ABROAD AT HOME SAY IT AIN'T SO PAT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88B00443R001500060067-6
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 25, 2008
• Sequence Number: 67
• Publication Date: April 2, 1984
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Approved For Release 2008/11/25: CIA-RDP88B00443RO01500060067-6
A a/ L % V/ l/ I& a A . i Y i L/ ?
Say It Ain't So, Pat
By Anthony Lewis
BOSTON, April 1- Daniel Patrick
Moynihan of New York is one of the
smartest members of the United
States Senate. Unusual for an intel-
lectual, he also operates effectively in
the legislative process. He has made
himself an influential figure in the
Senate.
Senator Moynihan is using his tal-
ents right now for a surprising pur-
pose: to continue American support
of a guerrilla war against the Govern-
ment of Nicaragua. It is surprising
because that covert war violates prin-
ciples of international behavior to
which Pat Moynihan would usually be
devoted - "civilized and peaceful
behavior," in his phrase. And his role
in rallying Senate votes for the covert
aid has been crucial. '
The Reagan Administration has se-
cretly supplied and advised the Nica-
raguan contras for two years, as their
military activities have built up.
They have carried out terrorist raids
from across the Honduran border,
bombed oil terminals and mined
Nicaraguan' harbors. Recently a
Soviet tanker hit one of the mines.
The contras proclaim their inten-
tion to overthrow the Sandinista Gov-
ernment of Nicaragua. U.S. involve-
ment in their activities has aroused
widespread concern in Congress -
understandably so, given the general
American opposition to terrorism and
the violent overthrow of govern-
ments. The Democratic-controlled
House has voted to end all covert
assistance to the contras.
But the Senate has so far kept the
U.S. aid going, and Senator Moyni-
han's influence has been critical. Last
month the Senate Intelligence Com-
mittee voted 14-0 to approve $21 mil-
lion in new funds for the contras.
Senator Moynihan is vice chairman of
the committee, and he pushed a for-
mula that quieted opposition.
The formula is to give the aid for
what Senator Moynihan calls
"strictly limited objectives." The
arms and money would be designated
not to help the contras overthrow the
Nicaraguan Government but only to
interdict shipments of arms to El Sal-
vador and elsewhere.
The Senate began floor debate last
week on this and other Reagan Ad-
ministration programs for Central
America, and Senator Moynihan's
leadership on the covert aid issue was
evident. For example, Senator David
Durenberger of Minnesota, a moder-
ate Republican, expressed deep
doubts about Administration policy-
it "may have our support," he said,
"but it does not yet merit our confi-
dence." But he said he would go along
with Senator Moynihan.
There was an embarrassment for
Senator Moynihan just as the debate
started. President Reagan, in an in-
terview with The New York Times, in
effect embraced the contras' aim of
overthrowing the Nicaraguan Gov-
ernment. He said he saw "no dichot-
omy" in U.S. support for the contras
and for the Government side in El
Salvador, because both were de-
signed to bring about "democratic
'rule."
To this Senator Moynihan gave the
back of his oratorical hand.
"The President has misstated his
own policy," he said in a floor speech.
"If we vote to approve the additional
$21 million ... we do nbt.vote to do
what the President says he would like
to see done. [The policy] is not directed
to the overthrow of the Government of
Nicaragua or otherwise to interfere un-
duly in Its-internal affairs:"--
In other words, the contras say they
are out to overthrow the Government
of Nicaragua, President Reagan says
he wants the same thing, butAmerican
aid to the contras can be "strictly lim-
ited" to narrower objectives. When Pat
Moynihan was a professor, what would
he have done with a student who made
such an argument? He would have
laughed the student out of the room,
that's what.
Of -course there is no way for Con-
gress effectively to place nice limits on
the scope of such a covert aid program.
The contras will use the guns,.and how
will Congress be able to say whether
shooting up a Nicaraguan village was
designed to interdict arms? ' "
And of course Pat Moynihan under-
stands all that. Why, then, is he lending
his talents to such a dubious -rause?
Maybe he places so much importance
on the nonpartisan character of the in-
telligence Committee that he feels
compelled to try to work out a compro-
mise position on this prickly Issue.
But there is no real way of fudging
the issue of aid to the contras. Latin
America sees the choice as.trying to
work out a regional settlement with
the Sandinistas or,.. alternatively,
using U.S. power'to overthrow them.
If the aid goes on, who in the world'
will not smile cynically the next time
a U.S. representative denounces sub-
version or terrorism? ' - .
It happens also that opposition to the
covert aid program is one position on
which all leading -Democrats are
agreed this election year. Even Walter
Mondale, with all his talk about not
"pulling the plug" in Central America,
is against continued aid to the contras.
It is a puzzle that Pat Moynihan should
choose to provide the intellectual basis
for Senate support of such an opera.
tion. .. . -
THE NEW YORK TIMES
2 April 1984
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 Approved For Release 2008/11/25: CIA-RDP88B00443RO01500060067-6
111L UIMLLUI
2 April 1984
NOTE FOR: DDCI
Clair George
See attached Anthony Lewis column from
today's NEW YORK TIMES. Quote from the
President is what Goldwater called me about
on Friday night. He thinks it needs to be
clarified in order not to harm votes tomorrow.
The White House should be notified and then
report back to Goldwater that it has been
done.
William J. Casey
Attachment:
Article as above
a
Approved For Release 2008/11/25: CIA-RDP88B00443RO01500060067-6