JESSE FEARS 2D VIETNAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000303030009-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 21, 2010
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: June 24, 1984
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/07/21 : CIA-RDP90-00552R000303030009-5
ON PAGE_
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
24 June 1984
Vi
By FRANK VAN RIPER
Or The Newt Washington bureau
Panama City-The Rev. Jes-
se Jackson, beginning a four-
nation mission for "peace and
justice," warned yesterday
that Central America could be-
come "another Vietnam" as
early as this fall and called for
establishment of a Western
Hemisphere- "war-free zone
from Canada to Cuba."
He also renewed his char e
that t e i eecte atemem t
to topple the Marxist overn-
en ? ??aeja by n n n
its harbors violated i ternati ?
na aw. But ou?~_stto~ed by
reorters, Jackson did not
voice similar criticism
1cara uan and~ban
attempts to overthrow the >?ov?
ernment of El Salvador.
'Vi_ have seen signs that
war in Central America is
escalating," Jackson said at an
airport news conference on
arrival here. "This summer
may be our last chance -to
work for peace before a fall
offensive."
If such an offensive were to
happen, Jackson warned, it
would be a "war more de-
vastating- than Vietnam that
would spread like brushfire,"
-tearing apart- the social fabric
of both the United States and
Central America. Jackson
gave no details beyond saying
"It's evident that if the present
'tension continues, the fighting
will continue."
t
"WE MUST MOVE beyond
the last ugly act," he declared,
-"and make this radical deci-
sion to give peace a chance."
The Democratic presi-
dential candidate arrived in
this capital city yesterday mor-
ning following an all-night
flight from Chicago. Besides
Panama, Jackson will visit El
Salvador, Nicaragua and Cuba,
where he is scheduled to con-
fer for three hours on Tuesday
with Cuban President Fidel
Castro. .
A scheduled address here
by, Jackson to representatives
of the four Contadora nations
was shelved, though Jackson
insisted he will speak to most
of their representatives during
his tour.
Jackson's mission-the
third foray into international
diplomacy of his unorthodox
campaign, following visits to
Syria and Mexico-came at
Castro's invitation. The pur-
pose of the six-day trip, Jack.
son said, will be to help break
the "ciclo de dolor"-cycle of
pain-that divides nations.
THOUGH JACKSON is not
expected to make any signifi-
cant diplomatic impact in the
region, he said yesterday he
will attempt to persuade Cas-
tro to release some 21 political
prisoners who have been held
in Cuban jails for as long as 15
to 20 years. Castro has made
similar gestures in the past
and conceivably could give.
Jackson something concrete
to show for a trip some of his
critics have dismissed as
showboating.
On his arrival here at Omar
Torrijos airport, Jackson and
his entourage were serenaded
by grade schoolers, the boys in
ornate white shirts, or camisil-
Las; the girls in colorful native
dresses called polleros. Jack.
son himself was in a dark blue
guayabera suit.
STAT
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/07/21 : CIA-RDP90-00552R000303030009-5