BRIEFING OF HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS INTER-AMERICAN AFFAIRS SUBCOMMITTEE 11 AUGUST 1982

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84B00274R000300040001-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 28, 2007
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: August 16, 1982
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 2007/03/28: CIA-RDP84B00274RO
OEXA 82-1994
16 August 1982
Subject: Briefing of House Foreign Affairs Inter-American Affairs
Subcommittee 11 August 1982
1. On 11 August 1982,1 Director, Office of African and 25X1
Latin American Analysis, led a team from his office in briefing Members of
the Inter-American Affairs Subcommittee on the current situation in Central
America. The briefing took place in Room 2255 Rayburn House Office Building.
Material presented was at the TOP SECRET level. anscript was taken.
DIA representatives participated in the briefing, 25X1
2. Representative Michael Barnes (D., Md.) presided. Representatives
Gerry Studds (D., Mass.), Robert Lagomarsino (R., CA), and Benjamin Gilman
(R., NY) were present. The staff present were: Vic Johnson, Staff Director,
Lillian Pubillones, Rob Kurz, Nanc PirhAr na, Ed Fox, Tom Smeeton,
Marian Chamb led the DIA team 25X1
supported byl 3J 25X1
3. 1 = began by giving a brief summary of the situation on 25X1
the Nicaragua-Hon uras border. He said that.the anti-Sandinista forces are
gaining strength but do not constitute a significant threat to Nicaragua.
The Sandinistas, however, are losing patience with the border nruhlems and
could launch a punitive strike against the anti-Sandinistas. 25X1
outlined the Honduras military es hich he described as one o
the smallest in Central America. described the insurgent :threat 25X1
in Honduras. He indicated that Honduran insurgents are receiving training
by Nicaragua and Cuba. talked about the anti-Sandinista 25X1
group-,- and qaid that two umbrella groups were formed in Honduras in August
1981. briefed on the military support provided to the anti- 25X1
Sandinista orces 25X1
4. In the questions and answers period that followed, there were ques-
tions in several areas. These had to do with the so-called "Popular Church;"
arms shipments into El Salvador and PLO, Cuban and East German presence in
Nicaragua. Representative Studds attempted to establish that the reason
Nicaragua was increasing its military forces was because of a similar intensi-
fication of Honduran strength. The briefers replied that there is a "chicken
and egg" aspect to the conflict. They added that the increase in Nicaraguan
military forces is more likely a result of their overall plan to dominate
the area. They also pointed out that Nicaragua has overwhelming numerical
superiority to Honduras. Representative Studds asked if the United States
were involved in a covert way in the area, whether the analyst present
would know about it. The resp s that we had no evidence of such action.
There were no follow-up items
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