ANDERSON: PLOT IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00965R000100150111-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 5, 2012
• Sequence Number: 111
• Publication Date: April 2, 1982
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

STAT
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/09/05: CIA-RDP90-00965R000100150111-5
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Good Morning America
WJLA TV
ABC Network
DATE Apr i l 2, 1982 7:00 AM CI1Y Washington DC
Anderson: Plot in the Dominican Republic
JACK ANDERSON: Ten years ago I borke the story that the
United States had secretly intervened in the internal politics
of Chile. The White House, I reported, had tried to block Chile's
President Allende from coming to power.
Well, the story became a major scandal. Now the Reagan
Administration may be getting involved in a similar plot in the
Dominican Republic. Already American arms are being rushed
there.
Ostensibly, these are intended to make sure that the May
16th election goes smoothly. But lve learned that the real
purpose may be to prevent the Dominicans from holding a free
election.
Let me explain. The Dominican army's chief of staff,
General Manuel Lashapel, is determined that the favorite
candidate never become President. The likely winner is Jorge
Blanco. General Lashapel claims Blanco is a communist. So the
General has prevailed upon the Pentagon to expedite the weapons
that the Dominican army has ordered from the United States.
Lashapel's people freely admit that the General will
use his American arms to seize power if he thinks Blanco has a
chance of winning the election next month.
The arms shipments include 1200 M-16 automatic rifles.
That's more than enough fire power to make a crucial difference
In a country that's only half the size of Indiana.
My sources say the Pentagon brass have bought General
Lashapel's story of a threatened communist takeover. But un-
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/09/05: CIA-RDP90-00965R000100150111-5
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/09/05: CIA-RDP90-00965R000100150111-5
fortunately all the General cites to back his story is some
inflammatory wall graffiti. Ply sources in the Pentagon -- in
the State Department tell me that Blanco isn't communist at all,
he's a Social Democrat whose slightly left of center. One expert
described him as the Willy Brandt of the Caribbean.
Anyway, the United States is supposed to promote free
elections, not prevent them.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/09/05: CIA-RDP90-00965R000100150111-5