[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 196 (Monday, December 11, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2333]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        PROPOSED SALE OF ARMY TACTICAL MISSILE SYSTEM TO TURKEY

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                          HON. LEE H. HAMILTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, December 11, 1995

  Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Speaker, on December 1, 1995, the Clinton 
administration notified the Congress of its proposal to sell 120 Army 
Tactical Missile Systems [ATACMS], valued at $132 million, to the 
Government of Turkey. The Congress has 15 days to review this proposed 
sale to Turkey, a NATO ally.
  Because of many concerns in the Congress about human rights in 
Turkey, I asked the Department of State to write to me with respect to 
this weapons system, and whether any human rights issues are raised by 
this proposed sale. The text of the letter from the Department of State 
follows:

                                     U.S. Department of State,

                                Washington, DC, November 17, 1995.
     Hon. Lee Hamilton,
     House of Representatives
       Dear Mr. Hamilton: I am pleased to respond to your request 
     for further information regarding the Administration's 
     intention to transfer 120 Army Tactical Missile System 
     (ATACMS) missiles to Turkey.
       We believe this defensive system is appropriate to the 
     threats faced by Turkey. In particular, with a range of 165 
     kilometers, ATACMS is designed and tested to be effective 
     against high value targets deep behind the battlefield, 
     including deployed ballistic missile launch sites, surface-
     to-air missiles and command and control units.
       The missile can be launched from the Multiple Launch Rocket 
     System, of which the Turks already possess twelve. This 
     compatibility makes the ATACMs an ideal system for meeting 
     Turkish defense needs. Moreover, the transfer meets NATO 
     defense requirements and it supported by the Commanders-in-
     Chief of the European Command and Central Command and offers 
     protection against Iran, Iraq, and Syria, all of which have 
     missiles capable of striking Turkey.
       We are aware of your concern that arms transfers be used 
     for the uses intended by the U.S. government as stipulated in 
     the Arms Export Control Act and other relevant statutes. We 
     share your concern and wish to emphasize that this is not a 
     weapon likely to be used in the commission of human rights 
     abuses.
       First, the high cost of the system, $750,000 per missile, 
     make it highly impractical as a counter-insurgency or anti-
     personnel weapon. Second, it is designed and optimized as an 
     anti-material weapon; the munitions it carries are designed 
     to pierce electronic equipment and other lightly shielded 
     materiel. Third, in view of the characteristics of the 
     missile, the United States has the ability to monitor the use 
     of the system. Fourth, the distinctive debris and damage 
     pattern it produces make it possible to obtain physical 
     evidence that it has been used.
       The use of this system against insurgents does not make 
     financial or military sense and its use could be confirmed by 
     observation and physical evidence. You should also know that, 
     unlike some other sub-munitions weapons it has a very low 
     ``dud'' rate (4 per cent or less). Therefore, if it is used 
     in wartime, the risk to civilians from unexploded munitions 
     will be very low.
       We need to ensure the Turks do not question our security 
     relationship with them. While we have in fact been 
     exceptionally thoughtful in our transfers, it is important 
     now to demonstrate we are a reliable ally and that Turkey's 
     legitimate defense needs will be met.
       Our Embassy in Ankara has commented that it is particularly 
     important to go forward with the ATACM sale now to reassure 
     Ankara about the reliability of our security relationship.
       I hope we have been responsive to your concerns. Please do 
     not hesitate to contact me if we can be of further 
     assistance.
           Sincerely,
                                                 Wendy R. Sherman,
     Assistant Secretary Legislative Affairs.

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