GATES SUBMITS MEMO TO DISPEL PANEL'S CRITICISM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00965R000302130002-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 8, 2012
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: March 1, 1987
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/11/08: CIA-RDP90-00965R000302130002-4
ARTICLE APPEARED
ON PAGL_L---?dg
Gates Submits
Memo to Dispel
Panel's Criticism
87
ARA FRITZ
WASHINGTON?Robert M.
Gates, President Reagan's embat-
tled nominee for CIA director, has
given the Senate Intelligence Com-
mittee a classified memo to dis-
prove reports that he recom-
mended a joint U.S.- Egyptian
invasion of Libya in 1985, Adminis-
tration sources said Saturday,
The memo, in which the key CIA
official expressed opposition to the
proposed Libyan invasion, was giv-
en to the committee as part of a
determined Administration at-
tempt to counter growing Senate
opposition to Gates' nomination.
White House spokesman Marlin
Fitzwater announced Saturday
that Reagan has full confidence in
the nomination" and does not in-
tend to withdraw it, as suggested
by Sen. Arlen Specter ( R - Pa. ).
Another White House official.
who declined to be identified, add-
ed that the President's staff still
believes a majority of the commit-
tee members will favor Gates.
But on Friday, Senate Minority
Leader Bob Dole (R-Kan.) had
told Reagan during an Oval Office
meeting that a growing number of
intelligence panel members were
considering voting against Gates,
who Ii currently the acting CIA
chief, The committee must approve
the nomination before the full
Senate can vote on It.
Early Vote a Problem
"If tY..ere's an early vote, he's in
troutae," Dole said. Recalling that
the President did not respond to his
report, Dole said "I raised it. He
didn't say anything."
Many Intelligence Committee
members, including Vice Chairman
William S. Cohen of Maine, the
panel's ranking Republican, have
expressed a reluctance to vote for
Gates if it is proven that he
originated a plan for the United
LOS ANGELES TIMES
1 March 1987
States to provide air support to
Egyptian troops invading Libya in
an attempt to topple the regime of
Moammar Kadafi.
But Administration sources pre-
dicted the issue would be put to rest
when committee members read the
memo that Gates sent in 1985 to his
boss, then-CIA Director William J.
Casey, which "strongly recom-
mended against" the invasion
scheme. Gates, who Was promoted
to deputy CIA director last April,
was serving as the agency's chief
intelligence official at the time the
memo was written.
?IIV U341)rizz.Jilts Vt
At that time, according to sourc-
es, an invasion of Libya was being
urged by members of the National
Security Council staff. The plan
eventually was shelved, however,
as a result of strong opposition from
Secretary of State George P. Shultz
and other Administration officials.
The sources said Gates also has
told the Senate panel that there is
no truth in the conclusion of the
Tower Commission report that the
CIA in 1985 permitted White House
officials to influence an intelligence
assessment of the situation in Iran.
Normally, White House officials
have no role in the development of
Intelligence estimates.
Sen. Bill Bradley (D-N.J.), a
member of the intelligence panel,
said the Tower Commission report,
released Thursday, supported his
suspicion that Gates allowed his
agency to produce an intelligence
report "made to suit the policy -
makers" who wanted to sell arms
to Iran.
"That is one thing that just
doesn't happen," said one Adminis-
tration official, who declined to be
identified. "And Gates, who is an
analyst by trade, would never
permit it."
More Testimony
The Senate Intelligence Com-
mittee, which held two days of
public hearings on the Gates nomi-
nation in mid-February, is expect-
ed to hear additional testimony this
week. In addition, the committee
will decide whether to vote imme-
diately on the nomination or to
delay it until congressional investi-
gators have completed their review
of the Iran-contra affair.
A number of committee mem-
bers, including Sens. Sam Nunn
( D-Ga.) and Alan Cranston ( D-
Calif. ), have called for a delay in
the committee vote until it can be
established that Gates played no
role in the scandal. But Adminis-
tration officials strongly oppose
any delay on the grounds that it
will prohibit Gates from hiring a
deputy to run the agency's day -
to-day operations.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/11/08: CIA-RDP90-00965R000302130002-4