TOP REAGAN AIDE DEFENDS THE USE OF COVERT ACTION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000403960018-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 22, 2010
• Sequence Number: 18
• Publication Date: May 14, 1984
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

STAT Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/22 : CIA-RDP90-00552R000403960018-2
ARTICLE APPEARED NEW YORK TIMES
ON PAGE 4_ Z 14 May 1984
TOP REAGAN AIDE
DEFENDS THE USE
OF COVERT ACTION
AN `INTERMEDIATE OPTION'
Adviser Calls C.I.A.'s Secret
Central America Activities
an Alternative to War
By BERNARD GWERTZMAN
Spedal toTLe New Yort Tim=
WASHINGTON, May 13 - President
Reagan's national security adviser
said today that covert action in such re-
gions as Central America was increas-
ingly necessary to give the United
States an alternative between going to
war and doing nothing when a friendly
nation is under attack.
His comments constituted one of the
strongest Administration justifications
for the activities being carried out in
Central America under the supervision
of the Central Intelligence Agency.
The security adviser, Robert C.
McFarlane, said Americans have to
wrestle with the question of "should we
or should we not have some intermedi-
ate option of policy, covert action?"
"The real issue which is being chal-
lenged by people on the Hill and pub-
licly is should you do these kinds of
'things at all, and I think we ought to
come to terms with that," he said,
referring to the sharp Congressional
opposition to covert activities.
No Plans to Send G.I.'s
In an appearance on the NBC News
program "Meet the Press," he said his
personal view was that the United
States should use such covert activi-
ties.
While repeating that the Administra-
tion had no plans to send United States
combat troops to Central America, Mr.
McFarlane did not rule out the possibil-
ity that this could happen if Congress
fails to give the aid the Administration
says is necessary to let the Salvadoran
Government survive a predicted in-
crease in rebel activity in the fall.
United States aid in Central America That bin is an on, Dot an
falls under three broad headings..The appropriation measure. The vote was a
first is direct, public support in mili- way of sending a signal to the joint
tary and economic aid of friendly na- House-Senate appropriation confer.
Lions such as El Salvador and Hon- es~committee that is to meet this
duras. The second is covert backing for
anti-Sandinista rebels based in Hon- The bill, approved Thursday was dis-tinct
from the
pending and
im-
more duras and Costa Rica who have been It requests for t the Admin
is-
fighting the Nicaraguan Government. tration calls emerger y aid for El Sal.
The third is the presence of United
States forces in the area to demon-
strate the ability to respond directly.
Seeking Public Support
Senior Administration officials have
said that Mr. McFarlane has been a
leading advocate among Mr. Reagan's
advisers for concentrating on gaining
public support for both the public and
covert aid programs.
Mr. McFarlane has told associates
that the public has to be educated to the
fact that there is a "gray area" be-
tween "total war" and "total peace,"
and that the United States cannot af-
ford to give up covert activity.
Mr. McFarlane, in fact, had let it be
known privately that he pressed M.
R_gan to deliver a s Wednesday
on Central America, in part to secure
&onsJP
more Winds for the C. L&
Nicaragua. which have been Itrongly
denounced 'ri .
The criticism increased when it was
disclosed that the C.l:,A. had been in-
vQved in the i car
harbors. Administration officials have
said that the mining stopped ALthtXW
of March and that it would not be re-
sumed.
Programs of covert action in Nicara-
gua are in danger of ending, Adminis-
tration officials have said, because of
lack of money. Congress has not passed
a request for $21 million for the anti-
Sandinista guerrillas and there is a
strong possibility it will not do so.
Mr. Reagan, while condemning Nica-
ragua, Cuba and the Soviet Union for
their activities in Central America, did l Mr. McFarlane said that "we believe
not directly mention covert activity in h,r egti.,,).et the 4-1-"A-
his speech. He concentrated on the,
need for congress to approve the mili-
tary aid sought for the Salvadoran Gov- Continued
ernment.
The next day the House, in a sym-
bolic vote of support for Mr. Reagan,
narrowly approved a bill that would
allow House committees to appropriate
up to $129.4 million for the fiscal year
that ends Sept. 30, and $132.5 million for
the 1985 fiscal year. It did so without at-
taching the conditions that had been op-
posed by the Administration, but also
without approving any aid for the anti-..
Sandinista rebels.
vador and for the Nicaraguan rebels.
Those funds depend on the House-Sen-
ate appropriations conference, which
will discuss requests for $62 million in
military aid for El Salvador and $21
million for the Nicaraguan rebels.
Both were passed by the Senate in
early April, but have not been voted on
by the House. Because the House last
week approved the other El Salvador
aid request, it is expected that the con-
ferees will approve substantial emer- {
gency aid for El Salvador.
Nicaraguan Request
There is less of an emergency char-
acter now to the $62 million Salvadoran
request because the Administration
has used a special feature of law to allo-
cate $32 million in military aid to El
Salvador. The major question is
whether the President's speech urging
a fight against Communism in Central
America has convinced to approve the
$21 million for Nicaragua.
Mr. McFarlane rarely speaks on the
record to reporters, preferring to keep
his remarks anonymous. But ti, has ap-
peared on television interview shows to
boost particular Administration poli-
cies, as be did today.
He said today that American n etli-
ence had picked information
w
.1 the had decided to
e "
e violence being carried out by
Ha e-" beT this would result
in a "Tet-like" rebel offensive this fall'
in El Salvador, referring to the heavy
attacks by the Communists in South
Vietnam during the 1968 Tet holiday
period.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/22 : CIA-RDP90-00552R000403960018-2