DDCI TESTIMONY BEFORE THE SENATE SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE (SSCI) ON INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY ON CENTRAL AMERICA 25 MAY 1983

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91B00135R000701310051-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 14, 2008
• Sequence Number: 51
• Publication Date: May 18, 1983
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 2008/05/14: CIA-RDP91B00135R000701310051-5
Approved For Release 2008/05/14: CIA-RDP91B00135R000701310051-5
25X1
?
? Immr?V GOLDVIA
DAMDEL PATIDCK MOW
It CARR. 1.1TA34 ?
Compet.
4 .C.MAJ.0?.0..LaJOJJ?. 1140.
M.4.,Coi.?? LAM.. VIVO.
DAVID 6amelLmakerCUCK.
WILLIAM V. PIOvvI. JA.. DILL.
WIU-1.04 A. COM" JAMMU
Approved For Release 2008/05/14: CIA-RDP91B00135R000701310051-5
D. is000s.s.rroft. KV.
JOS !PM R. WOWS. JR.. 0111...
OwNin. K. IMOVIK. HAWAII
1411MKV M. JAC-14SOR, WAS*.
PATIOICK J. LAMM,. Yr.
LLOVO DIZMVSILM. T.
NOW A140 H. KAMM. OIMICIO ?
POSEN? C. rpm*. W. VA. rot emu?
?
litODORV N. Di asasor.s. swam, novesterme
GARY 8ICIP4arr, 1141101100111 SRAM CelleCrele
May 11,-1983
9.1Cnifeti ?Slates Zenale
SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE
WASHINGTON. D.C. 20510
Mr.' John N. McMahon
Deputy Director of Centra
Intelligence
Central Intelligence Agenc
Washington, D.C. 20505
:Dear. L..,
?
83-1599
roanuft.B440Art
Senator Inouye has proposed that the Select Committee on Intelli-
gence conduct hearings on United States intelligence collection
and support activities in Central America. These hearings would
'.include an overall assessment by the intelligence community on
the political and military situation in the region.. We agree -
that it would be valuable for the Select Committee to hear
testimony on these maters.
Our government's intelligence collection and support activities
represent an important involvement in, and commitment to, the
countries of Central America. These activities should be care-
fully considered by members of the Committee. An overall presen-
tation of current intelligence and intelligence analysis would
also enable-our-members to assess conditions in Central America
better, as well as to evaluate the quality of intelligence
products on the region.
We request your participation therefore, at a hearing of the
Committee to be held at 10:00 a.m. on May 25, 1983, in Room S-407
of the Capitol. The plan of the hearing is detailed in the
attachment. You should be prepared, in coordination with the
other witnesses, to address issues in the hearing plan which are
related to the responsibilities of your organization. '
. '
?
Approved For Release 2008/05/14: CIA-RDP91B00135R000701310051-5
Approved For Release 2008/05/14: CIA-RDP91B00135R000701310051-5
Mr. John N. McMahon
Page Two
May 11, 1983
I
We look forward to hearing from you on these important and timely
matters. If you have any questions, please feel free to call us
or have your staff. contact Dan Finn (224-1759) of the Committee
staff.
arry Gol
?Chairman..
Daniel P. Moynihan
Vice Chairman
Attactunent
Approved For Release 2008/05/14: CIA-RDP91B00135R000701310051-5
Approved For Release 2008/05/14: CIA-RDP91B00135R000701310051-5
PLAN FOR A HEARING OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE
ON
UNITED STATES INTELLIGENCE COLLECTION & SUPPORT ACTIVITIES -
IN CENTRAL AMERICA
Information on political and military developments in the
countries of Central America is available in a variety of reports
produced by the intelligence community. Similarly, the extent
of U.S. intelligence collection and support activities in the
region can be determined from detailed analysis of budgetary
submissions and other planning documents furnished to the Select
Committee on Intelligence. The Committee has not recently, how-.
ever, received from the intelligence community an integrated
assessment of the political/military situation in the 'region
nor a composite description of related U.S. intelligence collection
and support activities.
?A general assessment of military and political developments
in Central America, based on available intelligence, ?is important
to the formulation of U.S. policy toward the region. An overall
description of U.S. intelligence collection and support activities
would help the Committee, and the Senate, to evaluate the appropri-
ateness of thedevel and scope of such activities. It would also
allow members to judge whether these activities tend to implicate
American officials or forces too closely with military develop-
ments in the region, possibly leading the United States into
Approved For Release 2008/05/14: CIA-RDP91B00135R000701310051-5
.171-
I I
Approved For Release 2008/05/14: CIA-RDP91B00135R000701310051-5
-2-
further security commitments there. These needs are distinct from
the submission to the Congress of necessary information on any
covert action plans by the Administration, when these are under-
taken to supplement other intelligence activities and implement
U.S. foreign policy objectives.
? As the situation in Central America continues to evolve,
the Congress should have before it a clear view of the internal
and external security situation of the nations of the region,
and the level add type of U.S. intelligence collection and sup-
port activities focused on regional problems. In order to meet
these requirements, the Committee would like to receive testimony,
on the following subjects from officials of the intelligence
community:
I. Intelligence Assessment of the Political/Military
Situation in Central America .
A. Military Prospects In El Salvador
1. Number of active guerrillas;
2. Extent of the mass base of insurgent organizations;
3. Effectiveness and resiliency of insurgent
political organization;
4. ? Stability of the Salvadoran government and its
effect on the government's ability to resist
the insurgency.
Arms Sources and Supply Arrangements for the Salvadoran
Insurgents
1. Supply routes and methods for insurgent arms;
2. `Sources of insurgent arms, especially U.S.S.R.
and Cuban connection;
3. Magnitude of arms supply and effectiveness
of regional efforts to interdict it.
Approved For Release 2008/05/14: CIA-RDP91B00135R000701310051-5
yr GM
Approved For Release 2008/05/14: CIA-RDP91B00135R000701310051-5 .
-3-
C. Prospects for Military Conflict between Honduras
and Nicaragua
1. Current relative military potential of Honduras
and Nicaragua;
2. Deployments along the Honduran/Nicaraguan border;
3. Political probability of military clash and
factors that would tend to make it more
likely or avoid it.
D. Effect of continued conflict in the region on political
stability and military security in Costa Rica
E. Summary of the political and military situation in
Guatemala, with special reference to the prospects
? for a return to democratic government and improve-
? ment of the human rights situation.
PROPOSED WITNESSES AND ORDER OF APPEARANCE
) Deputy Director of Central Intelligence:
Summary of U.S. intelligence on situation in Central America
and the intelligence community's response to developments in
the region.
STAT
Approved For Release 2008/05/14: CIA-RDP91B00135R000701310051-5
IL
?? ???
??it u
1:04 ?
4
Approved For Release 2008/05/14: CIA-RDP91B00135R000701310051-5
(2) National Intelligence Officer, Latin America:
Integrated intelligence assessment of the political/military
situation in Central America.
LL
STAT
Approved For Release 2008/05/14: CIA-RDP91B00135R000701310051-5
Approved For Release 2008/05/14: CIA-RDP91B00135R000701310051-5
R
Next 6 Page(s) In Document Denied
Approved For Release 2008/05/14: CIA-RDP91B00135R000701310051-5
STAT