGUE IN LEBANON OR TO THE WITHDRAWAL OF HER OWN FORCES BUT
ASSUMES T H A T WH I L E SHE MAY TAKE A POS I T I VE POSITION ON THESE
ELEMENTS PUBLICLY SHE WILL CONCURRENTLY PROPOSE SUCH PRECONDITIONS
AS TO MAKE HER REALIZATION IMPOSSIBLE 17HILE. ON THE GROUND, SHE
SUPPORTS AND ULTIMATELY CONSTRICTS (THROUGH THE PSP) THE ENCLAVE
OF BE I RUT LEADJ ING TO THE FALL OF THE COVE Rf,',',,E 111T.
BT
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? V1'nl Fc HOUSE SIT U;; I iON ROOMi
P A G E - ' 0 1 OF 0 2 BE I RUT= 948 DTG: 050109Z SEP. 83 ' PSN: 06357-E.
5 11771 ANO18951 TOR: 252/0126Z
DI-S.TRIEUTION: WPC JP VP TEI'C SIT EOB /009
0 P 11. E.D
DE RUEHBL -9548 2520115
0 090109Z SEP 83.ZFr'4
F6` A14EMBASSY BE IRUT
TO SECSTATE WASHDC NIACT IMMEDIATE 2922
V,HITEHOUSE W.A.SHDC I`t`.,"EDIATE
S E C R E T SECTION 02 OF 02 BEIRUT 65.947
NOD I S
FROM AMBASSADOR It`CF ARLANE
4 . T H E SUBSTANCE O F T H E C O L L E C T I V E .POL I T ]-CAL POS I T-I ON WOULD SE
A OUADRIPARTITE CALL FOR: AN IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE IN PLACE; MINOR
LAF REDEPLOYMENTS WITHIN BEI~, UT: COMMENCE ME WI OF AN IItMEDIATE PROESS
OF WITHDRAWAL OF ALL FOREIGN FORCES TO BE COMPLETED WITHIN X MONTHS;
AND AGREEMENT IN"- PRINCIPLE 01, THE ULTIMATE EXTENSION OF LEBANESE
SOVEREIGNTY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY VIA GRADUAL L AF PRESENCE I N
EVACUATED AREAS. WE 170ULD IN ADDITION TAKE THE POSITION THAT NO
COUNTRY WOULD BE ALLOWED TO SUBVERT THIS PROCESS AND THAT TO ENSURE
AGAINST THIS CONTINGENCY T. HE MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE 1',OULD POSITION
UNITS AT STRATEGIC LOCATIONS (I:E., NOTABLY AT THE PASSES LEADING.
WEST, ARD FR014 THE BEKKA ON THE BE I PUT-DAIrMASCUS HIGHWAY.) I T I S
OUR JUDGMENT THAT AS A PRACTICAL MATTER THE FOUR FLAGS ACCOMPANIED
BY A MODEST FORCES WOULD CONSTITUTE A SUFFICIENT DETERRENT TO SYRIAN
AND/OR PALESTINIAN INFILTRATION.
5. YWE BELIEVE THAT A JOINT US- UK-FRENCH- ITALAA.N DEMARCHE TO SYRIA
111TH AT LEAST PARALLEL, STRONG SAUDI AND OTHER MODERATE ARAB
BACKING, ALONG THE LINES DESCRIBED ABOVE, COULD HAVE THE DESIRED
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\VHITE HOUSE SITUATION ROOMi
PAGE 02 OF 02 BE iRUT-:.i948 D T G : 090109Z SEP 83 PSN: 06357X.
EFFECT. OUR POINT IS THAT THERE IS NO USEFUL PURPOSE SERVED BY
INCRIMENTALLY ESCALATING THE PRESENCE OF AMERICAN AND OTHER MILITARY
P01'WER 1';ITH ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT GO WITH IT UNLESS. IT IS CLEAR THAT
I T HAS A G O O D C H A N C E O F ACTT I AC HIEVING I T H E DES I RED PURPOSE ( I . E.. A
CEASEF IRE AND WITHDRAWAL OF SYRIAN FORCES. IN SHORT IT SEEMS 10
US THAT WE MAY BE FALL INC INTO TRAP OF INCR1h1ENTAL ESCALATION
111HICH WILL ULTIMATELY BE EXPOSED AS A BLUFF. VIE ARE YERY MINDFUL OF
THE NEED FOR A STRATEGIC ANALYSIS TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE 1MPLIC.A-
TIONS OF SUCH A STRATEGY FOR OUR RELATIONS 111TH ISRAEL, THE CONGRESS..
AND MOST- I14P.0RTNTLY. THE SOVIET UNION. IT .IS CLE.AR-THAT SYRIA IS
A KEY ELEMENT IN SOVIET NEAR EAST STRATEGY AND WE MUST CONSIDER A
SPECTRUM OF -SOYIETRESPONSES T O ANY ESCALATORY ME.A.SURES VIE !MIGHT
~0NSIDER. WE BELIEVE. H0WEVER. THAT THERE ARE ENORh:OUS STRATEGIC.
