103. National Security Action Memorandum No. 2061
TO
- The Secretary of State
- The Secretary of Defense
- The Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
- The Director of Central Intelligence
- The Administrator, AID
SUBJECT
- Military Assistance for Internal Security in Latin America
The President has signed a determination authorizing the grant of up to $34.9 million of military materiel for internal security purposes in [Page 236] Latin America.2 In this connection, the President underscored his concern with the need for the most challenging scrutiny of the justifications advanced for providing items under this determination.
In the complex and rapidly shifting circumstances in Latin America, it is essential that our military aid program be a carefully tailored and constantly updated part of our overall strategy aimed at development and security in the hemisphere. The program development and review process must assure that the specific items furnished under MAP are appropriate to solving the key internal security problems to which our overall country planning is addressed; and that this program in fact strengthens and supports the other objectives of the U.S. effort in each country, including the development of popularly supported civilian governments and effective civil police authorities.
The President recognizes that considerable effort has already been made to reorient military assistance in Latin America. But because this program is so sensitive in relation to the whole gamut of Latin American problems, he wishes to be assured that you continually stress the need to screen MAP items against the full range of intelligence, political analysis, policy evaluation, and other U.S. programs on a current basis.
Specifically:
Are jet aircraft really justifiable items for the internal security mission, or are they included essentially for political reasons? If so, do we have a clear idea of the full political ramifications, and are they clearly to our advantage?
Does the design of the MAP internal security program reflect our current efforts to strengthen the roles and capabilities of civil police in the same countries?
Is there explicit division of missions between the military and police units we support in each country?
Does the projected level of MAP in Latin America reflect a consciously measured balance between our military and police efforts in the internal security field?
Is an adequate contribution made by the intelligence community in the review of internal security programs?
In this connection, the President desires that careful consideration be given to intensifying civil police programs in lieu of military assist-ance where such action will yield more fruitful results in terms of our primary internal security objective. Should AID funds be insufficient to meet total requirements, a transfer from military assistance should be seriously considered.
Will you please take whatever steps are necessary to assure that the FY 1963 MAP program for Latin America is appropriate in terms of these [Page 237] criteria. The President wishes to have the Administrator of AID, in his role as coordinator of foreign assistance, submit a report, in cooperation with the Secretary of Defense, on the steps being taken to assure that MAP has the desired effects on our total efforts in Latin America. He also desires a report later in this fiscal year on the scope and character of the program which is finally implemented under the determination which has just been made.