Afghanistan


241. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Records of Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Newsom, Lot 81D154, folder 2. Secret. The meeting took place at the Soviet Embassy. In a covering memorandum to Vance and Turner (attached but not printed), March 28, Dodson noted that the memorandum of conversation “should be given tight distribution within your agency and be sent to Embassy Moscow ‘Eyes Only.’”


242. Telegram From the Department of Defense to the Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe

Source: Department of Defense, Afghan War Collection, Box 5, JCS Support Request, 80–81. Secret. Sent for information to SACEUR and SHAPE.


243. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to President Carter

Source: Carter Library, Donated Historical Material, Brzezinski Collection, Brzezinski’s Subject Files, Box 41, Weekly Reports (to the President), 121–135 (12/79–4/80). Secret. Carter initialed “C” in the top right corner of the memorandum.


244. Briefing Memorandum From the Director of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (Spiers) to Secretary of State Vance

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Records of Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Newsom, Lot 81D154, folder 2. Secret; Nodis. Drafted by Limberg, Schwartz, and Baraz (INR/RSE), March 28.


245. Intelligence Memorandum Prepared in the Central Intelligence Agency

Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Job 82T00154R, Box 1, The Afghan Refugees: An Irritant to Soviet-Pakistani Relations. Secret. A typed note at the bottom of the page reads: “The author of this memorandum is [name not declassified] Office of Geographic and Cartographic Research. This paper was coordinated with the Offices of Economic Research and Political Analysis, the Afghan Task Force, and the National Intelligence Officer for Near East and South Asia. Information available as of 1 April 1980 was used in the preparation of the text. Comments and queries are welcome and may be addressed to the Chief, East Asia Branch, [less than 1 line and classification marking not declassified]”


246. Intelligence Appraisal Prepared in the Department of Defense

Source: Department of Defense, Afghan War Collection, Box 1, Afghan Transport System. Secret.


247. Intelligence Memorandum Prepared in the Central Intelligence Agency

Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Office of the Director of Central Intelligence, Job 81B00401R: Subject Files of the Presidential Briefing Coordinator for DCI (1977–81), Box 6, Afghan Crisis—Pubs Insurgents. Top Secret; [codeword and handling restriction not declassified]. A typed statement at the bottom of the page reads: “This memorandum was prepared in the Regional Analysis Division of the Office of Strategic Research. Comments and/or queries may be directed to [1 line not declassified].” In a covering memorandum to Brzezinski, April 9, Turner noted: “Pursuant to the tasking arising out of the Special Coordination Committee meeting on 28 March, I am submitting an analysis on the Afghan resistance in terms of its effectiveness and how much aid it is receiving from various sources. As to the question raised at the SCC meeting as to whether it would be advisable to make public the fact that we are providing that aid, I would strongly advise against such a course of action; the Middle Eastern countries who are participating in this effort are already increasingly leery about published reports of outside aid to the Afghan resistance, and any open, explicit admission of this assistance, or any allusion to their role therein, could be fatal to the continuation of this assistance.” (National Security Council, Carter Administration Intelligence Files, Box I–031, Sep–Dec 1980) The summary of conclusions of the March 28 SCC meeting is in the Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, General Odom File, Box 47, Security Framework: Minutes of Meetings: 1–4/80.


248. Analysis Paper Prepared in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, President’s Daily CIA Brief File, Box 26, 4/1/80–4/4/80. Top Secret; [codeword not declassified]; Noforn; Nocontract; Orcon.


249. Memorandum From the Chief of the Near East and South Asia Division, Directorate of Operations, Central Intelligence Agency (Cogan) to Director of Central Intelligence Turner

Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Office of the Director of Central Intelligence, Job 82M00501R: 1980 Subject Files, Box 12, C–370, 21 Jan–30 Oct 80, Egypt. Secret; [handling restriction not declassified] The memorandum was sent through Carlucci and McMahon.


250. [text not declassified] Research Paper Prepared in the Central Intelligence Agency

Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Office of the Director of Central Intelligence, Job 81B00401R: Subject Files of the Presidential Briefing Coordinator for DCI (1977–81), Box 6, Afghan Crisis—Pubs Insurgents. Secret. A statement on the cover page reads: “The author of this paper is [name not declassified] Near East/Africa Division, Office of Central Reference. This paper was coordinated with the Office of Political Analysis, the NFAC Afghanistan Task Force, and the Directorate of Operations.”


251. Intelligence Assessment Prepared in the Central Intelligence Agency

Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Office of the Director of Central Intelligence, Job 81B00401R: Subject Files of the Presidential Briefing Coordinator for DCI (1977–81), Box 6, folder 20. Secret; [handling restriction not declassified]. A statement on the cover page reads: “The author of this paper is [name not declassified] East Asia-Pacific Division, Office of Political Analysis. This paper was coordinated with the Office of Economic Research and with the National Intelligence Officer for China and East Asia-Pacific.”


