129. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to Secretary of Defense Brown1
SUBJECT
- CNA–78 (U)
Your comments of April 30 are highly pertinent and helpful.2 As you know, I share many of your concerns. Indeed, I feel strongly that we need to take some decisions now if the negative trends, which could so adversely affect our position in the early eighties, are to be averted.
I am glad that you approve the notion of an NSC meeting on the subject, and I will proceed to schedule one.
To give it focus, and to make the discussion of Presidential import, I intend to structure the agenda around the following three fundamental questions:
- 1.
- What are the requirements of stable deterrence, now and up to the mid-eighties?
- 2.
- What are the requirements of stable crisis bargaining, now and up to the mid-eighties?
- 3.
- What are the requirements of effective war management with defined political purposes, now and up to the mid-eighties?
I will ask my staff to coordinate with your staff and that of State in the development of some appropriate issue papers, covering the three questions indicated above.
- Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, General Odom File, Box 15, Comprehensive Net Assessment (CNA)–78: 4–6/79. Top Secret; Eyes Only. A copy was sent to Vance.↩
- See Document 127.↩