[06/24/1997] — Page 2013

F:\Cable\Data Source\Cables\CD025\JUN97\MSGS\M2819747.htmI Page 10f8 C a bI e PREC:, PRIORITY CLASS: UNCLASSIFIED LINE.!: PTTUZYUW RUEKJCS3094 1752 7-UUUU--RHEHAAA RHEHWSR. LINE2: ZNR UUUUU LINE3: P 242204ZJUN'97 FORWARD TOPAO LINE4: FM SECDEF WASHINGTON DC! IASD PAIDDIII OSRI: RUEKJCS DTG:. 24·2204ZJUN 97 ORIG: SECDEF WASHINGTON DCIIASD PAIDDIII TO: AIG 8775 INFO: IIII SUBJ: DOD NEWS BRIEFING -CONDUCTED ON TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 1997.AT TEXT: UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 SUBJ: DOD NEWS BRIEFING CONDUCTED ON TUESDAY, JUNE 24, 1997 AT 1:30 P.M. (EDT) BY MR. KENNETH H. BACON, ASD (PA) AT THE PENTAGON MR. BACON: WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON. IT CERTAINLY ISA GREAT THRILL TO BE THE WARM-UP ACT 'TO THE ROSWELL UFO REPORT! [LAUGHTER) AND I WELCOME YOU ALL TO THE BRIEFING. LET ME MAKE A FEW ANNOUNCEMENTS AT THE BEGINNING, AND THEN I' TAKE YOUR QUESTIONS. I KNOW YOU ALL WANT TO GET ON TO UFOS, SO WE CAN DO THAT AS SOON AFTER I FINISH AS POSSIBLE. FIRST, I'D 'LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THAT SECRETARY COHEN HAS SENT A MESSAGE TO THE TROOPS ON FORCE PROTECTION ON THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE KHOBAR TOWERS BOMBING.' AND THAT'S AVAILABLE AT THE BACK OF THE ROOM FOR ANYBODY WHO WANTS A COPY OF THAT. THE, ANNIVERSARY, AS YOU KNOW, IS TOMORROW. SECOND, I'D LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THAT SECRETARY COHEN HAS ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS NOMINATED GENERAL WILLIAM PAGE 02 RUEKJCS3094 UNCLAS CROUCH OF THE ARMY TO TAKE OVER THE JOB OF VICE CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE ARMY HERE IN WASHINGTON. GENERAL CROUCH, AS YOU KNOW, IS' CURRENTLY THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF U.S" ARMY EUROPE AND ALSO THE SEVENTH ARMY IN GERMANY. AND WITH THAT; I'LL TAKE·YOUR QUESTIONS. Q: SPEAKING OF UFOS, WHAT'S THE PENTAGON'S TAKE ON THIS WHOLE THING? DO YOU ALL SUBSCRIBE TO THE AIR FORCE'S EXPLANATION THAT THESE WERE JUST A BUNCH OF DUMMIES DROPPED WITH PARACHUTES? A: I THINK IT'S -­THE AIR FORCE HAS SPENT YEARS INVESTIGATING .THIS, NOT JUST THIS INCIDENT BUT A NUMBER OF, INCIDENTS, ALLEGED INCIDENTS INVOLVING .UFOS,ANDTHEY HAVE FOUND OTHER EXPLANATIONS FOR ALMOST I BELIEVE FOR ALL OF THESE. AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO CONFIRM ANY SO-CALLED "SIGHTING" OF UFOS. THEY FO'UND EITHER NATURAL PHENOMENA TO EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED OR AIRCRAFT LIGHTS IN THE AREA TO EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED. BUT THERE HAVE A NUMBER OF EXPLANATIONS THEY HAVE COME UP WITH OVER THE YEARS. AS YOU KNOW, AFTER YEARS OF INVESTIGATING REPORTS OF UFOS, THE AIR 'FORCE STOPPED MORE THAN