LETTER TO WILLIAM CASEY FROM JOHN D. NEGROPONTE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86M00886R000700010008-9
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 15, 2008
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: February 9, 1984
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2008/08/15: CIA-RDP86M00886R000700010008-9
EMBASSY OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Tegucigalpa, Honduras
i
84- 1047
February 9, 1984
Mr. William Casey
Director
Central Intelligence Agency
Langley, Virginia 20505
Yesterday I got around to reading your excellent speech
delivered at Westminster College on October 29 which you were
kind enough to send me.
I have three specific comments in the event you decide to give
a similar dissertation in the future. First, there is a sen-
tence towards the bottom of p.5 which reads, "The Soviets
recognize that in most Third World countries power rests with
the military." There may be some truth to that statement; but
I think a way should be found to say it in such a manner that
does not suggest that we might condone it.
My next suggestion relates to the passage in the middle of p.6
which states that insurgencies and revolutionary violence have
been unleashed to topple governments-in El Salvador, Honduras
and Guatemala. I think that by grouping Honduras with
El Salvador and Guatemala, your statement has the effect of
exaggerating the level of violence which has occurred in this
country. For example, the last significant urban terrorist
act in Honduras took place in September 1982 when terrorists
seized the Chamber of Commerce in San Pedro Sula.
Finally, in regard to the measures you outline at the bottom of
p.6 and the top of p.7, I wish you had added AID police train-
ing as an activity which could contribute significantly to the
achievement of our security objectives in the Third World. It
is ironic that our legislation makes it the most difficult to
equip and train those forces in the Third World which should
be the first line of defense against terrorism. It is also
ironic, as the Kissinger Commission Report points out, that
our legislation inhibits our ability to assist the only
security forces in Costa Rica.
With best wishes.
Sincerely,
Approved For Release 2008/08/15: CIA-RDP86M00886R000700010008-9