252. Memorandum From Director of Central Intelligence Turner to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)

Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Office of the Director of Central Intelligence, Job 82M00501R: 1980 Subject Files, Box 12, C–367, 01 Jan–30 Jun 80, Afghanistan. Secret; [handling restriction not declassified]. In a note forwarding the attached memorandum to Turner, Clarke explained: “Herewith the paper on the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan: Aberration or Symptom prepared by Horelick, [less than 1 line not declassified]. The paper was requested from you by Brzezinski. It is solely the product of the NIO/USSR office and has not been further coordinated. I recommend that you send this on to the White House.” (Ibid.)


253. Telegram From the Embassy in Afghanistan to the Department of State

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Cables File, Box 9, Afghanistan: 4/10–18/80. Confidential; Sensitive; Exdis. Sent for information to Ankara, Bonn, Islamabad, London, Moscow, New Delhi, Paris, Rome, and Tokyo. Printed from a copy that was received in the White House Situation Room.


254. Briefing Memorandum From the Director of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (Spiers) to Secretary of State Vance

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Records of Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs David Newsom, Lot 81D154, folder 3. Secret. Drafted by Limberg (INR/EEA), April 16. An unknown hand initialed for Spiers. A stamp on the memorandum indicates Newsom saw it on April 18.


255. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Office Files of Marshall D. Shulman, Special Advisor to the Secretary on Soviet Affairs, 1977–1981, Lot 81D109, CVAD, 4/19/80. Secret. Drafted by Vest. The meeting took place in Vance’s office. The main points of the discussion on Afghanistan were relayed in telegram 107514 to Bonn and other posts, April 23. (Department of State, Files of Secretary of State Cyrus Vance, 1977–1980, Lot 84D241, Box 9, Memcons: April, May, June 1980)


256. Special Analysis Paper Prepared in the Central Intelligence Agency

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Agency File, Box 8, Central Intelligence Agency: 4/78–4/79. Top Secret; [codeword and handling restriction not declassified].


257. Summary of Conclusions of a Special Coordination Committee Meeting

Source: Carter Library, National Security Council Institutional Files, 1977–1981, Box 112, SCC–305, 4/23/80, Security Framework Follow Up. Secret; Sensitive. The meeting took place in the White House Situation Room. Carter wrote: “Zbig, J” at the top of the page. The portion of the summary of conclusions on base facilities and military exercises in the Persian Gulf area is printed in Foreign Relations, 1977–1980, vol. XVIII, Middle East Region; Arabian Peninsula, Document 74.


258. Memorandum From Marshall Brement of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)

Source: Carter Library, Donated Historical Material, Brzezinski Collection, Brzezinski’s Geographic Files, Box 17, Southwest Asia/Persian Gulf—Afghanistan, 1/5/80–10/1/80: Soviet Union. Top Secret; Sensitive. Sent for information. Copies were sent to Thornton, Odom, Ermarth, Welch, Gregg, and Owen. In the upper right corner, Brzezinski wrote: “DA—Hold a meeting on this, use Carlucci/Komer/Newsom. I tend to agree with MB. We should do more. ZB 5/2/80.” No record of a meeting per Brzezinski’s directive was found. A stamped notation on the memorandum indicates Aaron saw it. In a May 2 memorandum to Brzezinski (attached but not printed), Thornton characterized Brement’s position as valid but problematic. Arguing against a rapid increase of weapons transfers to the Afghan insurgents, Thornton cited geographic restrictions, increasing (and unwanted) U.S. visibility in the covert action, and the fact that U.S. goals with regard to the Afghan insurgency remained poorly defined. Thornton suggested that Brzezinski hold more meetings to determine the future course of U.S. policy in Afghanistan. Both Ermarth and Welch wrote memoranda to Brzezinski, May 2, supporting Brement’s position. Those memoranda are also attached but not printed.


259. Memorandum From Director of Central Intelligence Turner to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Office File, Meetings File, Box 79, Sensitive X: 5/1–11/80. Secret.


260. Spot Report Prepared in the Central Intelligence Agency

Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Office of the Director of Central Intelligence, Job 82M00501R: 1980 Subject Files, Box 12, C–367, 01 Jan–30 Jun 80, Afghanistan. Secret. Prepared in the Directorate of Operations. Attached but not printed are Cogawn’s May 5 covering memorandum to Carlucci and a list of arms deliveries to Afghan rebel forces. The list was divided into four components. The first listed weapons shipments prior to April 1, totaling [text not declassified] excluding the cost for the SA–7s that had been shipped. The second listed weapons shipped or scheduled for shipment from Egypt, totaling approximately [text not declassified] The third listed weapons shipped from other unspecified sources totaling approximately [text not declassified] The fourth listed proposed shipment from Egypt (subject to change) totaling approximately [text not declassified] Also attached but not printed are two maps of Afghanistan indicating the locations of rebel anti-tank rocket and land mine attacks against Soviet forces.


