LETTER TO ROBERTS GATES FROM LES ASPIN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90M00004R000900160001-1
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 7, 2011
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: June 19, 1987
• Content Type: LETTER

- Declassified and Approved For Release 2011/12/07: CIA-RDP90M00004R000900160001-1 )MEOFFICES:
+D STSICT, WISCONSIN
CHAIRMAN,
JUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE
WASHINGTON OFFICE:
2336 RAYBURN BUILDING
WASHINGTON. DC 20515
202-225-3031
87-2648X
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Mazbington, MC 20515
June 19, 1987
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1081 DOUGLAS AVENUE
RACINE. W1 53404
414-632-4448
210 DODGE STREET
JANESVILLE, WI 53545
608-752-9074
KENOSHA
414-551-7414
RECPT #
Mr. Robert Gates
DDI, CIA Headquarters
Room 7E32
Washington, D. C. 20505
I wanted to fill you in on the highlights of this year's Defense
Authorization Act which passed the House May 20. The bill meets two
major criteria for an effective defense bill. It strengthens our
overall defense, and it spends money wisely in a time of serious
budget constraints.
The bill strengthens our defense by setting new priorities that
emphasize a stronger conventional force. Resources would be shifted
away from nuclear weapons toward conventional programs since our
conventional forces are in greater need of help. A second shift would
redirect spending away from research, development and procurement
toward personnel and readiness. This would help boost our supply of
readily-available personnel and weapons. And finally, the bill would
increase spending for Army tank and helicopter programs, which provide
vital support for ground forces.
The bill also contains four key arms control provisions which
would:
*ban practically all nuclear weapons tests, provided the Soviet
Union observes the same restraint and agrees to the placement on its
territory of monitoring equipment;
*ban tests of Star Wars weapons that would violate the
traditional interpretation of the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM)
treaty;
*continue a moratorium on tests of the anti-satellite (ASAT)
missile against target satellites; and
*require the United States to resume adherence to the numerical
limits on intercontinental missiles, bombers and missile subs
contained in the 1979 Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT II).
The House bill has set t sage or real progress toward a sound
I'll be pushing for it all
go before it becomes law, but
Declassified and Approved For Release 2011/12/07: CIA-RDP90M00004R000900160001-1