COVERT IN NICARAGUA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000303420001-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 18, 2011
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: June 18, 1983
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/01/18: CIA-RDP90-00552R000303420001-0
L* T I C .P..~ i'.. , BALTIMORE SM%'
Cii t ACS 18 June 1983
Debate & Discussion
Covert in Nicarag
Congressional arguments over Central American policies currently focus on covert activi-
ties to aid counter-revolutionary forces fighting the Sandinist regime in Nicaragua. Repre-
sentative Michael D. Barnes, of Maryland's Eighth District, head of the House subcommit-
tee on Western Hemisphere-affairs, here explains why he and most of his fellow Democrats
oppose covert action. Representative Robert J..Lagamarsino,-of California, rankingRepubli-
can on the subcommittee, states why he and most GOP members support the adminictra-
tion.
TAS i' WEEK-the House Foreign ' : I am not a proponent of getting xhei own business and to help
L Affairs Committee approved into the gutter s with our enemies. Central America's other nations
a bill prohibiting U.S. intelligence If- we must subvert our own legal resist subversion - most notably
agencies from covertly engaging in sygtem to subvert Nicaragua, then by boosting their capacity to pro=
o%supporting "anilitary or Para- the 'price..is ;too high..As former ; -vide -equitable government and
unitary operations in Nicaragua," Deputy'Secretary of State George economic development . for their
and authorizing'$80 mu-Ilion over Bali recently wrote, "the adminis- people.
the next two years for overt assist- ration seems blind to the reality These attempts to overthrow a
ance to friendly countries in Cen- that our democracy is ineffective recognized government are 'coun-
tral America for controlling the when it acts out of character: terproductive and contrary to our
flow of arms through their territo- Sooner or later, self-disgust gets in beliefs and commitments. They
ries. I voted for the bill. the way. Unless we change our cannot and do not command the
The Foreign Affairs Committee -habits, we shall find ourselves in support or the respect of Con-
voted to prohibit covert action in e_ ver-deepeing trouble." gress, the American people, or the
Nicaragua for three fundamental - The third reason for. prohibit- international community. They
reasons. First, the United States is ing covert action: it doesn't work. hamper our ability to pursue our
prohibited by treaty from engag- It is simply incontrovertible that interests in Central America. As
ing in such action. Article 18 of U.S. attempts to destabilize Nica- Secretary Ball has said, "If we
the Charter of the Organization of ragua have failed to halt Nicara- Were prudent, we would stay
American States flatly prohibits- guan support for the left in El Sal- home, leaving the problem to the
any American state from interven- vador; contributed to the destabi- arbitrament of other Latin Ameri-
ing in the affairs of another. It is lization -of Honduras -and Costa can nations. Their interest in
illegal under international law. Rica; created international sym- peaceful solutions is" even more
Second, the covert action is il- pathy for Nicaragua when there immediate than ours.
ought to be condemnation; justi-
fiedincreased repression within '
By Michael D. Barnes Nicaragua; and in general
strengthened the hand of the
legal under domestic law. Con- hardliners within the Sandinista
gress has prohibited U.S. intelli government who seek to take their
Bence agencies from providing revolution in a direction contrary
support for any group for the pur- to our interests.
pose of overthrowing the govern- - 'The arguments against this bill
ment of Nicaragua. Since it is the do not hold water. The attempt of
publicly stated purpose of the opponents of the committee's ac-
Nicaraguan exile groups that are ; tion to paint it as destroying the
aided by the CIA to overthrow presidents ability to resist Nica-
that government, it takes consid- raguan subversion of Central
enable legal sophistry to argue America 'is absurd on its face. The
that the law is not being violated. bill authorizes $80 million for pre-
Some dismiss treaty obliga-. cisely that purpose.
t.ions and domestic law as irrele- The bill does not tie the presi
want because "the Nicaraguans dent's hands in Central America.
are doing it, too." If Nicaragua' There are numerous above-board
tries to subvert its neighbors, this ways in which the president and
argument goes, then we shouldn't the.Congress can work together. to
be dissuaded by legal niceties' persuade the.Nicaraguans to mind
from subverting Nicaragua.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/01/18: CIA-RDP90-00552R000303420001-0