192. Memorandum From Clinton E. Granger of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft)1 2
SUBJECT:
- Defense Recommendation on Short Term Military Aid for Kenya
Defense has put together a proposed list of military equipment which could be provided to Kenya to help bolster Kenyan defenses against a possible attack by Uganda. Included are 100 M-79 Grenade Launchers, 3,000 40mm Grenade Launchers and 250 LAW anti-tanks weapons. These could be airlifted along with a 24-man training team by a single C-141 flight within 48 hours, and Kenyan soldiers could be trained in their use in 48 hours. Cost would be about $350,000, which could be absorbed by FMS funds available to Kenya. However, Defense recommends against an offer of assistance until it becomes more clear what equipment the British are providing.
[text not declassified] a British airlift will begin today or tomorrow; 50–60 C–130 flights will bring mortars, artillery, ammunition and 400 cluster bombs to Nairobi.)
The Defense memorandum also forwarded information on REDEYE. The cost of 50 REDEYEs and associated equipment would be $1.5 million. Defense points out that the provisions of REDEYE would raise security questions, since there is no U.S./Kenya Security Information agreement and no security survey of Kenya procedures and safeguards has been conducted.
We agree with the Defense recommendation that no offer be made to Kenya for the moment. If the British airlift approaches the magnitude indicated it will probably supply Kenyan needs, especially since Kenya apparently has [Page 2] little to fear from a Ugandan ground attack. Obviously, if the situation deteriorates or the Kenyans approach us for assistance we will want to give the Defense package serious consideration. In this connection, we note the Kenyans are particularly concerned about the possibility of an air attack, either by Ugandan MIGS or the Libyan Mirages reputed to be at Nakasongola airbase in central Uganda. We have no information that the British are supplying air defense weapons.
RECOMMENDATION
That we not offer the Defense package to Kenya pending clarification of what Britain will supply.
Approve [BS]
Disapprove
Roger Harrison concurs.
- Source: Ford Library, National Security Adivser, Presidential Country Files for Africa, Box 3, Kenya. Secret. Sent for action. Harrison concurred. Scowcroft initialed his approval and made a handwritten notation: “But can we provide quickly if the need for any specific item should arise?” The penultimate sentence of the memorandum is also highlighted with a handwritten notation by Kissinger: “Can we actually respond quickly?”↩
- Granger indicated that the Department of Defense had assembled a list of military equipment for Kenya. He recommended against a U.S. offer to Kenya until the nature of a British airlift was clarified. Scowcroft approved the recommendation.↩