WEST EUROPEAN VIEWS ON CENTRAL AMERICA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP87R00529R000200140056-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 23, 2010
• Sequence Number: 56
• Publication Date: January 13, 1984
• Content Type: MEMO

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/23: CIA-RDP87R00529R000200140056-7
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The Director of Central Intelligence
Washington, D.C. 20505
National Intelligence Council NIC No. 00332-84
13 January 1984
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
Deputy Director of Central Intelligence
THROUGH : Chairman, National Intelligence Council
Vice Chairman, National Intelligence Council
FROM : National Intelligence Officer for Western Europe
SUBJECT : West European Views on Central America
1. The Department of State recently asked embassies in Western
Europe to comment on host country views of Central America. We thought
you would be interested in a summary of the replies.
2. Public Information Campaign. Despite the Department's efforts
to increase t Fe flow of information and high level visitors to European
capitals, attitudes generally remain critical of US policies in the
region. The tone and temper of that opposition has softened in the past
six months, however, partly in response to the greater publicity given
to official US concern about human rights violations in El Salvador and
to the anti-democratic leanings of the Sandinista regime. West European
governments have been increasingly willing to acknowledge the
complexities of Central American politics and have been more sympathetic
to US goals if not methods in the region. Moreover, although publics
remain largely indifferent and overwhelmingly uninformed about U.S.
concerns in Central America, there appears to be a greater willingness
by the press and even some critics on the moderate left to listen to and
attempt to understand, US positions. The growing awareness of East bloc
involvement in the region has contributed to the perceptible change in
European views. Some leaders in the Socialist International have been
especially chagrined by the revelations of radical Socialist activity
uncovered in Grenada.
CL BY SIGNER
DECL Jan 1992
DERV OADR
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Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/23: CIA-RDP87R00529R000200140056-7
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/23: CIA-RDP87R00529R000200140056-7
3. El Salvador and Nicaragua. The hardest West European perception
to overcome is the belief that policy is aimed at a military solution
in
to believe
that we will ultimately intervene militarily in El Salvador, and that
the US is interested not "in reforming Nicaragua but in destroying it."
The recent Sandinista "peace offensive" is viewed in some capitals as a
sign of flexibility that they fear the Reagan Administration will
dismiss too readily.
,);v i
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4. Grenada. US actions in Grenada have had a curious effect on
European taming. On the one hand, it appears to have heightened fears
that the US is content on solving problems in the region -- which are
seen as primarily socio-economic ones -- through the use of force. On
the other hand, some European observers
believe that the U.S. operation in Grenada and the possibility of
its repetition in Nicaragua, is in some measure responsible for the
Sandinistas' new interest in negotiations and alleged commitment to
democratic elections. officials now acknowledge that
the US has vital interests in the region, an appreciation that was
largely missing prior to Grenada.
"Latin America experts here are not well
informed, and though they do not always agree with
us, a careful presentation of facts can influence
their thinking. They readily acknowledge that the
US government has better intelligence in the area
than they. In order to maintain a credible
dialogue and counter their views with relevant
facts we need timely and in-depth analyses.
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Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/23: CIA-RDP87R00529R000200140056-7
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/23: CIA-RDP87R00529R000200140056-7
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Milton Kovner
Distribution:
1 - DCI
1 - DDCI
1 - Ex.Di.r.
1 -ER
1 - C/NIC
1 - VC/NIC/HM
1 - VC/NIC/CW
1 - NIO/LA
1 - A/NIO/WE
1 NI0/WE chrono
1 - NIO/WE sub
1 - DDI Ron_
NIO/WE/MKOVNERI
(13JAN84)
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Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 20f0/03/23: CIA-RDP87R00529R000200140056-7
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/23: CIA-RDP87R00529R000200140056-7
The Director of Central Intelligence
Washington, D.C. 20505
National Intelligence Council NIC No. 00332-84
13 January 1984
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
Deputy Director of Central Intelligence
THROUGH : Chairman, National Intelligence Council,:,-6
Vice Chairman, National Intelligence Council
FROM : National Intelligence Officer for Western Europe
SUBJECT : West European Views on Central America
1. The Department of State recently asked embassies in Western
Europe to comment on host country views of Central America. We thought
you would be interested in a summary of the replies.
2. Public Information Campaign. Despite the Department's efforts
to increase t e ow of information and high level visitors to European
capitals, attitudes generally remain critical of US policies in the
region. The tone and temper of that opposition has softened in the past
six months, however, partly in response to the greater publicity given
to official US concern about human rights violations in El Salvador and
to the anti-democratic leanings of the Sandinista regime. West European
governments have been increasingly willing to acknowledge the
complexities of Central American politics and have been more sympathetic
to US goals if not methods in the region. Moreover, although publics
remain largely indifferent and overwhelmingly uninformed about U.S.
concerns in Central America, there appears to be a greater willingness
by the press and even some critics on the moderate left to listen to and
attempt to understand, US positions. The growing awareness of East bloc
involvement in the region has contributed to the perceptible change in
European views. Some leaders in the Socialist International have been
especially chagrined by the revelations of radical Socialist activity
uncovered in Grenada.
CL BY SIGNER
DECL Jan 1992
DERV OADR
SECRET
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/23: CIA-RDP87R00529R000200140056-7
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/23: CIA-RDP87R00529R000200140056-7
3. El Salvador and Nicaragua. The hardest West European perception
to overcome is the belief that US policy is aimed at a military solution
in both countries. Some West European officials
(continue to believe
that we will ultimately intervene militarily in El Salvador, and that
the US is interested not "in reforming Nicaragua but in destroying it."
The recent Sandinista "peace offensive" is viewed in some capitals as a
sign of flexibility that they fear the Reagan Administration will
dismiss too readily.
4. Grenada. US actions in Grenada have had a curious effect on
European thin ling. On the one hand, it appears to have heightened fears
that the US is content on solving problems in the region -- which are
seen as primarily socio-economic ones -- through the use of force. On
the other hand, some European observers
believe that the U.S. operation in Grenada and the possibility of
its repetition in Nicaragua, is in some measure responsible for the
Sandinistas' new interest in negotiations and alleged commitment to
democratic elections. officials now acknowledge that
the US has vital interests in the region, an appreciation that was
largely missing prior to Grenada.
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
SECRET
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/23: CIA-RDP87R00529R000200140056-7
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/23: CIA-RDP87R00529R000200140056-7
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Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/23: CIA-RDP87R00529R000200140056-7
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/23: CIA-RDP87R00529R000200140056-7
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/03/23: CIA-RDP87R00529R000200140056-7