BRIEFING FOR MINORITY MEMBERS AND STAFF OF THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE ON SOVIET CHEMICAL WARFAR DOCTRINE AND STOCKPILES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP87M01152R000500590034-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 11, 2010
• Sequence Number: 34
• Publication Date: June 17, 1985
• Content Type: MEMO

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/11: CIA-RDP87M01152R000500590034-1
OLL 85-1798
17 June 1985
Olt PLE
r.,
SUBJECT: Briefing for Minority Members and Staff of the
House Appropriations Committee on Soviet Chemical
Warfare Doctrine and Stockpiles
1. On 17 June 1985, the following Minority Members and
staff of the House Appropriations Committee were briefed on
Soviet chemical warfare doctrine and stockpiles at the request
of Rep. John Porter (R., IL) who had received a similar
briefing on 13 June (see my MFR dated 13 June 1985):
Rep.
Larry Combest (R., TX)
Ron Bosto, Staff
Rep.
John Miller (R., WA)
Sam Gibbons, Staff
Rep.
Clarence Miller (R., OH)
Carol Hall, Staff
Ibo Spaltin, Staff
Bonnie Reiss, Staff
Mack Thornberry, Staff
The briefers were
Directorate of Intelligence, Ottice ot Soviet Analysis.
1+Ac..
2. The session began with the briefers providing answers
to a variety of questions on Soviet chemical warfare
stockpiles, production, personnel, doctrine, and some
allegations made by David Sullivan in his new book (see
atttachment). The briefers answered each question thoroughly
and, per my instructions, clearly delineated where the
Agency differed with DIA and Army and why. The briefers were
careful to present differences objectively because the members
in the room had already had individual briefings on the subject
by Army spokesmen. (The members clearly were not aware that
there was an Intelligence Community viewpoint.) I did not
sense any hostility toward what the briefers had to say and two
members stopped to thank them personally before leaving - a
rare occurrence in my experience.
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 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/11: CIA-RDP87M01152R000500590034-1
4. Some controversy over what was briefed apparently arose
later on the House floor. Representative Herbert Bateman
(R., VA) claimed that Representative Porter told him the CIA
had briefed him (Porter) on U.S. chemical warfare doctrine and
programs with the clear implication that the U.S. should not
waste its money on binary weapons. Bateman told me he
suspected Porter was misquoting the Agency, but wanted us to
give him the same briefing just to clarify the record. I
promptly agreed and we arranged for a briefing the following
morning. Nevertheless, the Army rumor mill apparently had
already notified the White House and NSC that the Agency was
briefing Soviet chemical warfare on the Hill and was belittling
U.S. Army programs. The result was a series of frantic
telephone calls to set the record straight and the addition of
D/SOVA to the Bateman briefing team. When all was said and
done, however, Bateman was completely satisfied that he knew
the Intelligence Community's position on Soviet chemical
warfare. Incidentally, the Army's request for binary munitions
also passed the House.
5. I do not believe we changed anyone's mind on Soviet
chemical warfare, but we did make them aware of how difficult
the problem is from an intelligence standpoint. Because the
House debate on chemical weapons is finished, I do not
anticipate any further questions or requests on this subject.
Liaison Division
Office of Legislative Liaison
Attachment:
As stated
C ief, Liais