Office of the Historian

270. Memorandum for the Record1

NFAC–3712–79
Washington, July 13, 1979

SUBJECT

  • SCC Meeting on Nicaragua, 13 July 1979, White House Situation Room

PARTICIPANTS

  • Warren Christopher, Viron Vaky, John Bushnell, State Department; Zbigniew Brzezinski, White House; Robert Pastor, NSC; Charles Duncan, Gordon Schuller, Defense Department; David Jones, John Pustay, JCS; Robert Bowie, [name not declassified] CIA

1. Ambassador Vaky said Ambassador Pezzullo would try to pin down Somoza on a departure date. General Jones expressed concern about collapse of the Guard when Somoza leaves, but Dr. Brzezinski indicated that the US could not intervene at this stage unilaterally and Latin American nations would not join in a multilateral initiative.

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2. Vaky argued for a US policy of covert action to promote the non-Marxist elements of the FSLN in the power struggle that is expected to follow its victory. He asked that CIA look at the possibility of approaching guerrilla leader Eden Pastora, and Dr. Bowie said this would be done.

3. It was agreed the US would weigh in with the Andean nations this weekend when their foreign ministers meet to ask them to urge the provisional junta to adopt moderate and humane policies.

4. There was brief discussion of the likely Cuban involvement once the new Nicaraguan Government comes to power. Brzezinski believed Havana would send numerous technical and security advisers—in gradually increasing numbers to test the US reaction—but would see nothing to gain by sending combat troops.

  1. Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Office of the Director of Central Intelligence, Job 81B00112R: Subject Files, Box 16, Folder 36: (SCC) Nicaragua. Secret; Sensitive. The meeting took place in the White House Situation Room. Drafted by [name not declassified] on July 16. [name not declassified] sent the memorandum to Turner under a July 16 covering memorandum. For more information about the July 13 SCC meeting, see Document 271.↩