REMARKS BY SENATOR KENNEDY - TUESDAY EVENING, 3 APRIL 1984

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP87B00858R000200160006-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 23, 2010
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: April 4, 1984
• Content Type: MISC

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Y Z%FX.L.L 1704
T tated via telephone by
Remarks by Senator Kennedy - Tuesday evening, 3 April 1984
A.._.hleen McGhee, Secretary to
Gary Schmitt, Minority Staff
Director, SSCI.
KENNEDY: Mr. President, I have two amendments which I talked to the manager
of the bill about. I believe that the form of them can be accepted. That
would at least conclude the amendments on conditionality that I had intended
to offer to this bill regarding El Salvador. I would be glad to move expeditiously
to amendment number 2836, and I ask for its immediate consideration.
PRESIDING OFFICER: The Clerk will report.
The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
At the appropriate place add the following:
"The Senate and House Select Committees on Intelligence, in coordination
with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee-
KENNEDY: Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment
be dispensed with.
GOLDWATER: Objection.
PRESIDING OFFICER: Objection is heard. The Clerk will report.
Assistant Legislative Clerk read as follows:
"In the House Foreign Affairs Committee, shall conduct a full investigation
of death squads in El Salvador and shall report to the Senate and House
of Representatives by May 31st 1984 on the extent of death squad activities,
responsibility for organizing, directing and carrying out death squad
killings, and progress in prosecuting those responsible for such killings."
KENNEDY: Mr. President, there has been a great deal written about death squad
activities the record will show that there have been fluctuations in death
squad activities over the period of recent years. But there have been a number
of individual church leaders, student leaders, and political leaders who were
targeted and assassinated. There has not been a single arrest and prosecution of
the perpetrators.
Recently, we read in the press that the Central Intelligence Agency
financed or underwrote, either directly or indirectly, individuals involved
in death squad activities. I am referring to the allegation that Mr. Caranza,
head of the-RA"a Treasury Police, received CIA payments
vain 1
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death squad activities. It is my hope that we could have an examination of
this issue by Committee of the U.S. Senate that has access to information
regarding intelligence activities. I hope we can put to rest the issue as
to whether the CIA is involved in any way, directly or indirectly, in supporting
individuals who are involved in any way, directly or indirectly, in death squad
activities; or, whether any funds from the CIA, or any agency of the Government,
is in any way being used in this particular endeavor. We also want to know,
to the extent possible, what the intelligence agencies can tell us, and what
the Intelligence Committees can tell us, about the nature of the death squad
activities that kind of examination could help us in the Congress to be more
effective in eliminating their activities in El Salvador.
That is really the point that I am driving at, Mr. President, with this
amendment.
I see the Chairman of the Intelligence Committee on the floor, and the
Ranking and Minority Member. I shall be glad to see if we can arrive at some
kind of an accommodation. But I do believe that there is a very deep concern
among the American people about whether the CIA is in any way involved with
individuals who are associated with death squads.
It is for that reason that I have proposed the amendment. I welcome whatever
comment the Senator from Arizona or the Senator from New York could make on this
issue.
1HE PRESIDING OFFICER: The Senator from Arizona is recognized.
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GOLDWATER: Mr. President, as Chairman of the Subcommittee of the Committee -
and we have discussed this with the Senator from New York - we would be glad
to hold such a series of hearing I had hoped that we could cover everything
the Senator wants in one hearing. I think the Senator said by May 30th.
KENNEDY: Mr. President, I said the 31st of May, but I am glad to adjust that.
I would be glad to alter or change that particular date, if it is the desire of
the Chairman of the Committee.
GOLDWATER: If the Senator will keep that date flexible, we will have no
problem. But we do have Easter and Memorial Day coming.
KENNEDY: Mr. President, could we make it by the 4th of July recess.
GOLDWATER: Mr. President, there would be no problem with that. I am glad
that you have addressed the issue. In the case of El Salvador, there are many
sensitive issues involved. Much of the information is classified and frankly
we do not know much about it. I understand the concern that the Senator has
on this matter. This subject, as I have told him, will be the subject of special
hearings by the Intelligence Committee. The Committee will do everything it can
to investigate this matter, and make the record of that investigation known
to the extent that it can. As I said, I have discussed this with my very
distinguished Co-Chairman whom I rely on greatly, and he has agreed to it.
I can assure the Senator that it will be an exhaustive hearing.
PRESIDING OFFICER: The Senator from New York is recognized.
MOYNIHAN: Mr. President, may I simply echo the statement of our distinguished
Chairman. The Committee would be happy to undertake in inquiry that the
distinguished Senator from Massachusetts asked. I would like to make one
statement, however; that is, that the Committee has not been indifferent
in the least to this question, and has learned as much as we have been able to.
Nothing that we have learned would in any way implicate the Central Intelligence
Exect-five Re;istiy
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Agency in the undoubtedly obscene outrageous behavior of individuals and
organizations in El Salvador. If we can learn more, we will and we will so
report.
KENNEDY: Mr. President, I want to express my very deep sense of appreciation
to the Senator from Arizonia and to the Senator from New York. Obviously,
there are materials which are classified. But I think the basic issue is
fundamental concern to the American people. I would be glad to work with the
Chairman and the Ranking Member of that Committee to try to at least resolve
as many of these issues and questions in the minds of the American people
and the Congress, quite frankly, in as a candid and open way as possibly can
be done. Mr. President, with those assurances that have been given by the
Chairman of the Committee and the Ranking Minority Member, I withdraw my
amendment.
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