230. Letter From the Deputy Secretary of Defense (Clements) to Secretary of State Kissinger1
While in Sana during my recent trip to the Middle East, I met with the Yemen Arab Republic Prime Minister, Abd al-Ghani, and the Chief of Staff of the Yemeni Armed Forces, Lieutenant Colonel Ahmad al-Ghashmi. Our discussions, which covered a broad range of subjects, indicated a strong Yemeni desire for expanded U.S. bilateral assistance [Page 718] programs and, in particular, for an increase in CONUS training and education for military and civilian students.
In my opinion, the Yemeni desire for closer alignment with the programs would provide them a potential counterbalance to significant numbers of Yemenis already trained in the USSR as well as an alternative to current, lavish offers of Soviet training.
I fully support the Yemeni requests for increased training and education as reasonable and worthy of your personal attention. In this regard, we are taking action to determine the appropriate level of military training which will be required for the Yemenis to assimilate recent purchases of U.S. equipment and to reorient the Yemeni Armed Forces to Western doctrine and concepts.
Sincerely,
Summary: Clements reported on his recent meeting with Ahmad al-Ghashmi while visiting the Middle East.
Source: National Archives, RG 84, Sana’a Embassy Files: Lot 70F206, DEF 19, Military Assistance/YAR Arms. Confidential. Scotes asked Clements in a November 2 letter to support increased MAP funding. (Washington National Records Center, OASD/ISA Files: FRC 330–79–0037, Yemen 0001.–472) Clements and Scotes met with Yemeni Prime Minister Abdal Aziz Abd al-Ghani on October 25, discussing training and other issues, as reported in telegram 3797 from Sana’a, October 30. (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D760405–0434) The training of Yemeni officers is discussed in telegram 33 from Sana’a, February 15. (Ibid., RG 84, Sana’a Embassy Files: Lot 79F206, DEF 19, Military Assistance/YAR Arms)
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