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Mr. Kissinger/The President
10:45 a.m., April 9, 1972
2
K:
I
can talk on a secure line. I don't think the target is so important
as to give you one more chance at the decision. If we are going into it,
this is as good a target as any. That is the only thing he is concerned
about that we don't discuss targets.
P:
We won't. I understand -- any place in the northern area. The
problem is Abrams doesn't want to divert 6 planes?
K:
12
planes. He now has additional ones 30 of them are there.
I don't think Abrams' concern is a paramount one. That is one on which
you have better judgment. The amount of screaming in this country
outbalances the message we get across to the other side.
P:
A day back in Washington gives you a chance to get the Potomac
in your veins. If we are going to do the Wednesday thing, we might
have to do the exercise after that rather than before.
K:
If you do the Wednesday thing, it will explain this. The average
American doesn't know one plane from another. It's better if the
screaming starts before you speak.
P:
Al is of your view that there is political screaming regret
that the war is again in the news. But there is a very different attitude
in terms of the whole situation because it is not involving our American
ground forces and particularly because it does not involve an American
incursion. How do you feel?
K:
That is how I feel. I am, on balance, in favor of doing it.
P:
That is the reason I am for it. If you have a good target, particularly
one relatively safe, from the standpoint of SAM's, it seems to me.
K:
There are very few SAM's up there.
P:
it seems to me that they could give a little shot. But don't
put out 18 press releases.
K:
No -- the press guidance is they just mention planes have been
used and, in response to questions, they will say, 'yes, we have struck
north. 1
P:
Say 'we have struck in military areas in support of the invasion
of the south.
K:
Exactly.
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"ocrText": "Mr. Kissinger/The President\n10:45 a.m., April 9, 1972\n2\nK:\nI\ncan talk on a secure line. I don't think the target is so important\nas to give you one more chance at the decision. If we are going into it,\nthis is as good a target as any. That is the only thing he is concerned\nabout that we don't discuss targets.\nP:\nWe won't. I understand -- any place in the northern area. The\nproblem is Abrams doesn't want to divert 6 planes?\nK:\n12\nplanes. He now has additional ones 30 of them are there.\nI don't think Abrams' concern is a paramount one. That is one on which\nyou have better judgment. The amount of screaming in this country\noutbalances the message we get across to the other side.\nP:\nA day back in Washington gives you a chance to get the Potomac\nin your veins. If we are going to do the Wednesday thing, we might\nhave to do the exercise after that rather than before.\nK:\nIf you do the Wednesday thing, it will explain this. The average\nAmerican doesn't know one plane from another. It's better if the\nscreaming starts before you speak.\nP:\nAl is of your view that there is political screaming regret\nthat the war is again in the news. But there is a very different attitude\nin terms of the whole situation because it is not involving our American\nground forces and particularly because it does not involve an American\nincursion. How do you feel?\nK:\nThat is how I feel. I am, on balance, in favor of doing it.\nP:\nThat is the reason I am for it. If you have a good target, particularly\none relatively safe, from the standpoint of SAM's, it seems to me.\nK:\nThere are very few SAM's up there.\nP:\nit seems to me that they could give a little shot. But don't\nput out 18 press releases.\nK:\nNo -- the press guidance is they just mention planes have been\nused and, in response to questions, they will say, 'yes, we have struck\nnorth. 1\nP:\nSay 'we have struck in military areas in support of the invasion\nof the south.\nK:\nExactly."
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