A DECADE AGO, F:\Cable\Data Source\Cables\CD025\JUN97\MSGS\M28 19747.htrnl Page 20f8 -. AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN INVESTIGATING THESE INCIDENTS AT ALL BECAUSE IT WAS A WASTE OF TAXPAYERS' MONEY TO KEEP INVESTIGATING PAGE 03 RUEKJCS3094 UNCLAS REPORTS THAT NEVER TURNED OUT TO BE T~UE. BUT THIS WILL BE EXPLAINED IN GREAT DETAIL VIS-A-VIS THE ~ ROSWEiL INCIDENT AS SOON AS I FINtSH. Q; DO YOU THINK THIS WILL PUT THIS WHOLE THING TO ~EST? A; OF COURSE NOT. [LAUGHTER] PROBABLY, IN ANOTHER. DECADE, WE'LL BE. HERE HAV~NG ANOTHER COLONEL WILL BE HERE GIVING ANOTHER BR~EFING ON THE ROSWELL INCIDENT. [LAUGHTER] Q; WHY DOES THIS COME OUT IN DRIBS AND DRABS? DOESN'T THAT SORT OF JUST FUEL CONSPIRACY? AND WHY WASN'T' IT INCLUDED IN 'THE 1994 REPORT? A: . WELL" I THINK THE AIR FORCE WILL EXPLAIN ALL THAT. BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, THIS HAS BEEN INVESTIGATED MANY TIMES, AND THIS IS AN EFFORT TO PULL TOGETHER THEIR LATEST THINKING ON IT. I THINK THEY'RE REISSU'INq AN OLDER REPORT, I. UNDERSTAND IT. [OFF MIKEl ISN'T THAT CORRECT? Q:. ON THE SUBJECT OF KHOBAR TOWERS, YOU MENTIONED THE ONE­ YEAR ANNIVERSARY. IT HAS BEEN A YEAR. WHAT'S BEEN THE DELAY IN THE RELEASE OF THE RECORD REPORT AND ITS RECOMMENDATlONS, WHICH HAS BEEN COMPLETED FOR OVER SIX MONTHS NOW? A: WELL, THE RECORD REPORT WAS REDONE; AS YOU KNOW, AT THE PAGE 04 RUEKJCS309~ UNCLAS REQUEST OF THE DEPUTY SECRETARY OF DEF~NSE AND THE SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE.. AND THE SECOND REPORT, BY THE AIR FORCE IG, LIEUTENANT~GENERAL SWOPE, .wAS COMPLETED SHORTLY BEFORE THE QUADRENNIAL DEFENSE EW CAME OUT. SECRETARY COHEN MADE A \ DECISION AT THAT TIME THAT HE WAS GOING TO CONCENTRATE ON BRINGING THE QUADRENNIAL DEFENSE REVIEW TO CLOSURE AND PRESENTING IT ON ,THE HILL, PRESENTING IT TO THE ,AND HE DID THAT. AND SEVERAL WEEKS AFTER THE QDR WAS RELEASED AND EXPLAINED ON THE HILL, HE BEGAN LOOKING NOT JUST AT· THE SWOPE VERSION OF THE RECORD REPqRT, BUT HE WENT RIGHT BACK TO THE BEGINNING AND STARTED WITH THE DOWNIN.G REPORT. AND HE STARTED WITH NOT ONLY THE REPORT, BUT THE ATTACHMENTS, THE APPENDICES, AND THEN HE WENT THROUGH THE RECORD REPORT AND THE ATTACHMENTS AND THE APPENDICES, AND NOW HE IS ON TO THE SWOPE REPORT: AND SO THIS HAS BEEN A MONUMENTAL UNDERTAKING. HE HAS WANTED TO 'BE VERY CAREFUL AND THOROUGH, AND HE HAS BEEN. AND HE'S NOT.DONE YET. BUT MY ANTICIPATION IS THAT, IN SEVERAL WEEKS, HE WILL BE FINISHED WITH HIS REVIEW AND WILL BE ABLE TO DISCUSS WHAT HIS CONCLUSIONS ARE. Q: KEN, WHAT IS THE DEPARTMENT'S POSIT~ON UPON THE HOUSE PAGE 65 RUEKJCS3094 UNCLAS' ACTION .OF LAST WEEK THAT PASSED A BILL, WHICH SAID THAT 10,000 SOLDIERS COULD BE USED FOR BORDER PATROL? AND, SECONDLY, WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO MILITARY