SOVIET INVOLVEMENT IN CRISIS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-01070R000100140010-9
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 14, 2007
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: April 13, 1982
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Approved For Release 2007/05/14: CIA-RDP88-0107OR000100140010-9
RADIO TV REPORTS, INC.
CBS Evening News
WDVM TV
CBS Network
Apr i l
13, 1982
7:00 PM
Washington, DC
Soviet
Involvement in Crisis
DAN RATHER: Washington officials say the Soviet Union
is giving Argentina intelligence on the advancing British armada.
The offiicals say the Soviets are getting their data from their
satellites and from intercepts of British communications. As it is,
the British fleet faces a formidable task.
BILL LYNCH: Even with its battle fleets still thousands
of miles away, Britain controls the sea for 200 miles around the
Falklands. At least three of the Royal Navy's nuclear-powered,
swift, sure attack submarines and one diesel-powered sub are report-
edly lurking in the area. With Tigerfish torpedoes and enough speed
to outrun destroyers, they are potent weapons.
Argentina is protecting its small hand-me-down navy by
keeping its warships well away from the Falklands. However, Argentina
commands the air and is beefing up its occupation force with regular
cargo flights.
Retired U.S. Navy Admiral Stansfield Turner, the former
CIA Director, sees real problems for the British blockade.
STANSFIELD TURNER: If we place British merchants --
destroyers all around the Falklands, they're easily going to be under
attack from airpower based in Southern Argentina. A final approach
is simply to use your submarines. But a submarine can't risk sur-
facing, questioning a ship, warning it, telling it to go somewhere
else. If it is a case of a submarine, it's got to sink it first off.
That's escalating the war a good bit.
LYNCH: If diplomacy fails, the main British fleet has a
risky job trying to regain the islands. It is greatly out-numbered
OFFICES IN: WASHINGTON D.C. ? NEW YORK ? LOS ANGELES ? CHICAGO ? DETROIT ? AND OTHER PRINCIPAL CITIES
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Approved For Release 2007/05/14: CIA-RDP88-0107OR000100140010-9
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 Approved For Release 2007/05/14: CIA-RDP88-0107OR000100140010-9
in the air. Argentina's one aging aircraft carrier can launch 14
A-4 bombers. a squadron of Mirage interceptors is now based at the
Falklands' one airfield. And Argentina has soe 200 other combat
planes at mainland bases. The British fleet must rely on a total
of 16 Harrier jump jets on its two carriers, plus an assortment of
armed helicopters, to protect its surface vessels and make any air
attacks.
Three thousand British Marines are practicing for a possible
landing in the Falklands. But without the elements of surprise or
overwhelming firepower, Turner predicts heavy casualties.
TURNER: There are very few good landing beaches. These
are rocky terrains that are generally steep down to the water.
Secondly, of course, he's ready. He knows you're coming. Surprise
will be difficult to achieve. If you use your firepower, you may
well endanger some of those 1800 British residents in these islands
that the fleet is coming to protect. So it's a tough task for this
British admiral.
LYNCH: To complicate the military picture, the Pentagon
today reported five Soviet naval vessels in the South Atlantic.
U.S. officials see no evidence so far the Russians are headed for
the Falklands, but they'll continue to watch them.
Approved For Release 2007/05/14: CIA-RDP88-0107OR000100140010-9