MCFARLANE DISPLAYS HIS POWER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00965R000504820036-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 9, 2012
• Sequence Number: 36
• Publication Date: August 28, 1985
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/03/09: CIA-RDP90-00965R000504820036-7
ART%E APrEAED
ON PAGE- X
NEW YORK POST
28 August 1985
McFarlane thpioys
his power
TWO 6-or" last wank, am
shrouded taws public view
and the. other is the open, COUP
flrmsd thsfZ, Rohm M
lens's bufluesoe as Presidedt
Reagan': nstioW security ad-
vlssrhas reached a comsaodOn cow
comooddon b~
h~~ -
tbe-private event: Overrid-
ing the wishes of Defense
weinher.
ger definssC s riented Re-
lase struck the same of
slew Braasinsid Rats a new
Pentagon The wing a p ~ hard-bitting spesch
about the summit one text
Rat not Deven avallable to the
ept.. McFarlane
showed an indepesdesoe that
must derive from belief Is
Reagan's full confidence,
This conduct suggests it is
McFarlane more than Wain-
berm or secretary of Star
George Shultz who has the
inside track with President
Reagan as national security.
McFarians's rslatlw hard-
line attitude toward the
Kremlin may put the admin-
istration in a political pos-
ture closer to Reagan's own
instincts than the pro-detente
views held inside the bu-
reaucracy
The Brz. esinski incident.
while low important. is even
move Hof the way
McFar
H. was not about to
broaden the -
national security policies
with strategic Input from the
dynamic and imaginative
Besssinski. who was Presi-
dent Jimmy Carter's na-
tional security adviser but
whose views an close to
Reagan's.
McFarlass's decision to
strike his same from the
Pe Lagos'. list at sports.
embarrassed Weinberger.
It also stunned Pate Wilson
and other Repiblican ssna-
ton concerned that Reagan'.
arms program only will
widen the gap between Soviet
and U.& strategic
ae
They had asked dnsit on
to.ietvite Besesisski to
the new panel. and Weisber-
ger qqu~ickly agreed.
McFarlane In the past
would have bit compelled to
along. d pp but not now. I%
with no
hid acting
attemd to '22
yon an oIQ~and observa-
tion that it might make Rea-
gas look as though he needed
Democratic help.
McFarlane's self-confident
qualities were put on display
in his toughly-worded Aug.
It warning to the Soviet
Union.
He tried to foreclose U.S.
concessions by saying that
not even "incremental Im-
provements" in U.S.-Soviet
relations would be possible
without basic changes in the
Kremlin's policieins.
Whit House siders told
us the only oUlcial who was
aware lfcJ'arlase would
make the speech - much
less what he would say-
was the vacationing Presi-
dent.
Shults has given no indica-
tion that he fears McFar-
lans's rise as Reagan's men-
tor. or even resents the na-
tional security adviser deliv-
ering a speech that should
have been in the province of
the secretary of state.
McFarlane's quiet. even
stealthy progression up the
power curve has been possi-
ble because so far he has not
been regarded as a menace
at the State Dept.
An example: When Foreign
Minister Roelof Botha of
South Africa made a clearly
request to meet
With
three Reagan in
weeks ago.
Washington
the W House
that a high State Dept. am-
cial should Instead go to
Vienna for talks with the
ssoccukkteshdd African. Balk Shults
Vienna ao a major
player In the South African
crisis.
Inside the White Hoouse.
McFarlane's ascent has not
produced cheers from Don-
ald RegaL
Instead of cultivating the
new chief of staff. McFarlane
used the transition to stake
out a new independence for
himself and his staff.
Since thee. swords-point
confrontations with as
that marked that ear
period have softened.
McFarlane has started a
deliberate. so far successful.
campaign to assure policy
do inane over the State
Dept. on preparations for the
Reagan-Gorbachev summit.
The progression has been
lone o ? eve
es seem a m e too
kAA rsC ! William V;&sey
w worries a
sum parallel c ar-
lae-s). He so has been the
target of personal rumors -
to frievnds. he has sworn
Thin-lipped and taciturn,
Bud McFarlane is not an ex.
Marine colonel who wears
his heart on his sleeve or
complains in public about
privet grievances that his
friends say tear at his soul.
Suffering silently, he has
continued his sow ascent with
every Piece at evidence sug.
gesting that he does so with
full support from his boss as
they approach a diplomatic
confrontation.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/03/09: CIA-RDP90-00965R000504820036-7