PEOPLE WHO SAY WE JUST DON'T HAVE THAT MANY TRAINED SOLDIERS TO SPARE, EVEN IF WE WANTED TO? AND LASTLY, F:\Cable\Data . Source\Cables\CD025\JUN97\MSGS\M281974 7.html Page 3 of8 WHAT'S· THE LEGAL STATUS o.F THIS MARINE WHO. IS ACCUSED OF SHo.o.TING A U.S. CITIZEN WHILE o.N Bo.RDER PATRo.L? AND YO.U HAVE A CIVILIAN· AUTHo.RITY INVESTIGATING AND CHARGING, AND ARE THE MARINES Go.ING 1'0. HAVE A SEPARATE LITIGATIo.N? WHAT'S THE STATE o.F PLAY o.N THAT? A: I'M TEMPTED TO. INVo.KE THE WARREN CHRISTo.PHER RULE THAT IN A MULTI-QUESTIo.N, I GET TO. ANSWER THE QUESTIo.N I. CHo.o.SE. [LAUGHTER] BUT I Wo.N'T B~CAUSE THEY'RE ALL SERIo.US QUESTIo.NS. To.DAY THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT HAS ABo.UT 242 PEo.PLE o.N THE Bo.RDER.ASSISTING WITH o.BSERVATIo.N AND SURVEILLANCE o.F Bo.RDER ACTIVIT THIS IS PART o.F THE SUPPo.RT o.FCo.UNTER-DRUG EFFORTS, No.T Mo.UNTED BY THIS AGENCY, BUT Mo.UNTED BY GENERAL MCCAFFREY'S AGENCY. WE PRo.VI TRo.o.PS PURELY IN A SUPPo.RT CAPACITY, BECAUSE, AS YO.U KNo.W, .THE MILITARY IS PRo.SCRIBED FRo.M PARTICIPATING IN Do.MESTIC LAW ENFo.RCEMENT ACTIVITIES UNDER AN 1878 LAW, "THE Po.SSE Co.MITATUS LAW. so. WE PRo.VIDE SUPPo.RT IN TERMS o.F EXTRA EYES AND PAGE 06 RUEKJCS3094 UNCLAS EARS, So.ME SURVEILLANCE, MAYBE So.ME INTELLIGENCE FRo.M TIME TO. TIME, BUT IT'S ALL IN A SUPPo.RT CAPACITY. GENERAL MCCAFFREY HAS MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT HE WOULD PREFER TO. HAVE ALL o.F THE Bo.RDER PATRo.L o.PERATIo.N Do.NE BY Bo.RDER PATRo.L·AGENTS AND No.T HAVE THE·MILITARY INVo.LVED AT ALL. AND THE MILITARY Wo.ULD CERTAINLY SUPPo.RT A DECISIo.N LIKE THAT, BUT IT. Wo.ULD REQUIRE APPo.INTING MANY Mo.RE Bo.RDER PATRo.L AGENTS THAN WE HAVE To.DAY. so. WE Co.NTINUE TO. PRo.VIDE SUPPo.RT IN AN AS-NEEDED· BASIS. I Do.N'T THINK THAT WE NEED ANYWHERE NEAR AN ADDITIONAL 10,000 So.LDIERS TO. ASSIST IN THE SUPPo.RT o.F THE Bo.RDER PATRo.L o.PERATIo.NS RIGHT No.W. AND THERE HASBEEN~-So.'ANSWERING yo.UR FIRST QUESTIo.N( THAT'S IT. I'M AFRAID I'VE Fo.RGo.TTEN Mo.ST o.F THE o.THER QUESTIo.NS, BUT Q: THE o.THER o.NE WAS, WHAT'S THE STATE o.F ·PLAY, LEGALLY, WHERE YO.U HAVE CIVILIAN AUTHo.RITIES IN TEXAS CHARGING A MARINE· WITH SHo.o.TING A CITIZ~N WHILE o.N Bo.RDER PATRo.L, AND THEN yo.UHAV~ THE MARINES, WHO. PRESUMABLY HAVE THEiR o.WN LEGAL ACTIo.N. WILL THE DEPARTMENT LET THE CIVILIAN AUTHo.RITIES QUESTION THE MARINE o.R WILL THEY INSIST o.NA S~PARATE LEGAL ACTIo.N BY THE Co.RPS? UNC~AS SECTIo.N 02 o.F03 A: WELL, FIRST o.F ALL, THE MARINES HAVE Co.o.PERATED FULLY WITH Do.MESTIC LAW AND WITH CIVILIAN LAW ENFo.RCEMENT AGENCIES IN THE Co.URSE o.F THIS INVESTIGATIo.N, AND THEY Co.NTINUE To.Co.o.PERATE FULLY. THEY HAVE MADE STATEMENTS, THEY HAVE PRo.VIDED ALL THE· INFo.RMATIo.N THEY'VE BEEN REQUESTED TO. PRo.VIDE. Q: WHILE yo.U'RE