THE LAROUCHE CONNECTION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91-00901R000500240002-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 8, 2000
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: November 19, 1984
• Content Type: MAGAZINE

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ARTICLE limpliaMd For Release 204,141r/p&IgIA-RDP91-00901
ON PAGE /.5- 19 November 1984
How the leaders of a lunatic fringe won access
to Administration officials, and with it, respectabili
THE LAROUCHE CONNECTIO
BY DENNIS KING AND RONALD RADOSH
OVER THE PAST YEAR, innumerable television view-
ers have tuned into Lyndon H. LaRouche Jr.'s paid
political speeches on national TV and have watched the
62-year-old multimillionaire waging his Presidential cam-
paign, the main themes of which are support for the
Reagan Administration's "star wars" policy and attacks
on Walter Mondale and Henry Kissinger as "Soviet agents
of influence." Many bemused viewers may also recall
brief encounters, through the years,
with LaRouche's followers at major
airports across the nation, where they
attract customers for their pamphlets
and magazines by displaying posters
such as "Feed Jane Fonda to the
Whales."
The fanatical worldview underly-
ing LaRouche's public activities is
well known in Washington, and he
has been roundly denounced by or-
ganizations and media outlets as di-
verse as ihe A.F.L.-C.I.O., the Heri-
tage Foundation, The New York Times,
and the National Review. The Anti-
Defamation League of B'nai B'rith has
accused him of "the injection of anti-
Semitic poison into the American political bloodstream."
Yet over the past four years, this same LaRouche and his
followers have gained repeated access to a wide range of
Administration officials?including high-level aides at the
National Security Council and the Central Intelligence
Agency?who have found LaRouche as useful in supply-
ing information and promoting their policies as LaRouche
has found them in legitimizing his cause.
The basis of LaRouche's effort is his cadre organization,
the National Caucus of Labor Committees (N.C.L.C.),
which controls assorted front groups and enjoys close ties
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to the Ku Klux Klan. The most visible arms are the Fusion
Energy Foundation (F.E.F.), which promotes nuclear
power and beam weapons, and the National Democratic
Policy Committee (N.D.P.C.), an electoral machine on the
fringes of the Democratic Party. The N.D.P.C. backed La-
Rouche for President in the recent primaries and is now
supporting his campaign as an independent. In addition,
LaRouche and his followers operate an international
"press service" which publishes the
weekly Executive Intelligence Review
(EIR) (subscription price, $399 per
year) and has provided freelance in-
telligence reports for many foreign
governments, including the Republic
of South Africa.
As soon as Ronald Reagan took of-
fice, LaRouche's well-educated, artic-
ulate followers fanned out to various
executive departments and to the of-
fices of leading Republican Congres-
sional figures. The LaRouchians, as
they are commonly called, presented
themselves as ardent supporters of
Administration policies and testified
at confirmation hearings in favor of
key Reagan appointees. In Reagan's first year, they ob-
tained direct access to many high-level persons, and the
Ell? printed edited transcripts of what were described as
interviews?or, in some cases, "exclusive" interviews?
with Agriculture Secretary John Block, Defense Under-
secretary Richard DeLauer, Commerce Undersecretary
Lionel Olmer, then Treasury Undersecretary Norman
Ture, Assistant (now Associate) Attorney General Lowell
Jensen, and Senator John Tower, chairman of the Senate
Armed Services Committee. In addition, LaRouche him-
self managed to get on the invitation list for a March 26,
1981, breakfast meeting with Interior Secretary James
Watt; and two of his aides breakfasted with Watt the fol-
lowing week.
