REQUEST FOR DECLASSIFICATION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85M00158R000300060031-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 15, 2009
• Sequence Number: 31
• Publication Date: April 26, 1983
• Content Type: MEMO

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1 FEB 55 241 REPLACES FORM 36-41
WHICH Mev D .
Chairm
TENSION
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SECRET
DCI/ICS 83-4562
2 6 APR 1983
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central In
VIA: Deputy Director of Cen
telligence
tral Intelligence
Director, Intelligence
Community Staff
25X1
SUBJECT: Request for Declassifi
cation
25X1
1. This memorandum transmits a DIA request for declassification
of a U-2 photograph of Nicaragua for possible use by the President in an
address to a Joint Session of Congress Wednesday evening 27 April 1983
on the theme of support for U.S. policy in Central America. The request
is strongly supported by Deputy Assista tary of Defense for
Inter-American Affairs Nestor Sanchez.
2. Discussion: The photograph in question is from a U-2 "OLYMPIC
VICTOR" mission of 13 April 1983. The target of interest is Rio Blanco
Military Camp Nicaragua, approximately 75 nm NE of Managua. At the camp,
the letters "FMLN" were observed on the ground. This is the acronym for
"FARABUNDO MARTI NATIONAL LIBERATION FRONT" which is the military command
organization for the five anti-government guerrilla groups in El Salvador.
This provides circumstantial evidence of Salvadoran guerrilla activity
in Nicaragua.
3. This request is a DIA initiative (Tab A) to provide support
for the Presidential briefing. It is not known if he would use it, but
DIA would like to provide it for possible use. He could use the information
in the speech with the photograph as backup, or it could be used after
the President's speech in a question-and-answer session.
5. There are several arguments against declassifying the imagery
for the purpose suggested by DIA:
a. The imagery is of questionable quality and may not be
the best photographic evidence that could be presented.
25X1
25X1
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b. Declassification of the photography may encourage critics
of the President to charge that this is "yet another
case of 'selective' declassification" of questionable
evidence.
c. The link with Salvadoran guerrillas, which in this case
is based merely on letters painted on the ground, is
tenuous. The letters could have been put there specifically
to confuse U.S. intelligence (which is known to fly aerial
reconnaissance missions). If the link is false, the
President's charge could potentially be very embarrassing
with the Congress and the media.
d. If the letters correctly reflect the activity depicted,
then we may lose this indica for imagery analysts after
it is publicly disclosed.
e. Public disclosure of the camp's location, if its location
is not already publicly known, might result in the guerrillas
moving the camp. This would eliminate an future option
to launch an operation against the camp.
6. Recommendation: Disapprove the DIA request to declassify the
photograph in the absence of strong confirming evidence to support the
charge, potential embarrassment to the President if the charge is inaccurate,
and potential damage to intelligence sources and methods if the photographic
evidence is valid and revealed to the general public.
2 6 APR 1983
tor of Central Intelligence Date
Attachment:
Tab A
/DISAPPROVED:
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