U.S. MILITARY OPTIONS IN EL SALVADOR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-01070R000100050006-4
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 17, 2007
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: February 5, 1982
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Approved For Release 2007/05/18: CIA-RDP88-0107OR000100050006-4
RADIO 1V REPORTS, INC.
FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS STAFF
PROGRAM ABC World News Tonight
S T A T I O N W J L A T V
ABC Network
DATE February 3, 1982 7:00 PM CITY Washington, DC
SUBJECT U.S. Military Options in El Salvador
FRANK REYNOLDS: The White House insisted today there
are no current plans to send American troops to El Salvador, despite
the clearly deteriorating situation there.
However, ABC News has learned the United States has another
military option, one that does not involve the use of American troops.
White House correspondent Sam Donaldson has that story.
SAM DONALDSON: Officials in the Reagan administration have
approached the government of Argentina about the possibility of that
country infiltrating combat forces into Nicaragua, according to a Con-
gressional source.
The purpose: First, to choke off supplies from Cuba being
transhipped to rebels in El Salvador; and second, if all went well,
to mount a counter-revolution against the Nicaraguan ruling Sandinista
leftist junta.
According to the source, such forces from Argentina would
not wear uniforms, but would be infiltrated into Nicaragua as Latin
American freedom fighters, and would operate covertly in guerrilla
fashion.
The source does not know whether such talks with Argentina
have led to any concrete action, or whether they ever will.
Asked about this story, a high-ranking White House official
said, "We never comment on such stories one way or another." But the
idea of working with other countries in Latin America to help El
Salvador was expressly put forward yesterday on Capitol Hill by
Secretary of State Haig.
OFFICES IN: WASHINGTON D.C. ? NEW YORK ? LOS ANGELES ? CHICAGO ? DETROIT ? AND OTHER PRINCIPAL CITIES
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Approved For Release 2007/05/18: CIA-RDP88-0107OR000100050006-4
 Approved For Release 2007/05/18: CIA-RDP88-0107OR000100050006-4
SECRETARY OF STATE ALEXANDER HAIG: Cooperating with our
friends and allies in the region, we will do whatever is necessary
to contain the threat.
DONALDSON: President Reagan has repeatedly tried to ease
fears that American combat forces would be employed in Latin America.
PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN: We have no plans for putting
Americans in combat anyplace in the world.
DONALDSON: A White House spokesman said today the President
still has no plans to send American combat forces anywhere -- no
plans at the moment, he said.
But in fact, the advantage, from the administration's
standpoint, of using Argentina forces to move against Nicaragua, would
be that Americans would not be directly involved, thus avoiding a major
domestic controversy and a possible Congressional veto under the War
Powers Act.
Sam Donaldson, ABC News, the White House.
Approved For Release 2007/05/18: CIA-RDP88-0107OR000100050006-4