According to former LaRouchians, one of the people the
N.C.L.C. attempted to cultivate was Labor Secretary Ray-
mond Donovan. In 1982, when allegations about illegal
activities involving Donovan's Schiavone Construction
Company and organized crime were under probe by fed-
Continued
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ARTICLE
ON PAGE
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For Release k uiTrO
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ovem.t WirRDP91-009
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By ROBERT A. RANKIN
Of The Herald's Editorial Board
THE POSSIBILITY that Nicara-
gua might deploy Soviet MG 21
combat aircraft raises difficult
questions of whether and when
U.S. military
force would be
justified to stop
them. To -a de-
gree unseen
since before the
Vietnam War,
the Reagan Ad-
ministration
last week con-
veyed a willing-
ness to inter-
vene militarily
abroad to advance U.S. foreign-
policy goals.
As it turned out, by the weekend
it appeared that Washington's
alarm over the MiGs probably was
premature. Suppose, however,
that the Soviets had sent the MiGs.
Washington has warned Moscow
since 1981 that delivery of such
high-performance combat aircraft
to the Sandinista regime would be
"unacceptable." That warning
was repeated last week.
What does "unacceptable"
mean? It means, officials said, that
Washington would demand that
the Nicaraguans send the planes
back, or else. Or else what? "The,
pmary option isarly an air-
stnke7 conceded Bobby Ray In-
man in a television interview
Friday. Until recently Inman was
the Number Two man at the
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
curr-a-riTor made the implicit
threat explicit.
No sooner did the MIG scare
break than parallels were being
drawn to the 1983 U.S. invasion of
Grenada, even to the 'Cuban Mis-
sile Crisis of 1962. Those parallels
do not hold, however. In 1962, the
threat was the installation of
Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba.
That was a direct and massive
threat to American national secu-
rity, clearly warranting President
Kennedy's resort to limited mili-
tary force.
Last year in Grenada, terrorists
murdered the government's lead-
.1.4??
ers and presented a clear and
immediate danger to some 1,000
U.S. citizens. Neighboring demo-
cratic islands lacked defenses of
their own, felt threatened, and
appealed for U.S. military inter-
vention, President Reagan decided
that negotiating with terrorists
was too risky when time was of
the essence, and invaded. As in
1962, such military action was
jlstified.
IvliGs in Nicaragua would pres-
eni a less-clear challenge. No one
contends that they would threaten
U.S. national security directly.
Rather, the MiGs would under-
mine Central America's balance of
power. They could threaten neigh-
boring U.S. allies such as Costa
Rica, Honduras, and El Salvador,
which lack comparable weapons.
They could ignite a costly arms
race among nations that do not
need and cannot afford one, and
they could provide Nicaragua the
military means to impose its
political will through psychologi-
cal bullying,', if not, by force.
Potentially, they could threaten
the Panama Canal.
Thus presence of the MiGs
'clearly would set back U.S. inter-
ests in the region. Obviously the
United States must oppose their
introduction; but how? The justifi-'
cation for opposing them by
pre-emptive air strike is less than
obvious.
Martin Feinrider, a law profes-
sor at Nova University, argues
that the United States would
trample over international law by
such a strike. The United Nations
Charter and the Organization of
American States treaty clearly
forbid such military intervention.
The Monroe Doctrine might seem
to provide a justifying rationale,
but it enjoys no standing in law.
Besides, Nicaragua would not be
hosting a Soviet base by this
provocation; it only would be
taking control of weapons of
Soviet manufacture. President
Monroe did not address such
problems.
What gives the United States the
right to dictate the structure and
composition of a foreign nation's
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armed forces? As a sovereign
state, Nicaragua has the legal right
to build such defenses as it deems
.necessary. As Feinrider observes,
Nicaragua is under attack by the
CIA-backed contra guerrilla
forces. Air raids 1V?the contras do
occur. And U.S.-built air strips in
Honduras potentially threaten Nic-
aragua with air invasion. Nicara-
gua thus may well believe that it
needs combat aircraft for defen-
sive purposes. Washington per-
suaded France not to sell such
planes to Nicaragua. When the
West refuses to sell a nation
weapons, the Communist East is
the only alternative, even if the
Sandinista regime does turn to it
gladly.
