DISCONTINUING SUPPORT TO THOSE FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY IN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88B00443R001500060025-2
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 25, 2008
• Sequence Number: 25
• Publication Date: April 12, 1984
• Content Type: REPORT

ccrDGT
Approved For Release 2008/11/25: CIA-RDP88B00443RO01500060025-2
? ? DCI
12 April 1984
Discontinuing support to those fighting for freedom and democracy in
Central America while the Soviet Union, Cuba and Nicaragua continue to
support forces seeking to overthrow and disrupt elected governments in
El Salvador, Costa Rica and Honduras would inflict a lasting wound on our
credibility and our ability to conduct an effective foreign policy in
today's world.
The elected leaders in countried adjoining Nicaragua have expressed a
conviction that everything could be lost in Central America if support were
cut off. Events in Lebanon have been misconstrued as a sign of US weakness
and unreliability. Cutting off support which has been provided in
Central America will confirm the impression of weakness, unreliability
and an unwillingness to stay with friends when the going gets rough. They
see the communists trying to drive hom harder than ever the message that
we are an unreliable partner. Terminating the help that we have committed
would play into their hands. Our friends in Central America believe that
the only way to maintain tranquility in their countries is to keep the
Nicaraguan government occupied internally because if they defeat their
domestic opponents they will quickly concentrate their attention to undermining
neighboring democracies.
The Soviet Union, its satellites and associated countries like Cuba,
Libya and Vietnam, are supporting activities seeking to overthrow and disrupt
governments in Chad, Sudan, Somalia, Morocco, Nigere, Upper Volta, the
Central African Republic and Thailand, as well as El Salvador, Honduras,
Costa Rica and Guatemala. In addition, they are helping communist governments
crush opposition in Afghanistan, Kampuchea, Angola, Ethiopia and elsewhere.
SECRET
Approved For Release 2008/11/25: CIA-RDP88B00443RO01500060025-2
 Approved For Release 2008/11/25: CIA-RDP88B00443RO01500060025-2
For the United States to incapacitate herself assisting elements
fighting for their freedom would be to withdraw from the international
arena and leave.the future to the forces of violence and oppression.
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- SECRET
Approved For Release 2008/11/25: CIA-RDP88B00443RO01500060025-2