Foreign Relations of the United States, 1989–1992, Volume XXXI, START I, 1989–1991

28. Summary of Conclusions of a National Security Council Deputies Committee Meeting¹

Washington, June 7, 1989, 3–4 p.m.

SUBJECT

• Summary of Conclusions of DC Meeting on Air Breathing Systems and Nondeployed Ballistic Missiles (S)

PARTICIPANTS

• The Vice President’s Office:

  • Carnes Lord

• State:

  • Reginald Bartholomew
  • Edward Rowny
  • Allen Holmes
  • Linton Brooks

• Defense:

  • Donald Atwood
  • Stephen Hadley

• Energy:

  • John Tuck
  • Victor Alessi

• OMB:

  • William Diefenderfer

• CIA:

  • Richard Kerr
  • Douglas MacEachin

• JCS:

  • Thomas Fox
  • Eugene Daniel

• ACDA:

  • George Murphy
  • William Fite

• White House:

  • Robert Gates

• NSC:

  • John Gordon
  • Richard Davis

Summary of Conclusions

It was agreed that:

— Except as noted below, there was consensus that the discussion and options in the papers on Air Breathing Systems² and Nondeployed Ballistic Missiles³ accurately reflect agency positions. (S)

— On ALCM counting rules, the current U.S. position, as reflected in Options 2⁴ and 3,⁵ includes our willingness, stated to the Soviets last year, to attribute to Soviet bombers a number of ALCMs different from the ten ALCMs we would attribute to each U.S. heavy bomber. The U.S. has not proposed specific numbers for Soviet heavy bombers. (S)

— Concerning the issue of a minimum range threshold for START-accountable ALCMs, the representative of the Joint Chiefs of Staff would make available additional information on the range requirements of U.S. programs. (S)

— With regard to the issue of whether to propose a requirement to convert or eliminate a ballistic missile coincident with launcher destruction, Option 2⁶ would be revised to task a study to determine the feasibility of specific approaches. If an acceptable approach is developed, a proposal would then be made to the Soviets. (S)

1. Source: George H.W. Bush Library, Bush Presidential Records, National Security Council, H-Files, NSC/DC Meetings Files, OA/ID 90010–011, NSC/DC 032—June 7, 1989—NSC/DC Meeting on NSR-14 re: U.S. START Position on Air Breathing Systems and Non-Deployed Missiles. Secret. The meeting took place in the Situation Room.
2. See Tab A, Document 27.
3. See Tab B, Document 27.
4. Option 2 reads: “Retain the existing ALCM attribution rule of ten per bomber, but add a limit on the maximum ALCM carrying capability of individual bombers (this would respond to the Soviets’ stated concern that we could deploy wide-bodied aircraft with dozens of ALCMs).” See Document 27.
5. Options 3 reads: “Do not change the U.S. position on counting rules; retain the existing ALCM attribution rule of ten per bomber.” See Document 27.
6. Options 2 reads: “Require missile conversion or elimination incident to launcher destruction. Task an interagency study of the best approach for implementation.” See Document 27.