A negotiated agreement banning
sophisticated weaponry such as
the MiGs from the region, as the
Contadora process seeks, would be
the preferred solution. But neither
the United States nor Nicaragua
has shown much inclination to be
bound by Contadora. Some differ-
ences can't be resolved by negotia-
tion. Sometimes only force,' or its
threat, persuades iron-willed an-
tagonists to compromise or yield.
Why not wait until Nicaragua
actually uses MiGs against another
state before intervening by force?
What gives America the right to
conduct pre-emptive international
police actions, a sort of confiscato-
ry gun control on a global scale?
International law and morality
might seem to raise such Ques-
tions, but the Reagan Administra-
tion apparently prefers to nip this
threat in the bud, before it sprouts
. more thorns, such as missiles. By
such thinking, might makes right.
Great Powers have Responsibili-
ties and Spheres of. Influence.
The Reagan Administration be-
lieves that this is the way the
world works, that these are the
only rules that the Soviets under-
stand. It may be right; it certainly
is in power for another four years.
For better or worse, the post-
Vietnam Syndrome of paralyzing
U.S. reluctance to employ or
threaten force in pursuit of for-
eign-policy goals is over.
World, take note.
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9 November 1984 -
INICARAGUA/IGUMBEL: On Close pp this morning, we look to the threat
IINMANIof sophisticated fighter air craft in Nicaragua. It was
reported yesterday that a Soviet cargo ship, suspected by
U.S. officials of carrying MiG fighter planes, had docked
in the Nicaraguan port of Corinto. For an analysis of the
situation, we are joined this morning by former Deputy
Director of the CIA Adm. Bobby Inman, who's in our NBC
affiliate WTVV in Austin, Texas, this morning and good
morning, Admiral. BOBBY INMAN (former deputy director,
CIA): Good morning, Mr. Gumbel.
GUMBEL: Based on the evidence you've seen, do you believe
there are MiGs in Nicaragua? INMAN: Really can't tell
whether they're there yet or not, Mr. Gumbel. We know that
they'd begun making plans to receive them almost three
years ago when they sent pilots off to Bulgaria to be
trained, but usually where the MiGs, they can be shipped
in crates below deck and we really won't know that they're
there until we seem them unloaded.
GUMBEL: Just how seriously would the presence of Soviet
MiGs upset the balance in Central America? INMAN: It
totally changes the balance. The threat clearly would
extend to Costa Rica, to Honduras as well as El Salvador.
There is no defensive reason that Nicaragua needs to move
to high-powered jet aircraft. Only if they've got
offensive intentions to help support, export a revolution
in the hemisphere.
GUMBEL: You heard the news this morning. The possibility
now exists that those crates contained Czech-built L39ZA
type aircraft. Now, that's just numbers to me. How do
those type of aircrafts compare to MiGs? INMAN: I've not
seen crates that carry those helicopters, Mr. Gumbel, so I
really can't give you a flat, outright answer. Crateology
is a, is a science. It's not an exact science. We know
generally the size of crates that are used. We watched
them over the years and you remember that, well, it goes
back all the way to the Cuban missile crisis. The
handling...
GUMBEL: Well, you... INMAN: The handling of this
shipment out of a port from which they ship all kinds of
arms is not unusual. What is unusual is the route taken,
all the way around Cape Horn and up to the Pacific coast.
The appearance of wanting to slip something in quietly and
I think that's what really raised the suspicion that it
was going to turn out to be the introduction of the MiGs,
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rather than simply helicopters.
GUMBEL: We've been looking at, at, at the crates. You
tell us. Physically, how much of a MiGs fuselage could
even fit in those crates? INMAN: Actually, there are
different crates for different size of aircraft, but the
entire fuselage, not yet assembled, of course, obviously
the wings have to be separate and the tail sections, but
they can contain the basic frame of the MiG-21.
