CUCUTA VISIT

Document Type: 
Collection: 
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
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
December 8, 1983
Content Type: 
CABLE
File: 
AttachmentSize
PDF icon CIA-RDP08C01297R000700030052-7.pdf121.82 KB
Body: 
U Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/12/12 : CIA-RDP08C01297R000700030052-7 . . C1MCINTOSH, T X 6556 COVEMEX I PAGE 0037 MSGNO 5 (MIIR) *09/12/83* *05:10* ZCZC 10:08:49Z (MI) MILITARY 25X1 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 25X1 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 RUEHBR/ 25X1 RUEHCV/ 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 < > 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 25X1 25X1 ('(Jr TrIPTUT T ti I Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/12/12 : CIA-RDP08C01297R000700030052-7 - 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