o.NTHAT, Do.ES THAT INCLUDE LETTING ~HEM QUESTIo.N THIS ACCUSED PERSo.N? A:So.RRY? Q: THERE WAS A Co.MPLAINT THAT THE CIVILIAN AUTHo.RITIES WEREN'T ALLo.WED TO. QUESTIo.N THE ACCUSED MARINE. A: I KNo.WTHE ACCUSED MARINE HAS PRo.VIDED A STATEMENT o.F WHAT HAPPENED TO. THE CIVILIAN LAWENFo.RCEMENT AGENCIES. Q: BUT I JUST WANT TO. KNOW IF I CAN TAKE IT FRo.M yo.UR STATEMENT THAT, IF REQUESTED, THE ~ARINES WILL LET HIM BE QUESTIo.NED BY CIVILIAN AUT~o.RITIES. F:\Cable\Data Source\Cables\CD025\JUN97\MSGS\M2819747.html Page 4 of8 PAGE 02 RUEKJCS3095 UNCLAS A: IT IS MY,UNDERSTANDING THAT THE FOUR-MAN PATROL HAS COOPERATED FULLY WITH DOMESTIC LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES. THEY REMAINED FOR FOUR DAYS IN AREA. AT THE END OF FOUR DAYS, THERE WAS NO MORK DEMAND OR REQUEST FOR THEM TO PROVIDE. INFORMATION, AND THEY LEFT. THAT IS MY UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT. HAPPENED. THE MARINES HAVE LAUNCHED THEIR OWN INVESTIGATION OF WHAT WENT ON. AND THE JOINT TASK FORCE SIX, WHICH RUNS THE BORDER SUPPORT OPERATION, HAS ALSO DONE AN INVESTIGATION, AND THAT 'INVESTIGATION, WHICH I'VE READ IN DRAFT FORM, BUT I HAVE NOT SEEN IN FINAL FORM" CONCLUDES THAT THEY WERE FOLLOW:):NG PROPER PROCEDURES IN RESPONDING TO AN ATTACK AGAINST THEM. THEY RESPONDED THE WAY THEy'RE ALLOWED TO, IN SELF-DEFENSE., NOW, THE MARINES ARE LOOKING INTO IT, AND THERE I~ A CIVILIAN PROCEEDING GOING ON, AT THE SAME TIME. AS I SAID, THE MARINES HAVE COOPERATED WITH THAT. Q: ANY RESULTS ON THE TODAY'S MEETING BETWEEN THE GREEK. MINISTER OF DEFENSE AP'OSTOLOS TSOHATZOPOULOS AND THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WILLIAM COHEN HERE AT THE PENTAGON? .: ' .A:, I HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO ANYBODY WHO WAS AT PAGE 03 RUEKJCS30.95 'UNCLAS THE MEETING YET. THEY WERE PREPARED TO TALK ABOUT A WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES --SECRETARY ,COHEN WAS --STARTING WITH NATO ENLARGEMENT, WHICH OF COURSE IS. AT THE TOP OF EVERYBODY'S LIST RIGHT NOW. THEY WERE ALSO GOING TO ABOUT BOSNIA AND THE PROGRESS OF THE SFOR MISSION I~ BOSNIA. WERE GOING TO TALK ABOUT CYPRUS, AND THEY WERE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE CONFIOENCE­ BUILDING MEASURES IN THE AEGEAN., THOSE WERE THE MAIN ISSUES OF CONVERSATION THEY WERE PLANNING TO COVER. Q: DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ON THE EXTENSIVE MEETING BETWEEN THE GREEK MINISTER OF DEFENSE APOSTOLOS TSOHATZOPOULOS AND THE UNDERSECRETARY JAN LODAL YESTERDAY AT GREEK' EMBASSY? A: I AM AFRAID I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ON THAT. Q: AND LAST NIGHT, IT WAS REPORTED THAT YOUR AMBASSADOR IN ATHENS, THOMAS NILES, PROTESTED TO THE GREEK, GOVERNMENT REGARDING THE WELL-KNOWN ISSUEOF'THE UPGRADING THE F-4 GREEK FIGHTERS BY U.S. OR GERMANY. