NICARAGUA/U.S.

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-01070R000200970004-8
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 25, 2008
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: November 25, 1983
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Approved For Release 2008/07/25: CIA-RDP88-010708000200970004-8
ABC WORLD NEWS TONIGHT
25 November 1983
NICARAGUA/U.S. ROBINSON: There's been controversy in this country and outrage
in Nicaragua over covert U.S. aid to guerrillas trying to
overthrow the Sandinista government. A recent CIA report casts
doubt on the rebels' ability to achieve their goals. However,
ABC's Jack Smith says U.S. intelligence experts now believe the
secret operation may turn out to be a qualified success.
SMITH: The U.S.-backed Nicaraguan counter revolutionaries, or
contras, have long predicted military victory over Nicaragua's
leftist government. And earlier this year adminstration
hardliners like CIA Director William Casey also reportedly
predicted a contra victory by year's end. But sources say this
was never the view of U.S. intelligence professionals. And,
according to the CIA now, the U.S.-backed contras lack the
training, numbers and popular support ever to defeat the
Nicaraguan regime. Sources say this analysis was given Congress.
two months ago as it debated funding for the covert operation.
According to a number of officials, the covert operation was
only intended to soften up Nicaragua's leftist regime. And
here, the CIA analysis, according to sources, concluded the
operation was succeeding. Analysts point to the following .
signs. This summer, for the first time, the Nicaraguan
government agreed to unconditional talks with its neighbors, the
so-called Contadora Group, on ending the crisis in Central
America. Sources say Nicaragua's support for leftist guerrillas
in E1 Salvador has diminished this year, and press censorship
within Nicaragua has eased in recent weeks. In fact, the covert
operation appears to be going so well, there are reports the
Reagan administration has even considered ways of winding it .
down. Congressional sources confirm that this fall, as Congress
debated further funding for the operation, the White House
submitted a plan whereby the Nicaraguan government would grant
the contras amnesty if the fighting ended. But sources caution
this was done merely to get more money out of the Congress,-by
convincing skeptics there that administration support for the
contras is not open-ended. In ,fact, say sources, the
administration believes the covert operation is necessary, is
succeeding and should continue. Jack Smith, ABC News, -
Washington. .
Approved For Release 2008/07/25: CIA-RDP88-010708000200970004-8