77. Notes Prepared by the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Carlucci)1
PRESIDENT’S MEETING WITH SECRETARY SHULTZ, SENATOR BAKER, KEN DUBERSTEIN AND FRANK CARLUCCI IN THE OVAL OFFICE ON SEPTEMBER 18, 1987
Matlock describes atmosphere in USSR. Access to media significantly different from one year ago. People coming to think the world not as hostile as was. This could be a problem when time for sacrifice comes. Even allow demonstrators. Newspapers now carry news; are worth reading.
GPS S & Afghanistan. We will leave Afghanistan—maybe 5 months, maybe a year. The political decision has been made. Will be done while this Administration in office.
Want to engage in process of withdrawal; foresee a lot of bloodshed.
GPS The China of your Administration could be USSR. Different than detente. Detente was making existing systems interact. Gorb. changing theirs; we interact w/changed system. An aspect of the Reagan doctrine.
P Gorb. has been only leader who has not advocated Soviet global expansion.
M.E. We have been reluctant to get involved w/USSR. Why reluctant on Intel. Conf.?
Thatcher cable urges we go w/o Shamir. Can’t.
I come back to Perez suggestion. I recommend we try. Entirely dependent on surprise. Can’t leak.
After prearranging, part. Sham. & Hussein you & Gorb. invite States around Israel to US during Summit to launch bilateral peace negotiations.
Chances of bringing it off are low. But if try, before I go to USSR I go to Israel to get honorary degree. Go to Shamir. If he buys I go to Jordan, possibly Egypt. If both of them on board we could put to Soviets when FC & I in Moscow.
[Page 391]The call would be made. You & Gorb. would sit down with them and get process going.
P needs to react.
Moscow toward end of week of October 19.
- Source: Reagan Library, Carlucci Files, Secretary Shultz (08/14/1987–11/03/1987) [Meetings with the President—notes]. Secret. The meeting took place from 1:35 to 2:06 p.m., and Matlock attended from 1:35 until 1:43 p.m. (Reagan Library, President’s Daily Diary)↩