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ON THAT? A: I AM AFRAID I DON'r HAVE ANYTHING ON THAT. WE'LL TRY TO GET INFORMATION ON THAT. Q: . WELL, THE CINCS ,THAT ARE IN TOWN FOR THE CINC CONFERENCE, WILL THEY MEET AS A GROUP WITH THE PRESIDENT? OR PAGE 04 RUEKJCS3095 UNCLAS WILL ANY CINCS INDIVIDUALLY MEET WITH THE PRESIDENT? A: I DON'T BELIEVE THE CINCS ARE MEETING WITH TH~ PRESIDENT THIS TIME AROUND. AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT ANY INDIVIDUAL CINCSWILL BE.MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENT, EITHER. 'Q: YOU MENTIONED THE STATEMENT OF COHEN TO THE TROOPS. COULD YOU JUST PARAPHRASE WHAT THAT STATEMENT IS, TO GIVE IT A LITTLE'BIT ON CAMERA? A: SECRETARY COHEN MADE BASICALLY TWO POINTS IN HIS F:\Cable\Data_ Source\Cables\CD025\JUN97\MSGS\M28197 47.html Page 5 of8 STATEMENT TO THE TROOPS. THE FIRST THAT THE FBI IS MAKING PROGRESS IN ITS INVESTIGATION, TO LOCATE THE TERRORISTS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DEADLY ACT A YEAR AGO, AND THAT THIS , GOVERNMENT IS DETERMINED TO BRING THE TERRORISTS TO JUSTICE. I THINK THE RECENT CAPTURE OF THE MAN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE KILLINGS OUTSIDE THE CIA SHOWS THAT WE ARE DETERMINED AND DEDICATED TO BRINGINCTERRORISTS LIKE THIS TO JUSTICE, AND WE WILL PURSUE THESE TERRORISTS WITH THE SAME VIGOR THAT WE PURSUED THAT FELLOW. SECONDLY, HE $TRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF FORCE-PROTECTION. REPORTED ON HIS RECENT TRIP TO THE GULF, IN WHICH. HE HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW A NUMBER OF THE INSTALLATIONS OVER THERE, THE 'PAGE 05 RUEKJCS3095 UNCLAS PRINCE SULTAN AIR BASE AT AL-KHARJ, FOR INSTANCE, THE POSITIONING SITE IN -AT CAMP DOHA IN KUWAIT, THE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT FACILITY THAT HOUSES THE FIFTH FLEET IN BAHRAIN. AND HE ALSO VISITED A SITE IN OMAN. HE REPORTED THAT HE FOUND THE FORCE PROTECTION MEASURES VERY IMPRESSIVE, NOTED THAT THERE'S NO ABSOLUtE OF FORCE PROTECTION, THAT IT REMAINS EVERYBODY'S RESPONSIBILITY ALL THE TIME, AND THAT FORCE PROTECTION IS CLEARLY THE BUSINESS OF EVERY PERSON IN THE MILITARY, EVERY DAY IN EVERY WAY. THAT WAS BASICALLY THE GIST OF HIS MESSAGE TO'THE TROOPS. Q: COULD YOU CHARACTERIZE THE PROGRESS THAT THE FBI IS MAKING IN THE CASE? A: I CANNOT. THAT'S SOMETHING FOR THE FBI TO TALK ABOUT. Q: TODAY THE INDEPENDENT ,NEWSPAPER, THE BRITISH PAPER, REVEALED· THAT MOST OF THE AMERICAN BOMBS AND AIR-TO-GROUND, MISSILES ACQUIRED BY ISRAEL IN LEBANON LAST YEAR, WERE SOLD TO THE UNITED -STATES' .,ARMED FORCES AND NOT TO ISRAEL. AND THEY KILLED 200 CIVILIANS AND 14 GUERRILLAS. AND THEY FOUND OUT THAT 1,700 BOMBS AND MISSILES WERE TRANSFERRED FROM U.S. MILITARY STOCKS, WITH NO PROHIBITION ON THEIR USE AGAINST