CUCUTA VISIT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP08C01297R000700030052-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 25, 2012
• Sequence Number: 52
• Publication Date: December 8, 1983
• Content Type: CABLE

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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/12/12 : CIA-RDP08C01297R000700030052-7
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C1MCINTOSH, T X 6556 COVEMEX I PAGE 0037
MSGNO 5 (MIIR) *09/12/83* *05:10*
ZCZC 10:08:49Z (MI)
MILITARY
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83 2846409 MCR
TOR: 081921Z DEC 83
NC 2846409
RR RUEAIIA
DE RUEKJCS #3334 3421910
ZNY CCCCC
R 081910Z DEC 83
FM JCS WASHINGTON DC
INFO RUEADWD/CSA WASHINGTON DC
RUEAHQA/CSAF WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC -
RUEHC /SECSTATE WASHINGTON DC
RUEAMCC/CMC CC WASHINGTON DC
RUETIAH/DIRNSA FT GEORGE G MEADE MD
RUEACMC/CMC WASHINGTON DC
RUEALGX/SAFE
R 072139Z DEC 83
FM
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TO RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC
RUEORDF/DIRUSAMIIA FT DETRICK MD
INFO RUEOEHA/USCINCSO QUARRY HEIGHTS PN
RUCBSAA/CINCLANT NORFOLK VA
RUCLBVA/AFOSIDIST7 PATRICK AFB FL
RULPAFA/AFOSIDET721 HOWARD AFB PN
RULPAKA/CDR193INFBDE FT CLAYTON PN
RULPAFA/USAFSO
HOWARD AFB
PN
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RUEBARE/DIRNAVINSER
WASHDC
RUENAAA/CNO WASHDC
RUDHAAB/CDRUSAITAC AHS VA
RUEBBJB/AFOSI BOLLING AFB DC
RUCLAKA/CDR1STSF FT BRAGG NC
RUEOFAA/COMJSOC FT BRAGG NC
RUCIFBA/MACOSINCEN SCOTT AFB IL
RUCLHUA/USAFSOS HURLBURT FLD FL
BT
CUivrI
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/12/12 : CIA-RDP08C01297R000706030052-7
CONFIDENTIAL
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/12/12 : CIA-RDP08C01297R000700030052-7
C1MCINTOSH, T X 6556 COVEMEX I PAGE 0038
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EZ1:
CONFIDENTIAL SECTION 01 OF 02 BOGOTA
CONFIDENTIAL NOFORN
EZ2:
SERIAL:
PASS: (U) DIA FOR DC-4A/SB-4G4/0S-1/DB-1E; USCINCSO
FOR SCJ2-IAD; CINCLANT FOR J24, AFOSIDIST7 FOR IVO;
AFOSIDET721 FOR CC; CDR193INFBDE FOR AFZU-DS; USAFSO
FOR DOI; DIRNAVINSER FOR NIS-27B; DIRUSAMIIA FOR SGMI-CR;
CNO FOR OP-009; CDRUSAITAC FOR IAX-SO-I; CDR1STSF FOR
SFOD-D; COMJSOC FOR J2; MACOSINCEN FOR INW; USAFSqS
FOR EDIL; SECSTATE FOR NSC FOR MENGES/OLIVER NORTH
COUNTRY: (U) COLOMBIA (CO) AND BRAZIL (BR)
SUBJ: /CUCUTA VISIT (U)
WARNING: (U) THIS IS AN INFO REPORT, NOT FINALLY
EVALUATED INTEL
DOI: (U) 831201
? REQ: (u) K-os1-0n046 G-ORG-47744 Awn 7-nrl-rn-win
SOURCE:
SUMMARY: (U)CI-TC7--TV-TA(0830N/07240W) IS AN ACTIVE CITY
WITH ABOUT 140,000-INHABITANTS. PRIMARY ECONOMIC
ACTIVITY WAS CROSS BORDER COMMERCE WITH VE. DEVALUATION
OF VE BOLIVAR HAS SEVERLY DEPRESSED THIS ACTIVITY.
TEXT: 1. (U) RO VISITED CUCUTA 831118. IT IS LOCATED
IN A MOUNTIANOUS VALLEY WITH ROLLING HILLS. IT IS
USUALLY QUITE WINDY AND HILLS CREATE SEVERE WIND CURRENTS.
A CROSS WIND OF 25-40 KNOTS ACROSS LANDING FIELD IS
NOT UNCOMMON. ONE'S QUICK IMPRESSION OF CITY - REASONABLY
CLEAN, ROADS IN ACCEPTABLE CONDITION, LOTS OF SHOPS.
RO WAS TOLD THAT A NEW SHOPPING CENTER WAS 70 PERCENT
UNOCCUPIED DUE TO VE BOLIVAR DEVALUATION.
2. (C/NOFORN) LOCAL MILITARY UNIT IS: 5TH CAV GP (MECH)
MAZA. CDR SAID SECURITY SITUATION IN CUCUTA WAS
NORMAL WITH NO MAJOR SUBVERSIVE PROBLEMS. HOWEVER,
HE TOLD ACCOMPANYING EMBOFF THAT THE GUERRILLAS (MAINLY
FARC AND ELN) WERE PROSELYTIZING AMONG THE POOR,
ESPECIALLY INDIANS, IN AN EFFORT TO BUILD A BASE OF
SUPPORT FOR FUTURE EXPANSION. HE ALSO SAID THAT THEY
HAD HAD TWO TRANSMISSIONS BURN UP ON BRAZILIAN MANUFACTURED
CASCAVAL ARMORED CARS WHICH HE ATTRIBUTED TO POOR
MAINTENANCE. RO HAD BEEN TOLD BY U.S. ARMORED CAR
SALESMAN THAT CASCAVAL HAD TURRET PROBLEMS. CDR OF CAV GP
SAID THEY HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH TURRETS.
3. (U) RO VISITED WITH AMB PARTY A VERY MODERN
REGIONAL MEDICAL FACILITY BEING CONSTRUCTED IN CUCUTA.
IT WILL HAVE 500 BEDS, 4 OPERATING ROOMS, INTENSIVE
CARE WARDS, ETC. CONSTRUCTION HAS BEEN UNDERWAY FOR
EIGHT YEARS. ABOUT ANOTHER YEAR WILL BE REQUIRED IF
NECESSARY FUNDING IS RECEIVED. THIS WAS CITED AS A
CONTINUING BATTLE. IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT CIVIL AUTHORITIES
CONFIDENTIAL
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/12/12 : CIA-RDP08C01297R000700030052-7
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/12/12 : CIA-RDP08C01297R000700030052-7
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C1MCINTOSH, T X 6556 COVEMEX I PAGE 0039

TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN THIS MONUMENTAL PROJECT, WHICH
WILL BE THE LARGEST MEDICAL FACILITY IN COLOMBIA.
COMMENTS: (U) RO WAS IMPRESSED BY CIVIC SPIRIT OF
POPULATION AND ALTHOUGH CURRENTLY FINANCIALLY DEPRESSED,
BELIEVES CUCUTA WILL COME BOUNCING BACK. OIL DISCOVERIES
IN ARAUCA EVENTUALLY WILL BE A BIG BOOST A& CUCUTA
WILL PROBABLY BE TERMINAL SHIPMENT POINT AND BASE FOR
OIL PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION.
PROJ: (U) N/A
NNNN
NNDD
CONFIDENTIAL
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/12/12 : CIA-RDP08C01297R000700030052-7