IRAN-IRAQ WAR WOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED IF CARTER HAD AIDED SHAH, REAGAN SAYS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000505420115-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 17, 2010
• Sequence Number: 115
• Publication Date: September 25, 1980
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/17 :CIA-RDP90-005528000505420115-0
aPlzc::~. ~=t-..~~-~ LOS ANGELES TIMES
25 September 1980
Oa PA~i`_ ~.+J
STAT
Sy RiGHr'LRD B?RGHOLZ truth is, l:e (Cazier) has no choice.: Mideast conflict-offered-in an"inter=
*''"" ?'~'""{ r"'+"~ "He has allowed the defensive `new and made public by tho Rea- ~
yL?- :'ASO-Ronald 'Reagan , capabilities of the U.S. to become so San staff, took attention away from
ternf~d~'the Iran-Iraq war a "trap c .weakened that it's like when he said hs attacks on Carter's energy pro-
situation" -SVednesday and said it . .-. that we would use force with re- ~'~? ' - ~. ~ =
wouM not have occurred if Pres- gazds to the Persian Gulf and, two In the East Texa; oil field town of
ideal Carter had supported the late weeks aster, had to admit we don't . Tyler, the Republican presidential
Shah of Iran against the Tyiuslim have the force." - candidate heavily criticized Carter's
revolutionaries. ~: But Reagan added=that. he was. ~ policies on the deregulation of oil
When asked by an interviewer "? not advocating the use of U.S. force and gas production_ ~ ~ ~ -`
what he v.?ould do about the war now. - - - :.-,. - _ In seeking to get back?on`the of- ~
now, the Republican presidential Only the day before, Carter, cam .? - fensive after spending the. last two ~
caridsdate said he did not know for -" paignino in Lw Angeles, had ac= days responding to .Carter charges, ;
sure-but would not..make his plan cusedrR.eagan of being too quick to Reagan made a conscious" effvrt-fo,
publicif he did have one. - " -- "suggest the use of U.S. military touch a nerve with oiI-state Texans'
_ "You don't tell the other fellow in power in international crises. _ who narrowly went for Carter over
advance what you can nc rannnt -~ Later_ P.eadan issneri a hriaf then-President Gerald R. Ford four I
Reagan talked about the Middle - "The -situation, involving -Iran CartsrPnlicira As3wilad
Eastflare-up on a day of campaign- and Iraq, is both serious and unfor- Accompanied by Texas Gov_ZVit-
ing across 'texas, during which he tunate. not only because the Ameri- Liam P. Clements and former Gov.
hammzred at Carter's energy pro- can hosRzges ,are endangered but John B. Connally; Reagan told a~
ern as an abject failure. - ` ~ .also because it could spread into a Tyler campaign rally that Carter's ~
- _ generalized war and because it energy policies "have discouraged
Li~ebpin of Stability ~ - - threatens the world's oil supplies. the discovery and production of en-'
Iraq was "literally the linchpin in ?~~at is happening in Iraq and ergy in this country;' and that "his
hEast underilthe ate shah, Rea aln' Iran is the consequence of policies misleading rhetoric and incomplete
a this Administratian has fo11o wed facts cannot stand up to the nu.~n- ;
said, "and this Administration must during the last 31iS years-a vacii- bers presented in the government
take responsibility- for letting the lating foreign policy and aweak- reports." - .. -
breaci.-p of Iran occur." ?. ~ - erred defense .capability are largely He quoted Department of r nergy
When asked if he was blaming to blame. ~ figures to support his charge that oil ;
Carter for what hashappened, Rea- - ?'IC is up to President Carter now Production in the United Stat~>s has
pan replied, "~Vell;-it's his foreign. ~ decide what role the U.S. must. declined every year since- Carter,
policy. And Lthink' he': acknowl- play.. and I will make no further- took office and that oil imports for .
edged; hack when the uprising oc- comments at this time."~ - ~ -.the first half of this.-year were 6ao i
czsrecl..and so forth. he.acknowl= ~ .higher than in1976_~~-.-;: ~ ~";:'-- --{
edged the strategic long-range im=.~ -iRejeets Briefings by CitA~ .' -Reagan, wha was chided by Car-~',
portaace of Iran Lo the,whole tiVest-- " :Regarding his ~knowled~~e of the -. ter eazLer in the campaign as using
ern world there in the Middle East :' :;` Middle East situation, Reagan ssaid unofficial or misleading figures, em~
:,;: Aad (he) placed more emphasis_:_~~ during. the. interview that he had phasized in Texas that his informs- ~
o~tbuman rights or. something, in-..~.."conffdenceiri his own advisers~and? .lion came from a publication enti-:
the hands of the dissidents in that: ,, their.-"source`s o_ fYinforma$ori~a`nd :fled .:'Energy.- Programs/Energy
coemtry ? = ~ -, ~ ;ti ~ ~?~?~ would continue Eo reject the re~ilar. Markets," published by the Depart-~ '-
,~ =:9s- -for ~ Carter s -announcement briefings by the Central-Intelligene ` merit of Energy in July of this year ~:
:Wednesday thatahe United States : Agency, that the President had' of :, :- Reagan closed out his campaign ~;.
a+ould *+P-*+~~~ neutral in-the Iran- feredhirn. ; ': `. --~- day with a rally in Grand 3unction,.l
Iraq; dispute; 'Reagan :said. '.'The.. ~ Rea'oan's comments, on , the .Colo.. and a flight to San Francisco: '
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/17 :CIA-RDP90-005528000505420115-0