U.S. ALLEGEDLY RAN PRIVATE NETWORK TO ARM 'CONTRAS'

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00965R000605040022-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 20, 2013
• Sequence Number: 22
• Publication Date: June 11, 1986
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/02/20 :CIA-RDP90-009658000605040022-6
.~ ~
ARTfCLE
ON PAG
U.S. allegedly ran.
private network
t0 arlYl `COntrd.S'
~.Bq Robert~Pany~
and Biiau-Barger"
S Assodated Press
WASHINGTON -The White
House, working through outside in-
termediaries, managed a private aid
network that provided military as-
sistance to Nicaraguan rebels during
last year's congressional aid ban, ac-
cording to government officials, reb-
el leaders and their American sup-
porters.
The U.S. intermediaries helped
the rebels with arms purchases,
fund-raising and enlistment of mili-
tary trainers after Congress. in Octo-
ber 1984, barred U.S. officials from
"directly or indirectly" aiding the
"contra" war against Nicaragua's
leftist government.
The old ban lasted through Sep-
tember 1985, when Congress pro-
. vided S27 million In non-lethal as-
sistance but kept restrictions on a
U.S. military role.
The administration's behind-
the-scenes role was described by
more than two dozen sources in in-
terviews over the past 18 months. It
exceeds the description provided by
administration officials who told
Congress last summer that White
House contact with the rebels had
been limited to political advice.
Most sources -flue current and
former U.S. officials, 12 rebel leaders
and eight American supporters of
the contras -insisted on anonymi-
ty.
The sources said Lt. Col. Oliver L.
:.___.'~ BALTIMORE SUN
~ 11 June 1985
North. deputy director for political-
military affairs at the National Secu-
rity Council. oversaw the work of the
interrnediarfes. including conserva-
tive activfet Robert W. Owen and re-
tired Army Maj. Gen. John K. S[ng-
laub.
Mr. Owen. a former Republican
coral aide, operated as a pri-
vate individual' the aid ban
~~N~ n~la ee198
and early 1985. Last fall. he won
850,675 State Department to:
work with the rebels..
One administration otlil close
both men said Mr. Owe acted ae
Co el North's go- n to the,
rebel ement and partf~y_
pate to tary-re ed meetings
that Colone No h "considered
An admini~ration~q~ ~d
Colonel Noah sent m ~vP,a
to the fiel . A former government
ofilcial to the White House said
Colonel orth used Mr. Owen as a
"buffer" when dealing with the old
netwoi~ -the dpzens of conserva-
tive~groups that gave money,
sup lies and training to the rebels
after Congress cut off akl.
~A prominent rebel official said
Mr. Owen "represented North" to
contra: leaders. The rebel said Mr.
Owen helped organize Nicaraguan
Indian military operations in Hondu-
ras anSi establish a 200-man force in
Costa Rica in early 1985.
Two paramilitary trainers, Tom
Posey and Jack Terrell, said Mr. Ow-
en, claiming to represent the U.S.
government, sought their help in
training that new contra force.
Mr. Owen and Colonel North both
refused' comment, as did White
House spokesman Pete Roussel.
Mr. Singlaub, chairman of the
World Anti-Communist League, is
credited by rebel leadtrs with raising
funds internationally for arms pur-
chases and advising them on mili-
tary strategy.
Mr. Singlaub has said the con-
gressional ban stopped Colonel
North from giving him direct "advice
or encouragement." But in an inter-
view last October, he said he had an
arrangement with the colonel that
was "like in the military" when a
junior officer tells his superior what
he plans to do and silence is regard-
ed as approval.
IDle in t_he private aiA nPtmnric ~~f~
tn_e~rly 1984 when Co*+ar~~ an
erect b the CIA's mini of Nicara-
iNa's ar rs -- relect continu
covert CIA su ort of the rebels.
T_he ex-o ci sal a onel
North drafted a clan to replace direct
CIA assistance by using.private indi
victuals and third countries to he
the contras, and that President
Reagan appr+ov e n an n e
sprite of 1984.
Former contra leader Edgar Cha-
monro said that in early 1984, Colo-
nel North assured the Nicaraguan
Democratic Force rebel group "of
continued United States government
support, notwithstanding the refusal
of the Congress to appropriate more
funds,"
Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/02/20 :CIA-RDP90-009658000605040022-6