CIA EX-DIRECTOR WARNS OF SOVIET ARMS AIMS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP99-00498R000100050123-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Sequence Number: 123
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Approved For Release 2007/06/21: CIA-RDP99-00498R000100050123-3
ST. LOUIS POST DISPATCH
26 January 1977
Ca
;:WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 - The'former
P''. head of American intelligence says there
group of reporters, Bush pointed to
hinhn,- a timntae of envirat rlofenea cnpnd- mament
objective" in` international relations is to
':;.relax tensions with the free world. with the West. He waid he was some-
what reserved in my optimism" about
Central Inte igence gency, expresse ? ''that make me feel relaxed' about the
11
,doubt whether the Russians' "prime Russian interest in reducing tensions
Geprge H. Bush, former director of the ? 11
A d Bush said he had not seen anyaigns
military power. mistake it could be catastrophic."
Former CIA official Lyman. Kir'kpa-
trick said elsewhere yesterday that the
United States must-become aware of the
meaning of the Soviet buildup of a vast
civil defense system to protect :`.`key
elements of the population." ? ' '
"This information will be the basis of
Union-"is doing more than just trying to
the upcoming round, of Strategic Arms
catch up with the United States in Limitations Talks and if we make a
,are they burdening the economy to that Bush said he "never heard or intelli-
J xtent?'.` genre officials acting against Sorensen's
Referring to recent American intelli- Bush disputed reports that members of ?
gence'figures doubling earlier estimates the intelligence community had helped.
of the percentage of the Soviet gross organize opposition that' led to-the
.-.national' product !devoted to defense,. withdrawal of President Jimmy Carter's
Bush asked. choice of Theodore C. Sorensen to. be
"If tensions have been relaxed, why director of central intelligence. - F `
orces' He expressed confidence that efforts to
He said the revised estimates of higher clean up had succeeded" after the-CIA
Soviet spending did not necessarily mean disclosures of abuses? including spying
;concluded that the Russians-are seeking ; , - identity'of any such opponents:
: superiority over United States military
- nusn reiuseu ro mscuss UCUans ui ?a nomination-On inquiring into the matter,
recent CIA study that is said to have he said, he was unable to learn- the
and other weapons than was thought.-.
a cos is ig er-
he exp alne . lit t
than_we thought_ ,:He-said he did not 'Gerald`R Ford; indicated interest in
-numners or missues, snips ana so on, _ ',y,; presidential running mate for President
h
1' d B t 'h' h
Russian spending.
His major worry, he stressed, concerns
f` thte Russian intent that may be indicated
did upon accepting the CIA appointment,
Approved For Release 2007/06/21: CIA-RDP99-00498R000100050123-3
By THOMAS W. OTTENAD