NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE DAILY (CABLE) 1 OCTOBER 1979[SANITIZED] - 1979/10/01

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Argentina Declassification Project - The "Dirty War" (1976-83)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 05099815
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 14
• Document Creation Date: April 3, 2019
• Document Release Date: April 12, 2019
• Publication Date: October 1, 1979

Director of
Central
Intelligence
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Tap-Secrrer
ILLEGIB
National Intelligence Daily
(Cable)
1 October 1979
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Ti cret
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CO NIDC 79-0230C
1 October' 1979
Copy 497
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National Intelligence Daily (Cable)
Contents
Briefs and Comments
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-T-erp-SECT---vt
Argentina: Abortive Army Revolt . . . . . . . . 2
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ARGENTINA: Abortive Army Revolt
The failure of the attempt over the weekend by hard-
line Argentine III Corps Commander Menendez to oust mod-
erate Army chief Viola should strengthen President
Videta's hand in dealing with remaining hardline opponents
of his government's policies. Viola�heir apparent to
the presidency�undoubtedly was chosen as the target for
the revolt because of his staunch support of Videla.
The bloodless revolt, which began early Saturday
morning with a demand for Viola's resignation, apparently
was triggered by the release and deportation last week of
former La Opinion newspaper publisher Jacobo Timerman.
The decision to free Timerman, who was viewed by the
hardliners as a close collaborator with Argentina's once
powerful leftist guerrilla movement, reportedly had
sharply increased frictions in the military hierarchy.
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Menendez and other members of his faction, who have
accused Videla and Viola of being "soft" on subversion,
opposed the government's invitation last month to an
Organization of American States mission to investigate
widespread human rights violations. They also have bit-
terly attacked Videla's decision to pursue a negotiated
settlement to the Beagle Channel conflict with Chile and
have been constant critics of the government's economic
policies. 3.5(c)
It is not yet clear how strongly the government will
press its advantage in the wake of the failed revolt.
Menendez has been relieved of his command, but no punish-
ment has been set. His forced retirement seems a cer-
tainty. General Viola has scored a sizable moral victory
and a formal court martial for Menendez could signal a
general house-cleaning of hardline opponents within the
military.
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