HALFWAY IN CENTRAL AMERICA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000505400072-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 9, 2010
• Sequence Number: 72
• Publication Date: April 27, 1983
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/09 :CIA-RDP90-005528000505400072-0
THE BALTI*10RE SUN
..
u t~ i'~,G E .~
~Ialfway in Central America
President Reagan ought to fate a cue from
Representative Clarence D. Long when he ad-
dresses Congress tonight on the troubles and turbu-
lence in Central America. The Maryland Demo-
crat's appropriations subcommittee repro-
grammed i30 million in military aid for II Salva-
dor yesterday in ezchatige for promises by Sez:re-
tart' of State George P. Shaltz to push for I-eacefal
solutio~as and human rights. 'Mr. Longs conditions
iaclnded the appointment.of .a high-level envoy, in-
dependent legal review of FBI raw files in the
deaths of U.S. citizens, the opening of Salvadoran
prisons and detention centers to unannounced vis-
its by Red Cross teams and the release of political
prisoners by the Salvadoran government.
The Long package represents a legislative ef-
fort to meet the administration halfway. Literally.
The hawts on his ~ subcommittee wanted the full
i6d million requested by the administration. The
doves Wanted zero. Mr. Long captured the middle
ground .on a 7-5 vote after a quiet two~ay visit to
San Salvador and felts with President Alvarn
Magaaa and Defense Ilfinister Carlos Eugenio
Vides Casanova.
Now it is time for President Reagan to meet the
Congress halfway. Instead of drum-beating the
Communist menace to Latin America in a way
that arouses fears of another Vietnam, he should
place heavy emphasis on what the United States
can do to stop the fighting that has taken so many
thousands of lives. That means elections in II Sal-
vador later this year in ~vhic~ all parties (leftists
included) will have international protection. It
means a concerted effort by the Magana govero-
meat to end indiscriminate fillings and torture by
security forces and illegal mass }ailiags of politi-
cal prisoners. And, in getting down to the witty.
gritty, it mesas effective military action to pre-
- vent' ins~u'geats from .undermining theeoo~my -
~andintimidating~villagers. --' ,"""..~ ., '',
., ,, .;
The latter point is a aeasitiveone,-especially for"
the administration's embattled policies in Niters-. ,
gun. For if Mr. Reagan is to plead for safficieat
military aid to maintain the Magana government,
he cannot ast for a blant chest to undermine the
Sandinista government through covert CTA action.
The United States cannot be selective if it wishes
to be credible in promoting orderly democratic
processes in Latin America.
If the Sandinistas insist on being regiional trou-
ble-maters, as Libya's secret shipment of military
supplies suggests, then they should be called down
by their neighbors. Mr. Reagan's endorsement of a
regional negotiation that might draw Nicaragua to
the bargaining table would be a positive step.
Above all, the president should mate it clear he
is iatereated is peaceful, not military, solutions to
the wrenching problems of Central America. For
too long, the ,region has been neglected sad .ez=::
ploited by the United States. Now that Central`
America is a subject of almost obsessive interest,
humanity and strategic necessity ought to put the
U.S. emphasis on economic growth wad political
reconciliation.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/08/09 :CIA-RDP90-005528000505400072-0