NATIONAL DEFENSE STOCKPILE GOALS STUDY

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP88B00443R001704310045-0
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
S
Document Page Count: 
4
Document Creation Date: 
December 22, 2016
Document Release Date: 
July 6, 2010
Sequence Number: 
45
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
May 15, 1985
Content Type: 
MEMO
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PDF icon CIA-RDP88B00443R001704310045-0.pdf113.8 KB
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Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/07/06: CIA-RDP88B00443R001704310045-0 F -. v EXECUTIVE SEC~.~TARIAT ROUTING SLIP ACTION INFO DATE INITIAL X X 3 EXDIR x 4 D/ICS 5 DDI X 6 DDA 7 DDO 8 DDS&T 9 Chm/NIC 10 GC 11 IG 12 Compt 13 D/Pers 14 D/OLL 15 D/PAO 16 SA/IA 17 AO/DCI 18 C/IPD/OIS 19 NIO 20 IC 21 22 V 16 May 85 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/07/06: CIA-RDP88B00443R001704310045-0 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/07/06: CIA-RDP88B00443R001704310045-0 The Director of Ccnti tclhgcnic 15 May 1985 Executive Registry 85- 2017/1 NOTE FOR: Vice Admiral John M. Poindexter, USN Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs SUBJECT: National Defense Stockpile Goals Study I just returned from abroad a few hours before yesterday's NSC meeting on stockpile goals and had not had an opportunity to study the document. That's why I passed on commenting. I have since been able to get at it and I send you this memo to reflect my conclusion that while the study points a direction for action on the stockpile, further study with respect to specific materials, additional conflict scenarios, and collateral circumstances arising from the technology and requirements of weapons production and the economy is needed in order to implement a policy. William J. Casey Attachment ON-FILE NSC RELEASE INSTRUCTIONS APPLY L Dci E =-C RLG Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/07/06: CIA-RDP88B00443R001704310045-0 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/07/06: CIA-RDP88B00443R001704310045-0 ..-_ the l~iriu r . ~r!ltni into '~c' jAecuilve Registry 15 May 1985 MEMORANDUM FOR: Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs SUBJECT: National Defense Stockpile Goals Study 1. The NSC Staff-led study is in many respects superior to the studies done previously on this topic, including the 1979 study by FEMA. However, it is premature to use this study as the basis for broad and important policy conclusions. 2. In undertaking such a study it is of course necessary to make many assumptions and preliminary decisions in order to obtain concrete results. In this case, however, the nature and scale of the assumed conflict is too narrow to provide a reasonable basis for broad-based decisionmaking on the strategic stockpile. Specifically, further study should be undertaken which allows for several significantly different alternatives, such as: A broader scale of conflict including hostilities in Africa which could disrupt the supply of important commodities. A scenario which significantly disrupts the Atlantic or Pacific shipping lanes and posed high risks for transport. A lower scale of conflict under which domestic economic activity and civilian demand was not curtailed so severely, including a less drastic interruption of oil supplies. Analysis of the impact of Soviet Bloc activity in minerals markets during the conflict, either for military requirements or because of preemptive buying. Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/07/06: CIA-RDP88B00443R001704310045-0 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/07/06: CIA-RDP88B00443R001704310045-0 SUBJECT: National Defense Stockpile Goals Study 3. It is also important to note that this study did not examine conditions in each affected industry in order to determine the potential for various industrial process bottlenecks, such as competing require- ments for the capital goods needed to increase rapidly the extraction and processing of materials. Further study may be needed of peak wartime demand for particular materials taking into account the engineering of specific, high-technology weapons systems. On a related point, will the US have the technology in place to allow for substitution of materials to occur without unnecessarily long R&D and process engineering? 4. I further believe we need a more systematic review of the market and political impact of a policy of even selected disposals. 5. Thus, I do not believe that the NSC Staff-led study yet forms a broad enough basis for policy implementation. Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/07/06: CIA-RDP88B00443R001704310045-0