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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, APRIL 13, 1984
After the Senate vote, Nicaragua's Junta coordinator Daniel Ortega praised
the "energetic way in which the American legislators have come out against
the mining of Nicaragua's ports." Asked what his first reaction was to the
Senate resolution, President Reagan replied, "You wouldn't want to hear
it•
II
Nicaragua has clearly been let down off the hook. It once again reverts to
the status of a "privileged sanctuary," much as was Cambodia during the
Vietnam War. The ships from the East Bloc countries now have the green
light to resume shipments of weapons, most of which come from the massive
cache of arms the retreating Americans left behind in Vietnam.
The congressional action might be only the first "shoe" to drop. It is now
considered likely that the entire allotment of funds to support the
"covert" (it has been far from secret for a long time) action against
Nicaragua might be cut off.
By cutting off covert aid, the United States may soon be faced with two grim
choices in Central America:
(1) Abandon the region to the steady nation
by-nation victorious march by forces aligned to Moscow and Cuba, or ( 2)
intervene directly with American forces--with all the turmoi1 that such
action would cause in the streets and on the university campuses of the
United States.
Despite denials by the Defense Department, the NEW YORK TIMES has reported
that contingency plans for the use of American troops are being drawn up "if
the current strategy for defeating leftist forces" in El Salvador and
elsewhere fails.
America's ambassador to the United Nations, Jeane Kirkpatrick, said in a
television interview (ABC's "Nightline") that the world seemed concerned
about Nicaragua's safety, but was not worried about what leftist guerrillas
have done in neighboring El Salvador. She said,
I am very concerned that ...some of our allies seem to be more
concerned, more worried about economic effects in Nicaragua than
the economic devastation that Nicaragua has caused in El Salva
dor. For three years, Nicaragua [meaning guerrillas supported by
Nicaragua] has been bombing electrical stations (and) dams,
murdering peasants and managers of land reform programs-
devastating El Salvador's economy without very much international
concern.
Richard Stone, former special envoy for Central America who resigned this
year, also voiced the opinion that if Congress did not approve $21 million
for covert operations in Nicaragua "there will be an increase in the war,
damage and destruction in El Salvador, probably in Guatemala and maybe even
in Honduras."
Stone told CBS Morning News that while the mining seemed to have had some
effect on the Nicaraguan economy it had been counterproductive in terms of
obtaining resources from Congress. He felt the overall result was "a net
minus." It is obvious that supporting a "covert war" is impossible given
the tension between the Administration and the Congress as to who is really
the Commander-in-chief.