LETTER TO HONORABLE JAMES ABOUREZK

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75B00380R000400130086-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 15, 2005
• Sequence Number: 86
• Publication Date: February 26, 1973
• Content Type: LETTER

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DRAFT: 26 February 1973
Honorable James Abourezk
United States Senate
Washington, D. C. 20510
Dear Senator Abourezk:
In your letter of 16 February you ask for answers to five
questions set forth therein.
In the interest of providing the earliest possible response to your
questions, we have referred your letter to Air America's Washington
office at 1725 K Street, N. W., for their priority attention to the first
three questions.
In connection with question 4, the Central Intelligence Agency has
no plans for letting out contracts to any airlines for South Vietnam, and
we are unaware of any plans for such contracts by AID, the Defense
Department, or the U. S. Embassy.
With regard to question 5, this Agency has no information about
plans for supplying equipment to ARVN paramilitary units, police units,
or irregular units in South Vietnam. The Defense Department, which
would be responsible for any such supply programs, is in the best position
to respond to this question.
I trust these responses will meet your needs.
Sincerely,
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 1725 K STREET, N.W.
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20006
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D-R-A-F-T
It has been brought to our attention.that you have asked several
questions regarding our operations in South Vietnam and the'following
is offered for your information.
Air America currently employs approximately 920 people in South
of our contract operations in South Vietnam which include two contracts
and 106 Americans. These people are employed to meet the requirements
Vietnam of whom 586 are Vietnamese, 228 are.third country nationals,
tract with the U.S. Air Force identified as F496.04.70-C-0023, both of
'International'Development'(USAID) identified as A.ID/VN-100, and a con-
with the U.S. Government, : a. contract with the United States Agency for
which contracts by their"terms would expire June 30, 1973.
approximate dollar values of those contracts will be $9,500,000, for
Although no
.exact dollar valuations can be placed on those contracts prior to their
conclusion, since normal U.S. Government contract provisions, including
terminations for the convenience of.the Government, are reserved to the
(Government Contracting Officers, it now appears that for USGFY'73 the
'AID/VAT-100 and $600,000. for the USAF contract.
The-services provided under these contracts
include flying. and
related services.. The flying services involve the movement by air of
passengers and general cargo throughout South Vietnam, and the related
services involve the maintenance supportrequired-to_keep the. assigned
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With regard to what future business Air America may have in
South Vietnam with USAID, or any other U. S. Government agency, we
are of course unable to determine at this time since such business
would be provided under a contract developed and negotiated from a.
proposal on our part responsive to conditions set forth in a Request:
for Proposal, which is the normal contracting procedure. There are
no Requests for Proposals pending at this time.
Yours truly,
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tnUUe.acz ..icnch
February 16, 1973
Mr. James Schlesinger
Director
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, D. C. 20505
Dear Mr. Schlesinger:
It has been reported in the press that Air America will
be continuing its role in Vietnam after April 1, 1973.
For example, an article in the February 9th issue of the
New York Times stated that, "one of the largest companies
wording on contract for the Agency for International
Development is Air America, a private airline that is
said to have been started by the Central Intelligence
Agency and which does work for the United States govern-
ment in-Laos. The airline is expected to enlarge its
operations in South Vietnam as the last American military
planes leave." I am curious about these reports, and
I would appreciate it if you would answer the following
questions:
1) How many United States nationals, third-country
nationals or Vietnamese are presently employed by
Air America in South Vietnam? How many contracts
with United States government agencies does Air
America hold in South Vietnam, and what is the dollar
value of each contract? What functions does Air
America perform under each contract?
2) By the end of F.Y. '73, June 30, 1973, how many
U.S. nationals, third-country nationals, and Vietnamese
will Air America be employing in South Vietnam? How
many contracts with U.S. government agencies will
Air America hold in South Vietnam at that time, and
what will be the dollar value of each contract? What
functions will Air America perform under each contract?
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Page Two
Mr. James Schlesinger
February 16, 1973
3) Mow many U.S. nationals, third-country
nationals, and Vietnamese do you expect that Air
America will employ in South Vietnam by the end of
F.Y. '74? How many contracts with U.S. government
agencies do you expect that Air America will hold
in South Vietnam by the end of F.Y. '74, and what
do you expect that the dollar value of each contract
will be? What functions do you expect that Air
America will perform under each contract?
4) By the end of F.Y. '73, will the Defense
Department, Agency for International Development,
the United States Embassy or the Central Intelligence
Agency be letting out contracts to any other
American-owned, third-country-owned, or Vietnamese-
owned air lines for South Vietnam?
5). Will Air America or any other U.S. funded
con.rany be supplying arms, ammunition, materiel,
food or medical supplies to ARVN paramilitary units,
police units, or irregular units similar to the
CIA's "Secret Army" in Laos?
I will look forward to receiving your prompt and comprehensive
response to these questions.
Sincerely,
J mes Abourezk
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Office of Legislative Counsel
Washington, D. C. 20505
26 February 1973
TO: Honorable Marshall Wright
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for
Congressional Relations
Washington, C.-
. With reference to George Cary's call to you
today, we feel it is important that we make an
immediate response to Senator Abourezk's
letter. Drafts of letters from Air America and
this Agency which will be sent out tomorrow
morning are attached for your information and
guidance in the event you receive a similar
inquiry from Senator Abourezk.
John M. Maury
Legislative Counsel
FORM 1533 OBSOLETE
6-68 PREVIOUS
EDITIONS
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