Word: nicaragua
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Covert operations go better when they remain covert. Yet U.S. funding and CIA direction of the contras fighting the Sandinista government in Nicaragua have long been among Washington's most openly debated topics. It has been no secret either that the CIA has been funneling arms and supplies to the fighters in Afghanistan who have been battling the five-year-old Soviet occupation. The clandestine supply route through Pakistan has been widely reported. The U.S. Senate even voted unanimously last Oct. 3 to approve a resolution declaring that "it would be indefensible to provide the freedom fighters with only...
...help the Afghan insurgents in the current fiscal year and that this was more than twice what was spent a year earlier. An intelligence source told TIME that the more precise level is $250 million. This is more than ten times the $24 million spent last year on the Nicaragua operation...
...Crimson Forum articles of November 17, "Ted Koppel Blames the Victim," is typical of today's trendy, but misguided thought on the issue of Nicaragua. The writer takes at face value the pious assertions of the Nicaraguan foreign ministers, throws in a little international law, and comes out painting the U.S. as an unprovoked aggressor in Central America. International law is a worthwhile thing, and is useful when the parties involved share an accepted notion of the global balance of power. However, there are many powers who do not respect such a notion, and are thus revolutionary in their efforts...
...with a severly destabilizing nuclear threat from Cuba. Indeed, the folloy of this legalistic position becomes quite evident when you realize that it would make the courageous actions of President Kennedy into the crimes of an outlaw state. In the same way, the covert war and the mining of Nicaragua's harbors are legally indefensible, but vitally necessary actions in our policy toward the Sandinistas. It was only through these "illegal" pressures that the Sandinistas decided to negotiate, and even agree to the Contadora accord. While one may consider the Administration foolish for not taking them up on the offer...
Finally, the Crimson article airs the assertion that the Administration would invade Nicaragua if it had the public's support. While I can't be sure that this isn't the case, it is hardly a cuase for alarm. If the government and people of the United States decided that Nicaragua was a menace to our security, it would be folly for us not to defend ourselves. In the same manner, Israel would be justified in taking military action if Col. Khaddafy developed nuclear weapons. The issue is not one of law, involving guilt or innocence, but one of survival...