Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XVIII, Near East, 1962–1963

184. Memorandum From the Joint Chiefs of Staff to Secretary of Defense McNamara⁰

JCSM–197–63

Washington, March 9, 1963.

SUBJECT

• US Policy for Iraq (U)

1. Reference is made to memoranda from the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (ISA), dated 21 February 1963 and 5 March 1963, subject as above.¹

2. From all indications, the present Government of Iraq is anti-communist. If confirmed by subsequent developments, this situation should provide opportunities favorable to the Free World, particularly the United States, to increase its influence in the area.

3. Contingent upon such confirmation, US policy should be directed toward solidifying the position of the new Government of Iraq, strengthening its anticommunist posture and its confidence to deal with communist threats or blandishments, and fostering favorable relations between Iraq and the US Allies in the area.

4. Because of Iraqi ability to pay and to avoid undue criticism from US Allies, it is recommended that any military equipment furnished be on a sales basis. Training offered should be on a reimbursable basis for the most part, but the approved policy should not preclude offering training in special cases on a grant basis when it is in the US interest.

5. In support of such a policy the Joint Chiefs of Staff recommend that Iraqi requests for military assistance sales be considered on a case-by-case basis, consistent with existing US regional commitments and objectives in the area. In this respect, consideration should be given to situations such as the present UAR-Yemen-Saudi Arabia dispute. US arms policy should avoid general advance exclusions of any particular category of weapons or training for Iraq, and the United States should be prepared to make immediate response to any Iraqi requests received in order to take maximum advantage of any favorable situation. Without prejudice to any category of conventional armaments, sales assistance to Iraq should emphasize professional and technical training, air and surface transportation, internal security, and other defensive armaments.

6. Detailed comments on the proposed Department of State policy paper on this subject, which was enclosed with the 5 March 1963 memorandum cited in paragraph 1 above, are attached hereto.²

For the Joint Chiefs of Staff:

John M. Reynolds³
Major General, USAF
Vice Director, Joint Staff

0. Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 330, OASD/ISA Files: FRC 67 A 4564, Iraq 000.1—1963. Secret.
1. Neither printed. (Ibid.)
2. Attached to the source text is an undated draft memorandum from Talbot to McGhee on “US Arms Policy for Iraq.” No copy of the final paper has been found in Department of State files.
3. Printed from a copy that indicates Reynolds signed the original.