261. Paper Prepared in the Central Intelligence Agency

Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Directorate of Intelligence, Office of Support Services, Job 81T00208R: Production Case Files, Box 4, China and Southwest Asia: The Challenge of Afghanistan. Top Secret; [codeword and handling restriction not declassified]. A statement on the cover page reads: “The author of this paper is [name not declassified] Office of Political Analysis. This paper has been coordinated with the Offices of Economic Research and Strategic Research and with the National Intelligence Officer for China/East Asia and Pacific and for the Near East and South Asia.”


262. Memorandum Prepared in the Central Intelligence Agency

Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Office of the Director of Central Intelligence, Job 81B00401R: Subject Files of the Presidential Briefing Coordinator for DCI (1977–81), Box 7, Afghan Crisis—Pubs Soviet Moves/Options (May 1980). Secret; [handling restriction not declassified].


263. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Pakistan

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D800220–0942. Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Drafted by Hornblow (NEA/PAB), cleared in S/S–O, IWG, NEA, S/S–S, and S/S (by phone); and approved by Saunders.


264. Telegram From the Department of State to the Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, D800227–0219. Secret; Immediate; Exdis. Drafted by Thomas (EUR/RPM), cleared in S/S–O, and approved by Barry (EUR).


265. Memorandum of Conversation

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Subject File, Box 34, Memcons: Mondale: 7/79–5/80. Top Secret; Codeword. The meeting took place in the U.S. Ambassador’s residence. Mondale was in Belgrade to attend the funeral of Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito.


266. Paper Prepared in the Central Intelligence Agency

Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Office of the Director of Central Intelligence, Job 82M00501R: 1980 Subject Files, Box 12, C–367, 1 Jan–30 Jun 80, Afghanistan. In a May 9 covering letter to Komer, attached but not printed, Carlucci wrote: “Dear Bob: Try this one on for size.” In a routing sheet addressed to Carlucci, May 8, also attached but not printed, [text not declassified] Deputy Chief of the Near East Division, Central Intelligence Agency, wrote: “Per your request this morning, suggest the attached might be of use. We can live with the substance of something like attached which contains the guts of the Spot Report (insurgents’ effective use of anti-armor and anti-aircraft weapons) but protects our equities (no appearance of government leak and protection of the sensitive ultimate source). Our only suggested caveat is that no US source be identified.” The Spot Report is printed as Document 260.


267. Briefing Memorandum From the Director of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (Spiers) to Secretary of State Muskie

Source: Department of State, Executive Secretariat (ES), Special Caption Documents, 1979–1989 (Not for the System, Evening Reading, Personnel Sensitive), Lot 92D630, Box 1, Not for the System: Jan–Jun 1980. Secret; Sensitive; Not for the System. Drafted by Mark. Sent through Newsom. The memorandum was presumably meant to brief Muskie, who became Secretary of State May 9, on the Afghan covert action program.


268. Memorandum From Thomas Thornton of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski)

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Office File, Presidential Advisory Board, Box 79, Sensitive X: 5/12–31/80. Secret; Sensitive. Sent for action. In the upper right corner of the memorandum, Brzezinski wrote: “We will keep pushing this—I talked to Commission.”


269. Memorandum for the Record

Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, Office File, For President or Brzezinski Only File, Box 88, PA—Very Sensitive: 1–6/80. Secret; [handling restriction not declassified]. The author of the memorandum is not identified. In a May 15 covering memorandum to Brzezinski, Turner noted that he was following up on the meetings between a CIA officer and Pakistani ISID Director Akhtar, which he first reported May 13. (See footnote 2, Document 259.) In the upper right corner of the covering memorandum, Carter wrote: “Zbig, p. 3” and initialed “C.”


270. Telegram From the Department of State to Secretary of State Muskie’s Delegation in Vienna

Source: National Archives, RG 59, Office Files of Marshall D. Shulman, Special Advisor to the Secretary on Soviet Affairs, 1977–1981, Lot 81D109, Afghanistan: Current—7/80. Confidential; Niact Immediate; Nodis. Also sent Immediate to the Embassy in Vienna for Watson, Jidda, Rabat, and Islamabad. Sent for information Immediate to Moscow, Kabul, and the White House. Drafted by Parris and Barry (EUR/SOV); cleared in S/MS, EUR, NEA, S/P, EUR/SOV, S/S, and S/S–O; and approved by Newsom.