GAO REVIEWS OF (1) USG PLANS FOR AND USE OF KAMINA BASE. (2) MILITARY AID TO EL SALVADOR, AND (3) SAFAIR FREIGHTERS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90M00005R001000080020-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 24, 2013
• Sequence Number: 20
• Publication Date: June 11, 1988
• Content Type: CABLE

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/09/24: CIA-RDP90M00005R001000080020-6
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CONFI TIAL
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88 9226643 SCO
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STATE 188738
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RUSNNOA/HQ EUCOM VAIHINGEN GE/FOR ECCM
INFO RUFHFT/AMCONSUL FRANKFURT IMMEDIATE 0000
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LIMITED OFFICIAL USE STATE 188738
FRANKFURT FOR GAO
E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: AGA?
SUBJECT: GAO REVIEWS OF (1) USG PLANS FOR AND USE OF
KAMINA BASE, (2) MILITARY AID TO EL SALVADOR, AND (3)
SAFAIR FREIGHTERS
1. GAO HAS ASKED THE DEPARTMENT TO TRANSMIT THE FOLLOWING
MESSAGE:
OCA
INCOMING
2. AT CONGRESSIONAL REQUEST (WOLPE/DELLUME) GAO HAS
UNDERTAKEN A REVIEW OF CURRENT AND PLANNED USE OF KAMINA
BASE IN ZAIRE. THIS WORK INCLUDES REVIEWING USG
REQUIREMENTS FOR AND USAGE OF THIS FACILITY, CURRENT ACCESS
ARRANGEMENTS, CONDITION OF THE FACILITY, CONSTRUCTION
(COMPLETED, IN PROCESS, AND PLANNED) AND ITS COSTS, JOINT
MILITARY EXERCISES AT THE BASE, POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS
ASSOCIATED WITH USG USE OF THIS FACILITY, AND OTHER
COUNTRIES USE OF OR ACTIVITIES AT THIS FACILITY.
3. GAO HAS COLLECTED INFORMATION FROM STATE AND DEFENSE
DEPARTMENTS. GAO PROVIDED AN INTERIM BRIEFING TO
REQUESTERS' STAFFS IN EARLY FEBRUARY. REMAINING AUDIT WORK
TO BE COMPLETED IS FIELD WORK TO EUCOM AND ZAIRE (TO
INCLUDE VISIT TO BASE PER SPECIFIC DIRECTION OF REQUESTERS).
4. FOLLOWING RECENT RESOLUTION OF TRIP STATUS, GAO
EVALUATOR ALAN BENNETT'S TENTATIVE TRAVEL SCHEDULE IS TO
CONDUCT FIELD WORK IN GERMANY WEEKS OF JULY 4 AND 11 AND
ZAIRE WEEK OF JULY 18. FIELD WORK IN GERMANY WILL INVOLVE
KAMINA BASE REVIEW AND EL SALVADOR REVIEW (SEE PARAGRAPH
8). KAMINA BASE AND SAFAIR REVIEW (SEE PARAGRAPH 6).
5. REGARDING FIELD WORK IN ZAIRE, GAO REQUESTS USE OF DAO
C-12 AIRCRAFT FOR ITS TRIP TO KAMINA BASE. DEPARTMENT HAS
ADVISED GAO OF C-12 USE ON A REGIONAL BASIS AND NEED TO .
ARRANGE USE IN ADVANCE. AS SUCH, GAO REQUESTS INFORMATION
ON AVAILABILITY OF AIRCRAFT DURING WEEK OF ITS PLANNED
FIELD WORK IN ZAIRE. IF AIRCRAFT IS AVAILABLE, GAO
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/09/24: CIA-RDP90M00005R001000080020-6
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/09/24: CIA-RDP90M00005R001000080020-6
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REQUESTS ITS RESERVATION FOR KAMINA TRIP. IF NOT
AVAILABLE, GAO REQUESTS DATA ON DATES OF AIRCRAFT
AVAILABILITY. ANSWER SHOULD BE BY IMMEDIATE TELEGRAM TO
THE DEPARTMENT SLUGGED FOR AF/C. GAO HAS ADVISED THE
DEPARTMENT THAT ONCE C-12 AVAILABILITY AND TIME IS
CONFIRMED, IT WILL FINALIZE TRIP AND PROVIDE SPECIFIC
TRAVEL DATES, FLIGHTS, AND RELATED INFORMATION.
