COVERT-ACTION BAR IN NICARAGUA URGED

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP90-00552R000100390027-1
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
K
Document Page Count: 
1
Document Creation Date: 
December 22, 2016
Document Release Date: 
June 22, 2010
Sequence Number: 
27
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
March 16, 1982
Content Type: 
OPEN SOURCE
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PDF icon CIA-RDP90-00552R000100390027-1.pdf55.56 KB
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Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/22 : CIA-RDP90-00552R000100390027-1 ~,.?E D THE WASHINGTOiI POST ON PAG 16 March 1982 Covert-Action Bar I In Nicaragua Urged United P.-_%InWMkonrt Rep. Michael D. Barnes (D-NId.),, saying the administration's Central America policy is based on a "dangerous delusion," introduced legislation. yesterday to bar U.S: backed covert action against Nicaragua's leftist regime. The lee slation; reminiscent of the step Con= gress took in 1975 to. prevent, secret involvement in Angola's civil war, comes amid intense debate over President Reagan's- moves to deter commu- nist encroachment in the hemisphere.. Barnes, who chairs the House inter-American affairs subcommittee, offered his legislation in re- sponse to news reports that. Reagan, approved a $19 million plan to form a CIA-backed paramil- itary force to disrupt the Nicaraguan government and stem a flow of arms to Salvadoran rebels. "This is only the latest in a long series- of re- ports, all undenied - by the administration, of planned covert activity against Nicaragua, he told a news conference. "It is hard to imagine that we would doanything so stupid.."'.. Recalling the CIA's ill-fated Bay of Pigs inva- sion of Cuba in 1961, Barnes said any secret op-_ erations to weaken the Sandinista regime in Ma- nagua would be an ill-advised escalation of strife in the region... Barnes proposed amending the Foreign Assist- ance Act to prohibit the use of U.S. funds for mil= itary or paramilitary- actions against Nicaragua: If enacted, his bill would, in effect, ban most types of covert action. . In another development, the administration was urged in' a letter released yesterday-to delay certi fication that would allow resumption.of military aid and sales to Argentina and Chile until they have improved their human-rights performance In both countries "repression has been institu- tionalized , said Rep. Don-- Bonker (D-Wash.), chairman of the House human.rights subcommit-_ tee, in a March 4. letter to Secretary of Stare Al exander M. Haig Jr. r.:...._...- Bonker's letter was prompted by the adminis- ' tration's decision- to include :$50,000 for military training for both Argentina and -Chile in the se- carity and military aid program for fiscal 1983.. Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/06/22 : CIA-RDP90-00552R000100390027-1