October 3, 1979
Page 27120
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, President Carter's comments on the question of Soviet troops in Cuba, and the steps he outlined in response to the Soviet brigade, were valuable for several reasons:
First, by confirming that the troops do not represent a Soviet escalation in our hemisphere, he did much to allay the deep concern of Americans committed to the principle of Soviet non-intervention here.
Second, by outlining the local and global reaction of the United States, he demonstrated to the Soviets that any action on their part would meet with firm reaction from us in any place important to American interests.
Third, by dealing with the issue in a dispassionate way, he helped cool the rhetoric on the Cuban situation, and I think he accurately concluded that we ought to turn our attention to SALT II, which is much more important to our national security.
It was inevitable that the troop question be linked to SALT II, simply because the troops came to light during a time of intense debate over United States-Soviet relations. The President sent a strong signal to the Soviets that we will protect our interests with every appropriate means at our command. And he sent a signal to the Senate and the country that the real issues of arms control are too important to be sidetracked by a debate over questions of less crucial significance.
I hope the Senate and the country will move now to the real issues of SALT II.