CONTRA TRAINING

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90B01390R000100090022-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 7, 2012
• Sequence Number: 22
• Publication Date: October 28, 1986
• Content Type: MEMO

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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/11/07: CIA-RDP90B01390R000100090022-6
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/11/07: CIA-RDP90B01390R000100090022-6
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/11/07: CIA-RDP90B01390R000100090022-6
RADIO N REPORTS, INC.
4701 WILLARD AVENUE, CHEVY CHASE, MARYLAND 20815 [phone]
PUBLIC AFFAIRS STAFF
CBS Evening.News
WUSA TV
CBS Network
DATE October 27, 1986 7:00 PM CITY Washington, DC
SUBJECT Contra Training
DAN RATHER: With U. S. military aid now once again
flowing openly, to the Nicaraguan contras, the Reagan administra-
tion is setting up a military training program for the guerrilla
fighters in this country.
David Martin has been told the details.
DAVID MARTIN: Informed sources tell CBS News the
Pentagon has developed a plan to secretly train contra rebels at
Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. Eglin is currently used to
train U. S. Army Rangers in jungle warfare. It is also home base
for the Air Force's Special Operations Wing, which-could train
the contras in aerial re-supply, a crucial part of any effort to
send guerrillas deep inside Nicaraguan territory.
Most of the estimated 20,000 contra soldiers would still
be trained at their own camps inside Honduras, but they would be
trained by soldiers who had been through the Eglin course. The
training is part of the $100 million in aid Congress approved for
the contras after a two year cutoff in all but humanitarian
items, such as medicine and clothing. The 100 million will also
buy new weapons, including heat-seeking anti-aircraft missiles,
to be used against the Sandinistas' growing helicopter force. U.
S. intelligence. sources say that earlier this month Soviet
freighters unloaded six crates believed to contain Hind helicop-
ter gunships, which would double the number in the Sandinista
arsenal.
The plan to train at Eglin has not yet been formally
approved. But administration officials say it has to be in the
U. S. because no C.entFal American country will allow the training
to take place on their territory.
David Martin, CBS News, the Pentagon.
OFFICES IN: WASHINGTON D.C. ? NEW YORK ? LOS ANGELES ? CHICAGO ? DETROIT ? AND OTHER PQNriaa rrn c
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/11/07: CIA-RDP90B01390R000100090022-6
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7:00 p.m.
WORLD NEWS TONIGHT.
ABC-TV
October 27
Contra'Leaders Being Trained
JARRIEL: Although Defense
Secretary Caspar Weinberger
today denied any knowledge of
any such plans, other Pentagon
officials privately insist the
Administration has decided to
train Contra leaders in this
country.
The officials said it
would be better to train the
Contras in Central America, but
Costa Ric a, El Salvador and
Honduras have all refused
permission.
Helicopters Delivered to
Sandinistas
JARRIEL: While the United
States prepares to funnel new
aid to the Contras, ABC's Bob
Zeldink (?) reports from the
Pentagon that six Soviet built
Hind helicopters have been
delivered to the Sandinistas
within the past month. .
Those are the weapons
described as flying tanks by
President Reagan and it doubles
the number of Hind helicopters
available for use against the
Contras.
October*28, 1986
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/11/07: CIA-RDP90B01390R000100090022-6
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