LESSONS LEARNED FROM TAIWAN AND MIDDLE EAST CRISES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86T00268R000400050031-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 22, 2013
• Sequence Number: 31
• Publication Date: October 31, 1958
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/08/22 : CIA-RDP86T00268R000400050031-1
al October 19'58
MEMORANDUM FOR: DDI
.4
SUBJECT : Lessons Learned from Taiwan and Middle East Crises
1. After took PB on Tuesday for a moment when you had
to leave, GO asked eacn 11$ ember to think about and speak on Lessons
Learned from Q-M and Mid East crises, if apy. Each was also to be pre-
pared to suggest whether subject should be presented to NSC, and if so,
haw.
3.As for substantive lessons learned, the obvious ones that strike
me are:
a. Cultivate the outs as well as the ins (as we didn't do
in Iraq); you never know when their positions Will be reversed.
b. Don't get into such boxes in the first place (e.g.
commitments to Chamoun, not disengaging earlier from Quemoy-
Matsu.).
c. Keep the admirals quiet (e.g. Cat Brown).
I. BOTH exercises showed that need is for conventional
forces, not nuclear weapons (you recall Seventh Fleet's squawk
when told to prepare for conventional attacks around Q-41),
5. ME exercise showed, as I recall, that our lift was
stretched close to the limit to get three Marine BLTs, plus one
airborne battle group from Germany, to Beirut. We just don't
have adequate air, or even sea, lift right now.
41TPUIAL,./
'0 ?
R. W. Mile
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/08/22 : CIA-RDP86T00268R000400050031-1