LETTER TO SAM NUNN FROM RONALD REAGAN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000404630029-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 16, 2010
• Sequence Number: 29
• Publication Date: March 27, 1986
• Content Type: LETTER

STAT
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Executive Registry
86- 1 1 5/1 X
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
Dear Sam:
March 27, 1986
Thank you for your letter this morning regarding
our need to move in a bipartisan manner on
forging a policy which will lead to a democratic
outcome in Nicaragua. I fully agree with your
objective of ensuring that everything we do
diplomatically, politically, economically, and,
especially, with our aid should contribute to
the goal of a truly democratic solution.
Your observations, regarding the Nicaraguan
opposition and its need to broaden its appeal to
the Nicaraguan people, are entirely accurate.
I agree that we need to do more to ensure that
the Nicaraguan democratic resistance is, indeed,
a representative movement, responsive to civilian
leadership which is, in turn, committed to the
ideals of democracy, human rights, the rule of
law, and a better life for the Nicaraguan
people.
It is because I believe so deeply in a truly
democratic outcome in Nicaragua that I have
endorsed a number of proposals made by thoughtful
members of Congress, regional leaders, and the
leadership of the Nicaraguan opposition itself,
which are designed to further that end. The
legislation that we have discussed with the
Senate leadership and, which I find acceptable,
reflects this advice and includes the following
provisions intended to give effect to the
objectives identified in your letter:
"The President shall use the authority
provided by this Joint Resolution to...
encourage the Nicaraguan democratic
resistance to take additional steps,
strengthen its unity, pursue a defined and
coordinated program for representative
democracy in Nicaragua, and otherwise
increase its appeal to the Nicaraguan
people.'
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Please be assured that I will implement this
mandate from the Congress in a manner which
gives primacy to civilian leadership and
democratic development within the Nicaraguan
opposition. To do so, we will work with the
leadership of the Nicaraguan opposition to
establish a council which, like our own National
Security Council, ensures that military activities
are conducted under the guidance of responsible
civilian leaders. It is our intention that this
body will be responsible for ensuring that U.S.
assistance is fairly and properly administered.
I have also endorsed language in the legislation
which provides not less than $3 million for
"strengthening programs and activities of the
Nicaraguan democratic resistance for the observance
and advancement of human rights.' Training and
democratic principles will be an important part
of our program. Finally, I am committed to
ensuring that no aid be provided to those groups
that retain in their ranks individuals who
engage in human rights violations, drug smuggling,
or misuse of resistance funds.
I believe that these commitments are responsive
to your concerns and those of other members of
Congress who are as dedicated as you and I to a
sustainable bipartisan and truly democratic
solution to the turmoil in Central America.
Sincerely,
The Honorable Sam Nunn
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
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March 26, 1986
The President
The White House
Washington, D.C.
Deaf Mr. President:
Last year when Senator Lugar and I, and a number of our
colleagues, sponsored an amendment which provided hymanitarian
assistance for the democratic resistance in Nicaragua, we sought
to develop a consensus behind a sustainable. policy that would
promote the growth of democracy in Nicaragua and support
negotiations. One of the central purposes of our amendment was to
foster the growth of democracy and respect for human rights within
the democratic resistance.
I agree with your view that the establishment of a
consolidated, Marxist-Leninist regime in Nicaragua, allied with
the Soviet Union and Cuba, represents a potential threat to the
security of the United States. The Sandinistas have steadily
tightened their grip on the people of Nicaragua. They have
violated the human rights, and denied fundamental freedoms, of the
Nicaraguan people. Moreover, the evidence is incontrovertible
that the Sandinistas have continued to support guerilla movements
and terrorism outside Nicaragua and that the Soviet and Cuban
presence and influence has grown.
Although some progress has been made in forming a democratic
political leadership for the contras, the American people and the
Congress are reluctant to support the contras because they are not
convinced that they are truly a democratic movement. The
Congress, and I believe the American people, are prepared to
support an authentic broad-based democratic resistance movement
fighting for freedom and human rights in Nicaragua.
Our policy must indicate clearly not only what the United
States opposes - a Marxist-Leninist repressive regime in Nicaragua
- but also what we support, democracy and human rights. As we
learned in El Salvador, the most effective force to prevent a
communist success is a strong, principled, democratic movement
which represents the real aspirations of the people. Similarly,
in the Philippines we recently saw the enormous force generated
when people want democracy and believe that there are leaders with
integrity and courage who support democratic goals.
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Unless the contra movement is perceived in the United States
and Central America as an effort to bring democracy to Nicaragua,
it is unlikely that American aid can be sustained or that the
contras will attract the kind of political support required to
bring about changes in Nicaragua.
Unfortunately, the contras have yet to become this force.
Their political program and goals remain unclear.
forces opposing the Sandinistas are divided. The weThe rious
rvawithin the
FDN, the largest contra force, still
does civilian control. Although the United NicaraNicaraguan Opposition to
ppositi has
recently formed a Human Rights Commission, the contras, record and
commitment on human rights remains unacceptable.
In El Salvador, we have used our military and economic aid
effectively with bipartisan support, to strengthen democratic
forces committed to human rights. We should follow a similar
course in providing military assistance to-the democratic
resistance in Nicaragua.
I agree with the recent suggestion of Senators Cohen,
Kassebaum and Rudman that the contras must agree to broaden their
base, eliminate human rights abuses, and develop and pursue a
program for achieving democracy in Nicaragua. I suggest a number
of measures to insure that U.S. aid is designed to bring about
these goals which are essential for success.
First, all aid should be given only to civilian political
leaders that are genuinely democratic, respect human rights
and have not or are not engaged in criminal activity, such as
drug trafficking. No aid should
except through civilian leadershipo coto the mmitted itottheseegoals
and principles.
Second, the civilian political leadership of the opposition
movements must form a genuine democratic movement. The
United States must insist that they work together and that
they broaden their base so as not to exclude Nicaraguans who
are committed to democratic principles. This does not mean
that they must all adhere to a common political approach, but
only that they embrace democratic principles.
Third, vigorous action must be taken to enforce respect for
human rights including investigation and prosecution of
individuals within the resistance responsible for human
rights abuses.
Fourth, all intelligence and other non-materiel assistance
and cooperation should also be funneled through, or at least
controlled by, the democratic civilian political leadership.
Fifth, strict accounting measures must be adopted to insure
that all aid is being properly administered and accounted
for.
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3
Sixth, humanitarian aid should include basic education for
the democratic resistance fighters and their families. We
should, for example, teach reading, writing, health care, and
other basic courses in agricultural and vocational skills
which will foster political and econoric growth.
It is my firm belief that these assurances would go a long
way toward satisfying doubts that linger in the minds of the
Congress and the American people as to whether the contras truly
represent a democratic force worthy of our support. i hope you
will be able to provide me with these assurances.
Mr. President, I have one final but important point. The
foreign policy of the United States toward Nicaragua cannot
succeed if the only way it can be sustained is by repeated,
razor-thin votes of the Congress. We need to develop a
bipartisan, sustainable policy toward Nicaragua that enjoys the
long-term support of the Congress, the American people and of the
governments and the people of Central and South America. I
applaud the efforts of Senator Sasser, Senator Byrd, Senator Lugar
and Senator Dole in seeking to develop such a policy. I hope you
will support them in that effort and join in developing such a
policy.
Sam Nunn
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