MORE U.S. TROUBLE IN EL SALVADOR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00965R000100170134-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 28, 2011
• Sequence Number: 134
• Publication Date: February 19, 1980
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

S7 Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/12/28 :CIA-R
RPTI~LE ~'Pk:3t~t~D THE WASHINGTON POST
oy Pl~GS~1~.-- 19 February 1980
dACf(A'~iDER30N
More U.S. Trouble in F1 Salvador
The United States is on the verge of
repeating its disastrous Iranian and Ni-
caraguan policies in FJ Salvador, with
results that could be equally cata-
strophic for U.S. interests in Central
America.
The fate en the Penta on
and curb the inordinate power of the rights organization.
army and the 14family oligarchy that Instead, our policy advisers are urging
has expJolted D Salvador for genera- ~ Congress to rush $49.3 million in aid to
lions. But this the junta cannot d0. -the junta without exacting any condl-
analysts say. lions that would make .the aid worth~
Despite repeated pledges, as recently while..
as last week, to enact reform measures, The predictable result is that violence
the junta fs by its very makeup incapa- will continue in the unhappy natirn. In-
ble of carrying through on its pledges, telligence officials estimate that ki~inap?
U.S. experts say. The coalition. with two _ ing is already a $24million-a-year in-
members from the military, fa "really dustry in El Salvador. Leftist elements.
unnatural." one source said, like a coati- -cut out of participation In the junta's re?
lion. between the Yippies and dohs gime, are believed to be preparing for
..Birch Society fn this country. insurrection--with Cuban help. ~ ~. , .
The basic economic and political By using our aid package as leverage
"power in D Salvador in this century has ,_: for reform, there is an admittedly slim
~~, undou~dly fall ~ rented with 14 e~ctremely ;wealthy farm- chance that a peaceful solution may be
_ by the end of the gear at the latest. '- Hes, who have kept their wealth and achieved in El: Salvador. By pouring
~PP~g up the secs, w are norm- L4 sition by an unholy alliance with the money down the junta rathole with no-
nally in charge of Fd Salvador; wlll put ; 5 miiitary. _~And-:, thfs ~ power bane has concessions, there's no chance at all. -~ - ~
Armed revolt almost surely will brreak . It might seem, with the lessons of Iran
out, with leftist rebels encouraged by ,._ and Nicsiragua at hand, that U.S policy-
Cuba and, the Soviets, .who could con- :" makers would use the proposed millions .
ceivably gain another toehold near Mex- - ~: in economk and? milftarY aid as a lever
icaa oil fields. The United States will?be t.wlth which to pry some real reforms outt.
seen once more as the bulwark of an?un-:~Y: of the rulers of l~ Salvador. ...
'
popular regime." ~ .. _ ` ~` It would. for example, be in line with
The basic trouble, sources told my as- . President Carter's -vocal support of
sociates Bob Sherman and Peter Grant, .human rights to demand that, in return
is the lack of popular support for the mil- for U.S. aid, .the junta live up to its
nary-moderate junta. Ib failure to con- promise of a general amnesty for polio-.
trot events has been demonstrated by cal prisoners.
continuing bloodshed-kidnapings, The United States might h~sist that'
.street violence and random. acts of -ter- __ j. the junta broaden its base to include ci-
according to the experts, would be to ef-
'
fecC laad'reform,?disband the hated
secret police, guarantee political liberty
and t,`~e ave urn naress to_
rus c,con mic and milita aid to the
coalitiun Punta that rules the chu-
~aiiwci7wl TfltlOn-.~.-.e
to ce a cou to led Presi-
dent [`artos Humberto Romero 13.
Xet these saute agencies' to gents
e its privatel ackno-wI~ a ~af~66
ive-mem .r ante as vu~ ua r no pov-
;would~~ give it a alight chance for sur-
Waahington ;Office on Latin America
(WOLAI, a Washington-based -human
Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/12/28 :CIA-RDP90-009658000100170134-8