COVERT OPERATIONS IN CENTRAL AMERICA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-01070R000100480003-0
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 13, 2007
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: December 9, 1982
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Approved For Release 2007/03/14: CIA-RDP88-01070R000100480003-0
RADIO N REPORTS, INC.
4701 WILLARD AVENUE, CHEVY CHASE, MARYLAND 20815 656-4068
PROGRAM All Things Considered STATION WETA Radio
NPR Network
DATE December 9, 1982 6:00 P.M. CITY Washington, D.C.
Covert Operations in Central America
NOAH ADAMS: The House of Representatives approved an
amendment to the 1983 Defense Department appropriations bill
yesterday in an effort to control U.S. covert operations in
Central America. The amendment would specifically prohibit the
Defense Department and the CIA from using Pentagon money to
overthrow the government of Nicaragua.
NPR's Alan Berlow reports.
ALAN BERLOW: The House amendment was approved
unanimously by the 411 members voting. That unanimity led many
observers to wonder whether the amendment meant anything. The
amendment seemed to leave open the option of CIA-funded military
activities against Nicaragua as long as they were not intended to
overthrow the Nicaraguan government. Many observers saw that as
a major loophole.
What was clear from the debate, however, was that most
members were concerned by press reports that the U.S. is actively
engaged in assisting anti-Sandinist paramilitary forces in
Honduras. In an hour of House debate, members charged the Reagan
Administration with violating everything from the U.N. and OAS
charters to the Neutrality and War Powers Acts.
Congressman John Burden of California.
REP. JOHN BURDEN: If we don't stop the CIA now from
engaging in covert activities to overthrow a government of
another country, we will be involved not just only in Nicaragua,
but throughout Central America.
BERLOW: And Democrat James Oberstar of Minnesota.
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REP. JAMES OBERSTAR: How can we profess to be
advocating peace, through this Caribbean Basin Initiative, and on
the other hand be instigating war by arming and training a group
of people committed to the violent overthrow of a government? In
this country we'd call them communists. But when it's a matter
of Nicaragua, the Reagan Administration provides support and says
this is in the interest of democracy.
BERLOW: The indignation was clear. What was less clear
was the amendment that the House approved. The Chairman of the
Intelligence Committee, Edward Boland of Massachusetts, said he
agreed with the intent of the House, and he disclosed that the
Intelligence Committees in the House and Senate had already
attached a classified annex to the CIA's authorization bill.
That annex said no CIA funds should be used, quote, to overthrow
the government of Nicaragua or to provoke a military exchange
between Nicaragua and Honduras.
But the reports of covert operations have increased
dramatically since the President enacted the CIA authorization in
September. Congressman Tom Harkin proposed a more restrictive
amendment than the one approved yesterday, but it was defeated.
Harkin said today that the language taht was approved contains a
loopholed, bu the insisted the intent of the House was clear: to
cut off CIA funds to the Somozista forces engaged in operations
in Nicaragua. Harkin insisted there was no longer any doubt that
those forces are trying to overthrow the Sandinist government.
Harkin acknowledged, however, that if the amendment became law,
it would be up to Congressman Boland's Intelligence Committee to
see that it's enforce.
REP. TOM HARKIN: I'm suggesting that the CIA will have
to stop doing what it's doing if our Intelligence Oversight
Committee tell them that that is what this amendment means and
that they've got to stop it, and that they're going to exercise
oversight over the CIA to make sure that no more guns and
supplies go to the Somozistas in Honduras. If the Intelligence
Committee doesn't do that, then the CIA can go right ahead on
doing what they want to do.
BERLOW: The Senate has not yet taken up the defense
bill. When it does, Senator Chris Dodd of Connecticut is
expected to propose a two-year cutoff of any direct or indirect
funding for paramilitary groups operating in Central America over
the next two years.
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