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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, APRIL 29, 1983
PAGE 9
The President then discussed the courage of the people of El Salvador who
turned out in record numbers to vote in March 28th of last year, despite
threats of the guerrillas who warned "Vote today, die tonight!" He said
that the common people were "the real freedom fighters" of El Salvador, not
the guerrillas who have conducted a war of devastating economic sabotage
against the country. He quoted Secretary of State Shultz's comments about
the guerrillas--"and these are the people who claim they want to help the
common people."
The President came down hard on the Marxist government of Nicaragua for the
repression of its own countrymen and for exporting revolution to other
parts of Central America. Near the end of his address, the President placed
the embattled region in vivid geopolitical as well as human terms, empha
sizing its importance to the United States.
The goal of the professional guerrilla movement in Central
America is as simple as it is sinister--to destabilize the entire
re �ion � the Panama Canal to Mexico.�If you doubt me on this
point, Just consider what Cayetano Carpio, the now-deceased Sal
vadoran guerrilla leader, said earlier this month. Carpio said
that after El Salvador falls, El Salvador and Nicaragua would be
"arm-in-arm and struggling for the total liberation of Central
America•••."
Must we sit J2.y while independent nations of this hemisphere are
integratecr-into the most aggressive empire the modern world has
seen? Must we wait while Central Americans are driven from their
homes, like themore than 4 million who have sought refuge out of
Afghanistan or the 1-1/2 million who have fled Indochina or the
more than 1 million Cubans who have fled Castro's Caribbean
utopia. Must we, by default, leave the people of El Salvador no
choice but to flee their homes, creating another tragic human ex
odus'? ....
We cannot be certain that the Marxist-Leninist bands who believe
war is an instrument of politics will be readily discouraged. It
is crucial that we not become discouraged before they do. Other
� ise the region's freedom will be lost and� security damaged
1:.!!
ways that� hardly be calculated.
If Central America were to fall, what would the consequences be
for our position in Asia and Europe, and for alliances such as
NATO? If the United States cannot respond to! threat.!!!.!!�
own borders, w 3 y should Europeans or Asians believe we are seri
"ously concerne about threats to them? If the Soviet"'s"can assume
that nothing short of an actuaI'" attack on the United States will
provoke an American response, which ally, which friend will trust
us then?.••
What the Administration is asking for on behalf of freedom in
Central America in 1984 is about $600 million; that is less than
one-tenth of what Americans will spend this year on coin-operated
video games.
In summation, I sai to you that tonight there can be no question:
The national security of all the Americas is at stake in Central