U.S. MULLS ANTI-COMMUNIST 'FREEDOM FIGHTERS BUREAU'

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91-00587R000201160041-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 12, 2010
• Sequence Number: 41
• Publication Date: July 27, 1985
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/07/13: CIA-RDP91-00587R000201160041-9
STAT
DETROIT FREE PRESS (MI
27 July 1985
' t
U.S. mulls anti-cometunis
By ALFONSO CHARDY
Free Press Washington Staff
WASHINGTON - Reagan administration of-
ficials are debating the possibility of opening a
"freedom fighters bureau" to co-ordinate U.S.
support for anti-communist insurgents around
the world - including the Nicaraguan rebels
known as contras, administration sources say.
If President Reagan approves the plan, the
United States conceivably could finance or en
dorse the activities of about 3211P;00) guerilla: in
eight Marxist-ruled countries - Afghanistan,
Angola, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Laos, Mozambique,
Nicaragua and Vietnam.
If the United States finances all of them, the
cost could ran as high as $1 billion a year,
according to congressional computer projections
based on current costs for Afghan and Cambodian
rebels.
ADMINISTRATION SOURCES said the proj-
ect was encouraged by a June 2 summit of pro-
U.S. rebels in Jamba, Angola, as well as by
congressional votes in June and July renewing
aid to the contras fighting the Sandinista Nica-
raguan government. Congressional action also
lifted a ban on aid to Angolan rebels, and
approved additional money for the Cambodian
rebels.
Nevertheless, the sources said, creation of a
co-ordinating agency is a long way away. First,
Congress must complete action on restoring aid
to the contras, a process that began last week in
a House-Senate conference committee.
And second, there is a lack of consensus
within the administration about the need for
such an agency, the sources said. There also are
disagreements over whether to back all anti-
communist rebels and whether to put the co-
ordinating office in the Central Intelligence
Agency, the Pentagon, the State Department or
the National Security Council.
Sources said that administration moderates
argue that supporting rightist rebels every-
where would equate the United States with the
Soviet Union, increase tensions with Moscow,
drain the U.S. Treasury and dilute support for
the Nicaraguans.
BUT THOSE SUPPORTING the idea argue
that the United States should put its money
freedom fighters bureau'
where its mouth is. They note that although
Reagan espouses the rebel causes, the adminis-
tration has given little or no money to any
except the Afghan, Cambodian and Nicaraguan
rebels. In Mozambique, they point out, the State
Department even supports the Marxist regime
there.
They also say the United States should
counter Soviet support for insurgencies just as
Moscow does - because they are a part of a
worldwide war between the superpowers.
Spokesmen for the White House, the State
Department and the Pentagon said they are not
aware of plans for a freedom fighters office.
CI okeswoman Patti Volz indicated the spy
enc cnows about it.---
"As whether the administration is lan-
pina to set up a freedom flahters bureau. she
said "it's not up to the CIA to comment. If they,
indeed, intend to do s c a thing it wou uo
to the White House to comment."
STAT
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/07/13: CIA-RDP91-00587R000201160041-9