EX-CIA ANALYST BLASTS U.S. CENTRAL AMERICA POLICY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91-00587R000200740012-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 25, 2010
• Sequence Number: 12
• Publication Date: April 9, 1986
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/29: CIA-RDP91-00587R000200740012-8
UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL
9 April 1986
EX-CIA ANALYST BLASTS U.S. CENTRAL AMERICA POLICY
SALT LAKE CITY, UT
American foreign policy in Central America is being directed by
right-wingers with a 1950s mentality, says a former Central Intelligence
Agency analyst.
David MacMichael, who served as a CIA Western Hemisphere specialist frgm
1981 to 1983, told University of Utah students Wednesday the Reagan
administration policy in Nicaragua is heightening the risk of direct military
intervention in the area.
''By any definition this is a war marked by terrorism and these terroristic
acts are paid for by U.S. tax dollars and directed by the U.S. government," he
said.
The former CIA analyst said he has visited Nicaragua several times in
recent years and it is a far cry from the country portrayed by U.S. government
officials.
"We're told that Nicaragua is an enslaved land with atheistic Communists
burning churches and torturing priests, and the only thing preventing a
successful revolution by the freedom fighters is $100 million (in aid to the
Contras)," he said.
But MacMichael said that perception is false propaganda and he claims the
Sandinista government has the potential for bringing democracy and justice to
its citizens if it were left alone by the United States.
"I can assure you expectations of Contra money will not imrorve the chances
of overthrowing the Nicarguan government," MacMichael said.
He said it would take at least three years to retrain and rearm the Contras
into a "credible" fighting force.
STAT
But he said Reagan is likely to get at least part of the proposed Contra aid
contained in a bill now before Congress.
''The far right wing has set our agenda for foreign policy," he said, adding
that financial support of the rebels will increase chances of U.S. military
troops being sent to Nicaragua.
MacMichael claimed President Reagan is obsessed with ousting the current
government in Nicaragua, adding that U.S. foreign policy in Latin America and
the Caribbean has traditionally attempted to dominate those governments.
And, referring to 1984 elections which kept the Sandinistas in power,
MacMichael said, ''The Latin American Study Association reported the election
was fair, honest, open and fully representative of the Nicaraguan peoples'
welfare.
''The only disruption was that caused by the U.S. embassy,'' he said.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/29: CIA-RDP91-00587R000200740012-8