NICARAGUAN MIGS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00965R000201800008-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 20, 2012
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: August 30, 1985
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

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ST Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/20: CIA-RDP90-00965R000201800008-6
i
WASHINGTON TIMES
ARTICLE APPEARED
ONPAG J4
Nicaraguan MIGs'
Senior officials Plugged into
current intelligence say there's
nothing to the rumor - which
hits the conservative grapevine
every: few months - that "the
United States knows" that Soviet
MiGs have been secretly sta-
tioned in Nicaragua.
One senior administration offi-
cial termed the notion
"ludicrous," adding that Soviet
involyvement of that sort would
"put'the nail in the coffin" of the
upcoming summit. Moreover, he
said, "the people who would be
concerned about such a thing
would be in the bunkers planning
something [and] ... down in the
situation room. They aren't."
Some officials suggest the MiG
rumor is artfully planted disin-
formation, designed to obscure
the possible movement of Czech
L-39 aircraft into Nicaragua.
That would be a major concern,
because these trainer planes can
become lethal ground support
weapons - more sensible for
Nicaraguan fighting. Sandinista
pilots have received training in
L-39s, and Cuba has an excess of
the planes.
- John Elvin
30 August 1985
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/20: CIA-RDP90-00965R000201800008-6