3 SETS OF SENATE HEARINGS EXPECTED ON SOVIET MIGHT AND STRATEGIC AIMS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP99-00498R000100050143-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Sequence Number: 143
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Approved For Release 2007/06/21: CIA-RDP99-00498R000100050143-1
STAT
5
3 Sets of Sefiate Hearings Expected--
NEW YORK TIMES
On Soviet DAight and Strategic Ai s
WASHINGTON, Jan. 7-The Senate will under the authority of a subcommittee'-.
on intelligence quality control headed by
'
Senator Adlai E. Stevenson, Democrat of
Illinois.
;~..
r
The hearings are in part "regular, A spokesman said the subcommittee
scheduled business," according to staff has been "fully apprised" of a, dispute-aides engaged in preparing for them, and on Soviet aims and abilities between an,-
in part motivated by interest in a debate "A-team" of intelligence community. offi--gym
among American intelligence- specialists cials and a "B-team" of outside specialists'
about Soviet strategic intentions. brought into "competitive analysis" by
Late last month, George Bush, Director Mr. Bush late last year.
of Central Intelligence, and other leading In addition, the Senate Foreign Rela q
intelligence officials said that the Ameri- tions Committee will begin hearings next.
can intelligence community was taking Friday on the effectiveness of American;.o
a "more somber" view of Soviet military strategic-weapons systems in relation to~-.
capacities and aims. It was also reported Soviet abilities.
that the latest intelligence community Extension Expected "national estimate" of long-range Soviet goals concluded that the Soviet Union The call for these hearings was made'
sought strategic superiority over the last May by Senator Charles H. Percy;,
United States within the next decade. the Illinois Republican, who proposed, ,3
Intelligence officials said the controver- that they serve as a vehicle for examinin ?
sial estimate, approved Dec. 21 by the Na- the efficacy of new Federal expend iture9l-',
tional Foreign Intelligence Board , which on intercontinental ballistic missiles, the`--,
is made up of the heads of all intelligence disputed B-1 bomber and the Trident nu-
and security agencies, was signed by 3Ir. clear submarine program.
Bush this morning. A summary was given A committee aide said, however, thatz`
to President-elect Carter's designated Na- in view of the latest intelligence estimate-,
tional Security Adviser, Zbigniew Brze- of Soviet strategy, the hearings would..*
zinski, last week. undoubtedly be extended to take up ques-- -,
tions concerning "the Soviet threat and-
Study of U.S. Intelligence a briefing on strategic balance" in closed
The House is also expected to take up sessions. * ? I
questions about Soviet strategic capacity The Foreign Relations Committee's sec-a? I
-but later. Members of the House Inter- and hearing, Jan. 19, is scheduled to hear,
national Relations Committee said their testimony from Paul H. Nitze, former"+
'first order of business was reconstitution deputy secretary of defense, who was on,.'
of their subcommittees by Feb. 1. the "B-team" of outside estimators lead-`t
- The Senate hearings include a continu- ing the movement toward a grimmer in-s'
ing closed-session study of American in- telligence appraisal of Soviet strategy last.'
telligence collection, production and qual- autumn. ,
ity by the Select Committee on Intelli-
gence.
This study is being conducted REMEMBER THE NEEDIEST!
hold at lest three sets of hearings on
Soviet military ability and strategic ob
jectives this winter, Congressional aides
said today.
Approved For Release 2007/06/21: CIA-RDP99-00498R000100050143-1