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  3. Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977–1980, Volume XVI, Southern Africa
  4. Document 20

20. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) to President Carter 1

Washington, February 21, 1978

With reference to your enclosed note regarding help and/or communication with Savimbi,2 I have asked the CIA to respond to a number of specific questions. Their response is herewith attached.3

I have marked on pages 2–4 certain limited actions we could undertake to enhance our communications with Savimbi and to provide him some limited indirect help. None of them would involve major engagement of U.S. resources or prestige, yet cumulatively they could upgrade his capabilities.

We will be considering this matter in the SCC,4 but given your personal initiative, I thought I would respond immediately.

  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Brzezinski Office File, Country Chron File, Box 2, Angola: 1977–1978. Secret; Sensitive. Carter wrote at the top of the memorandum: “What help is other nations giving? C.”↩
  2. Not found attached.↩
  3. See Document 19.↩
  4. Carter underlined “considering this matter in the SCC,” and wrote “good” in the right-hand margin.↩