COVERT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000100110003-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 21, 2010
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: July 14, 1983
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/21 : CIA-RDP90-00552R000100110003-7
REUTERS
14 July 1983
SHIAGToN
COVERT
B': JIM ADAMS
Congressional leaders disagreed today on whether President Reagan is
expanding his covert operation against Nicaragua, and one Democrat accused
re=gan of "pursuing a policy of undeclared war with Nicaragua,"
Deputy House Democratic Whip Bill Alexander told reporters that Nicaraguan
insurgent leaders were flying to CIA headquarters in Washington to pick up
paychecks for a force that has swelled to 10,000 fighters.
"Continued pursuit of that policy will lead to bloodshed," Alexander, an
Arkansas Democrat, said. "The administration is pursuing a policy of undeclared
war against Nicaragua. It is a policy of simple-minded deception."
But House Republican Leader Robert Michel of Illinois told reporters after a
meeting with Reagan that the president was not expanding covert aid for
anti-Sandinist rebels in Nicaragua.
Michel said a report in today's Washington Post that the CIA was planning
to support a force of 12,000 to 15,000 rebels "does not square with the facts."
"Those are not the correct figures," Michel said. "When you talk in terms of
about half of that, that's more in the ballpark."
Reagan has acknowledged that the United States is supporting what he calls
"freedom fighters" opposing the leftist Sandinist government and there were
press reports in May that they totaled 7,000.
The State Department said last week the total number of insurgents had risen
to 8,000 to 10,000.
However, the administration has said U.S. aid is going only to part of that
group -- rebels operating out of Honduras.
Ttie other insurgents include Miskito Indians and 2 rebel group in southern
Nicaragua led oy former Sandinist official Eden, Pastora.
Reagan has denied that the United States is supporting the overthrow of the
Sandinist government, saying the U.S. aid goes only to operations to interdict
arms supplies through Nicaragua to rebels in El Salvador and neighboring
countries.
But the Washington Post said the new CIA plan would expand the purpose to
include pressure on the Sandinist government to restore democratic institutions.
Two members of the House Intelligence Committee, which is told in classified
briefings how many rebels the United States is supporting, refused to comment on
the Post report but said the size of the force was expanding.
The House is to hold a secret session on the operation next week and vote the
following week on a bill that would cut off funds for the operation.
CONTINUED
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/21 : CIA-RDP90-00552R000100110003-7