04-F-1972 Your Trip to the Middle East 09-06-2001

CONFIDENTIAL SEP - 6 ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE /~EP 0 6 2001 2400 DEFENSE PENTAGON WASHINGTON, D.C. 20301·2400 · ., '): r· ' ACTION MEMO ® INTERNATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS : .. . '- I-011010554 September 6, 2001 5:27PM FOR: SECRETARY OF DEFENSE DepSec Action. ___ _ FROM: Assistant Secretary of DefenseJ International Sect{\??' "~fairs (Peter W. Rodman,l(bJ(S J _ ~ V '~£.., 0 6 StP 7ooi SUBJECT: (U) Reclama: Your Trip to the Middle East i€7- I hope you will reconsider your decision to postpone your October trip to the Middle East. The competing demands on your time are undeniable, but we are at a critical juncture now, especially with our Gulf partners. (b)( l) (b)( I) i€7- BRIGHT ST A,.!.R!.!...!:O ~ l.J...!!.in~E~~ ~-=::...!!:. !.b.!: ::::!...:=. .!!!!=::...L~exe!.:e ::.:. r ~ ci:.::::se~co~n:.::d::.;u:::c:.::te ::: d:...:o::.;u:.!;ts~i .:::: de::.... the United States. on or. (b)(l) -t€7- The Ramadan period ( 16 November - 14 December) is a constraint on any postponement. --f€1- RECOMMENDATION: We therefore urge that you visit the region as originally conceived (including Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and other Gulf countries in addition to Egypt). If an extended trip is impossible, a visit to Egypt (for BRIGHT STAR), Israel, Classified by DASD William J. Luti Reason: I .5 (b and d) Declassify on: September 6, 201 I CONFIDENTIAL X o 1 3 Db- ()/ · ----------------------------------------------· - ---- CONFIDEN'fiAL and Saudi Arabia would be a minimum recommendation. (b)(6) Prepared by ~ I COL, USA,I L- (b ) - (S) _ ____J DASD William J. Luti CONFIDEN TIAL