STAKES FOR THE US AND THE WESTERN WORLD IIN THE EASTERN 111EDITER-
REAN AND THE NEAR EAST IN ADDITION TO BUT NOT SEPARATE FROM
LEBANON, THAT WOULD CERTAINLY JUSTIFY THE POSSIBLE USE OF -A!MtRICAN
M ILITARY POWER. IT IS THIS FACTOR -- WHICH ADMITTEDLY , IS EXTREMELY
DIFFICULT TO CONVEY .10 A CONGRESS WHICH HAS NOT BEEN SEIZED l'ITH
THIS ISSUE BY. PUBLIC -SPEECHES A ND FREQUENT: TESTIMONY -- \1'HIC IS OF
GREATEST IMPORTANCE TO OUR ALLIES AND FRIENDS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
6. I T MAY BE T HAT TOMORROW MORNING SYRIA WI LL AGREE TO OUR FOUR
POINT STRATEGY, C E A S E F I * R E WILL BE ESTABLISHED, THE NATIONAL
DIALOGUE WILL TAKE PLACE AND. ALL WILL BE WELL IN LEBANON. OUITE
HONESTLY, HOWEVER. I DOUBT I T. (WE HAVE J UST HAD A -CALL FROM
B.r-'.NDAR IN DAMASCUS TO THE EFFECT THAT HIS TALKS HAVE GONE BADLY AND
THAT NE1Y PRECONDITIONS HAVE BEEN ESTABL ISHED BY SYRIA. THIS SIGNALS
MY WORST FEARS THAT SYRIA IS PURSUING A STRATEGY OF DELAYING TACTICS
WHILE CHANGING THE SITUATION ON'THE GROUND.) AS A CONSEQUENCE WE
URGE YOUR CONSIDERATION OF WORST CASE SCENARIOS AND, BASED UPON
YOUR CONCLUSIONS, PROMPT CONSULTATIONS WITH ALLIES TO BE FOLLOWED
BY COORDINATED COLLECTIVE ACTION. DILLON
BT
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ARTICLE /PPEAitI9
ON PAQ$ y:-...r
WASHINGTON POST'
13 September 1983 '
Opposed to Invoking
War Powers Measure
$yLou Cannon
and George C. Wilson "_
Washln$ton Poet Stan writers
President Reagan has authorized
marines in Beirut to call in air
strikes against forces shelling their
positions, serving notice on Syria
that the United States, is. ready-to
escalate its firepower in Lebanon,
White House officials said last night.
Although the authorization .may
increase pressure in Congress .toin .
voke the War Powers Resolution;
White House officials told Demo-
cratic House leaders yesterday that
Reagan remains opposed -to -invbking
a section of the act that con ld re-
quire withdrawal of U.S. forces from
Lebanon in 60 to 90 days.,
.. "Wedon?t~want-to have our hands
tied that way,"a senior. administra-
tion official.said.. ?: ,
The decision allowing the marines
to call for air strikes was made by
top administration executives and
representatives of the Jbint Chiefs of
Staff in a series of meetings overthe
weekend, sources said. The strongest
argument for additional military ac-
tion, they ? said, came in communi-
cations from: Robert C. McFarlane,
Reagan's Middle East special,'envoy.
His emphasis, .officials=said,-was
not only that the. marines :,niust ;be
given more' protection by'havuig.au-
thority,to call in their.:AV8 Harrier
fighter-bombers and Navy-A6=bomb-
ers from:the carrier USS Eisenhower
off Beirut, but also that the U.S.
government must demonstrate to
Arab nations that it is a reliable ally.
= oee ? involved an we i `";, Once the.president took-tuidi,anliactioh,
ithd
d to
uld bli
h
f
.
g
e ,..
-
runty affairs ._ adviser Wdlism P . ,'
CiaalC, fie tary bf State'1Geeege P : within 90 days unless Congress during that
period approved keeping the marines on
;
acre of iSef+e:~se'?Gsr
Shuiti,
-' y-?- station. Putting such a clock on the mission
W. Weinberger and Army Gen. John W. send the.-:wrc>p8at8nal=to' our
'Vessey lr ; chairman of the -Joint Chiefs, troops, allies and to the Syrians,"
officials -said.
The president approved their said one.administration official.
recoramen-
:Another official said this _also:would be
:..dations, an -official said, and _agreed that marines in Beirut could ask for help from likely to touch off a domestic. political de-
'
Marine and Navy fighter-bombers without `bate that would-complicate US. diplomatic
always going up the chain of command to "efforts in the region.
