NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE DAILY (CABLE) 23 JUNE 1982 - 1982/06/23

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Argentina Declassification Project - The "Dirty War" (1976-83)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06628424
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 15
• Document Creation Date: April 3, 2019
• Document Release Date: April 12, 2019
• Publication Date: June 23, 1982

Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628424
Director of
( mint
Intelligence
IV D C - 6 C
National Intelligence Daily
(Cable)
231oe 1982
gp�.
�Turri.irrre+-
-Thp-Seeret_
CPAS NIX 82-146C
wo 1982 3.5(
23 I c)
cc 359
4113
3.5(c)
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628424
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628424
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628424
3.5(c)
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628424
Contents
3.5(c)
Argentina: New President
4
3.5(c)
lop�-BEer--e t
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628424
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628424
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628424
NR
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628424
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628424
NR
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628424
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628424
NR
3.5(c)
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628424
ecret
3.5(c)
ARGENTINA: New President
//The naming of retired General Reynaldo Bignone as President
was probably accomplished by the Army over the objections of the
commanders of the Navy and Air Force. 3.5(c)
//The Army, in a communique issued yesterday, claims
the armed forces are united behind the decision. Other
reports indicate, however, that the Navy and the Air Force
have withdrawn from the day-to-day running of the country
in protest over Army Commander in Chief Nicolaides's
imposition of his candidate, but that they intend to re-
main in the junta. Army generals who were largely re-
sponsible for former President Galtieri'n ouster also are
opposing Bignone. 3.5(c)
//Before Bignone retired in December at 53, he served
as Commander of the Military Institutes for one year,
and he held the politically sensitive post of Secretary
General of the Army from 1977 to 1980. The new President
has good relations with political leaders and the press
and favors continued military involvement in the govern-
ment. He reportedly agrees with the monetarist Dolicies
of the last two governments. 3.5(c)
Comment: //Senior Army officers have been arguing
since Galtieri's ouster that one of their own should com-
plete the political reform begun by the Army in 1976.
Army leaders probably believe that by retaining the presi-
dency, the Army will be less vulnerable to recriminations--
and possible purges--as reaction to the loss of the
Falklands spreads. 3.5(c)
The withdrawal by the Navy and the Air Force preserves
the trappings of the junta, enabling the Army to attempt to
overcome the paralysis afflicting the government and to set
new economic and political policies. Any such gains may
be short lived, however, because criticism of Nicolaides's
move by the other services will leave the regime little
room to carry out the new policies. 3.5(c)
Civilians may withhold support because of the selec-
tion process and because of Bignone's identification with
monetarist economic policy. They probably would work with
discontented members of all three services. Second-echelon
1 grumbling in the Army a so could prompt additional shakeups.
4
C�ret.
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628424
3.5(c)
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628424
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628424
NR
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628424
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628424
NR
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628424
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628424
NR
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628424
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628424
NR
NR
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628424
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628424
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628424
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628424
NR
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628424
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628424
NR
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628424
Approved for Release: 2018/10/02 C06628424
NR