ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT ON CENTRAL AMERICA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86M00886R001900170009-8
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 15
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 29, 2008
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: May 9, 1984
• Content Type: REPORT

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THE WEITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UNTIL 8:00 P.M. EDT,
WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 1984
ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT
ON CENTRAL AMERICA
FACT SHEET
The President today spoke to the American people in a televised
nationwide speech on Central America. The major points made by
the President were:
o Vital interests of the United States are at stake because
the success of communist subversion in Central America
"poses the threat that 100 million people from Panama to
the United States border could come under the control of
pro-Soviet regimes."
o The Sandinista regime in Nicaragua has.violated its
written. commitments to the OAS to hold genuinely
democratic elections and instead has repressed the
democratic opposition, persecuted Christians, Jews and the
Miskito Indians; and cooperated with the Soviet bloc and
Cuba in the export of subversion and a major military
buildup.
o Administration policy has consistently been to support:
democracy, economic improvement, realistic diplomacy and
security assistance to help friendly governments
threatened by communist subversion.
o The National Bipartisan Commission agreed with our
assessment of the threat, the need for this balanced
policy and recommended increased resources.
o The Administration submitted a comprehensive legislative
proposal to Congress in February based on the recom-
mendations of the Bipartisan Commission. Now, it is
time for Congress to provide the full amounts requested
and to pro\;-iue the interim supplemental funds requested
for FY 1984.
o The democratic groups and institutions of Central America
can succeed if Congress provides the resources now.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. INTRODUCTION . . . . _ . . . . .
3
II. THE STAKES FOR THE UNITED STATES .
. . . . . . .
3
III'.. THE FACTS ABOUT CENTRAL AMERICA
.. ..
4
IV. THE REASONS FOR HOPE'; . . . . . . .
.. . .. . . . .
8
Attachments
(A) Data. Table
(B) Nicaragua: Cuban Presence, 1979-1984-
(C) Nicaragua:: Growth of Armed, Forces, 1979-1984
(D) Central American Armed Forces: Comparison Among
Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala and El. Salvador, 1977-1983
(E) Soviet-Military Deliveries to Cuba,. 1962-1982:
(F) El Salvador: Comparison of US Economic and Military
Assistance Levels, 1;980-1984:
(G) U.S. vs U.S.S.R.. Security Assistance
to Latin America, 19!62-19$2
PAGE,
9
10
II
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I. INTRODUCTION
A. China Trip
o Trip was a success. We are building a strong
relationship in a genuine spirit of cooperation.
B. Proposed speech is to tell American people of basic
decisions which are theirs to make.
o National Security is the most important function of
the federal government.
o Soviets challenging us with a new kind of weapon --
subversion and the use of surrogate forces..
o Issue now is. our efforts to promote democracy and
economic. well-being in the face of Cuban and
Nicaraguan aggression aided by Soviet Union.
o Issue "is definitely not about plans to send American
troops into combat in Central America."
II. THE STAKES FOR THE UNITED STATES-
A. Central America. is "at our doorstep"l
o Half our shipping tonnage and imported oil passes
through Caribbean shipping lanes. Two-thirds of all
our foreign trade passes through the Panama Canal and
Caribbean waters.,
o One out of eight. persons born in the Caribbean
lives-in the United-States. Communist guerrilla
warfare in Central America has caused 800,000
people. to flee their homes.. Concerns about refugees
are well founded.
FACTS: Exact figures are difficult to obtain.
Re iable estimates indicate refugees and displaced
persons include: 500,000 displaced persons in El
Salvador; 152,000 refugees cared for by the United
Nations High Commission for Refugees, including
25,000 Nicaraguans and 20,000 Salvadorans in
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Honduras, 12,000 Nicaraguans and 18,000
Salvadorans in Costa Rica, and 42,000 Guatemalans
in Mexico; 150,000 displaced persons in Guatemala;
in addition, uncounted numbers of Nicaraguans are
dispersed in the general population in Costa Rica
and Honduras.
Alternative Futures
o Do nothing or too little. This will produce a
communist Central America and communist subversion
spreading South and Nort .
o If we come to our senses-too late,-after lack of
support causes friends to lose the ability to defend
themselves, risks to our security will be infinitely
greater.
o The way to avoid these risks is the course
recommended by the National Bipartisan Commision on
Central America. Requires long-term American
commitment and support for democratic development,
economic and security assistance, and strong-willed
diplomacy.
C. The Only Rational Choice
o our policy for the last three years has been the
third choice. It is in our interests and it is the
morally right thing to do.
o But it means doing enough to protect our own security
and?enable neighbors to live in peace and democracy
without threat of communist subversion.
o This choice requires a commitment from our
administration, the American people and the Congress.
III. THE FACTS ABOUT CENTRAL AMERICA
B.. Nicaragua
1. The Sandinistas are communists whose ties to Fidel
Castro go back 25 years. Their leaders have been
trained in camps supported by Cuba, the Soviet
bloc, the PLO.
