DIPLOMATIC SECURITY HEARING BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS OF THE HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP87M01152R000400540003-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 11, 2010
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: November 19, 1985
• Content Type: MEMO

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OLL t-5-3291/5'
19 November 1,85
UEJEC T: "Diplomatic Security" Hearinr Before the
Subcor::rri tee on International Operations of
the house Foreign Affairs Comr:-ittee
1. Chairman Mica of the Su`-co^:mittee on International.
Operations called for a hearing on Diplomatic Security on
Novem'-er 13, 1985. In his opening statement Chairman Mica
criticized the Administration for its failure to give the
Subcommittee a legislative package derived from the
recommendations of the Inman Report - Secretary's Advisory
Panel on Overseas Security. Congresswoman Snowe, the ranking
minority member of the Subcommittee, joined in the Chairman's
admonition. She said that peoples' lives were at stake in all
U.S. missions abroad and that the Administration was
irresponsible by its lack of promptness in this matter.
2. Another observation by Mica was that the Inman Report
was to be a consensus document. Theoretically, if all agreed
to the 1-egislative recommendations made by the Report, then the
bill would move swiftly through the House and Senate. For this
reason he and many other members refrained from introducing
their own bill to protect U.S. missions abroad. Because more
than four months have passed since the promulgation of the
Inman Report and the Administration has yet to provide a bill,
there is little or no chance for Congress to act during this
session. At this point Chairman Mica became furious because he
was told back in July that all concerned were working on the
legislative package and a submission would soon be provided.
3. Chairman Mica then said he would retaliate against any
department or agency that held up the bill because of a "turf
battle." he would "make them pay."
4. Under Secretary of State Ronald Spiers, testifying for
the Administration, expressed great concern about the budget
and debt implications of the draft bill. Authorization for
four billion dollars ($4,000,000,000) at a time that the
Congress is discussing the Gramm-Rudmann proposal seemed
inconsistent. Except for budget matters, the Administration
was strongly supportive of the draft bill.
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5. Associate Director of USIA, Mr. Kingman, testified that
he was in agreement with the testimony of the Under Secretary
of State. However, Kingman noted that if all of the money was
spent on Lr:bac__=y security, nothing would be available for
buildings which house USIA or AID facilities. Terrorists would
merely shift their activities to the softer target. Residences
outside the embassy. compound would also be more vulnerable.
The testimony of the Deputy Administrator of AID reiterated
that of the USIA.
6. Chairman Mica then focused on a document called a
"Statement of Principles and Clarification of
Responsibilities." Apparently, it was the intention of State
to use this memo of understanding among the agencies affected
by the bill to achieve agreement before submitting the draft
bill to Congress. As a matter of good faith the agencies that
signed onto the agreement would not approach the Committee
independently once the bill was submitted. Both USIA and AID
initially testified that they were in substantial agreement.
When questioned by Committee members these agencies admitted
major differences with State.
7. Perhaps the best way to summarize the outcome of the
hearing is to say that everyone agreed with the lofty goals of
diplomatic security but there was a wide difference of opinion
on how to implement that goal.
(~Y LD'oLz
Distribution:
Original - Leg/S-ih - rounterintel & Security
1 - D/OLL
1 - DD/OLL
1 - OLL Chrono
JBM Signer
STAT LEG/OLL jbm (20 Nov 1985)
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