NICARAGUA (MINING)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000303570107-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 12, 2011
• Sequence Number: 107
• Publication Date: April 11, 1984
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/01/12 : CIA-RDP90-00552R000303570107-7
ABC NIGnTLfT
11 April 19814
BELL: Good evening. I'm Steve Bell, and this is Nightline. The alleged CIA
mining of Nicaraguan harbors, is it international terrorism of collective
security, and were members of Congress informed in advance? We'll talk live
tonight with U.S. Ambassador to the.U.N. Jean Kirkpatrick, also with two
senators on opposite sides of the issue, Patrick Leahy of Vermont and John East
of North Carolina. And well have a report from Nicaragua.
ANNDUNCER: This is ABC News Nightline, substituting for Ted Koppel and
reporting from Washington, Steve Bell.
BELL: The House Foreign Affairs Committee joined the Senate today in condemning
alleged CIA involvement of the mining of Nicaraguan harbors. Specifically, it's
a non-binding resolution to deny funds for the mining operation. However, House
leaders say the implications are far greater. It could be the end of all covert
aid for anti-Nicaraguan rebels. Joining us tonight from New York to discuss
this growing controversy the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations
Jeane\Kirkpatrick. Madam Ambassador, so far the government has been unwilling
to say specifically whether or not we are involved. Can you elaborate on that
tonight? JEANE KIRKPATRICK (U.S. Ambassador to the U.N.): No.
BELL: Then let us take it hypothetically if we could please. Assistant
Secretary, or Deputy Secretary of State Kenneth Dam said this afternoon, when
given a hypothetical question, that the U.S. in fact would have a right to mine
harbors in the fashion which is alleged because, he said, it would be an act of
collective security. Could you explain what this means? KIRKPATRICK: Well,
certainly. Actually, under the United Nations charter and under international
law generally, nations have a right to engage in collective security or
individual security, acts that respond to armed attacks by other nations. Now
the point about this all is that Nicaragua has been engaged for a long time,
years now, in armed attacks, determined, consistent, continuing armed attacks
against her neighbors, against El Salvador particularly, but also her other
neighbors. That's a finding that is very well understood. And those other
nations simply have the right to defend themselves and to ask others to help
them defend themselves. That's the point.
BELL: Joining us live now in our Washington bureau, Democratic
Senator\Patrick\Leahv, of Vermont, a member of the Intelligence Committee.
Senator Leahy voted in favor of the resolution condemning the use of U.S. funds
for the mining of Nicaraguan waters. And-joinings us from the Senate gallery,
Republican Senator\John\East, of North Carolina. Senator East was one of only
12 senators who supported the administration and voted against that resolution.
Senator Leahy, let's try to put one thing on the record. Were the appropriate
members of the Congress informed that the U.S. was supporting and in fact
involved in the mining of the harbors? SEN. PATRICK LEAHY (D-Vt.): There still
seems to be a great deal of dispute about that. I felt that I'd been adequately
informed about what was going on prior to the time of the votes last week, when
this.matter was first debated in the Senate. I thought at that time that most
other senators had. I find now that a lot of senators in-both parties,
including many in leadership positions, felt that they had no been, -had not been
informed. The administration argues that back and forth. But I'm, I'm
satisfied that a, a large number of the senators, both parties, had not been
adequately informed.
rn nued
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/01/12 : CIA-RDP90-00552R000303570107-7