rrizzo@bbncca.ARPA (Ron Rizzo) (02/22/86)
Today the Reagan administration leaked a secret CIA copy of a purported Sandinista gov't document that details ambitious plans for influencing foreign opinion Nicaragua through church and human rights groups, network news coverage, and congresspoeple. The CIA opposed the leak, deploring the use of intelligence for partisan political purposes (Reagan wants to pressure congress to approve $100 million more in military aid to the contras); it will probably also be used to tar opponents with the charge of being puppets (without strings, maybe?) of Managua. Those who saw the report called it "fascinating," far exceeding any attempt to influence official and public US opinion by Castro or during the Indochina War. If true, it would emphasize once again the tremendous importance the comandantes have placed on foreign opinion, and would show much of pro-Sandinista testimony as the product of a massive and very deliberate orchestration of opinion. For years now, the FSLN has retained the services of a leading New York public relations agency. Recently, as many as 4 reports on human rights abuses in Nicaragua have appeared (sadism apparently flourishes when congress convenes or Reagan begs for cash!): 2 from WOLA and AI, plus 2 others (does anybody know what these are? The WOLA report lists tortures, rapes, and murder of civilians (139 cases) by the FSLN as well as contras, THE FSLN ACCOUNTING FOR AS MANY AS ONE QUARTER OF THE CASES. I wonder if this is the result of recent criticism of WOLA and other organizations who may tend to favor the FSLN? Ron Rizzo