MEMORANDUM TO DCI FROM (Sanitized)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83B00100R000100120033-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 9, 2002
• Sequence Number: 33
• Publication Date: March 10, 1977
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 2002/05/09 : CIA-RDP83B00100R00010Oi f 0033-7
THE DIRECTOR OF
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
10 March 1977
National Intelligence Officers
TO: DCI
FROM: NIO/China
1. Attached is a translation of an article
b
pu
lished in China (Peking) dealing with a
statement by General George Keegan
fo
,
rmer
Chief of Air Force Intelligence. The Chinese
are sympathetic to Keegan's harsh interpreta-
tion
f S
o
oviet objectives and this is their
way of expressing approval.
2. The Chinese have on occasion referred
to U.S. intelligence estimates of the S
i
ov
et
Union and have supported those which attribute
to th
S
i
e
ov
ets the most hostile intentions.
1 11 Q
I
meeting with the Chinese on 15 Februar
I
y
suggested we could exchange views on the pro-
blem
f
h
o
t
e Soviet Union. To date, the Chi-
nese have not responded.
3. The NSC and State have been informed o
our conversations with the Chinese on is
subject.
Attachment:
Translation
Nation Intelligence icer
for China
STATINTL
Approved For Release 2002/05/09 : CIA-RDP83B00100R000100120033-7
 Approved For Release 2002/05/09 : CIA-RDP83B00100R000100120033-7
NEW
FORMER USAF OFFICER WARNS OF SOVIET WAR THREAT
Peking NCNA Domestic service in Chinese 1642 GMT 27 Feb 77 OW
{ [Text] Peking, 27 February--DIE WELT of West Ge"many recently published a talk by
Cenerai eorge Keegan, Jr. , former assistant chief of staff of int_e.lligence of_*he
-U.S. Air Force, tothe paper's correspondenttin_Wasbing.tori-- n the talk, General
g.eegan pointed out that , as a result o' its frenzied expansion of nuclear and convention-
including the limited
the West
i
,
ng
al military strength, the Soviet Union is threaten
States, and that Moscow might unleash a global war.
Keegan said: "The situation now facing the West and the united States reminds me of
w1-en there were obvious signs
3
5???
the situation of the United States and France in 19
to indicate what Hitler was doing. There were obvious signs to indicate that he was
considering a certain type of war."
Keegan said: "This situation also applies to the united States today. I know I have
upset many people. Since World War II, $50 to $75 billion (U.S.) have been spent on
this purpose--the building of a gigantic intelligence organ to guard against anotte r
Pearl Harbor-type surprise attack on us. However, our situation today is not any
better than the situation before the pearl Harbor incident.
"This is because, for cultural and psychological reasons, we refuse to listen to
warnings. We believe that a nuclear war is impossible and therefore we cannot nee
the signals and indications. But we can find such indications in Soviet documents,
books and statements, which are available to everybody."
Touching on the subject of the balance of strength between the United States and the
Soviet Union, }(organ said that the "chiefs of staff of the U.S. Armed Forces maintained
that the issue of Soviet superiority would only exist sometime in the future. But the
intelligence that we have seen and analyzed makes us believe that the Soviets now have
the capability to launch the first nuclear attack."
t,negan said: "The Soviets have expanded their strategic and conventional military strength
at the expense of raising the living standard of their people. Generally speaking, the
power of the Soviet combat forces is stronger than that of the armed forces of the free
world, and it is particularly stronger than that of the United States."
Keegan said. "As the trend of the current development indicates, our strength is
diminishing in comparison with that of the Soviet Union. The Soviets are increasingly
rtili.tant and uncompromising. We will encounter a new series of Angolan incidents....
"If the Soviet thrust reaches the point of endangering the passage to Europe or Japan of
oil from the Near East, then the United States would realize that its vital interests
are threatened. But by that time we will find ourselves in such a situation that the
Soviets will yell at us: 'Any intervention signifies the greatest danger.'"
Keegan emphatically pointed out: "In my view, we must resort to all measures to further
ievelop our weapons technology so as to maintain a stable superiority in this respect. But
I feel what is most dangerous is oiir psychological condition, which can probably be over-
by malcirig public the information held by intelligence organs and ry mercilessly
letting the public face up to this information so that it will exercise its influence o
g,v-~r.?nment---tne Amerricaii Government and the governments of other Western countries--and
make them stop the development of the current situation."
Approved For Release 2002/05/09 : CIA-RDP83B00100R000100120033-7