257. Transcript of a Telephone Conversation Between the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) and Secretary of State Rogers1
K: I just wanted to review the situation with you. There is nothing really in addition to what we discussed last night. Alex and Sisco will tell you.
R: I’ve already talked with them.
K: The only thing I wanted to check out was between U.S. and Israeli air intervention, what is your judgment as to which would be preferable.
R: I am in favor of the Israelis doing it. In fact it’s almost commanding the reasons are so strong. It would be in line with their national interests, it would help in preventing the Iraqis from having a [Page 720] hand in the government of Jordan. The King can give as the reason the Israelis are on his soil is because of the acts of the Fedayeen. Third, if we are going to have any peace, Jordan and Israel will have to work together anyway.
K: That’s right. No matter how we slice it the question would be what are we doing there.
R: I think the national interest argument is very strong. Also, what if we failed; for Israel to bail us out would be awful.
K: Yes. You and I have to stay closely in touch on this. The President’s instincts are the other way, but he’s not adamant.
R: If we play it right, we may be able to pull out the whole thing.
K: And if we pull it out the peace offensive has a real chance. It would be good for credibility with the Israelis and show the Arabs that moderation is the only course. And we would have a chance of getting a government there that can make peace. We may come out very well.
R: That’s what I think. In terms of our personnel: there’s a total of 47. Twenty-some are in a special room which is locked and the others are in a place protected by the Jordanian army. We also have a report— a TWA pilot to Beam (?) that all the hostages are in a safe place outside of the city.
K: Good. The President is very anxious for Ziegler to reaffirm the Monday statement about the hostages and that we hold the guerrillas responsible for their safety.2
- Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, Kissinger Telephone Conversations, Box 30, Chronological Files. No classification marking.↩
- On September 14, Ziegler issued a statement at an afternoon news briefing in response to a PFLP announcement made that day stating that the PFLP considered dual U.S.-Israeli citizens as Israeli citizens only. Ziegler said that the U.S. government “rejects any attempt to establish distinctions among its citizens on any basis whatever.” He continued that the PFLP’s taking of U.S. citizens as hostages in a dispute with another country as “particularly reprehensible.” (New York Times, September 15, 1970, p. 1)↩