Dr. Halperin flew 4,000 miles to London for Agee's deportation hearings from Great Britain after certain British intelligence agents who had been "outed" by Agee were murdered in Russia. According to a DOD document circulated on Capitol Hill during the summer, Dr. Halperin "simply urged the panel to go beyond the mere assertion that British national security required that Agee be deported to assure itself that there was a valid reason,' and they noted that if Agee's presence did cause harm to national security the government had the right to deport him.

However, Agee wrote, in 1987, "Halperin concentrated on the positive results brought by my revelations and those of others and on the traditional abuse of the national security cloak by security services."

Halperin seemed to be in agreement with Agee's efforts when he wrote, in 1975, a favorable review of Agee's book, Inside the Company, and he said, "It is impossible to read this book without coming to understand the origins of Watergate. Every dirty trick and illegal act which was turned on the American people had long been practiced on our allies. The only way to stop all of this is to dissolve the CIA covert career services."

The Washington Times of November 18, 1993, quotes former CIA Director William Webster as stating in court documents that Agee was "a paid consultant to or otherwise assisted one or more hostile intelligence services."

Mr. Chairman, I have only referred to a few of the many troubling questions which concern this nomination. As I stated at the beginning of my remarks, my concerns are well founded. They are not based on innuendo or a partisan attempt to smear the reputation of Dr. Halperin, and I resent any allegation to the contrary. I believe I have established a reputation for moving beyond the antagonism of old conflicts. I have supported a number of individuals with whom I disagreed during the Vietnam war, many of whom I now consider my friends.

My concern about Dr. Halperin is based in the record of the nominee's own writings and statements where the views he professes to hold are clearly inimical to the security interests of the United States. They are views which Dr. Halperin has not repudiated and indeed has reaffirmed very recently.

These views alone should be sufficient to cause every member of this committee to question very seriously whether this nomination is in the best interests of our Nation.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Chairman NUNN. Thank you, Senator McCain.

Just a word on the request for information. In the past, this committee has worked together on a bipartisan basis, even when we differed on a nominee, as to developing the factual information necessary for the members to make judgments concerning the nominee.

In this case and this is the right of every Senator-the minority Senators, several, have asked for their own information directly to the executive branch, and again I stress that is their right. But I believe that we could all get the information in a better fashion, more timely fashion, and more complete information if we went through the normal committee process and had both counsels

working together to develop not only the request but the format of the request so that it is consistent with past practices and so that we do not continue to have difficulties.

I think the executive branch has worked in good faith under very difficult circumstances. I think we can improve the flow of information. I think some of the information that has been redacted is going to have to be reviewed as to why. And I think some of the information that is unclassified is going to have to be made available for the public forum here.

But I do believe that now that this has started that Senator Thurmond and I can work together, if all Members on both sides of the aisle will go through the normal historical procedure of working through the committee counsels on both sides of the aisle. So I hope we can proceed in that fashion, and I believe it can expedite the consideration here.

We are delighted to welcome Senator Hatfield and Senator Boren this morning. Senator Hatfield, I know you were here earlier, and I would call on you and then Senator Boren to introduce Dr. Halperin.

STATEMENT OF HON. MARK O. HATFIELD, A U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF OREGON

Senator HATFIELD. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Chairman and colleagues, I want to first of all commend this committee and your membership and your staff for scheduling this hearing this morning. I am here with Senator Boren, the distinguished chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, to present to you Morton Halperin, President Clinton's nominee for the position of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Democracy and Peacekeeping.

Mr. Chairman, too often I have felt it necessary to raise my voice of concern when the Senate, in undertaking its constitutional responsibility to provide advice and consent in the nominations made by the President, has demonstrated a lack of control of the confirmation process.

Too often in our record past, both through Democratic and Republican administrations, we have seen nominees tried and judged, especially by and within the media, even before they have been allowed to answer charges, whether they are based in fact or in fiction.

I only cite two examples to illustrate my point-the confirmation hearing of the former Governor of Wyoming, Stan Hathaway, and the Governor of Alaska, Wally Hickel, to be Secretary of Interior. I do not think those were very pretty chapters of our confirmation process.