Washingt p. U.S. officials say invocation of the90-day
After ;tie meeting on ; the War _Powers provision would be "a wrong-AiA gnal" in that
R s ? :
Reso{rrecep'~Vhite House officials said they, b it would from encouradiplomagetic',thee. efforts Syrians to Ao end hang
the
were ~ecep lye to alternative congressional fighting in Lebanon. `Some ;6j6&ls -raid
aWon.thatiwould put an 18-monili-limiton .that:tlie Syrians would-belilcelyto"ancreese
. the mission of the-marines in Lebanon and support of Gemayel's opponents in
restrict:fheirl role ih the:combat #aere. - their the hope of drawing U.S. marines into com-
TheWhite'Hcxiseraeeting~vas:~ttended bat and increasing U:S.domestic pressure
by chief of staff James A. Baker III,. House
Speaker :Thomas P. (Tip) O'Neill Jr. (D- for These withdrawal.
in r officials said ' . that a presidential
Mass)-anc2 other Democratic congressmen.
At the State Department, spokesman signal of withdrawal also could be harmful
Alan Romberg said there is "increasing ev- 'to- the -morale of the, -marines and might
encourage-the(French,'wI o also have troops
idence" that Syrian-backed units of #hePal- . .: ,in Lebaiioii that have ?takea'ualties, to
estine Liberation -'Organization are taking xy in
part in the heavy-fighting around'Seirut:: re considertheir'role:'
-Senior department officials said rivately According . to administration officials,
that there is no-longerany loubt hatPLO House= Foreign Affairs Committee Chair-
forces are lighting alongside'.el inesefac?' man: Clement_ J. ablockt gWis.) and
I_ ? O'Neillsaid?they believedthe"'imminent
avorking _against President Amin Ge ita_es' aecti0n of the
flPowere Res
hat Syria haaY been providing -~ ?
?and"?
,
.,w
olution should have been un-oked.AU$.- '2g
n8 arldllo$istlcal ;assistance. ,
res the da
two marines
ials'said that con
l
ll
~
ffi
e
1
te
h
g
y
were
a
e
c
ri
Hous
o
;,eba
W
i
non.
aional leaders had been supportive privately.',
of administration actions in Lebanon, but ."White- House -strategy is-Abo seek a com-
'also said they believed that Reagan, under promise hat - world deini~ate -; congres-
a provision of the 1973 War Powers Res signal supportfor the7,eeoe-keeping
olution, is required to inform Congress that effort in ~Lebaneii, without-yaelding on .the
U.S. troops are involved in a= situation adrninistration'a' basic legal.;Poe
ition shat
"where imminent involvement, in hostilities the -disputed ;iii ri -of the War powers
is clearly indicated by the circumstances.".. r_Reso]ption syi pplicab~'"~?~ ,,,~,,,~ower
1tUF-D
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Officialssaid"the Wh1ite3~o~aes'.p-~ling
to accept a congressional initiative, also'.
provided for in the War Powers Resolution,
that would restrict the mission and role of'
marines in Lebanon but could not force
their withdrawal within the next few
} months
"We're seeking bipartisan support, not a
Tonkin Gulf resolution," said one White
House official, in reference to the unlimited
declaration of cotigiessioaal.support won by i
President Johnson. That resolution became
the basis for broadscale US. participation
in the Vietnam war.
This official said ?thaf,,a..resolution -.ex-
pressing support for administration objec-
~teves bIjt3ippgniag an 18-month limit would
be "beneficial", from the .point of iew of
persuading the- Syrians that Reagan's de-
ployment of marines has U.S. domestic
backingy,..
What . administration officials are most
anxious to prevent, a concern they say is
shared by some congressional leaders, is ` a
free-for-all debate in Congress., that would
be interpreted as a sign of U.S. weakness.
The consultations yesterday were con-
ducted by a White House team of Baker,
.presidential assistant Richard G. Darman
and chief of legislative liaison Kenneth Du-
berstein with O'Neill, Zablocki and House
Majority Leader James C. Wright Jr. (D-
Texa. They -are scheduled to ..continue
today with other members of Congress.
The negotiations came amid what U.S.
analysts say they believe is a stepped-up
Syrian effort to bring down the Gemayel
government.
State Department officials said that,
while the evidence is not conclusive, there
are some grounds for believing that the
groups attacking the Lebanese Army in-
dude some Syrian troops, wearing the uni-
forms of the irregular militias, and some
Iranian revolutionary guards known to be
in Lebanon to encourage pro-Khomeini
sentiment :among the Shiite Moslem pop-=
ulatiori:
These officials said the Palestinian fight-'
ers involved appear to be drawn both from
Syrian-sponsored Palestinian guerrilla
groups that have kept separate from the:
PLO and from PLO units that recently reb-
elled against the leadership of Chairman
Passer Arafat and have come under Syrian
control.
The involvement of Palestinians. has
been confirmed through interception of
messages and identification of fighters
killed in weekend clashes with the Leba-'
nese Army, these officials said. -
Staff writer John M. Goshho contrib-
uted to this report.
7
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