254. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon1
SUBJECT
- Fiscal Year 1975 Support for the Kurds
You initiated financial and material support to Mulla Mustafa Barzani and the Kurds in July 1972 and subsequently reaffirmed and increased our assistance.
The Kurds continue to struggle against an economic blockade, increasing air strikes and shelling from heavy artillery, and troop assaults of larger and larger scale. Our aid, coupled with much greater support from Iran, has helped the Kurds to resist Iraqi efforts to subdue them.
CIA proposes that $8.06 million be authorized for Fiscal Year 1975 to support the Kurds.2 The bulk of this amount, [less than 1 line not declassified], would continue a monthly cash subsidy at the regular monthly rate which obtained during the past year (although the cost of purchasing Iraqi dinars is increasing); [less than 1 line not declassified] would be used to purchase arms and ammunition; [1½ lines not declassified].
This amount would maintain support for the Kurds at about the same level as this Fiscal Year. Funds were not included in CIA’s budget and must be drawn from the Agency Reserve.
Recommendation:
That you approve $8.06 million from the Agency Reserve to support the Kurds in Fiscal Year 1975.3
- Source: National Security Council, Nixon Intelligence Files, Subject Files, Iraqi Kurds, Box 8, 7 April 1969–12 June 1974. Secret; Sensitive; Outside System. Sent for action.↩
- Attached but not printed is a May 31 memorandum from Colby to Kissinger with this recommendation.↩
- Nixon initialed his approval on June 24. According to a memorandum by Rob Roy Ratliff, the 40 Committee was informed on June 25. (National Security Council, Nixon Intelligence Files, 303 Committee/40 Committee, NSCIC 1969–74, Box 7, 40 Committee Meetings (Approved) Minutes 1974, RMN)↩