When a historian sets out to research and write the history of contemporary events, the challenge is not only to get the story "right" but to see how important, consequential changes fit into a larger and longer patterns of human experience. For this history, the contemporary events were the implementation of the significant, new U.S.-USSR INF Treaty and the institution of a Department of Defense organization, the On-Site Inspection Agency. The really remarkable changes came with the implementation of the treaty articles and protocols, which injected the concepts of on-site inspections, continuous portal monitoring, and scheduled missile reductions into the U.S.-USSR arms control regime. The context for carrying out these changes was the Cold War and the long, ideological, economic, and military struggle for dominance. Soldiers of the Cold War on both sides, as this history narrates, proved to be effective, professional agents of change in the transition from one historical era to another.
In 1989, Brigadier General Roland Lajoie, OSIA's Director, initiated this history. He stated then that the United States and the Soviet Union had broken new ground with the INF Treaty; he wanted its implementation recorded, published, and disseminated to larger audiences. Major General Robert W. Parker, OSIA's current Director, read the final manuscript and offered suggestions. He too saw the benefits from its publication and distribution. Dr. Joerg H. Menzel, OSIA's Principal Deputy Director, encouraged, cajoled, redefined, and doggedly mentored the manuscript into book form. To him, I am indebted.
Anyone who has worked on a multi-year government project knows that delays, adversities, and mysterious pauses are part and parcel of the experience. No one overcomes these difficulties alone. Many people, inside and outside of the agency offered advice, timely suggestions, and encouragement. In my initial research in 1989-1990, OSIA's inspectors and escorts shared their time and experiences, especially Paul Nelson, Tom Brock, Terry Corneil, Bob McConnell, Ken Keating, Mark Dues, Paul Trahan, Jerry West, Mike Hritsik, Steve Boyd, Bob Yablonski, Joseph Wagovich, Richard Gibby, Susan Alborn, David Lafleur, and Larry Nelson. In November 1991, three senior military historians, Dr. Alfred Goldberg, Dr. Carl W. Reddel, and Dr. Donald R. Baucom, read, critiqued, and recommended its publication. In 1992, Judy Cleary edited the manuscript, Bill Way and Eric Emerton collected and reproduced photographs, and Paul Andino designed the page layout, and developed the cover art. Marshall Billingslea developed new tables, charts, and maps. Jack Kuhn, Paul Andino, and Jack Cobb, helped ready the manuscript for final review within the Department of Defense and interagency. While longer and more recondite than anticipated, that review sharpened the text. Approval came in February 1993. Throughout the lengthy process, my thoughts turned occasionally to a saying by the American popular singer, Dolly Parton, "If you want to see the rainbow, you gotta put up with a little rain."
Joseph P. Harahan
March 8, 1993
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