CENTRAL AMERICAN PUBLIC DIPLOMACY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90B01390R000200310007-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 6, 2011
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: August 13, 1986
• Content Type: MEMO

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/06: CIA-RDP90BO139OR000200310007-7
August 13, 19 7 ( l'
63tV
MEMORANDUM FOR THE HONORABL .CASEY
The Director of Central Intelligence
SUBJECT: Central American Public Diplomacy (U)
I have looked into the question of our overall public diplomacy
effort concerning Central America. A great deal of hard and
effective work is being done. It is clear we would not have won
the House vote without the painstaking deliberative effort
undertaken by many people in the government and outside. (S)
The departure of Otto Reich has not resulted in any reduction of
effort. His public diplomacy coordination office (LPD) has
continued. Although the independent office was folded into
Elliott Abrams' bureau, the White House has sent a clear tasker
to the community that this limited reorganization in no way
reflected a dimunition of activities. On the contrary, the same
interagency responsibilities are being exercised, and the group
reports directly to the NSC. It continues to be one of the few
offices in the government that is staffed by a truly interagency
team, including representatives from State, USIA, AID, and
Defense. The office chief is Bob Kagan, who is a young, bright
and effective operator. In reality, the reorganization also
means that Elliott Abrams plays a strong public diplomacy role,
and in this way we have harnessed one of the best public diplo-
macy assets that we have in the government. (S)
There is a weekly Central American public diplomacy meeting which
takes place in the Old EOB, chaired by Walt Raymond, and which
includes not only the four organizations noted above but also the
White House Press Office and Public Liaison Office, a representa-
tive from CIA's Central American Task Force, and key NSC Staffers.
This group takes its policy guidance from the Central American
RIG and pursues an energetic political and informational agenda.
The group seeks to focus both on domestic public issues as well
as the informational battle in Europe and Latin America. It
generates requirements for major publication efforts. I will
have the NSC Staff send you a package of some of the more recent
publications. The group also works closely with the concerned
legislative offices to be supportive in terms of the Congres-
S
DECLAS ON: OAD
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/06: CIA-RDP90BO139OR000200310007-7
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/06: CIA-RDP90BO139OR000200310007-7
SECRET 2
sional debate and in a practical way it deals with a number of
on-going daily issues. As an example, issues the group dealt
with last week included:
-- Steps to undertake EC support to Nicaragua;
-- Trips of U.S. and/or foreign persons to Nicaragua for the
purpose of providing moral support to the internal opposition and
greater foreign awareness of developments in Nicaragua;
-- Development of programs to publicize religious repression
in Nicaragua;
-- Support to the internal Nicaraguan opposition, including
the Coordinadora and La Prensa;
Steps to strengthen the El Salvador public diplomacy
effort. (S)
There is a comprehensive public diplomacy action plan for Latin
America in Europe, and I am attaching a copy for-you. This plan
is monitored very actively by the LPD office, and periodic
reports of activity are provided to the NSC. (S)
SECRET
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/06: CIA-RDP90BO139OR000200310007-7
 L i f , , e
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/06: CIA-RDP90BO139OR000200310007-7
SECRET
Tab A Public Diplomacy Planning
CC:
SECRET
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/06/06: CIA-RDP90BO139OR000200310007-7