GUMBEL: If the MiGs are in Nicaragua, when might we know
for certain? I mean, how long can, can the Sandinistas
even hope to keep their presence a secret? INMAN: In
other places, in Cuba at earlier times, they were able to
keep secret the arrival until they began the assembly
process itself. Once they begin the assembly and want to
roll them out to be tested, at that point they will become
detectable.
GUMBEL: This is a, this is a very touchy question, but
the administration is saying the MiGs will be removed if
they are in fact there. You're a military man. Within
reason, how could they be removed? What are the options?
INMAN: The primary option is clearly air strike, whether
by land-based air, or carrier-based air. Back in '82 when
we knew they they were already raiding air fields and that
the pilots were finishing their primary training in
Bulgaria, the Soviets were told clearly that introduction
of MiG aircraft into Nicaragua was an escalation that
would not be acceptable and for two years we've seen no
sign of it. I'm out of any direct touch, so I don't know
what prompts this to come up now and I, you know, I don't
even rule out the possibility that the Soviets were sort
of testing us with this process just to see if we really
meant we would react and that they never had the intention
to ship MiGs at this point in time, but they clearly have
known since early '82 that the U.S. would consider it a
very major escalation.
GUMBEL: One final note. There are also, as you noted,
reports of sophisticated attack helicopters being, being
delivered. To some Pentagon officials, those helicopters
are more threatening to Nicaragua's neighbors than the
MiGs. Do you agree? INMAN: The helicopters clearly
would have a potential significant impact on Nicaragua's
fight with the contras, but I do not see them as a
significant threat to Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador.
The aircraft in the Honduran air force could deal with the
threat of the helicopters. They could not deal with the
MiG-21s.
GUMBEL: Adm. Bobby Inman, thank you very much for you
insights. Have a good weekend, sir. INMAN: Thank you,
sir.
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ARTrir. 1(.7:EARED
C:1 r:
CIA Confirms
-Officials Met
:With LaRouche
United Press Internafional,"
Lyndon LaRouche, a coriserva-
five politician who says former sec-
retary of state Henry Kissinger and
Queen Elizabeth are part of an in-
ternational conspiracy, has met
with top CIA officials, apparently on
matters of national security, the
agency acknowledged yesterday.
? A spokeswoman was commenting
on a report in the The New Repub-
lic magazine, a weekly journal pub-
lished in Washington, that
- LaRouche has had repeated access
to high-level officials in the admin-
istration, particularly in the CIA.
: The magazine said LaRouche
: met personally with Adm. Bobby
Ray Inman when he was deputy di-
rector of the CIA and with Inman's
, successor, John McMahon, to dis-
cuss intelligence matters. These
. meetings took place at the CIA's
tightly restricted headquarters in
; Langley, according to CIA officials.
CIA spokeswoman Kathy Pher-
^ son said, "We have an obligation to
talk to U.S. citizens wha travel
: abroad and who believe they have
: information of national security val-
ue to offer.
"I believe that [LaRouche1 did
; meet with Mr. Inman once, and he
met with aides to John McMahon
once and both times at his initiation."
- , LaRouche, who claims that Kiss-
inger, Queen Elizabeth and the So-
viet KGB are plotting to take over
the world, is running as an indepen-
dent for president. He has attacked
i Walter Mondale as "a conscious
agent of Soviet influence."
WASHINGTON POST
2 November 1984
The magazine also reported in its
Nov. 19 edition, published yesterday,
that LaRouche and his organization
played a significant role in promoting
the administration's "Star Wars" plan
for ballistic missile defense.
The magazine said LaRouche aides
met often with Dr. Ray Pollock during
1982-83 when Pollock, as director of
defense programs at the National Se- '
curity Council, was working on the
policy underlying Reagan's speech on
"Star Wars" space weaponry.
Deputy White House press secre-
tary Peter Roussel said Wednesday,
"We're not aware of any such activity
going on."
