CONGRESS HELPLESS AS LBJ RUNS THE WAR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75-00149R000500320005-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 29, 2003
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: October 11, 1965
• Content Type: NSPR

App
j~j UA~ForlFekase2D04/01/16:CIA-RDP75-00149R0005
S. 190,435
S. 224.206
M71 11 1965
of dissatisfaction - a feeling of being frozen out of and . A.I.D. programs, Both spend hundreds of
White House decisions relating to the Viet Nam war millions abroad each year; both employ thousands. y
is sweeping through Congress. Both make foreign policy and expect Congress toy
It's a feeling of uneasiness rather than 'direct finance it with no questions asked. To its discredit,
Congress has done so.
criticism of President Johnson's actions. But many:
I "We have felt ourselves incompetent to ask' the
lawmakers believe the burgeoning war is a one-man !, question. We lack the staff to oversee the work of these
show with congressional participation limited largely tQ
occasional White House briefings of kdy leaders.
IN A CAUSTIC exclusive statement this w}~tgr o
Son a s_Ze, trait. attiibutes t1te' y o'v a V'V?v"'y' W n"~ ~'Y?v'v'Srvl '
d gle un V ct_Nana to decaLte i binn ors, bytithe ~y "a GtLs fluE.f "-yr ~G Wa
Cca rat Cu cllucuce Aeenev (CIA) and the Agency fm thousands of people, and we have failed to demand that
inl tnatiunaI Development (AM), both under control Congress be informed of their activities and opera,
of the Executive Branch. lions,"
Many view the Viet Nam situation in terms of a The'free-wheeling CIA and A.I.D. Morse said, are
gradual erosion of congressional powers to declare war, responsible. for the Viet Nam war.
paralleling the unilateral action of former President "The war in Viet Nam," he observed, "is the direct
Barry Truman 1 who termed the costly, bloody Korean result of decisions- and policies made 10 years ago by,
bar a "Police action fought by U. S. troops unclear they the Central Intelligence Agency and the A.I.D. agency.
United Nations. flag. ;Ten years later, 125,000 troops and the Strategic Air
White Rouse action, other critics recall, led to Command have been sent to bail them out of their
actual In tile Cuba crisis in the face i mistaken decisions and policies, and we do not know
actual mobrlizatian of
yet how it can be accomplished.
an A?war threat by the Soviet Union, "Yet, we re doing it oil the equally false")
None disputes the gravity of the Viet Nam situation assumption that once committed by these unknown
which could ignite all Southeast Asia. During the week persons, operating largely in secret,, the entire country,
ending Sept. 2G? U. S. planes dropped 1,260 tons of must fall in behind them,"
bombs in 608 sorties against the Viet Cong; military, d
deaths passed the, 1.000 mark. HITTING DIRECTLY at "excessive" White Houses
war powers, Morse said:
BY YEAR'S TEND, more than 150,000 Americans Our foreign policy, our foreign spending, and the
will bq fighting In Viet Nam, plus elements of the sending of 'U. S. forces overseas will continue so long as
Seventh I? Feet and B-52 bomber crews based on Guam. Congress fails to exercise the standards for,expenditure
This is war! Sen. Morse declared: . of public money that ft,is supposed of rcise.
"Executives will always make use use of any powers
"Congress has never, since the end of World War given them, and will seek to perpetuate those powers,
11, re-established the controls over war and peace that 1 and indeed; will decry any restrictions. upon them as
the constitution gave it. This condition Is largely the 'damaging to international operations. ,
(d'. of Congress itself,: because it has created r "But such persons function above 'and beyond the
m,sritutiois . ?., and provided them with money without rule of.law. Only Congress can re-establish the rule of
maintaining controls over their,~ohcies ary .programs,' , ]aw.?{gAme>ieaninternational affairs.'",;,
Approved For Release 2004/01/16 : CIA-RDP75-00149R000500320005-0