SOVIET CRUISE MISSILE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-01070R000301580003-0
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 11, 2010
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: February 3, 1985
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

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RADIO TV REPORTS, INC.
4701 WILLARD AVENUE, CHEVY CHASE, MARYLAND 20815 [phone]
PROGRAM The McLaughlin Group
February 3, 1985 12:00 Noon CITY Washington, D.C.
SUBJECT Soviet Cruise Missile
JOHN MCLAUGHLIN: Issue two: At least into Finland.
Remember the Soviet cruise missile that landed mysteriously in
Finland a few weeks ago, Mort? The London Daily Express reported
this week that the missile had gotten loose from the Russians
after they launched it and was headed towards Hamburg, West
Germany. So the Soviets sent up jet fighters and they shot the
missile down, and it fell to the earth in Finland.
Throughout these events, the Russians kept the Pentagon
posted with the hotline. That's what the story said. The
Pentagon denied the story. So did the White House. So did the
NSC. But on Thursday Caspar Weinberger shocked the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee when he said this:
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE CASPAR WEINBERGER: The Soviets
demonstrated their defense against cruise missiles a couple of
days ago when they shot down one of their errant missiles that
was on its way at least into Finland.
After the testimony, the Pentagon called some hurried
meetings. Then they sent out a spokesman, who stuck with the
original denial and said that Weinberger was confused.
What's going on, Morton?
MORTON KONDRACKE: I know, John, you think that this is
the start of World War III, and they hushed it all up. Right? I
take that the Pentagon knows what it's talking about, that Cap
Weinberger made a mistake, that he was talking about -- he was
talking about Soviet capabilities and he got it confused with...
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MCLAUGHLIN: You've joined the cover story.
KONDRACKE: Look, the West Germans agreed to that point.
The Finns agreed, the Norwegians agreed that there was no sign of
Russian scramble...
MCLAUGHLIN: They all decided to hush it up.
ROBERT NOVAK: John, I think one thing about you is any
kind of propaganda, you are just like a big old dog. The
propaganda comes, and you lump on it.
Don't you understand, when they talk about this, this is
disinformation, talking about a cruise missile aimed for Germany,
to scare the Nervous Nelly peace bloc in Europe.
Do you know there is no evidence whatsoever that this
missile was headed for Germany?
PAT BUCHANAN: I don't have anything to contradict what
JACK GERMOND: Bob is right. There is no evidence at
all to support taking this whole thing seriously, to tell you the
truth.
MCLAUGHLIN: Oh, come one. Look, the number of
unreported, underpublicized, even by your new magazine, Newsweek,
about errors, particularly computer errors, relating to this
sensitive area of nuclear armaments is a scandal. It is a
scandal.
KONDRACKE: John, they recovered the missile. The
missile was obviously not armed with a warhead. It was a drone
missile. It was designed for target practice.
MCLAUGHLIN: They recovered the tail-end of the missile.
They don't know that it was a drone.
BUCHANAN: There is something of significance here. The
Soviets are developing a look-down, shoot-down radar on their
MiG-29 interceptors, which, if it has the capacity to shoot down
cruise missiles, is very serious stuff. Because, as you know,
our B-52s, that's their penetration capability now, the cruise.
MCLAUGHLIN: My concern is that the public has a right
to know what really went on.
NOVAK: Well, that's always been your concern.
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MCLAUGHLIN: Is it your feeling that the United States
Congress should hold hearings on this matter?
BUCHANAN: No.
Bob?
Jack?
NOVAK: Well, wait a minute. I didn't get a chance. I
didn't get a chance to answer.
It is so ridiculous that you raise that. The answer is
MCLAUGHLIN: Jack?
GERMOND: The answer is no.
MCLAUGHLIN: Mort?
GERMOND: And the other thing is, if they're going to
depend on you for their information, Lord help them.
KONDRACKE: I think they should get on with Ed Meese...
MCLAUGHLIN: Well, the answer is they should hold
hearings, and they probably will.
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