The Larouche campaign said Wed-
nesday the article "is rife with egre-
gious errors of fact." '
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UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL
1 November 1984
LAROUCHE ST/VI-NIL
WASHINGTON (UPI) -- RIGHT-WING POLITICIAN LYNDON LAROUCHE HAS HAD
REPEATED ACCESS TO HIGH-LEVEL OFFICIALS IN THE REAGAN ADMINISTRATION:
PARTICULARLY THE CIA: THE NEW REPUELIC SAID WEDNESDAY.
LAROUCHE, A FORMER TROTSKYIST WHO CLAIMS THAT HENRY KISSINGER:
QUEEN ELIZABETH AND THE SOVIET K.G.S. ARE PLOTTING TO TAKE OVER THE
WORLD: IS RUNNING RS AN 'INDEPENDENT DEMOCRRT' FOR PRESIDENT. HE HRS
ATTACKED WALTER MONDALE AS 'A CONSCIOUS AGENT OF SOVIET INFLUENCE.'
THE MAGAZINE ALSO REPORTED THAT LARONNE AND HIS ORGANIZATI.ON
FLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN PROMOTING THE ADMINISTRATION'S 'STAR
WARS PLAN FOR BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE,
THE LAROUCHE CAMPAIGN COULD NOT LE REACHED FOR COMMENT BUT DEPUTY
WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY PETER ROUSSEL SAID, 'WE'RE NOT AWARE OF
ANY SUCH ACTIVITY GOING ON.'
AMONG ? THE FINDINGS IN THE REPORT TO EE FUELISHED IN THE MAGAZINE
THIS WEEKEND:
--BETWEEN EARLY .1981 AND i954 LAROUCHE AND HIS AIDES MET
FREQUENTLY TO DISCUSS NATIONAL SECURITY MATTERS WITH DR. NORMAN
SAILEY: WHO WAS THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL'S SENIOR DIRECTOR OF
IMTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC AFFAIRS: AND WITH RICHARD MORRIS: A SPECIAL
ASSISTANT TO FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER WILLIAM CLARK.
--LAROUCHE MET PERSONALLY WITH ADMIRAL SOEEY RAY INMAN WHEN HE WAS
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE CIA AND WITH AIDES TO INMAN'S SUCCESSOR: JOHN
MCMAHON TO DISCUSS INTELLIGENCE MATTERS. THESE MEETINGS TOOK PLACE IN
CIA HEADQUARTERS IN LANGLEY: VA., OUTSIDE WASHINGTON..
--THE PENTAGON HAS ASSISTED LAROUCHE BY PROVIDING DEFENSE
DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS: INCLUDING BRIG. GEN. ANTHONY SMITH: PRINCIPAL
DIRECTOR FOR EUROPEAN AND NATO POLICY IN THE INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
POLICY DIVISION: TO SPEAK AT MEETINGS HELD BY LAROUCHE'S SCHILLER
INSTITUTE.
--LAROUCHE RIDES MET FREQUENTLY WITH DR. RAY POLLOCK DURING i9E2
AND i983 WHEN POLLOCK: AS DIRECTOR OF DEFENSE PROGRAMS AT THE NSC:
WAS WORKING ON THE POLICY UNDERLYING REAGAN'S STAR WARS SPEECH.
LAROUCHE ADVOCATES AN ALL-OUT STAR WARS EFFORT: CLAIMING THAT BEAM
WEAPONS ARE NEEDED TO PROTECT THE UNITED STATES FROM SOVIET MISSILES.
HF HAS ALSO ADVOCATED AN ATOMIC: EIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL WAR WITH THE
SOVIETS.
HIS FOLLOWERS ARE BEST KNOi4N FOR STANDING IN AIRPORT TERMINALS,
WEARING 'FEED JANE FONDA TO THE104hALESe *BUTTONS AND SELLING MAGAZINES
A'AOUT LASER BEAM WEAPONS AND NUCLEAR ENERGY.
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