24 JULY 1986 HPSCI BRIEFING

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91B00874R000100220001-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 30, 2011
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: August 1, 1986
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/16: CIA-RDP91 B00874R000100220001-7
1 August 1986
SUBJECT: 24 July 1986 HPSCI Briefing
CIA Briefers:
ADDI Helgerson
Congressmen Present:
Subjects Briefed:
Hamilton, Brown, Daniel, Dwyer,
Kastenmeier, McHugh, Stump, Ireland,
Hyde
USSR/Afghanistan: Gorbachev Statement
on Troop Withdrawal
Afghanistan:
Bolivia:
Nicaragua:
Israel/Morocco:
Sudan:
Questions/Answers
Update on the War
Implications of the
IMF Accord
Update on Operation
Blast Furnace
Update on the war
Update on the
Insurgency
The Release of Father
Jenco 25X1
25X1
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/16: CIA-RDP91 B00874R000100220001-7
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/16: CIA-RDP91 B00874R000100220001-7
SECRET
SUBJECT: 29 July 1986 HPSCI Briefing
QUESTION: Why hasn't our intelligtnee on .
Bolivia been better? Why can't we tell the
difference between a ranch'and a cocaine
processing lab?
ANSWER: DEA is operating mostly on
information they obtain themselves. We have
not had that much of a role. We have
identified possible lab sites, but there is
no specific signature for them.
QUESTION: Whose intelligence was used for.
the strike force?
ANSWER: Almost entirely DEA's. We have
played a very limited role and only in the
latter stages.
QUESTION: A DEA o.f?icial claims the strike
force is not hitting the targets he told
them to.hit. Do the Bolivians make these
choices?
ANSWER: They probably play a role.
QUESTION: Is the'Gorbaehev speech a signal
the USSR wants a settlement?
ANSWER: They undoubtedly would like a
settlement on their terms.
Stump
QUESTION: Is it a significant overture?
ANSWER: It definitely puts the US and
Pakistan in a difficult position, but you
have to be somewhat cynical about Soviet
motivations.'
No questions.
QUESTION: Why did Hassan go along with this
initiative? Did we prod him into it?
ANSWER: No, he is in a difficult economic
position and probably calculated that the
possible payoff for his relations with the
US would offset any problems with the Arab
countries.
- 2 -
SECRET
Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/16: CIA-RDP91 B00874R000100220001-7
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/16: CIA-RDP91 B00874R000100220001-7
SUBJECT: 29 July 1986 HPSCI Briefing
QUESTION: No US promises of aid?
ANSWER: Not to my knowledge?
QUESTION: What money are the Contras
operating on now?
ANSWER: We know they have enough.arms and
materiel to last through July. Presumably
they are conserving their funds and materiel
somewhat. We haven't been able to document
all their resources.
QUESTION: We should know the specifics.
ANSWER: I agree, but we've never been in
the business of determining what US persons
are doing regarding funding of Contras.
QUESTION: If the Soviets do withdraw
troops, why. would that put us in an awkward
position?
ANSWER: Perhaps I misspoke. The US would
have something to worry about because the
offer might cause Pakistan to agree to
something that.doesn''t.go far enough. The
Pakistanis may be put on the defensive.
naive of me to say it didn't happen.
QUESTION: Could-you give .me an update on
Angola?
ANSWER: No signi'ficant changes from past
week. There is a continuing buildup of
Angolan forces, and an offensive is likely
in August. UNITA claims another two MIGs
shotdown. .We have no evidence to confirm
press reports of atrocities, but it would be
QUESTION: I'm sorry I was delayed in
arriving. Can you repeat your statement on
Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/16: CIA-RDP91 B00874R000100220001-7
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/16: CIA-RDP91 B00874R000100220001-7
SUBJECT: 29 July 1986 HPSCI Briefing
withdraw shows that Gorbachev is
the Afghanistan situation and the Soviet
statement?
ANSWER: The Soviets will remove six
regiments: three air, one tank, and two
motorized rifle regiments. A total of about
8000 troops. This is the season for
increased military activity. The offer to
than his predecessors.
Hyde 25X1
QUESTION: The.Soviets argue that
Afghanistan is an East/West conflict and
that the United States is using the
insurgents to exploit the Afghan people.
QUESTION: What is the solution to the
Afghan problem?
ANSWER: The only solution is for the
Soviets to get out of Afghanistan. My
concern is that the Pakistanis may agree to
only a symbolic reduction of Soviet
troops. I believe t,hat only a realistic
timetable for withdrawal can solve the
problem.
B f7/.? LET
~,i Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/16: CIA-RDP91 B00874R000100220001-7
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/16: CIA-RDP91 B00874R000100220001-7
SECRET
SUBJECT: 29 July 1986 HPSCI Briefing
Hyde
QUESTION: Present government in Afghanistan
isn't strong enough to remain in power
without Soviet help. Isn't that correct?
ANSWER: Yes. The Soviets want a government
that can stand over time, but the -present
one can't stay without Soviet help.
QUESTION: The Soviets want a four-year
withdrawal plan. That doesn't seem like a
viable plan.
ANSWER: The Pakistanis have rejected it.
McHugh
QUESTION: Seems to me that these conflicts
around the.world can go on forever unless
the US and the Soviet Union can come to some
sort of agreement..
ANSWER: There is an important difference
between Nicaragua and Afghanistan. The
Soviets may be more likely to agree to
reduce support.in-Nicaragua, but not in
Afghanistan.
they have said about the hostages?
QUESTION: Do the Syrians know more than
ADDI. The growing pressure from recent
Syrian activity in Beirut may have pushed
the Shias to release Jenco.
QUESTION: What is Qadhafi up to lately with
respect. to terrorist activity?
ANSWER: Not much to pass along.
Surprisingly, Qadhafi reaffirmed his support
for the Moroccan/Libyan accord. He has been
relatively quiet and appears intimidated by
the US airstrike.
Dwyer No questions
QUESTION: You seem to believe that $12
billion will help de la Madrid politically,
but jt won't lead to fundamental changes in
the economy.
25X1
- 5 -
SECRET
Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/16: CIA-RDP91 B00874R000100220001-7
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/16: CIA-RDP91 B00874R000100220001-7
SUBJECT: 29 July 1986 HPSCI Briefing
ANSWER: You put it very well. It will help
in the short run and the economic targets
have been eased. The package, however, will
not help correct the fundamental economic
problems.
QUESTION: This agreement probably indicates
that other Latin American countries will
push for less stringent IMF conditions.
ANSWER: Absolutely.
- 5 -
SECRET
~,i Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/16: CIA-RDP91 B00874R000100220001-7