CIVILIANS. WHAT DO YOU COMMENT ON THIS REPORT? PAGE 06 .RUEKJCS3095 UNCLAS A: I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT REPORT, AND. I'D RATHER NOT COMMENT ON IT UNTIL I HAVE A --. Q: THEY ARE SAYING ALSO THAT SO ROUTINE HAS THE .SYSTEM OF WEAPONS TRANSFER FROM U.S. INVENTORIES BECOME, THAT MASSIVE SHIPMENTS OF ORDINANCE TO ISRAEL ARE NOW UNDERTAKEN WITH NO PUBLICITY OR DEBATE IN AMERICA. A: I WOULD SAY THAT ALL ASPECTS OF OUR POLICY TOWARD ISRAEL ARE DEBATED HEALTHFULLY EVERY YEAR. BUT I CAN'T COMMENT SPECIFICALLY ON THAT REPORT, BECAUSE I HAVEN'T READ IT. Q: ARE YOU DENYING THAT SHIPMENT OF ARMS ARE BEING TRANSFERRED TO ISRAEL FROM THE STOCKPILES HERE, WITHOUT ANY DEBATE? A: I'M TELLING YOU THAT I'M NOT GOING TO COMMENT ON A REPORT THAT I HAVEN'T READ. Q: WHEN SECRETARY COHEN MET' IN SAUDI ARABIA WITH ABDULLAH AND SAUD, DID THAT RESULT IN THEM PROVIDING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE KHOBAR TOWERS? A: THIS IS A ISA TASK THAT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT IS F :\Cable\Data Source\Cables\CD025\JUN97\MSGS\M281974 7 .html Page 6 of8· UNDERTAKING, THROUGH THE FBI. THEY'RE IN CHARGE OF THIS INVESTIGATION. DIRECTOR FREEH HAS BEEN OVER SEVERAL TIMES. UNCLAS FINAL SECTION OF 03 THERE IS EXTENSIVE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE U.S. AND THE SAUDIS ON THIS INVESTIGATION, AND !TIS NOT SOMETHING THAT SECRETARY COHEN HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN A DETAILED WAY. Q: HE HASN'T RAISED THAT --[OFF MIKE]? A: HE DID TALK TO THEM ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION, AND HE SAID PUBLICLY THAT HE --HE URGED THE IMPORTANCE OF COOPERATION, FULL COOPERATION WITH .THE SAUDIS FROM .THE SAUDIS WITH THE UNITED STATES. HE REPEATED WHAT THE PRESIDENT HAS SAID; THAT WE EXPECT FULL AND COMPLETE COOPERATION FROM THEM. AND HE DID SPEAK ABOUT ONE PARTICULAR INCIDENT, WHICH WAS THE' DEPORTATION OF AL­ SAYEGH FROM CANADA TO THE UNITED STATES. BUT THE DETAILED DISCUSSIONS OF THE INVESTIGATION ARE UNDER THE MANTLE OF THE FBI. YES? Q: FOLLOWING UP ON MARK'S QUESTION, WITH THE ~INCS IN TOWN, WILL DEFENSE SECRETARY COHEN CONDUCT INTERVIEWS REGARDING PAGE 02 RUEKJCS3096 UNCLAS THE. CHAIRMANSHIP, USE THE OPPORTUNITY?, A: I CAN'T GO INTO SPECIFICS, BUT CERTAINLY THAT'S ON HIS MIND AND IT'S ON THEIR MIND,.AND THERE WILL BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOME OF THEM TO TALK. Q: HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER ARMEY LAST NIGHT SAID THAT IF THE PRESIDENT IS NOT WILLING TO COMPROMISE ON THE QUESTION OF KELLY AND MCCLELLAN ~-THE DEPOTS AT KELLY AND MCCLELLAN AIR FORCE BASES, THAT THERE WILL BE NO FURTHER ROUND OF BASE CLOSINGS. DOES THE PENTAGON. SEE ROOM FOR COMPROMISE HERE, OR IS THE ; PRESIDENT GOING TO INSIST, AND PENTAGON GOING TO INSIST, THAT