unitex@rubbs.fidonet.org (unitex) (09/12/89)
change as they go from day to day and they make decisions on how
to do it. Nothing was really gelled until it was on a plane or
on its way in the air to get there. So I wouldn't read much
into this. It was a decision that was made upstairs, and I don't
know precisely what the background was.
Q: But can we assume that the FMS aircraft in the pipeline will
still go
A: Yes, I think you can. I see nothing to indicate it won't.
Q: These five will be in addition to those?
A: These five are a separate program. That's correct. I should
amplify on that. The five helicopters that arrive today on the
C-5 are part of the President's emergency aid package, which is
an enterprise unrelated to and totally separated from Foreign
Military Sales.
Q: Did you say you could not provide us with that list?
A: That's my understanding. I know I can't right now, the list
is class Now, how it becomes declassified or what bits of it can
be declassified, I don't know the answer to that yet. We'll
make our best effort to provide you with as much as we can.
Q: Can you say why it's classified?
A: I don't know why.
Q: Can you just clarify for me the five helicopters that went
down today were intended to be part of the FMS and were switched
over?
A: No, no, no. I'm really guessing here. We came together with
you wha Friday afternoon at three? And at that point, I think
that was the general plan, but it was subsequently decided to
make them part of the aid package. Now why, I don't know. It
was back and forth all the time.
Q: Originally they were going to be sent as FMS?
A: Well, no. Originally, when is originally? At three O'clock
Friday afternoon they were but whether at one o'clock Friday
afternoon they were part of the aid package, I don't know. I
mean I can't tell you when it flipped and when it flopped and
when it flipped again. I'm not sure but I think that would be
relativly unfertile ground to plow.
Q: Can you provide us with value of these items that have
already gone?
A: I can't. Needless to say, we have a $65 million ceiling on
this package. The Department is keeping track of them. There
is a procedure established so that the right people, with the
right clipboards, are noting al this down and adding it up but I
can't. As I said the other day, there's no meter running in my
office.
Q: You have said the Colombian government is responsible for
the protection of these U.S. military people who are going down,
can you give us any more details on that?
A: In what sense, Charlie?
Q: I mean, are they going to surround them with people armed
with Uzis or what?
A: I don't know. I don't know how the Colombian government
intends to do that. Our service members who are sent to
Colombia will carry their normal side arms and the normal rules
of engagement will apply. The Colombian government has the
responsibility for providing security for U.S. personnel. As we
said the other day, we don't anticipate our personnel being put
in any situations where they would face unusual risks to their
well-being.
Q: Do you know if they're just going to stay in Bogota and
military sites or other places like Medellin airport?
A: I don't know.
Q: Can I come back to the value question, can you at least give
us a ballpark -- do the aircraft that have been sent represent
half the package?
A: Oh, I doubt that. We'll try to get you a ballpark figure.
That's a good question -- what's the approximate value of what we
have sent so far; how are we doing on the barometer?
Q: Under this emergency aid package, will any training actually
take place within the continental United States or Panama...
A: It's possible.
Q: And if so, where would that be and when?
A: The when, I can't speculate on. Where, the Secretary has
said possibly Ft. Rucker in the case of helicopters. He's
already said that publicly. You know it's the place where you
would expect it to take place depending on what the equipment
is. I mean, they'll go wherever the experts are, wherever the
best training facilities are. But I don't believe that schedule
is complete yet, so I can't provide you much more detail on
that.
Q: Can you give us any guidance as to whether the President's
speech tonight has a larger role for the military involved in it
or whether you'll be available for questions or...
A: You have asked me to commit the cardinal government spokesman
sin and though I am tempted, the temptation is strong, I shall
decline the opportunity.
Q: Will you be available for questions after the briefing or...
A: Well, we're always available for your questions, day and
night, we never close. (Laughter)
Q: One more on the D-5 (Trident) investigation, what's the
status on tha
A: I've seen nothing new. They're still looking at the design
and making their decisions. I think they have said that it will
be difficult to keep the initial operating capability date, but
I don't believe anything's changed on that.
Q: They have not officially said whether they're sticking to it
or not?
A: I'm trying to remember what they said, last time. I think
they said they weren't sure whether they could meet the IOC
date, but check with the Navy they'll have more up to date words
on that for you.
Press: Thank you.
Mr. Williams: Thank you.
* Origin: UNITEX --> Toward a United Species (1:107/501)
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