Office of the Historian

56. Backchannel Message 147 From the Ambassador to Egypt (Eilts) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft)1

Cairo, October 5, 1976, 0838Z.

1. Following is for Secretary Kissinger and you:

2. Fahmy has just passed on a request of President Sadat that we undertake an aerial photographic mission over Libya to ascertain location of any Soviet naval ships off the Libyan coast, Libyan troop and equipment dispositions in the area of the Libyan/Egyptian and Libyan/Sudanese frontiers and roads leading up to the borders. The President is particularly anxious to have any information on concentrations of tanks, heavy weapons and rockets. If we are able to set up such a mission, the President asks that we provide him with the results as quickly as possible.

3. I recall we once spoke of running an SR–71 mission over the area. Please let me know if we can lay on such a mission and, if so, when, so that I can respond to Sadat’s request.

4. Warm regards.

  1. Summary: Eilts delivered a request from Sadat for the United States to monitor and report on Soviet activities in Libya.

    Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box CL 135, Geopolitical File, Egypt, Chronological File, October 1–31, 1976. Secret; Sensitive; Immediate; Eyes Only.

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