YOU RETAIN THE RIGHT TO PRIVATIZE THOSE DEPOTS? A: WELL, FIRST OF ALL, 'I CAN'T TALK FOR THE PRESIDENT ON THIS ISSUE. WE ARE SPENDING A LOT OF TIME, .THE SECRETARY AND THE· STAFF ARE SPENDING A LOT OF TIME THIS WEEK ON THAT ISSUE, WHICH IS BRAC, AND HOW TO GET BRAC THROUGH. SECRETARY WAS ENCOURAGED BY THE FACT THAT THERE WAS A,9-9 VOTE ON IT IN THE SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE. AS YOU KNOW, THERE ARE STRONG SUPPORTERS FOR BRAC IN THE SENATE, IN PARTICULAR; THERE ARE SOME IN THE HOUSE AS WELL, AND WE ARE PREPARED TO WORK WITH CONGRESS AGGRESSIVELY AND ENERGETICALLY TO TRY TO .GET A BRAC PACKAGE PAGE 03 RUEKJCS3096 UNCLAS THROUGH. I 'CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT THE DETAILS OF ANY EVENTUAL COMPROMISE. WILL BE. I THINK IT MAY' BE TOO EARLY TO TALK ABOUT DETAILS AT THIS TIME. I THINK WE HAVE TO GET A CLEARER IDEA OF WHERE EVERYBODY STANDS, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO. BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ABOUT BRAC IS TO STRESS THAT IF . WE WANT TO GO AHEAD WITH THE MobERNIZATION PROGRAM THAT THE PENTAGON, THAT THE CHIEFS, THAT THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE --AS . ILLUSTRATED BY THE QDR --THINKS IS THE RIG'HT MODERNIZATION PROGRAM FOR THE FUTURE, WE HAVE TO'GENERATE SAVINGS SOMEWHERE, AND IT REALLY DOES COME DOWN TO A CHOICE BETWEEN PROTECTING FORCES OR PROTECTING OLD FACILITIES --~ROTECTING FACILITIES THAT ARE EXCESS IN MANY RESPECTS. AND'I KNOW THIS IS A CONTROVERSIAL F:\Cable\Data Source\Cables\CD025\JUN97\MSGS\M281974 7 .html Page 70f8 '. ' . , AND, EMOTIONAL AREA, BUT IT'S AN AREA IN WHICH WE MUST MAKE PROGRESS IF WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND CARRY OUT THE MODERNIZATION PROGRAM WE THINK IS NECESSARY FOR THE NEXT CENTURY. Q: ON THAT ISSUE, THERE'S BEEN SOME ANALYSES THAT,INDICATE THAT IF THE CONGRESS DOESN'T LIFT THE 60 4,0 RULE, THAT THE PENTAGON WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PRIVATIZE KELLY AND MCCLELLAN EVEN IF THE COMPETITIVE BIDDING PROVES THAT TO BE THE BEST DEAL. HAVE YOU ALL HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THAT AND SEE WHETHER ~- PAGE 04 RUEKJCS3096 UNCLAS A: WELL, WE ARE ST HOPEFUL THAT WE'LL GET SOMEREL FROM THE 60-40 RULE. THE SECRETARY HAS SENT LETTERS TO CONGRESS ON THAT. WE' ASKING FOR 50-50, WHICH GIVES US SOME RELIEF. AND WE CAN MAKE COPIES OF THOSE LETTERS AVAILABLE TO YOU, IF YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN THEM ALREADY. BUT'ITHINK WE MADE SOME AVAILABLE LAST WEEK, AND THERE WERE SOME NEW LETTERS EITHER LATE LAST WEEK OR EARLY THIS WEEK. Q: YOU DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU COULD PRIVATIZE THOSE UNDER 60-40? A: IT WOULD BE MORE COMPLICATED, OBVIOUSLY, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WE