LUGAR SAYS U.S. MAY SEEK OVERT AID FOR CONTRAS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00965R000504130059-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 27, 2012
• Sequence Number: 59
• Publication Date: February 21, 1985
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/28 :CIA-RDP90-009658000504130059-8
LOS ANGELES TIMcS ~~~~ ~~~,~~
21 February, 1985
L~ ~r Says U.S. ~y Seed Wert A~.d ?or a~ ras
By SARA FP.ITZ and DOYLE Mc?~iANLTS, Times Staf f Writers
WASHINGTON-The Reagan
Adminic~ration, faced with Stiff
opposition in Congress to covert aid
for rebels fighting Nicaragua's left-
ist government, appears to be mov-
ing toward seeking overt funding,
according to the chairman of the
Senate Foreign Relations Commit-
tee. -
Sen. Richard G. Lugaz (R-Ind.)
said that Administration officials
are reviewing a variety of alterna-
tives for financing the rebels,
known as contras,. in an attempt to
? circumvent congressional opposi-
tion to Reagan's .request for S14
million in covert aid for fisca11986.
Overt aid is the leading alternative
now under consideration by Presi-
dentReagan, heindicated. .
In addition, Lugar predicted that
the Administration will increase
the chances of a favorable vote in
Congress by submitting its new aid
proposal to the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee instead of the
Senate Intelligence Committee.
Members of the foreign relations
pa*+Pl are believed to be more
sympathetic to the Admuustra-.
lion's policy in Central America
than are the members of the Intel-
lieence ommittee which oversees
~ covert CIA operations. ,. _
"The conditions that were tied but covert."
around that $14-million proposal Opponents of Reagan's policy in
(bv Con>ress) are not eome to fly Central America would be certain
because they do get back tnto the to challenge any request for overt
covert thin and the Intell~ ence aid to the contras on grounds that
ommittee," he_s_aid. " ut another international law prohibits the U.S.
~mgram might (pass ongress) government from directly funding
and might sttll involve the con- the overthrow of another govern-
u.~,^ ment without a declazation of waz.
Zast year congressional Demo- A senior State Department offi-
crats cut off the off~ciallv secret cial, who requested anonymity,
C1A fundin for the rebels after expressed skepticism that the Ad-
~Pnrilnf' more than on ministration would .request .overt
since 1981 on the covert waz aid and questioned whether such a
against Nicaragua's Sandinista re- _ propposal would be any more popu-
~. Last October, Congress again , tar in Congress than covert aid..,. ~;_:
refused to provide the money but- "Obviously, we'll go where the
set aside Si4 million ~.o be available votes are, but I don't know::how:
in Mazch if both the Senate and they ~~ it's going to work,:' ,he
House vote to release the funding. ~~ - .. _
Skepticism Expressed
White House spokesman Robert
Sims acknowledged that Lugaz has
.been pressing the Administration
to"submit a request to Congress for
overt aid, but he insisted that
Reagan has not yet decided upon a
t
`
stra
egy. ,
. inrough the CIA. . .
"Sen Lugar is looking for some '=
Qractical way to support the rests- Lugar declined to say what types
t.ance forces." he said "but the of overt aid programs are under ,
basic preference on our part still consideration by the Administra-_
would be a program that is legal . tion.
- '. _
Lugar. who discussed the matter
at a dinner with reporters Tuesday
riPht indicated that Secretary of
State George P. Shult2 and .Robert
C. McFarlane, Reagan's national
secun-ty aTviser, are trying to de-.
cide ow a ai wool a admnus-
tered if it is no longer funneled
Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/28 :CIA-RDP90-009658000504130059-8