60. Memorandum for the Record1
SUBJECT
- Conversation with Dr. Brzezinski, 19 September 1978
1. I congratulated him on the success of the Summit. I asked what we could do to help from here. He indicated that we are trying to find ways to help Sadat survive. These are not to be symbolic actions but actions that would really be of support.
a. David Aaron has suggested that because there are reports of dissatisfaction within the military about their lot in life that we might help here. Specifically, we might build barracks or otherwise help to improve the material conditions of the soldiers. This goes to a report we promulgated that General Gamasy had found lower ranking officers willing to criticize his standard of living. I said I had my doubts as to whether we could really get at this because barracks wouldn’t do for many of the people; they need better housing for their families, but that I would have a look at just what the dissatisfaction of the Egyptian mili[Page 213]tary is. What are the specific bases of complaint? This might give Aaron and those working on the policy side some clue as to where they could make a suggested offer of help.
b. [1 paragraph (10 lines) not declassified]
c. The two actions above should be done on an urgent basis.
[Omitted here is discussion of issues unrelated to the Arab-Israeli dispute.]
- Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Office of the Director of Central Intelligence, Job 81B00112R: Subject Files, Box 15, Folder 41: DCI/DDCI MEMRECs/Memos/Agendas of Brzezinski/Aaron Meetings, August–December 1978. Secret. According to the date stamped on the first page, this memorandum was drafted on September 20.↩
- Ratliff signed for Turner above this typed signature.↩