6. GAO HAS ADVISED THE DEPARTMENT THAT IT IS AWARE OF
DEPARTMENT CONCERN ABOUT SENSITIVITY OF DISCUSSING SUBJECT
OF KAMINA BASE WITH ZAIRIAN OFFICIALS AND VISITING THE
BASE. GAO WELCOMES POST OFFICIALS' ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS
WITH GOZ OFFICIALS AND VISIT TO KAMINA. TOPICS OF
DISCUSSION WITH GOZ OFFICIALS WILL LIKELY INCLUDE CURRENT
USG ACCESS TO KAMINA, GOZ CONSTRUCTION AND FUNDING, JOINT
MILITARY EXERCISES, AND GOZ VIEW OF POLITICAL IMPACT OF USG
USE OF THE FACILITY. AT STATE DEPARTMENT SUGGESTION, GAO
ADVISED GOZ EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON IN MARCH OF ITS REVIEW
AND NEED TO CONDUCT FIELD WORK. GOZ RESPONSE WAS FULL
COOPERATION WITH REVIEW INCLUDING REQUEST TO MEET WITH GOZ
DEFENSE MINISTER AND VISIT BASE. SPECIFIC TOPICS OF
DISCUSSION WITH POST OFFICIALS INCLUDE THOSE LISTED IN
PARAGRAPH 1.
7. IN ADDITION TO KAMINA WORK IN ZAIRE, GAO ALSO HAS
RECEIVED A REQUEST FROM CHAIRMAN WOLPE TO REVIEW THE
ACTIVITIES OF SAFAIR FREIGHTERS OF SOUTH AFRICA AND
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMPREHENSIVE ANTI APARTHEID ACT.
THE EXPORT CONTROL ASPECTS OF THIS REVIEW INCLUDE LEASE OF
SAFAIR L-100 AIRCRAFT TO A ZARIAN FIRM CALLED SCIBE-SOCIETE
COMMERCIAL ET D IMPORTATION BEMBA - AIRLIFT. GAO IS
INTERESTED IN ANY INFORMATION POST HAS ON THIS COMPANY AND
ITS OPERATIONS.
8. GAO EUCOM VISIT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED WITH EUCOM/ECCM.
THEY WILL ADVISE EUCOM PLANNING, ENGINEERING, AND EXERCISE
PERSONNEL OF GAO WORK AND NEED TO DISCUSS KAMINA BASE ISSUE.
9. IN ADDITION TO KAMINA ISSUE, GAO WORK IN GERMANY
INVOLVES TWO EL SALVADOR RELATED ASSIGNMENTS. GAO HAS BEEN
REQUESTED BY SENATOR HARKIN TO REVIEW ALLEGATIONS THAT U.S.
MILITARY AID TO EL SALVADOR WAS USED TO ASSIST THE CONTRA
AIRLIFT OPERATION. ALSO, GAO HAS BEEN REQUESTED BY
REPRESENTATIVE DELAY TO REVIEW THE USE OF SALVADORAN FIRMS
TO PERFORM MILITARY CONSTRUCTION IN EL SALVADOR FUNDED BY
U.S. MILITARY AID. GAO WORK INVOLVES INTERVIEWING COL.
JAMES STEELE, FORMER COMMANDER OF THE U.S. MILITARY GROUP
IN EL SALVADOR. THIS WORK HAS BEEN DISCUSSED WITH
USAREUR/AEAGX-IA AND COL. STEELE. GAO REQUEST USAREUR
COUNTRY CLEARANCE FOR THIS WORK.
10. GAO WORK ON THE FOUR ASSIGNMENT WILL BE PERFORMED BY
ALAN BENNETT BENNETT HAS A TOP SECRET
CLEARANCE. DEPARTMENTS AND COMMANDS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED GAO
SECURITY CLEARANCE NOTICE AND BENNETT WILL ALSO HAND CARRY
NOTICE. SHOULD YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, BENNETT CAN BE REACHED
ON 202-695-1713 OR AUTOVON 225-1713. SHULTZ
END OF MESSAGE CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/09/24: CIA-RDP90M00005R001000080020-6