214. Memorandum From the Special Assistant to the Secretary of State and Coordinator for Combating Terrorism (Hoffacker) to the Deputy Undersecretary for Management (Brown)1 2
Subject
- Proposal to Modify Operation Boulder
Background
One of the first measures recommended by the Working Group of the President’s Cabinet Committee to Combat Terrorism was to screen Arab visa applicants. This was done under Operation Boulder which was instituted in September, 1972 and which has, with certain modifications, been in operation ever since.
Current Status
In light of the obvious and continuing threat from potential Arab terrorists, particularly Palestinians, none of the agencies in the Working Group wishes to eliminate Operation Boulder at this time. However, the Visa Office, based on its own experience and on several reports from the field,—e.g.—Kuwait 1168 (Tab A), would now like to modify Operation Boulder to give visa issuing posts more latitude in waiving Operation Boulder requirements. The Visa Office believes the proposed new procedures would relieve pressures on the posts and cut down somewhat on the voluminous paperwork in Washington; and at the same time would maintain the security screen at approximately its same effectiveness. The proposal is attached (Tab B).
Reactions
Among concerned agencies, State (NEA), CIA and INS accept the Visa Office proposal. The FBI, the Secret [Page 2] Service and State (SY) are opposed. This opposition is cogently expressed by the FBI and SY in the attached memorandums (Tab C). We have gone over the position carefully with senior representatives of the FBI and have found the FBI to be unshakeable in its belief that Operation Boulder should be maintained in its present form.
Comment
There is a clear-cut decision to be made. On the side of easing the current procedures the arguments are: (1) the new procedures will be almost as effective; (2) a considerable work-load at posts will be eliminated; and (3) posts’ day-to-day relations with Arab countries will be improved at a time when an improvement would be particularly beneficial. The arguments for maintaining Boulder in its current form are: (1) the danger to the U.S. from Arab terrorism is demonstrably as great if not greater than it was when Boulder was instituted; and (2) the proposed modification would result in unacceptable gaps in our security screen. Although I would like to find some way to modify the Boulder program to satisfy the Visa Office and our posts abroad, I find it difficult to recommend against the position of the FBI, the agency in this country primarily responsible for internal security.
Options
- (1)
- To continue operation Boulder as is:
Approve [DB initialed on April 24] - (2)
- To approve the attached telegram (Tab D) amending Boulder:
Approve ____________
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, M/CT Files: Lot 77 D 30, Visa-Operation Boulder, 1972–74. Confidential. Drafted by Gatch. Attached but not published at Tab A is telegram 1168 from the Embassy in Kuwait to the Department of State, March 27, which requested exceptions to Operation Boulder restrictions. Attached but not published at Tab B is a March 8 memorandum from John R. Diggins of SCA to Barbara M. Watson, which proposed altering procedures required by Operation Boulder to expedite the processing of visa applications. Attached but not published at Tab C is a April 9 letter from FBI director Clarence M. Kelley to Kissinger, which advocated retaining Operation Boulder provisions without amendment. Attached but not published at Tab D is an unsent draft telegram ordering revisions modifying the implementation of Operation Boulder.↩
- Brown approved Hoffacker’s recommendation to continue special screening measures for Arab visa applicants, referred to as Operation Boulder.↩