LAWMAKERS, June 7, 1984 - Contras
LAWMAKERS, June 7, 1984 - Contras
LAWMAKERS, June 7, 1984 - Contras
LAWMAKERS, June 7, 1984 - Contras
Paul Duke report on Latin American Policy debate in Congress, with many members incensed to learn that CIA helped Contras to mine the harbors of Nicaragua.
LAWMAKERS, June 7, 1984 - Contras
Air Force One taxiing on runway. George Shultz, Secretary of State, exiting Air Force One in Nicaragua. George Shultz meeting with Daniel Ortega.
LAWMAKERS, June 7, 1984 - Contras
Nicaragua. Contras opening crates of guns and ammunition in wooded area. Group of Contras marching across clearing. Contra camp.
LAWMAKERS, June 7, 1984 - Contras
DO NOT USE Newspaper article.
LAWMAKERS, June 7, 1984 - Contras
Washington DC Capitol building with blooming flowers in foreground.
LAWMAKERS, June 7, 1984 - Contras
House Chamber podium. Representative Edward Boland ( D - Massachusetts) arguing in well against funding Contras. We simply must not appropriate one more penny to wage a war that has caused our allies to wonder at our sense of proportion, that has turned Central America into an armed camp, that has failed to achieve any of its stated and sometimes conflicting aims, that has only strengthened the resolve of the Sandinistas.
LAWMAKERS, June 7, 1984 - Contras
George Shultz, Secretary of State standing at a podium.
LAWMAKERS, June 7, 1984 - Contras
Senator Paul Tsongas ( D - Massachusetts ) You have for the first time, the United States speaking to the Sandinistas, rather than dealing with them in terms of stereotypes, now sitting down and talking. The United States is in a basically weakened position because the Contras have moved in supporting themselves in disarray with the recent bombing of Pastora headquarters. Plus the Congress has now moved to cut off aid to the Contras. So ironically the administration is in a position where hand has been strengthened, its anti-Sandinista hand in Nicaragua has been weakened. Which is the ideal time to go in and start negotiating with the Sandinistas. Paul Duke. Was Secretary Shultz s trip a good thing? Paul Tsongas. Some people have criticized it as being an election year ploy. My own view is even if that s true, the fact is that the two people sat down, Ortega, the commandant and Shultz sat down for two and a half hours, and only good can come of that. Shultz is not a confrontational kind of human being, so I think having him there is very positive. Paul Duke. What did Secretary Shultz tell you about his meeting with the Nicaraguan leader? Paul Tsongas. One thing he said was that he was particularly appreciative of the fact that the Sandinistas had put an American flag behind him during the discussions. He could just sort of sense that this may be the beginning of a more rational discourse. Paul Duke. How do you think Congress will now respond? Paul Tsongas. In the case of the question of the Sandinistas and aid to the Contras, there are two arguments. 1) The administration wants the money for the Contras so they have a bargaining chip with the Sandinistas. But the counter-argument, which I think is even more persuasive, is that the administration never negotiated until the aid was cut off to the Contras. So you can argue that the cutting off of aid is what brought the administration to some rational view of negotiations. Paul Duke. Are you concerned, Senator, by the perception that some people have that the Democrats are soft on Communism in Central America? Paul Tsongas. If you are truly anti-Communist the question should be how do you stop it - not how do you knee-jerk react to the forces of Marxism in the third world. Paul Duke. Are you worried, Senator, that unless Democracy is restored to this troubled region, that Central America will be engulfed by Marxism? Paul Tsongas. I think that Marxism is an increasingly weak system in terms of appeal. And the only places you see it take root, are situations where you have extreme injustice. So I think, in fact history is going our way if we just let it run its course. Paul Duke. Are you now more optimistic then? Paul Tsongas. I think if we handle ourselves with some rationality, the future is ours in Central America. If we just do it without paranoia I think Central America is pretty much ours.