Such is the case with the nomination before the committee today, in my opinion. Allegations, rumors, concerns have been raised. I believe, as I know you do, that this committee has the responsibility to provide the Senate with its best judgment on these matters, and I trust today's hearing will furnish you with the information necessary to reach your decision.

I came to know Mort Halperin during his time as the director of the Washington office of the American Civil Liberties Union. We

share a life-long commitment to civil and human rights and a special interest in the role of Congress in the decisionmaking process as it relates to the War Powers Act.

And during those days of the Vietnam war I need not recite a long litany of my concern about that war, having first of all been an ally with Ho Chi Minh in World War II, as we were having a common enemy, fighting a common enemy, the Japanese_government and the Japanese military machine. Having been to that part of the world, I had certain perspectives, and my perspectives were very much in the minority, as were Morton Halperin's, and many of us in that period of time were judged as to our patriotism on the basis of our support or our opposition to the Vietnam war.

On two occasions it was a 40-to-1 vote in the National Governors Conference to support President Johnson in the Vietnam war, and mine was the lone negative vote, as well as when we invaded Cambodia on the pretense of bringing the war to an end, I saw it as an expansion of the war.

Those positions were very much in the minority, and I know that many people made decisions and conclusions as to not only the judgment but the intelligence and patriotism of those of us who took such positions.

Dr. Halperin has not limited himself to the study of domestic issues. He has written about and studied national security affairs for 35 years and has served on the staff of the National Security Council and as a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense.

I also want to say, Mr. Chairman, today that I believe that it is apparent that in the material supplied to this committee that Dr. Halperin is a competent, capable, and highly intelligent individual who will bring an important perspective to a job which will take on increasing importance in the context of our changing security challenges.

I urge this committee to focus upon Dr. Halperin's competence in his designated area of responsibility at the Pentagon-democracy and human rights, peacekeeping, humanitarian, refugee affairs, and drug policy. Our Nation is at a turning point in our conduct of defense and national security today. The Cold War is over, and yet at least 24 conflicts continue to be waged. U.S. troops are going to be called on increasingly for help, and sometimes we will answer that call.

Until an assistant secretary is confirmed, we cannot expect the Office of Democracy and Peacekeeping to fully function as coordinator of these important programs. This position is too pivotal to continue leaving it empty.

The reality is that the Pentagon is already undertaking missions in the area of peacekeeping, peace enforcement, humanitarian relief. It is imperative that one person be designated to keep an overall view of the policy options, prioritize the programs, push the good ideas, and, just as importantly, weed out the bad ideas.

President Clinton has chosen Dr. Halperin to make these careful and selective decisions. I commend him to this committee for your consideration.

Chairman NUNN. Thank you very much, Senator Hatfield. We are always pleased to have you and greatly value your opinion. Senator Boren, we are delighted to have you here.

STATEMENT OF HON. DAVID L. BOREN, A U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA

Senator BOREN. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Chairman, I first want to ask permission to enter into the record a statement by Senator Moynihan of New York introducing his fellow New Yorker to this committee. He would have been here, except for the fact that he is now having to chair a committee, as the chairman of the Finance Committee, meeting just across the hall. He asked that at least while entering into the record his full statement, I quote three or four comments that he makes here. He says: "Mort Halperin has a distinguished career in government and academia and in service with nonprofit organizations. He is a prolific author. But I would like to focus on a particular aspect of his work-his efforts to help adjust our policies and, importantly, our way of thinking to the post-Cold War world. I think it is fair to say that Mort Halperin has been at the forefront of the effort to keep the United States from drifting from the Cold War era into the next without thoroughly examining our way of doing business.' So, Mr. Chairman, I would ask unanimous consent that the remainder of the statement from Senator Moynihan might appear in the record.

Chairman NUNN. Without objection, we will have his statement as part of the record.

[The prepared statement of Senator Moynihan follows:]

PREPARED STATEMENT OF SENATOR DANIEL PATRICK MOYNIHAN

INTRODUCING MORTON H. HALPERIN

Mr. Chairman and members of the Armed Services Committee, I am pleased to appear before you today to introduce a fellow New Yorker, Morton H. Halperin, who has been nominated by President Clinton to be Assistant Secretary of Defense for Democracy and Peacekeeping.

