NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE DAILY WEDNESDAY 31 OCTOBER 1979 - 1979/10/31

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Argentina Declassification Project - The "Dirty War" (1976-83)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 05100355
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 20
• Document Creation Date: April 3, 2019
• Document Release Date: April 12, 2019
• Publication Date: October 31, 1979

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'Director
Central
12,1 2 in4a1;.ano.
'EO 13526 3.3(b)(1)>25Yrs
EO 13526 3.3(b)(6)>25Yrs
EO 13526 3.5(c)
NR
3.5(c)
3.5(c)
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3.5(c)
Contents
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3.5(c)
Argentina: General Viola's Key Role
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October31 1979
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ARGENTINA: General Viola's Key Role
3.5(c)
3.5(c)
When the Argentine military overthrew the government of Mrs.
Peron in March 1976, it promised to bring political, social, and
economic change to Argentina. Commander of the Army Lt. Gen.
Roberto Viola is rapidly emerging as the central figure in that pro-
cess. He is likely to play a significant role in resolving dispar-
ate views within the military leadership concerning how to effect
this national reorganization. If Viola succeeds President Videla
in March of 1981--as now seems likely�he may be given a mandate to
lay the groundwork for a return to civilian rule. 3.5(c)
Viola is the senior member of the ruling military
junta, as well as Videla's closest confidant and strong-
est supporter. The general, like Videla a political 35,c\
moderate, assumed the Army's top job in August of last I
year, but only after a promise to military hardliners
that he would resign his commission this December.
Because of continuing policy disagreements with the
hardliners, Viola's impending retirement poses several
problems. To provide continuity for Videla's moderate
policies and to prepare for his own accession to the
presidency, Viola probably will seek to neutralize those
hardliners who threaten the planned succession. 3.5(c)
An abortive revolt in Cordoba Province in late
September by one of the government's two principal an-
tagonists, Army III Corps Commander Luciano Menendez,
should make Viola's task easier.
3.5(c)
Menendez--who was distraught over the release of po-
litical detainee Jacobo Timerman and over renewed terror-
ist activity by the leftist Montoneros--tried to oust
Viola as Army commander. Viola moved swiftly to relieve
Menendez of his command. Although Menendez' redoubt was
quickly surrounded by 4, paratroops, he managed to
hold out for two days.
3.5(c)
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3.5(c)
Menendez was subsequently placed under a 90-day house
arrest and retired from the Army. A number of officers
who supported Menendez were either arrested or dismissed
from their posts. Menendez' incarceration will last
through the end-of-year military promotion and retirement
cycle; thus, he will be muzzled during the period in
which crucial decisions will be made concerning the mili-
tary succession. 3.5(c)
With Menendez out of the picture, the other key
Army hardliner--Chief of Staff General Suarez-Mason--
probably has suffered a reversal in his bid to succeed
Viola as head of the Army. When Menendez' revolt was
announced, Suarez-Mason--who commands no fi ld troops--
had little choice but to side with Viola. 3.5(c)
Viola may now be free to name a moderate successor
as Army commander and to ease Suarez-Mason into retire-
ment. The appointment of a moderate probably would have
some positive effects:
-- Policies affecting the human rights of
peaceful political dissidents probably
would be further liberalized.
Political parties might officially re-
sume activities as early as next summer.
A mutually beneficial dialogue would be
facilitated with the once powerful
labor movement.
-- Pressures to pursue a military solution
over the Beagle Channel controversy
with Chile would be reduced.
3.5(c)
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3.3(b)(6)
3.5(c)
If Viola is able to resolve
the succession issue, he reportedly will use the period
from his retirement to his designation as president-
select next September to develop a civilian cadre capa-
ble of running the country.
he has already requested assistance from demo-
cratic leaders in Spain in setting up such a program.
3.5(c)
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