MORE AID TO NICARAGUAN REBELS BACKED

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88B00443R001404090115-0
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 23, 2008
• Sequence Number: 115
• Publication Date: September 21, 1983
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Approved For Release 2008/05/27: CIA-RDP88B00443R001404090115-0
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1z'are A id .'-- to Nicaraguan Rebels Bcded
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WASHLNGTON, Sept. 2D -The Rea.
gar Ad--r rstration told the Senate In-
telligence Committee today than It
pla-zed to continue covert military aid
to the Nicaraguan Insurgents until the
Sandinista Government stopped giving
mil:tsy support to the rebels in El Sal-
vador, according to participants in the
meeting.
William J. Casey, Directorof Central
Intelligence, and Secretary of State
George P. Shultz met for several hours
behind closed doors with the commit-
tee, which Is headed by Senator Barry
Goldwater, Republican of. Arizona.
Senator Goldwater had requested a re-
port on plans far the fiiscal year that be,
gins on Oct L?
The Administration is obliged to re-
port to the Intelligence committees of
both houses on the goals and objectives
of any covert activity. The tommIttee
had declared in May that It would cut
off the aid in the absence of a new re.
port by S ept. 3D. ? _
Most of the CoIttee members
were reportedly satss.. e
_ft nature o e i araguan D-o-
t r , Some had been concerned be-
cause Mr: Casey had reportedly sug-
gested before the Coagressio al recess
last month that the Administration
might deride to back the Nicaraguan
ca .tras, as the insurgents are
Imown, with the aim of overthrowing
the Managua Government, which is
supported by Cuba and other Comrau-
uist states.
'Very Imp.-e5 edpithShultz'
"The members were very impressed
with Shultz," one participant said;
"They thought the plan was much
more sensible than in the. past. It
looked as if it had some coherence and
practicality." -
President Reagan had said publicly
that the United States had no intention
of overthrowing the Sandinista Govern-
merit. Adrsinistrztion officials had said
that the $19 million which had been ap.
propriated in the current fiscal year for
covert aid was only meant to prevent
arms from Nicaragua from going to
the insurgents in El Salvador._
An Administration official said that
the program outlined by Mr. Casey and
Mr. Shultz went beyond the scope of the
current program. He said It was not
limited to interdicting, arms but was
mg,: a broadly stated in eene Support
of the Nicaraguan rebels. We were al-
ways being question , ' an official
said, "on whether we were going be..
3r and our program of interdicting arms.
Pion we say, 'Yes we are
Supporting
the reb?Ls until tfie 3rcara `-~
their su version in ne Zqg cn
tnes.
Hcm iaLus and Costa Rica Included
One partfapant said that the covert
aid was to be used, not only until the
Sandinistas stopped supporting insur_
gents in El Salvador, but in Honduras
and Costa Rica as well.
The Administration official stressed
that this approach should end thP, arm
went over whether the Admin+ctration?
}
w
-
i
l
as v
nv
o
la,
a
oin more
t 9n 7rrsL tt n'nv }d 9TT^ The
official also said that there was no
tho t of tliex-traElon backing
the ents to overt row
the Government
The House earlier this year passed a
bill cutting off all covert aid to the
Nicaraguan insurgents for the nn fis..
cal year, but It stood little chance of
passage by the Senate. In the absence
of action by both houses to cut off the
aid, it continued. Today's committee
meeting seemed to clear the way for i
Senate approval for the 1984 fiscal
year, which begins Oct. 1. The House
will have to decide whiffet-ft wants to
v~ again to cut off covert aid In the
year.
The Senate Intelligence committee
has generally been supportive of the
Administration's actions in Central
America. The chief critic of the Adtain_
istration on the committee Is Senator
Joseph R. Bider, Democrat of Delu-
ware.
According to Participants In the ses-
IS i
sian, theAdm n[stratjp1 Wi
sated a formal finding by Pz !
Reagan that It would be In the vatic
security inters: to c atinue aL
Ft-a-
rtaL-p^rOg,-am dUvctcd against the
"It was a very positi, Approved For Release 2008/05/27: CIA-RDP88B00443R001404090115-0
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