DISCLOSURE THREATENS ALL FUNDS FOR REBELS

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP90-00552R000201650043-2
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
K
Document Page Count: 
1
Document Creation Date: 
December 22, 2016
Document Release Date: 
September 15, 2010
Sequence Number: 
43
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
November 26, 1986
Content Type: 
OPEN SOURCE
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PDF icon CIA-RDP90-00552R000201650043-2.pdf97.01 KB
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Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2010/09/15 :CIA-RDP90-005528000201650043-2 Disclosure threatens ail funds for rebels By Rita McWilliams and James Morrison THE. WASHINGTON TIMES WASHINGTON TIMES 26 November 1986 "I don't think it I the Iranian situation I should be determinative of what we do in Central America;' ~Ir. Nunn said. "I think the Reagan administration must understand they cannot abuse democracy here at home and the laws here at home in order to foster or promote democ- racy abroad:' Robert Kagan, an official in the State Department's office of public diplomacy, predicted that Congress will not curtail aid to the rebel forces. "The policy was approved on The elaborate scheme cooked up by a few White House aides to aid the Nicaraguan resistance with profits from Iranian arms deals may end up .killing all U.S. aid to the rebels - including part of the 5100 million package Congress approved in Octo- ber. "I don't know who knew what was oing on, but I suspect it will be a rold day in WWashington before any ore money goes, to ..Nicaragua;' aid Sen. Dade Durenberger, Minne- ota Republican end chairman of the enate Intelligence Committee. ~Ir. Durenberger said, "may have killed" the president's hopes of con- tinuingaid tothe Nicaraguan rebels. A State Department official who asked not to be named said "doubts will be raised" in January, when Con- gress could block the release of as much as 560 million of the 5100 mil- lion in U.S. aid that was approved last month. The new Congress could refuse to release the remaining portion of the SlUO million package by passing a resolution of disapproval. "Che res- olution, however, could be vetoed by the president. A veto could be over- ridden by atwo-thirds vote in the House and Senate. "The issue will be clouded;' the official said. "The perspective will be lost. The issue will not be decided on the merits of trying to overthrow the Sandinistas, but on Iran and the remains supportive of rebel aid, but future support has been "put in jeop- . ardy." chairman of the Senate Armed Ser- vices .Committee next year, said he Scn, Sam Nunn, the Georgia )emocrat in line to become ~.Ulltl'aS:' ympathetic for military aid for the \ational Security Council:' 5cn. Claiborne Pell, who is ex- pected to become chairman of the Senate. la'oreign Relations Commit- tee when Congress reconvenes Jan. fi, said, "Congress may be a tittle less its merits. After the dust settles, Congress will continue to support the policy." Republicans and Democrats yes- terday also called for investigations into possible violations of a law, which expired in October, that banned for two years U.S. military aid to the rebels. The requests for congressional probes came after Attorney General Edwin IVleese III announced yester- day that as much as 530 million Iran paid Israel for American weapons was diverted to the rebel forces. 1~Ir. Meese said National Security Council Deputy Director Oliver North, who was fired from the NSC _ yesterday by President Reagan, is "the only person in the U.S. govern- mentwho knew precisely about" the transfer of funds to rebels battling the iVlarxist Sandinista government. Elliott Abrams, assistant secre- tary of state for inter-American af- fairs, said he did not know the profits from the arms sales were being fun- neled to the rebels. "It is extremely likely the Contras [Nicaraguan resistance forced didn't even know where the monev was coming from;' ;~Ir. Abrams said of deposits made in Swiss bank counts held by the rebel leaders. f North didn't tell the secretary of ate or the DCI I Director of Central telligence William Casey], why gilans?" Rebel leader Adolfo Colero de- nied receiving the funds diverted from the arms sale. ~Ir. Colero also Sanitized Copy Approved for Release denied having a Swiss bank account. Walt Riker, a spokesman for Sen- ate lYlajority Leader Robert Dole, Kansas Republican, said it is prema- ture to speculate on future funding for the rebel forces. "We stay strongly committed to the Contras and the principle they are Fighting for -the Marxist dicta- torship and the nightmare that has resulted," Mr. Riker said. "We have to find out what, if any, laws are broken and get to the bottom of it:' Last year, Congress approved 527 million in non-lethal aid for the reb- els but specified that the U.S. gov- ernment could not provide any addi- tional funds directly or indirectly through a third nation. Xavier Arguello, a rebel spokesman in Washington, said he "regretted" that Col. North. lost his job. He praised Col. North as a man who "risked his career for us be- cause he believed in our cause and the cause of democracy." 2010/09/15 :CIA-RDP90-005528000201650043-2