LETTER TO WILLIAM J. CASEY FROM DAN QUAYLE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85M00364R001101760009-0
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 2, 2008
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: June 21, 1983
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2008/01/02 : CIA-RDP85M00364RO01101760009-0
DAN QUAYLE
INDIANA
SH 524 HART SENATE OFFICE BUILDING
[phone]
INDIANAPOLIS OFFICE;
ROOM 447, 46 EAST OHIO STREET
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA 46204:
[phone]
? 1Cnrfeb Zfafez -Zenafe
June 21, 1983
The Honorable William J. Casey
Director of Central r~telligence
Central Intelligence agency
Washington, DEC .,.,20
COMMrTTEESt
ARMED SERVICES
T,>csi:va FisagItdry
-83-3274
ver?the ](ast month several articles and editorials have
appeared in major papers that cast extreme doubt on the United
States allegations that the Soviet Union and its client states,
Vietnam and Laos, are using chemical and toxin weapons in
Afghanistan, Cambodia and Laos.
The alleged use of these weapons is as of great a concern to
me as they are to you. Recently, I drafted a Senate Resolution
which would condemn the Soviet Union and its allies for using or
condoning the use of these weapons. It also states the Senate's
support for the President's efforts to negotiate, at the 40
nation Committee on Disarmament, a comprehensive and effectively
verifiable multilateral treaty which bans the development,
production, stockpiling or transfer of chemical weapons. Because
of the most recent controversy that has erupted, I have decided
to delay introducing it.
I am not satisfied that the administration has a cohesive and
coordinated approach to this problem. If it does, it is presently
failing. The momentum on the issue seems to have slowed, if not
swung to the other side.
A number of government officials are paying lip service to
the use of these weapons, yet I don't see anyone of sufficient
authority overseeing the United States efforts on a day to day
basis, or being the point man. No one has taken charge to insure
that information is released in a timely fashion. I know that as
of today, the latest biological samples tested for mycotoxins,
which were found to have positive traces, have yet to be
released. This information was made available to the intelligence
community and the State Department over a month ago.
It is imperative that the United States make the most
compelling case possible to the world that chemical and toxin
weapons are being used in violation of arms control treaties,
international law and basic human rights. At this time our
allegations are being attacked and we are having difficulty
responding with conviction.
Approved For Release 2008/01/02 : CIA-RDP85M00364RO01101760009-0
 Approved For Release 2008/01/02 : CIA-RDP85M00364RO01101760009-0
~Ae
Honorable' Wirliam J. Casey
June
21,
1983
Page
2
I am convinced that these weapons are being used, but I am
not convinced we are doing a thorough enough job gathering
intelligence, analyzing it and then disseminating it in a timely
fashion.
I would like to know how many.people the Agency has here and
in the field investigating and analyzing the present use and the
potential use of chemical and toxin weapons by the Soviet Union
and other governments. I would like to know if they are working
full or part time on this issue, and if part time, what
percentage of their time is devoted to this area. Also, I would
like to know their educational background, their area of
expertise, their assignment, and their grade, rank or the
equivalent. Finally, what is the degree of coordination with
other agencies working on this problem, especially the State
Department, Defense Department, National Security Council and
ACDA.
Please provide this information for not only this current
year, but also for the last two years and for next year. I would
like your response to these questions at your earliest
convenience.
I look forward to hearing from you and to working with you on
what I believe is an extremely important issue. The credibility
of a number of people and departments is tied up with these
allegations.
Si~nc
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Approved For Release 2008/01/02 : CIA-RDP85M00364RO01101760009-0