Reagan Can’t Grasp Details of Arms Talks, Aspin Says

The chairman of the House Armed Services Committee today charged that the Administration is in disarray on arms control issues and that President Reagan is incapable of grasping the details of nuclear arms negotiations with the Soviet Union.

“We all know one person we cannot listen to is the President,” Rep. Les Aspin (D-Wis.) said at a hearing on the U.S.-Soviet summit meeting in Iceland. “The detail on this is not his strong suit.”

Aspin accused Reagan of not having a grasp of nuclear issues after U.S. arms control director Kenneth L. Adelman testified that the President is the final word on banning ballistic missiles and other Reykjavik proposals.

“Then we’re in real tough shape,” Aspin shot back.

Adelman puffed on his pipe and did not respond. Laughter echoed through the hearing room in the Rayburn Office Building.

‘A Stinking Fish’

The chairman then moved on to question Adelman about Reagan’s plan to find a way to shield the United States from nuclear attack, and his offer to share the technology with the Soviet Union.

Most of Aspin’s fire was concentrated on Reagan’s proposition to Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev that the two sides negotiate a way to ban all their nuclear ballistic missiles within 10 years.

He called the idea a “stinking fish” and said it was not studied before the summit meeting by the Joint Chiefs of Staff or Adelman’s disarmament agency.

Challenged by Adelman, however, Aspin said the idea of banning ballistic missiles “is worth looking into.” When Adelman asked if whether it was a bad idea, Aspin responded: “I don’t know.”

The chairman’s accusation of disarray stemmed from what Aspin saw as a conflict between Adelman’s testimony on a missile ban and what Assistant Secretary of Defense Richard N. Perle told the committee last Friday.

Adelman said the proposal was “de-emphasized” at the Geneva arms control talks with the Soviets but remained on the table. Perle, however, described a ballistic missile ban as an important part of the U.S. negotiating package.

“These hearings might be titled, ‘Who’s In Charge Here’ ” Aspin said. He pressed Adelman to say who spoke for the Administration on arms control.

Adelman said all the witnesses who appeared before the committee spoke for the Administration. However, the arms control director said, “if there is one single voice, it is Ronald Reagan’s.”