Selected Arnold Kanter Files: National Security Review 12 and Open Skies Initiative

The materials in FOIA 2008-1089-F are a selective, not necessarily all inclusive, body of documents responsive to the topic of the FOIA. Researchers should consult the archivist about related materials. FOIA 2008-1089-F contains materials from agencies and individuals including the United States Department of Defense and the Staff of the National Security Council (NSC), focusing on selected files of Arnold Kanter, Special Assistant to the President and NSC Senior Director of Defense Policy/Arms Control from November, 1989 to June, 1991, that concern National Security Review (NSR) 12 and the "Open Skies" Initiative. NSR-12 (available online at http://bushlibrary.tamu.edu/research/pdfs/nsr/nsr12.pdf) directed a review of the basic national defense strategy in light of budge limitations and changes in Soviet domestic and foreign policies. President Bush's "Open Skies" Initiative was a proposal for an arms control regime that would allow participating countries to fly unarmed observational flights over other participants' territories as a confidence building measure. A treaty based on this initiative was signed on March 14, 1992, ratified by the U.S. Senate in 1993, and entered into force on January 1, 2002. It currently has 34 participant countries. The Staff and Office Files contain agendas, cables, charts, cover sheets, lists, memoranda, meeting minutes, notes, outlines, papers, press releases, publications, reports, schedule proposals, and talking points maintained by individual staff members and offices. The records consist of materials used in the drafting of NSR-12, such as meeting minutes, agendas, schedule proposals, background reports, correspondence, and draft versions. In addition, cables, talking points, memoranda, charts, papers, and notes detail the "Open Skies" Initiative and foreign response to it shortly after President Bush made the proposal in 1989. Read less