The Secretary of Defense,
Washington, DC, June 26, 1996.

Hon. Sam Nunn,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.

Dear Senator Nunn: I am writing to express my appreciation and support for your efforts to improve our ability to protect the American people, our troops and allies from the threats posed by weapons of mass destruction and terrorists who might use them.

The amendment you have proposed to the Defense Authorization bill on this issue would provide important support to enhance our defense capabilities against these threats. It would assist us in our efforts to improve our domestic preparedness to prevent and, if necessary, deal with a potential domestic terrorist incident involving weapons of mass destruction. It would also strengthen our ongoing efforts in Cooperative Threat Reduction and other programs to prevent proliferation by reducing and improving control over such lethal weapons and materials at the source and strengthening the international community's ability to interdict them at borders.

Taken together, the amendment's provisions will result in important improvements in the Defense Department's capabilities to prevent and respond to the threats both here and aboard posed by terrorists and weapons of mass destruction.

Sincerely,
William J. Perry.