I congratulate you, Mr. Chairman, for holding this hearing so that Dr. Halperin can directly address concerns that have been raised by some members of the committee. Dr. Halperin has had a varied career of outstanding public service. I am confident that a full and public hearing will demonstrate that he is a dedicated, energetic, intelligent public servant committed to promoting the security of the United States. And to doing so in a manner which is consistent with our own best traditions and the requirements of the constitution.

Mort Halperin has had a distinguished career in government, in academia and in service with non-profit organizations. He is a prolific author. But I would like to focus on a particular aspect of his work-his efforts to help adjust our policies and, importantly, our way of thinking, to the post-Cold War world. I think it is fair to say that Mort Halperin has been at the forefront of the effort to keep the United States from drifting from the Cold War era into the next without thoroughly examining our way of doing business. The losers have no choice but to radically change their behavior. For the victors, however, the need is less obvious. But no less important. The Cold War changed us. We came to accept behavior and strictures that would have been unthinkable to earlier generations of Americans. Mort Halperin has worked-not to sweep aside our institutions wholesale-but to carefully and thoughtfully examine each of our foreign policy institutions and practices to see whether or not they are truly suited to pursuing the best interests of the American people in a new era. In this, he has performed an important service to the Nation. Make no mistake. Dr. Halperin is not one who spins elegant theories that bear little relation to the real world. He has government experience. He knows that the world is a dangerous place. And believes that it is the quintessential obligation of the U.S. Government to maintain the security of the people of the United States. I believe that this will be apparent from his testimony.

In the course of a varied and energetic career, Dr. Halperin has made statements with which some Senators strongly disagree. That, I think, is the inevitable result of

holding strong views and expressing them vigorously. I believe that he will welcome the opportunity to address these issues directly.

But I would simply add that no member of the Senate need accept every view Dr. Halperin has ever adopted-nor every opinion of any other nominee for that matter-to be fully convinced that President Clinton is entitled to have the Senate confirm Dr. Halperin as his choice for Assistant Secretary of Defense. Moreover, I am not aware of any statement or position taken by Dr. Halperin which would disqualify him from serving this President with distinction. I am confident that this hearing will make that abundantly clear.

Senator BOREN. Mr. Chairman, I appear personally today before you on behalf of Dr. Morton Halperin, the President's nominee to be Assistant Secretary of Defense for Democracy and Peacekeeping.

Based upon my own personal experience with Dr. Halperin during my time as the chairman of the Senate Committee on Intelligence I would say to my colleague I stepped down from that position about a year ago after serving on the committee for 8 years and 6 years as chairman.

Based upon my own personal experience during that time with him, I support his nomination. I believe that the creation of the new position of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Democracy and Peacekeeping was a wise initiative on the part of the Secretary of Defense. The end of the Cold War has brought with it great hope and great opportunities. But, as we have seen in recent days, it has also brought new dangers and risks.

In my view, we need an official at the assistant secretary level who can carefully evaluate the policy risks and benefits of using our armed services in the non-traditional roles that they are increasingly called upon to perform, such as peacekeeping, provision of humanitarian assistance, refugee activities, and the promotion of democracy and human rights.

Surely what we have been through over the last few weeks and months, whatever our perspective about the wisdom of those activities on the part of our government, would convince us that we do need to focus upon these issues and to have an appropriate place in our government where we do focus carefully upon these issues.

During my tenure as chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Dr. Halperin worked closely with our committee and its staff. We found him to be a dedicated individual who could solve challenging problems in a manner that was fair to all sides. He was always aware of the importance of individual liberty, but he carefully balanced these concerns with his understanding of the necessities of national security.

I have a letter that is addressed to the chairman of this committee from Edward Boland, who previously served as chairman of the House Committee on Intelligence, and I want to just quote a part of that letter because his experience obviously, while he was chairing the House Intelligence Committee and working with Dr. Halperin, parallels my own personal experience.

Here is, in part, what former Chairman Boland had to say. "During the years I chaired the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, from 1977 to 1984, in the House, Dr. Halperin served as Director of the Washington office of the American Civil Liberties Union and a director of the National Center for National Security Studies.