0-5

February 1969 to.

LETTER FROM SECRETARY OF DEFENSE MELVIN R. LAIRD Of March 27, 1969, COMMENTING ON THE POLITICAL ADVISER PROGRAM AND ENCLOSING OBSERVATIONS ON THE PROGRAM BY U.S. AND NATO COMMANDERS

Hon. HENRY M. JACKSON,

THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE,
WASHINGTON, D.C.,

March 27, 1969.

Chairman, Subcommittee on National Security and International Operations, Committee on Government Operations, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C.

DEAR SENATOR JACKSON: I am pleased to supply the following information in response to your letter of Feburary 11 in which you requested an up-to-date analysis and assessment of arrangements for Political Advisors to major U.S. overseas commanders.

As you know, the Political Advisors to our major overseas commanders are Foreign Service Officers, who are assigned by the State Department. The Commanders-in-Chief Atlantic, Europe, Pacific, Southern Command, Strike Command, U.S. Army Europe, and U.S. Air Forces Europe have such advisors on their staffs. The Supreme Allied Commander Europe and the Commander-in-Chief, Allied Forces Europe, who are both U.S. officers commanding NATO commands, the High Commissioner for the Ryukyus, and the Commander, Military Airlift Command, whose headquarters are in the United States, are also assigned Political Advisors. The Foreign Service Officers assigned to these positions are selected by the Department of State and assigned with the concurrence of the commander concerned. Their ranks vary from FSO-3 to Career Minister.

Although the functions of Political Advisors differ in detail at the various commands, in general they have the following duties:

(a) Provide political, politico-military, and economic information and advice.

(b) Serve as points of contact with U.S. diplomatic missions in the command area.

(c) Participate in command activities having political implications.

(d) Advise the commander on, and, when appropriate, accompany him during visits to countries in his area of responsibility, and assist in arrangements for visits by foreign dignitaries. Political Advisors typically serve at the Chief of Staff or Deputy Chief of Staff level. They are not liaison officers, nor do they represent the State Department. Rather, they are staff members in the full sense of the term. They normally attend staff briefings and meetings of the senior staff and those conferences which involve political or politico-military matters. The Political Advisor is usually able to supply to the commander and his staff information obtained through his contacts with our diplomatic missions abroad.

Political Advisors have been especially useful in regard to arrangements for basing, transit, and landing rights; status of forces agreements; emergency evacuation operations; photographic and weather reconnaissance missions; air rescue operations; and contingency plans for the recovery of U.S. astronauts and space vehicles.

The Foreign Service Officers assigned as advisors to NATO commanders have similar functions, but generally have less contact with other members of the staff.

The Director, Joint Staff, has informed me that our commanders have been unanimous in their opinion that their assigned Political Advisors provide invaluable staff assistance. A sampling of their comments in this regard is enclosed.

Should you require any additional information in regard to the role of Political Advisors, I would be pleased to be of assistance.

Sincerely,

Enclosure:

Selected Comments on Political Advisors.

MELVIN R. LAIRD.

Selected Comments on Political Advisors

Commander-in-Chief, Europe:1

"The immediate availability of a knowledgeable Foreign Service Officer who has intimate knowledge and background on countries in the European theater has proven to be invaluable in both day-to-day operations and in accomplishing long range military missions of unified and component commanders. For example, POLAD assessments proved to be extremely valuable during the Cyprus crisis in determining Greece-Turkey relationships with respect to command responsibilities, on the effect of Sixth Fleet visits to Turkey, support for offset discussions with the Federal Republic of Germany, and in planning for and conducting the move out of France.

Commander-in-Chief, Pacific:

"The POLAD and his Deputy are in every sense of the term members of the 'CINCPAC team,' making what has proven over the years a highly important contribution. The POLAD operation helps to ensure that CINCPAC anticipates likely political objections to militarily desirable actions and that his decisions and recommendations include full consideration of relevant political factors."

Commander-in-Chief, United States Strike Command:

"The Diplomatic Advisor (POLAD) performs an especially valuable function in this command. The MEAFSA area includes 65 countries. The complete spectrum of political and economic orientation... present in these MEAFSA area countries. . . With day-to-day and recurring security crises, diplomatic advice and assistance on a continuing basis is essential. .

The value of Diplomatic Advisors as immediately available consultants to introduce the foreign policy and international political considerations into the contingency planning process, overflight and base problems and actual operations in the MEAFSA area is especially evident in this command. . . ."

1 Commentary on the advisor arrangements at the European Command, Headquarters U.S. Army Europe, and Headquarters, U.S. Air Force Europe.

