TALKING POINTS ON US POLICY IN NICARAGUA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86M00886R001400130019-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 5, 2008
• Sequence Number: 19
• Publication Date: November 19, 1984
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 2008/12/05: CIA-RDP86M00886R001400130019-6
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
WASHINGTON. D.C. 20506
November 19, 1984
MEMORANDUM FOR MR. CHARLES HILL
Executive Secretary
Department of State
COLONEL R. J. AFFOURTIT
Executive Secretary
Department of Defense
8424 Add-on
VIA LDX
STAT
Executive Secretary
Central Intelligence Agency
SUBJECT: Talking Points on US Policy in Nicaragua
Attached are proposed talking points for use by Administration
officials when discussing Nicaragua in public or with members of
the press. We would appreciate receiving your comments/clearance
by COB, Tuesday, November 20.
Thank you.
Robert M. Kimmitt
Executive Secretary
TAB A Proposed Talking Points
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The US and Nicaragua -- Talking Points
Nicaragua has been expanding its military forces since the
autumn of 1979 from 10,000 to about 119,000; in recent
months and weeks there has been an increased pace which
since June has included:
expansion in mobilized forces by 12,000; 50 additional
tanks plus an additional 75 armored vehicles; and, the
addition of 13 helicopters including at least 5 of the
large Soviet MI-24 helicopter gun ships
Problems in the region stem from this surge in the military
expansion, along with Nicaragua's continued support for the
marxist-leninist guerrillas attacking neighboring countries
and the false non-democratic elections held on November 4
where Sandinista persecution prevented the genuinely
democratic opposition from participating.
The Sandinista regime is following the historical example
set by Castro in Cuba--they promise democracy but create a
totalitarian state; they use Soviet bloc and Cuban help and
personnel to attack their neighbors through subversion and
to build a military apparatus far larger than ever seen in
the region;
US policy in Central America continues to include four
elements pursued simultaneously: support for democracy;
economic aid to improve living conditions; active diplomacy
and security assistance to friendly governments.
With Nicaragua the US has maintained a continuing dialogue
through our embassy, through a series of bilateral
discussions which continue and through the Special
Presidential Envoys who have made more than 28 trips to the
region in the last two years to support the Contadora
objectives and negotiating process.
We continue to support the efforts of the regions: countries
to produce a Contadora treaty which will simultaneously
accomplish the 21 agreed-upon objectives with effective
verification including:
- the implementation of democracy in Nicaragua as promised
the OAS in 1979;
- the reduction of the Nicaraguan military forces to parity
with its neighbors;
- the end to paramilitary operations across borders;
- the removal of the 11,500 person Cuban/Soviet bloc
presence;
While the US has supported negotiation, the Soviets have
moved additional arms into Nicaragua to help their client
intimidate its neighbors and "cut a better deal" in the
Contadora talks. These actions seriously hamper the
Contadora process.
Speculation in the press about other measures or ideas about
ways to deal with Nicaragua have no official standing.
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