4 15 24 10 18 AM Foreign Relations of the United States 1977–1980 Volume IV National Security Policy - Office of the Historian FOREIGN RELATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES 1977–1980 VOLUME IV NATIONAL SECURITY POLICY 56 Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs Brzezinski to President Carter1 Washington March 20 1978 SUBJECT Questions From Your NMCC Visit Harold Brown has responded with written answers2 to clear up the questions raised during your visit to the National Military Command Center at the Pentagon 3 You need not read through the details I have therefore summed up the crux of the five answers I 1 paragraph 11 lines not declassified II 1 paragraph 11 lines not declassified III False alarms in our warning system — Since activation of BMEWS in 1960 there have been seven false alarms The CINCNORAD “assessed confidence” was “no” in all cases — The last false alarm was December 1976 IV 1 paragraph 6 lines not declassified V Secretary Brown’s communication checks with you when you are away from Washington — During the first 24 hours after your arrival at a trip location the WHCA trip officer normally gives the NMCC in the Pentagon a chance to make a test call — The Secretary of Defense if he makes a test call to you in the future will first check with your side to determine your availability These answers raise as many new questions as they resolve I draw one overall conclusion Our “C3 I” that is our command and control and intelligence warning is not in the best shape It needs constant review and remedial effort Your attention keeps up the right kinds of pressure in the Defense Department 4 1 Source Carter Library National Security Affairs Brzezinski Material Brzezinski Office File Subject Chron File Box 86 Defense 1978 Top Secret Sensitive Outside the System The date is handwritten ↩ https history state gov historicaldocuments frus1977-80v04 d56 1 2 4 15 24 10 18 AM Foreign Relations of the United States 1977–1980 Volume IV National Security Policy - Office of the Historian 2 See Document 51 ↩ 3 See footnote 2 Document 50 ↩ 4 Carter drew a vertical line in the right margin of this paragraph and wrote below it “I Agree J ”↩ https history state gov historicaldocuments frus1977-80v04 d56 2 2