REAGAN GOES TO THE MAT OVER NICARAGUA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000505400073-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 9, 2010
• Sequence Number: 73
• Publication Date: April 25, 1983
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/09 :CIA-RDP90-005528000505400073-9
U. S. NEWS 8: VdOPLD P EPOF T
25 APFTL 19 E,3
Reagan Goes to the
Niat Ouer Nicaragua
President Reagan in mid-April wiped
away some of the secrec}' surrounding
America's aid to antigovernment guer-
rillas in Nicaragua, but controversy
over his policy continued to grow.
For the first time, the President ac-
knowledged that the U.S. is backing
the rebels in Nicaragua. He stressed,
though, that his administration is com-
Plying fully with the law.
The law in question is the Boland
Amendment, Congress's ban against
funds "for the purpose" of overthrow-
ing Nicaragua's government.
Representative Edward Boland (D-
Mass.), the author, said "evidence is
very strong" that the statute is being
broken. Several lawmakers fresh from
Easter recess trips to Central America
stated flatly that violations were taking
place. Boland's House Intelligence
Committee summoned Secretary of
State George Shultz and National Secu-
rih~ Adviser William Clark for a found
of confidential hearings.
In addition to helping train and arm
rebel forces that struck into Nicaragua
in recent weeks, the U.S. is blanketing
parts of Central America with radaz
surveillance from sophisticated Air-
borne Warning and Control System
aircraft. The AWACS, flown periodical-
ly from abase in Oklahoma, track
planes that leave and enter Nicaragua.
Reagan, pressed by reporters about
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/09 :CIA-RDP90-005528000505400073-9
America's role, said the "completely
Mazxist" regime of Nicaragua is trying
to overthrow the government of E] Sal-
vador. The U.S., he said, is "simply try-
ing to interdict the supply lines which
aze supplying the guerrillas in El Salva-
dor." He added: "We are not doing
anything to try and overthrow the Nic-
azaguan government."
A House subcommittee voted April
12 to cut off the covert aid. But many
lawmakers aze reluctant to tie Rea-
gan's hands. Some with qualms about
secret operations don't want to appear
to be helping Nicazagua's government.
Senate GOP leader Howard Baker
summed up the mood of many: "I am
never going to support an effort ... to
subvert the law?. But I also won't stand
idly by and let Cuba and Russia have a
free ride in Central America. It would
be disastrous for this country to just roll
over and pla~~ dead." ^
AWACS In Action
- _ _ Caribbean $ea