COMMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE NSC PLANNING BOARD ON DEFENSE MOBILIZATION PLAN D-MINUS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86T00268R000100030006-4
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 29, 2014
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: June 24, 1957
• Content Type: MISC

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June 24, 1957 P L A 7' 7
COMMENTS ANDJIacApnwpAIms
ELIMA112VILWJLIQUa
on
DEFENSE mpuTzATIoN PLAN
D-MINUS
(Memo for NSC, May 29, 1957)
COPY NO. .
Z. The Planning Board was requested by the Director,
Office of Defense Mobilization, to review the following
parts of Mobilization Plan D-Minus:
Part I-A - Capability Assumptions - pp. 1-2,
Part I-B - Weapons Effects - pp. 3-27,
Part - Situation Assumptions - The Attack -
pp. 27-30, The Post Attack Analysis -
pp. 30-43,
Part I-D - Policy Assumptions - pp. 44-47,
Part I-E - Definitions - pp. 48-52,
Part III - Actions by the President - pp. 79-90,
in order to make recommendations to the National Security
Council as to:
a. The suitability of the assumptions contained
therein, under current national security appreciations
of the threat to the U. S. for the purposes of
defense mobilization planning.
h. The conformity of these parts with existing
national security policy approved by the President on
recommendation of the National Security Council.
The Planning Board has not examined the other parts of Plan
D-Minus.
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II. As to suitability for planning purposes, the
Planning Board's comments on these parts are as follows:
I. "anallaY..142111122=atLIEPt 1-A, DP? 1-2)*
The Planning Board recommends that the Council note
that the "Capability Assumptions" are suitable as a
basis for defense mobilization planning for a surprise
attack on the continental United States) it being
understood that the assumptions will be subject to
continuous change and review.
2. "'Weapons Eflects" (Part I-B, pp. 1-26). The
Planning Board recommends that the Council agree that
the "Weapons Effects" section, being of a highly
technical nature, should be subject to continuing re-
view and appropriate concurrence for technical
accuracy by the Atomic Energy Commission, the Depart-
ment of Defense (AFSWP), the Federal Civil Defense Ad-
ministration, and the Department of Health, Education
and Welfare (Public Health Service)) including their
medical representatives.
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3, Thettack (Part
I-Ce pr). V-29). The Planning Board recommends that
the Council note that the "Situation Assumptions
The Attack" are suitable (except as noted below) as a
basis for defense mobilization planning for a surprise
attack on the continental United States, it being
understood that the assumptions will be subject to
continuous change and review:
a. With reference to para. 5 of this Part
I-C, the Planning Board believes that the assumed
range of nuclear weapons to be employed should be
from a few kilotons to several megatons.
b. With reference to the tabulation in para.
6 of this Part I-C:
(1) The CIA Adviser believes that a more
useful assumption would be a ratio of two or
three nuclear radiation casualties to one
blast and thermal casualty. The Office of
Defense Mobilization will review the ratios
in this tabulation with the staff of the NSC
Net Evaluation Subcommittee.
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(2) The Budget Member expressed concern
as to the validity of the figures shown in
the tabulation, because they are not support-
ed by a current net capabilities study re-
lated to the particular period of time and
assumptions of Plan D-hinus.
c. It should be noted that Plan D-Yinus
does not assume that the USSR will use its
capability to employ biological and chemical
agents in an attack.
4. "aitialuza_mzu4aualialEalL.ALLIak
Analysis" (part 1-c, DD. 'V)-41). The Planning Board
recommends that the Council note that the "Situation
Assumptions -- Post Attack Analysis" are suitable as a
basis for defense mobilization planning for a surprise
attack on the continental United States, it being
understood that the assumptions will be subject to
continuous change and review. The Office of Defense
hobilization will review with the Public Health Service
the assumptions as to communicable diseases in para. 15
of this section. (See also the comments under para. 5
below.)
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5. 44-47;
"AC.-b-L---y--:---th-e-ar-et"Partill Iv. 79-90).
With reference to the "Pllicy assumptions" and "Actions
by the President";
a. The Planning Board recommends that, with
respect to the immediate post-attack period in
areas of devastation, these parts:
(1) Should indicate greater emphasis
upon the maintenance of law and order among
the civil population.
(2) Should indicate a greater degree of
reliance on State and local governments.
(3) Should indicate that armed forces
available under Part II-B, 7 (p. 60) should
assist State and local governments, on their
request, particularly in maintaining law and
order.
The Planning Board notes that "Actions
by the President" do not include a document
dealing with the use of nuclear weapons by Ti. S.
forces, the transfer of nuclear weapons to U. S.
allies, and consultations with U. S. allies as
required regarding the use of .nuclear weapons
from allied bases; and recommends that such a
document be prepared by the Secretaries of State
and Defense and the Chairman, Atomic Energy Com-
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d. The Planning Board, not' g para. 9 of the
"Situation Assumptions" Cs. 32)7 calls attention
to the fact that the lidity of "Policy
Assumption No. 2" (p. 44) is dependent on pro?
tection again radioactive fall?out being pro?
vided at e relocation sites which are subject
to such fall?out.
et The Planning Board assumes that the
"Policy Assumptions" and the "Actions by the
President" will be subject to continuous change
and review.
6, "Daj tio s" Part T 4 2)4 The
Planning Board did not review the definitions and
recommends no action thereon by the Council.
III. As to conformity with existing national security
policy, the Planning Board finds the parts examined are not
in conflict with existing national security policy approved
by the President on the recommendation of the National
Security Council.
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IV. The Planning Board wishes to add a general com-
ment. The "Policy Assumptions" and "Actions by the President"
appear unreal as a response to the catastrophic results of
the assumed attack described in Part I. They place emphasis
on articulated, detailed planning for a recovery period
without seeming to take full account of how the nation will
pass through the chaos of the immediate post-attack period.
It would seem that as much attention should be given to
planning for law and order, survival, and the exercise of
any authority during the immediate post-attack period as to
the steps which will follow in the recovery period (for
example, the creation of and action by War Resources
agencies).
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