NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE DAILY MONDAY DECEMBER 13, 1976[SANITIZED] - 1976/12/13

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Argentina Declassification Project - The "Dirty War" (1976-83)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03006948
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: April 3, 2019
• Document Release Date: April 12, 2019
• Publication Date: December 13, 1976

Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 003006948
The
National Intelligence
Daily
3.5(c)
Published by the Director of Central Intelligence for Named Principals Only
-1-0P-Srd�r�/ET
3.5(c)
Copy No. 261
MONDAY DECEMBER 13, 1976
VOLUME 3, NUMBER 290
TOP SECRET
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TDP-SECRET
THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE DAILY TCS 715/76
MONDAY DECEMBER 13, 1976 3
Argentina: Differences Within Junta
The navy and air force members of
Argentina's ruling military junta are ex-
pressing increased dissatisfaction with
what they view as inordinate army in-
fluence. Navy chief Admiral Massera in
particular is indulging even more than
usual his penchant for sniping at President
Videla, commander in chief of the army.
Massera and his air force counterpart,
General Agosti, are both generally
identified with the so-called hard-line
current of opinion; they may be reacting
defensively to Videla's move to retire
some of the army's more outspoken
members of that group.
At least three such army generals have
been placed at the disposition of the army
general staff, normally the first step in the
retirement process. The heightened sen-
sitivity of Massera and Agosti could
spring from their fear of becoming iso-
lated as a result of the imminent de-
parture of like-minded army colleagues.
In the past week or so, Massera has
directed thinly veiled public criticism at
the President and his chief ally, army
chief of staff General Roberto Viola.
Massera may see some possi ity t at sy
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Junta members (L to R) Admiral Massera, President Videla, General Agosti
discrediting Videla, he himself could
emerge as president, a job he covets.
Chances are slim that Massera can, in
the near future, engineer Videla's depar-
ture; it is even less likely that he could
become president himself. The army is
well-established as the predominant
service, and there is no evidence of
active plotting within the army against
the President.
Indeed, Videla's move to retire generals
who do not agree with his moderate tac-
tics, though the cause of some grumbling,
is not being obstructed. Army officers,
however disgruntled they may become
with Videla, are hardly likely to assist the
opportunistic Massera to gain power.
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