High Commissioner, Ryukyus:

"POLAD position here is essential in helping meet my requirement for political expertise and advice at a time when pressures for the return of Okinawa to Japanese administration are mounting and we are seeking to ensure continued U.S. military presence of maximum contribution to U.S. and allies' security over the long term. . ."

Commander, Military Airlift Command:

"The value of political advisor to the Military Airlift Command cannot be overstated. The broadly diverse, global MAC responsibilities demand a careful, deliberate, and expert consideration of the complex array of political factors which are found in international operations of this command. . . .”

Supreme Allied Commander, Europe:2

"These officers are able to provide a continuing flow of information. about political, politico-military, and economic developments of interest to Allied Command Europe. This information is more extensive and often more timely and fuller than might otherwise be available. Being experienced diplomats, they are able to provide assessments of international affairs and political factors which assist the commanders and other members of the staff to carry out their NATO responsibilities. Their presence at SHAPE and AFSOUTH helps to assure essential coordination of political and military factors.

The present arrangements for assigning senior Foreign Service Officers to SACEUR and CINCSOUTH are very satisfactory and should be continued."

Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic/Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic:

"Since CINCLANT also functions as SACLANT, and because of the geography of the Atlantic Command, touching as it does on such a variety of political environments, the requirement for an advisor to be expert on such variety is particularly important. It is necessary that the CINC be regularly apprised of those international matters and events which directly or indirectly affect his responsibilities and could influence military decisions and operations... The POLAD position is very important to the CINCLANT and SACLANT staffs; the arrangement is satisfactory, beneficial, and provides a definite contribution to command effectiveness."

2 Commentary on the advisor arrangements at his headquarters and at Headquarters, Allied Forces Southern Europe.

APPENDIX

TWO EXAMPLES OF TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR POLADS/COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, ATLANTIC (CINCLANT) AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, PACIFIC (CINCPAC)

Terms of Reference for POLAD CINCLANT

The following arrangements have been agreed to by the Departments of State and Defense, subject to subsequent review at the request of either Department. 1. It is recognized that:

a. There is a need for close cooperation in discharging the several responsibilities of the Departments of State and Defense with respect to assuring the effective fulfillment of the mission of the Atlantic Command.

b. The Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic, has political as well as military responsibilities, and the activities of his command affect U.S. foreign relations in important areas of the world. Fulfillment of these responsibilities would be enhanced by close support of the Department of State.

2. In recognition of these requirements, the Department of State will, with the approval of the Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic, assign a senior, experienced Foreign Service Officer of Class I to serve on and as a member of the staff of CINCLANT. The officer thus assigned will have the personal rank of Minister Plenipotentiary, and the title "Political Advisor (POLAD) to CINCLANT." For protocol purposes, the Political Advisor will rank with but after the Chief of Staff, Atlantic Command.

3. The Political Advisor will provide, on a continuing basis and as required, political, politico-military, economic, and other non-military information and advice of an international character which bears on or may affect CINCLANT's responsibilities; acting at all times in an advisory and expert staff capacity to the Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic.

4. The Political Advisor may communicate directly with the Department of State, and with U.S. Foreign Service Posts in discharging his responsibilities. He will consult with and keep the Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic, informed on all matters and communications concerning policy which may affect the Atlantic Command.

5. The assignment of a Political Advisor will in no way affect the present prerogatives of the Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic, within the latter's terms of reference, to deal directly with agencies, offices or individuals where so required and so authorized in the performance of his duties.

6. Department of Defense agencies will provide logistic support for the Political Advisor and his staff as may be agreed upon by the Departments of State and Defense.

Terms of Reference for POLAD CINCPAC

The following arrangements have been agreed to by the Departments of State and of Defense, subject to subsequent review at the request of either Department. 1. It is recognized that there is a need for close cooperation in discharging the several responsibilities of the Departments of State and of Defense in the area encompassed by the command of the Commander-in-Chief, Pacific (CINCPAC); and that such command positions have political as well as military responsibilities, thereby requiring of the U.S. Government that it furnish CINČPAC with effective political support both from Washington and in the PACOM area.

2. In furthering the above objective, the Department of State will, with advance approval of the Commander-in-Chief, Pacific, assign a senior experienced Foreign Service Officer to serve with and on the staff of the Commander-in-Chief. This officer will have the personal rank of Minister Plenipotentiary and the title of "Political Advisor to CINCPAC." For protocol purposes, he will rank with but after the Chief of Staff CINCPAC.