PRESENT SITUATION IN EL SALVADOR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84B00274R000100160001-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 21, 2007
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: February 25, 1982
• Content Type: MEMO

Approved For Release 2007/03/21,~'C+ c- DP84B00274R000100160001-8
25 February 1982
OEXA 82- 0284/7
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
SUBJECT: Present Situation in El Salvador
1. On Thursday, 25 February 1982, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
(SSCI) received a briefing on the present political/military situation in El Salvador by the
DCI and the DDCI. The briefing
took place in Room S-407, The Capitol, from 1000-1300
hours. A transcript was taken.
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2. Accompanying the DCI and DDCI were:
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Chief, LA/DDO
Chief, Middle America Caribbean
Division, OALAA/DDI
LA/DDO
Director, Office of External Affairs
Chief, Legislative Liaison Division
Legislative Liaison Officer
3., Present from the National Security Agency were:
4. Members present from the Committee were:
Barry Goldwater (R., AZ), Chairman
Richard Lugar (R., IN)
John Chafee (R., RI)
William Roth (R., DE)
David Durenberger (R., MN)
Malcolm Wallop (R., WY)
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Patrick Moynihan (D., NY)
Lloyd Bentson (D., TX)
Henry Jackson (D., WA)
Walter Huddleston (D., KY)
Joseph Biden (D., DE)
Patrick Leahy (D., VT)
Claiborne Pell (D., RI)
5. No members of the Committee staff were present.
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6. The DCI and DDCI, with the assistance of the back-up witnesses, covered
major areas: intelligence capabilities, sources, gaps and information in El Salvador
7. The following questions arose during the hearing:
a. Roth: Are negotiations being hindered by Communist propaganda?
b. Chafee: What is the quality of the Slavadoran Army?
c. Moynihan: What is American policy toward the election?
d. Huddleston: What will the guerrillas do after the election?
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e. Biden: Is Duarte really independent?
g. Leahy: Can we trust the Salvadorans?
8. The attached statement is a synopsis of the hearing by Chairman Barry
Goldwater.
Legislative Liaison
Attachment:
As stated
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STATEMENT FOR USE BY SENATOR GOLDWATER ON SENATE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE
BRIEFING ON CENTRAL AMERICA
ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, CIA DIRECTOR WILLIAM CASEY AND OTHER
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY BRIEFED MEMBERS OF THE
SENATE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION ON DEVELOPMENTS IN
CENTRAL AMERICA. THE BRIEFING, WHICH LASTED SEVERAL HOURS, ADDRESSED
THE MILITARY SITUATION IN EL SALVADOR, THE STRUCTURE AND COMPOSITION
OF GUERRILLA FORCES THERE, AND THE DEGREE OF EXTERNAL SUPPORT TO THE
INSURGENTS IN EL SALVADOR, ESPECIALLY THAT PROVIDED BY THE SANDINISTAS
IN NICARAGUA.
THE BRIEFING LEFT NO DOUBT THAT THERE IS ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT BY
SANDINISTA GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS IN SUPPORT OF THE SALVADORAN GUERRILLA
MOVEMENT. THIS SUPPORT INCLUDES ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE USE OF NICARAGUAN
TERRITORY FOR THE MOVEMENT OF ARMS AND MUNITIONS TO GUERRILLAS IN EL
SALVADOR, THE CONTINUING PASSAGE OF GUERRILLAS IN AND OUT OF NICARAGUA
FOR ADVANCED TRAINING IN SABOTAGE AND OTHER TERRORIST TACTICS, AND THE
PRESENCE OF HIGH-LEVEL GUERRILLA HEADQUARTERS ELEMENTS IN NICARAGUA.
THERE IS S T N G EVIDENCE OF A GREAT SURGE IN THE DELIVERY OF ARMS,
AMMUNITION AND RELATED MATERIALS FROM NICARAGUA TO EL SALVADOR.
SPEAKING AS CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE, I MUST STRESS THE SENSITIVE
NATURE OF THE INTELLIGENCE PROVIDED US. THE DETAILS MUST REMAIN SECRET.
BUT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DESERVE TO KNOW THAT THE OFFICIALS CHARGED WITH
DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING U.S. POLICY IN THIS AREA ARE DOING SO ON THE
BASIS OF SOLID EVIDENCE,