Foreign Relations of the United States 1977–1980; Volume XV; Central America, 1977–1980

442. Memorandum From the Acting Chief of the Latin America Division, Central Intelligence Agency ([name not declassified]) to Director of Central Intelligence Turner¹

Washington, October 28, 1980

SUBJECT

• Countering the Insurgency in El Salvador

1. The DOD Memorandum dated 8 October 1980, which is directed to the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, follows an earlier DOD memorandum of 9 September 1980, also entitled “Countering the Insurgency in El Salvador”, which was directed to the Deputy Director of this Agency and to which we replied on 22 September 1980.² The suggestions contained in our 22 September reply are still valid; most of them have been incorporated into DOD’s 8 October proposals.

2. We agree with DOD that additional security assistance is needed in response to the insurgency threat in El Salvador and fully support the first two measures proposed: (a) “specialized training in border patrol, intelligence collection, and special operations to help develop capabilities for disrupting the flow of arms and improve basic counterinsurgency techniques”; and (b) replacement of ordnance and other equipment lost or expended in hostile action” and the “dispatch of an ordnance survey team to El Salvador”.

3. We also endorse the extension of the small-scale technical assistance team concept to such areas as public health, road building and agriculture. We acknowledge that the assignment of U.S. MTTs to El Salvador is politically sensitive and will constitute a target for leftist propaganda worldwide. The DOD proposal incorporates our previous suggestions for reducing the visibility of these teams.

4. We support programs to carry out activities authorized in the Presidential Findings on El Salvador and Honduras. With regard to the DOD specific covert action proposals, we have the following comments:

—Programs supporting the interdiction of arms supply to and within El Salvador and the region as a whole. A training program for Salvadoran security forces is underway and DOD has trained Hondurans in border surveillance, helicopter maintenance and use of helicopters in counterinsurgency operations. Our proposal for improvements in airport security, customs and immigration inspection, identification of false documentation, executive protection and bomb disposal has been accepted by Honduran authorities and training will begin late this year or early in 1981. Since Guatemala’s classification as a human rights violator prevents the U.S. from supplying either the training or the equipment needed for such operations, the application of a region-wide arms interdiction program will be difficult. We would, however, welcome any assistance which DOD can provide in this area.

—The identification, infiltration and public exposure of the Cuban covert action structure, personnel and plans. This is one of our major targets and we are actively engaged in operations to achieve this end.

—Expansion of current efforts to infiltrate political and insurgent groups supported by the Cubans. We are actively engaged in efforts to penetrate Cuban-supported groups.

—A broadening of existing media programs to dramatize Cuban subversion in the region as a whole and in El Salvador in particular. This is one of our primary goals and we are working toward orchestrating a regional campaign which will emphasize positive actions by the Salvadoran government in contrast to the negative, subversive role of the Cubans.

5. Because we are actively engaged in efforts to provide selective training to indigenous elements engaged in arms interdiction, and in activities to identify, infiltrate and expose Cuban subversive actions in the area, we believe that any DOD operations in these fields should be undertaken only after they have been coordinated [3 lines not declassified]

6. This Agency welcomes increased DOD participation in operations designed to strengthen the JRG in El Salvador and to help turn the tide of rising Cuban-supported insurgency in Central America.

[name not declassified]

1. Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Office of the Director of Central Intelligence, Job 82M00501R: 1980 Subject Files, Box 12, Folder 9: Latin America. Secret. Sent through Carlucci and the Acting Deputy Director for Operations. Carlucci did not initial the memorandum; [name not declassified] concurred on the Acting Deputy Director for Operations’ behalf on October 29. Portions of this memorandum were reprinted under the subject heading: “DCI comments on DOD memorandum of 8 October 1980, Subject: Countering the Insurgency in El Salvador,” in the Carter Library, Brzezinski Donated Material, Subject File, Box 24, Meetings—Muskie/Brown/Brzezinski, 10/80–1/81.
2. For Brown’s October 8 memorandum, see Document 439. McGiffert’s September 9 memorandum to Carlucci is attached but not printed. Also attached but not printed is Carlucci’s September 22 memorandum to McGiffert.