COVERT ANGOLAN AID ENCOURAGED

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00965R000604900063-7
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 4, 2012
• Sequence Number: 63
• Publication Date: November 23, 1985
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/05/04: CIA-RDP90-00965R000604900063-7
WASHINGTON POST
23 November 1985
Covert Angolan Aid Encouraged
Reagan Sees `More Chance of Success' Than in Open Assistance
B_y David B. Ottawas ~j
as ungtrni Post Stiff n er
President Reagan yesterday of-
fered an apparent endorsement of
covert U.S. aid to noncommunist
rebels fighting the Marxist govern-
ment in Angola.
"We all believe that a covert op-
eration would be more useful to us
and have more chance of success
right now than the overt proposal
that has been made in the Con-
gress," Reagan said.
The president's remark came in
response to a question at a meeting
with network anchors and colum-
nists in the White House family the-
ater. Reagan also indicated that
Secretary of State George P. Shultz
was no longer opposed to aid for the
National Union for the Total Inde-
pendence of Angola .(UNITA), led
by Jonas Savimbi.
While the issue was known to be
under debate in the administration,
this was the first time Reagan has
suggested where he stands on
whether to aid the rebels and howe
It was not clear from his remarks
whether the administration has
made a final decision on the issue,
which had been under debate for a
number of weeks.
The CIA and Pentagon had
pushed for a large covert military
operation, while various congress-
man introduced bills last month that
would authorize $27 million in ei-
ther overt humanitarian or overt
military aid.
The State Department at first
opposed any aid.
But Shultz was recently reported
to have changed his position and
now favors a covert ratter than an
overt program.
Such an approach, he argued,
would allow the United States to
follow a two-track policy of continu-
ing to seek a negotiated settlement
of the Namibia dispute, and the
withdrawal of Cuban troops from
Angola.
Despite the CIA and Pentagon
push for a covert military pro-
gram-one figure mentioned was
$200 million to $300 million-con-
gressional.sources had said a far
smaller one of around $30 million
was more likely at the start.
Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/05/04: CIA-RDP90-00965R000604900063-7