HAVE ASKED FOR RELIEF. WE HAVE FOR 50­ 50. ALL ASPECTS OF S ISSUE ARE CONTROVERSIAL, AS YOU KNOW. BUT WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THE CASE 'THAT --AS THE PRESIDENT MADE IN 1995, THAT THERE SHOULD BE A COMPETITIVE ASPECT IN TRYING TO RESOLVE THESE PROBLEMS. AND 50-50 WOULD GIVE US MORE ROOM TO ALLOW COMPETITION. ,Q: HAS SECRETARY COHEN RECEIVED ANY TYPE OF BR~EFING ON THE ROSWELL REPORT? AND IF SO, WHAT WAS HIS REACTION? A: I AM NOT AWARE THAT HE DID, SO I CAN'T REPORT ON HIS REACTION· \ PAGE 05 RUEKJCS3096 UNCLAS Q: COULD YOU TAKE THAT QUESTION? A: SURE., Q: THANK YOU. A: JUST A SEC' --GEORGE? Q: JUS~ A ~HORT [INAUDIBLE]. YOU SAID THAT WE DON'T NEED 10,000 TROOPS THERETO HELP IN DRUG PATROL. ASIDE FROM THAT, COULD YOU SPARE THAT MANY TRAINED TROOPS TO DO THAT JOB? Tim COMMANDERS TELL ME THEY DON'T HAVE THAT MANY TO SPARE. A: [PAUSE 1 THE TROOPS ARE STRETCHED NOW, AS YOU KNOW. THE OPERATIONAL TEMPO AND THE PERSONNEL TEMPO IS VERY HIGH. TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, WE RESj:)OND TO THE DIRECTION WE GET FROM CONGRESS AND THE DIRECTION WE GET FROM THE PRESIDENT. WE ALWAYS RESPOND TO THE DIRECTION WE GET FROM THE PRESIDENT, THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF. BUT RIGHT NOW THERE DOES' NOT SEEM TO BE·A NEED FOR AN ADDITIONAL 10,000 TROOPS. WE'RE COMFORTABLE WITH THE FORCE THAT WE HAVE PROVIDED TO THE BORDER PATROL OPERATIONS ALREADY. I DON'T SEE A HUGE DEMAND, ON THE PART OF GENERAL MCCAFFREY, OR ON THE, PART OF THE DENT, TO SUPPLY LARGE NUMBERS OF ADDITIONAL TROOPS. I THINK THAT PEOPLE ARE SATISFIED WITH THE SUPPORT WE'RE ~ROVIDING ALREADY. F:\Cable\Data Source\Cables\CD025\JUN97\MSGS\M2819747.html Page 8 of8 PAGE 06 RUEKJCS3096 UNCLAS AND I THINK THAT WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO THE NEXT POINT OF WHETHER WE COULD DO IT, BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE ARE GOING TO BE ASKED TO PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL 10,000 TROOPS TO THE BORDER PATROL OPERATIONS. PRESS: THANK YOU. -END­ TRANSCRIPTS OF THE DOD NEWS BRIEFING' ARE ALSO AVAILABLE ON DEFENSELINK, THE DOD HOMEPAGE -HTTP://WWW.DTIC.MIL/DEFENSELINK/ OASD/PA IS.LOOKING AT DISCONTINUING TRANSMITTAL OF THE TWICE WEEKLY PRESS BRIEFING IN MESSAGE FORMAT. WE BELIEVE MOST, IF NOT ALL, AGENICES ON ouA DISTRIBUTION LIST ARE ABLE TO OBTAIN THIS BRIEFING VIA DEFENSELINK.' WE SOLICIT YOUR COMMENTS ON THIS PROPOSAL. PLEASE REPLY VIA MESSAGE TO: OASD/PA/DDI ( LT COL SCHULTZ) OR VIA' ELECTRONIC MAIL TO: TSCHULTZ@.PAGATE.PA.OSD.MIL. YOUR OPINION IS IMPORTANT. PLEASE LET US KNOW. SECT: SECTION: 01 OF 03 <"SECT>SECTION: 02 OF 03 <~SECT>SECTION: 03 OF 03 SSN: 3094. CSSN>3095 <"SSN>3096 TOR: 9 7 0 6 2 419 3012 M2 819747 <"TOR>970624192950M2819746. <"TOR>970624193012 M2819748 DIST: . SIT: NSC