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  4. Document 192

192. Memorandum From Secretary of Defense Brown to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)1

Washington, May 14, 1979

I am increasingly concerned over the complex of issues surrounding the Soviet military buildup in the Caribbean, the upgrading of Cuban offensive military capabilities and the need for more detailed planning concerning our response to these developments. These issues were highlighted by CINCLANT recently and comparable concerns have been expressed by the Joint Staff.

The forthcoming summit provides a natural and timely opportunity to address these concerns with Brezhnev, and we need to settle on our approach. Accordingly, I recommend that an SCC meeting be convened at an early date to determine our course of action on this matter. My staff will send your staff a background paper2 which might serve as a point of departure for the discussion.

Harold Brown
  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, General Odom File, Box 19, Cuba: USSR Military Relations: 8/78–5/79. Secret. A copy was sent to Vance.↩
  2. See Document 194.↩