MOYNIHAN CALLS MANAGUA ARMS ROLE UNPROVEN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000404440084-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 29, 2010
• Sequence Number: 84
• Publication Date: June 14, 1984
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/29: CIA-RDP90-00552R000404440084-5
ARTICLZ APPEARD
ON PAGE
BALTIMORE SUN
14 June 1984
Moynihan calls
Managua arms
.role unproven
From Wtre Servkm
WASHINGTON The Senate
:Intelligence Committee never has
been given "conclusive informa-
? lion" to back up administration's
,charge that Nicaragua is sending
arms to El Salvador, committee
vice chairman Daniel Patrick
Moynihan (D, N.Y.) said yesterday.
Mr. Moynihan also disclosed
that the committee had, reached
written, formal agreement with the
Central Intelligence Agency about
when and bow the CIA is to notify
Congress about covert- operations.
He said the agency has asked that
the agreement be kept secret, but
he spoke about its major points.
The existence of an ongoing
cross-border flow of arms has been
the major justification for the ad-
ministration's highly controversial
three-year-old "secret war"
against the Nicaraguan govern-
ment.
The issue was raised again this
week when a former CIA analyst,
David MacMichael, said such
claims are based on outdated infor-
mation, and that administration of-
ficials are misleading Congress.
Mr. MacMichael, 56, worked on
intelligence estimates on Central
America for the CIA's National In-
telligence Counc under a two-year
contract through March, 1983.
State Department and CIA offi-
cials have rejected Mr. MacMi-
chael's claims but have not re-
leased evidence that arms flows
are continuing.
Secretary of State George P.
Shultz angrily said, "It is inconceiv-
able that an informed, honest per-
son" could deny the arms supply
from Nicaragua to the Salvadoran
guerrillas.
"The evidence is everywhere:'
.I've looked at a lot of it and I think
it is totally and absolutely convinc-
ing that the direction and the sup=
ply of the guerrillas in El Salvador
comes from Nicaragua:"
CIA Director William J.-Casey
said Mr. MacMichael's charges
were "just one man's opinion."
. Mr. Moynihan said his. commit-
tee, which oversees intelligence
operations, "has not been presented
with any conclusive information"
to document the arms flow.
Mr. Moynihan, a consistent sup-
porter of aid to the anti-Sandinista
rebels, predicted that disclosures
challenging the administration's
t
GG I think it is totally
and absolutely
convincing that the
direction and the
:supply of the guerrillas'-
in El Salvador comes .
from Nicaragua."
GEORGE P. SHULTZ
repeated assertions that Nicaragua
is "exporting revolution" will
prompt Congress to halt aid to the
"contra" guerrillas,
Senate and House leaders have.
been trying to work out a compro-
mise on funding that will at least
give $6 million to $8 million more
to the contras to help them wind
down their operations. But House
leaders have said that recent dis-
closures about the lack of proof
about Nicaraguan involvement in
the Salvadoran civil war mean no
new aid will be voted by the Demo-
cratic-controlled chamber.
The Senate and House intelli-
gence committees monitor the ac-
tivities of the country's intelligence
agencies. Moynihan almost re-
signed his vice chairmanship over
a flap with the CIA last April, when
he accused agency officials of with-
holding information about their
role in the mining of Nicaragua's
harbors.
That incident led to a new over-
sight agreement that be said :was
signed last Thursday by Mr. Casey,
committee Chairman Barry Gold-
water (R, Ariz.) and Mr. Moynihan.
The new secrecy agreement re-
quires that Congress be informed of
"significant anticipated activity"
in spy operations, Mr. Moynihan
Said.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/29: CIA-RDP90-00552R000404440084-5