THE CIA MANUEL IN NICARAGUA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-01070R000301410012-8
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 6, 2010
• Sequence Number: 12
• Publication Date: October 22, 1984
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Approved For Release 2010/01/06: CIA-RDP88-01070R000301410012-8
RADIO IV REPORTS, INC.
4701 WILLARD AVENUE, CHEW CHASE, MARYLAND 20815 [phone]
FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS STAFF
STATION CNN-TV
Cable News
Network
DATE October 22, 1984 8:00 PM CITY Washington, DC
SUBJECT The CIA Manual In Nicaragua
DON FARMER: One issue raised in last night's debate
is the CIA manual produced for rebels in Nicaragua.
There are more questions tonight on the campaign trail
and in Washington. We begin in the capital with Bernard Shaw.
BERNARD SHAW: Two Senators briefed by CIA officials
this afternoon say that CIA manual urging the neutralization of
Nicaraguan officials was approved here in Washington. Our
congressional correspondent, Mary Tillotson, has the story.
MARY TILLOTSON: In the second and final presidential
debates Sunday night, President Reagan was asked about that CIA
manual urging the administration-supported Contra rebels in
Nicaragua to use political terrorism to undercut the Marxist
Sandinista government.
THE PRESIDENT: I have ordered an investigation. I
know that the CIA is already going forward with one.
We have a gentleman down in Nicaragua who is on
contract to the CIA, advising supposedly on military tactics,
the Contras, and he drew up this manual. It was turned over to
the agency head in -- the CIA in Nicaragua to be printed, and a
'number of pages were excised by that agency head there, the man
in charge, and he sent it on up here to CIA where more pages
were excised before it was printed.
TILLOTSON: Two members of the Senate Select Committee
on Intelligence who were briefed by CIA officials Monday
afternoon said that the expurgated version of the manual
OFFICES IN: WASHINGTON D.C. ? NEW YORK ? LOS ANGELES ? CHICAGO ? DETROIT ? AND OTHER PRINCIPAL CITIES
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 Approved For Release 2010/01/06: CIA-RDP88-0107OR000301410012-8
approved in Washington and returned to Central America for use
by the Contras still contained a recommendation to, quote,
"neutralize Sandinistas."
Georgia Democrat Sam Nunn says that in the context,
that reference to "neutralization" is inappropriate and
offensive.
SENATOR SAM NUNN: I think there are certain intepre-
tations that could lead one to believe that there was language
to that that would contravene by implications the President's
order against anyone directly and indirectly in our government
participating in or encouraging assassinations.
TILLOTSON: Wyoming Republican Malcolm Wallop said
neutralization could mean something more benigned than murder.
SENATOR MALCOLM WALLOP: A variety of ways in which to
neutralize the effectiveness of an -- of an official. You can
compromise him slightly less ambitiously than Astorga did
General Varga, but you can clearly do that. You can catch them
in a line. You can, indeed, kidnap them and move them from the
area of operation. you can....
TILLOTSON: Nunn and Wallop say the freelance CIA
employee who is suspected of having written the original
version of the manual has now been suspended.
Senators Nunn and Wallop said they're persuaded, based
on the briefing, that the CIA manual with its reference to
neutralization was not approved at the CIA level, even ap-
proaching that of Director William Casey. But both Senators
say they do still have several questions about the manual,
questions they hope will be answered in the two separate
investigations launched last week by President Reagan. The
Senators said they hope those investigation will be complete
before the November 6th presidential election.
Mary Tillotson, CNN, Capitol Hill.
Approved For Release 2010/01/06: CIA-RDP88-0107OR000301410012-8