Some believe we are exaggerating the threat. If that's
the case it is time to put that issue to rest.
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2. Castro-advised the Sandinistas to promise democracy
and to form a broad alliance with the genuinely
democratic opposition to Nicaragua, in order to
deceive western governments and public opinion.
3. The Sandinistas promised in writing to the OAS that
they would hold genuinely free elections
and that they. would establish a real democracy.
The OAS recognized the insurgent Sandinista-led
government.
4. This was a negotiated settlement based on power
sharing between communists and genuine democrats.
5. What have been the results:
a._ Violation of their democratic commitments to
the OAS and internal repression:
-- trade union, civic groups, political parties
severely restricted
'
--
freedom of
press and speech virtually
--
nonexistent
repression
of Protestant Miskito Indians, Jews
--
persecution
of religious groups
--
Nicaraguan
Catholic Bishop Vega: "We are
living with a totalitarian ideology that no one
wants in this country."
b. Since 1979 aggression and subversion against
El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica and
Guatemala
Nicaragua provided training camps for
Salvadoran guerrillas within weeks of coming to
power
camps continue to operate along with
headquarter facilities for Salvadoran and other
regional guerrilla movements.
military raids into Honduras and Costa Rica
also continue today.
FACTS: From June 1982 until the present,
Costa Rica has sent 13 protest notes to
Nicaragua over border incidents. In June
1983 the Government of Honduras issued a
public document listing 210 border incidents
initiated by Nicaragua since July 1979. The
incidents have continued. In July 1983 a
group of about 100 Honduran guerrillas were
inserted from Nicaragua into Olancho Depart-
ment of Honduras. Within two months nearly
all the guerrillas had defected or been
.captured or killed. The guerrillas related
that they were recruited two years earlier,
brought to Nicaragua, sent to Cuba for
training, and then returned to Nicaragua for
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c. Militarization of Nicaragua
-- 10,000 Cuban, plus Soviet, Eastern
European, PLO, and Libyan Personnel
FACTS: Today there are 10,000 Cubans of
which 3,000 perform military/security
functions. We estimate that in Nicaragua
there are about 100 Soviet military and 200
civilian advisers. About 25 Soviet personnel
reportedly are assisting the security
services. We estimate there are about 50
military and 150 civilian Eastern European
advisers in Nicaragua. East Germans have
been active in the Nicaraguan internal
security organization. North Koreans
reportedly have taught personal defense to
Nicaraguan security personnel. We believe
there have been as many as 20 Libyan and 50
PLO
advisers in Nicaragua.
The
have
provided pilot training
and
have
been engaged in serving
the
MI-2
light helicopters they
have
.See
Attachment A for details
on
presence.
PLO personnel
the Libyans
Polish-built
provided.
Cuban
-- the new Nicaraguan army
oo trained forces have increased from 10,000
to 100,000
0o Soviet bloc delivered over $100 million in
military assistance last year, including
tanks, artillery, rocket launchers.
oo over 4.0 new military bases and support
facilities have been constructed since
1979.
FACTS: From 1979 until March 1984 the
Soviet bloc delivered an estimated $350
.million in military equipment to
Nicaragua. In the same period, the
estimated total value of new military
construction was $139-208 million.
Far exceeds Nicaragua legitimate defense needs
oo Costa Rica doesn't ever have an army
0o Honduras' armed forces total 16,000:
0o The Nicaraguan buildup began 2/ years
before the anti-Sandinista forces took up
arms.
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6. Consistent Sandinista goal of spreading revolution
beyond their borders. -
-- U.S. did everything to show openness toward the
Sandinistas, willingness to be friends
-- But they kept exporting terrorism.
-- El Salvador now target of Nicaragua and Cuba.
C. El Salvador
1. Struggling to build a democracy.
-- is attacked by the violent right and violent
left
-- this administration opposes both extremes
--democratic institutions are flourishing
-- the land reform program has benefitted about
550,000 peasants, nearly a quarter of the rural.
population
FACTS: Those so far benefitted by the El.
Salvador land reform represent 11 percent of
the total. population and about half of the
formerly landless population
-- From 1979-1983 communist guerrilla attacks
have cost the economy about $826 million
compared with total US economic and in those
years or 607 million.
D. Looking at the rest of Central America
1. Costa Rica is a flourishing and well-established
democracy
2. Honduras-made.a peaceful transition to democracy in
1.982
3. In Guatemala an election is-scheduled for July and
there is a real prospect for Guatemala to return to
full constituional government in 1985.
4. The rest of Latin America: 26 out of 33 countries
with 90% of the population are democracies or in
.transition to democracy.
E. Contrast between Nicaraguan and El Salvador
1. El Salvador has held three elections, the most
recent last Sunday, May 6, X984.
2. El Salvador has deferred the guerrillas the
opportunity to participate in these elections and
the democratic process; the guerrillas have
refused.
