SOVIET WEAPONS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00965R000504260018-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 27, 2012
• Sequence Number: 18
• Publication Date: January 14, 1985
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/28: CIA-RDP90-00965R000504260018-9
CBS EVENING NEWS
14 January 1985
-SOVIET WEAPONS/>RATHER: The Soviet-made weapons captured during the
>CIA>U.S. military invasion of Grenada in October 1983 has
turned out to be a bigger bonanza than first thought.
Pentagon correspondent David Martin explains why.
MARTIN: .Informed sources tell CBS News that most of the
Soviet-made weapons captured by American troops in Grenada
have been secretly turned over to the CIA to arm
U.S.-backed guerrillas in places like Nicaragua and
Afghanistan. These same weapons were once denounced by
President Reagan as the tools of Soviet-backed subversion.
PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN: This warehouse contained weapons
and ammunition stacked almost to the ceiling, enough to
supply thousands of terrorists.
MARTIN: The captured weapons, which were once prominently
displayed, looked like a major windfall for-the CIA,
nearly 10,000 rifles, 5+ million rounds of ammunition
? along with anti-aircraft and machine guns, enough,
according to the Pentagon, to equip two infantry
batallions for 30-45 days of combat. Since the weapons
are Soviet-made, they have the added attraction of not
being traceable to the U.S. Some of the ammunition is
still stored here in bunkers at an Army depot in
Pennsylvania, waiting to be distributed to what the
Pentagon calls 'other government agencies.' Sources say
the CIA wanted to transfer the weapons to the contras at
no cost. But the Senate Intelligence Committee objected,
arguing that the CIA was trying to evade the ban on
,spending for the secret, war against Nicaragua. Until
Congress lifts that ban, the CIA is prohibited from
sending any of the Grenada cash to Central America. But
the weapons here remain available to supply the CIA's
expanding war in Afghanistan. David Martin, CBS News,
'Leonard Kinney Army Depot. <
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/28: CIA-RDP90-00965R000504260018-9