3. In Nicaragua, the freedom fighters have offered to
take part in democratic elections, but the
Sandinistas have refused to permit them to compete.
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8
A. Soviet- and Cuban-supported aggression can be defeated
if-our politics ,process pulls together.
B. Communist subversion is not an irreversible tide.
1. With bipartisan support, President Truman helped
the democratic forces succeed in overcoming
Soviet-supported indirect aggression in Greece.
2. Communist subversion was rolled back in Venezuela
and Grenada.
3. all it takes is the will and resources to get the
-job done.
C. The Bipartisan Commission rendered an-important service
to. all Americans
1. Last January it presented positive recommendations
to support democratic development, improve living
conditions, and bring peace to Central America.
A. In February, the President submitted a comprehensive
legislative proposal to Congress to implement the
Commission's recommendations.
1. This proposal calls for increased commitment of
resources beginning immediately and extending over
the next 5 years.
2. The program is balanced, with 70 percent of the
dollars to be used for economic and social
development
B. We now await action by Congress.
C. Meanwhile, evidence mounts of Cuban intentions to double
its support to the guerrillas in order to bring down the
Salvadoran government this fall.
Requests for interim appropriations to bolster security
of N-icaragua s-democratic neighbors await action by the
House.
E. For four years, we have provided
half the military aid requested for El- Salvador:'.
F. "Let us show the world that we want no hostile,
communist colonies here in the Americas: South,
Central, or North."
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9
DATA TABLE
1. Soviet bloc assistance to Cuba and Nicaragua in
1983: $4,917,000,000
2. US Assistance to Central America in 1983: $757,700,000
3. Soviet bloc military equipment deliveries to Nicaragua --
estimated dollar value:
1980 $ 6 million
1981 39 million
1982 80 million
1983 113 million
1984 112 million
$350 million
4.
Cuban presence in Nicaragua:
DATE
MILITARY/SECURITY
CIVILIAN
TOTAL PERSONNEL
7/79
100
65
165
2/80
200
450
650
7/80
200
1,850
2,050
7/81
500
2,800
3,300
10/83
1,750
5,750
7,500
3/84
3,000
7,000*
10,000
*Many have received military training.
5.
Trained Sandinista forces
DATE
TOTAL
7/79
1/80
2/81
1/82
1/83
3/84
10,000
20,000
35,000
55,000
80,000
105,000
6. U.S. Military Aid to El Salvador (millions of dollars)
FISCAL YEAR
1981
1982
1983
1984
TOTAL
uested
Re
35.5
117.0
136.3
243.5
532.3
q
oved
A
5
35
82.0
81.3
64.3
-263.1
ppr
.
by Congress
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Cuba) I 1 CJGI I k-# IQ; 11 1 I VIL.11 u uu
July 1979 to May 1984
15,000L
10.000
5,000
Legend
Military
L:. Civilian
0
~~-~~~.,...r.::rux~:a:su:a.:,;~`.:i.:.sie:v_sr..a~:+~:-mace.w-_.?:.z._tabr.~f~ssar;:.ua.?~~~:.a~v._-.z =..-_aaa???~?,~wa+:au.+~ac~eaaa.~
I (~ ~51) & b05
e'O - ~\-Y 401
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 'Growth of Approved For Release 2008/08/29: CIA-RDP86M00886RO01900170009-8 S
July 1979 to January 1984
150
arm r'sztiJw..,.~c~.t;.?:sr~:auc'k~1s'. SYLrtlid.ir-~~':sver~lii.S'~lif.l.dLiL'~f:_i3Vi:i:li:Vlii-i.YY~7r"?'
100
50
7
bN I bI~o~a3~or
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TOTAL ARMED FORCES PER 1000 PEOPLE
1977
NICARAGUA
HONDURAS
GUATEMALA
EL SALVADOR
1983
NICARAGUA
HONDURAS
GUATEMALA
EL SALVADOR
5.1
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12' 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
SOURCE: THE MILITARY BALANCE, INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES
3.1
4.3
2.3
1.6
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 IHOUSANOZ
OF IONS
250--E
H
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SOVIET MILITARY DELIVERIES TO CUBA
CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS
1JUtY OCIOBIR.19621
CUBAN/SOVIET
POLICY RIFT
71
CALENDAR YEARS
ARMS TO
CENTRAL AMERICA --
75 17 19
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81 82
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MILITARY AND ECONOMIC FUNDING FOR EL SALVADOR - FY 1980-84(CR)
MILLION DOLLARS
260
240
220
200
180
160
L
ECONOMIC
MILITARY
140
120 113.6
100
1 1-
80
60
40
20
57.8
5.9
1980 1981
35.5
182.2
82.0
1982
243.7
1983
81.3
195.5
1984 C.R.
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SECURITY ASSISTANCE TO LATIN AMERICA
($ IN MILLIONS)
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