U.S. steps up war against Nicaragua

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In a series of media "leaks" and protests by prominent Democratic and Republican politicians in recent weeks, the hand of U. S. imperialism as instigator and paymaster of the counterrevolutionary forces in Central America has been revealed more clearly than ever. A wide spectrum of ruling class political opinion-including even arch-conservative Republican Senator Barry Goldwater-was compelled to protest the mining of Nicaraguan waters.

A report by Joel Brinkley in the April 22 New York Times confirms the central role of the U.S. government in the "contra" war against Nicaragua. Brinkley charges: "The Central Intelligence Agency has been directing the military strategies of a Nicaraguan rebel group based in this country by threatening to withhold aid if the insurgents failed to pursue the agency's objectives, Pentagon in position to assume combat role guerrilla officers, Costa Rican government officials and diplomats here say?' The Brinkley story gives the details: The U.S. government, through the CIA, provides the bulk of the finances, military, and other supplies. These are transported by World War Il vintage Douglas DC-3s to ARDE, the Nicaraguan "contra" force based in the jungles of Costa Rica.

ARDE has indicated its intention to push toward the Rama Road, aiming to cut this key highway between Managua, the Nicaraguan capital, and the Atlantic port of El Bluff. Brinkley reveals the CIA as the author of this scenario. He writes, "The agency warned the rebels the aid would not continue unless they captured a Nicaraguan port, cut off the Rama Road, ...and set up a provisional government in the captured territory' Brinkley goes on to report that the CIA maintains dictatorial control over the "contras" by placing "agents or trained mercenaries in key positions.' The "contras" claim that "the mining of the ports was 'a 100 percent Nicaraguan operation, " Brinkley continues, "even though the CIA has acknowledged to Congress that their own employees, Latin Americans not from Nicaragua, were responsible for the mining"' The April 23 New York Times continues its series of revealing reports received directly from government and Pentagon sources. "The Pentagon is now in a position to assume a combat role in Central America should President Reagan give the order, in the view of military specialists and members of Congress" says an article by reporter Hedrick Smith. Smith. The sabre-rattling report goes on to detail the elaborate preparations established for a swift deployment of U.S. troops in Central America.

Counterrevolutionary aims

The main aim of U.S. policy in Central America at this time is clearly to contain the revolution within its present limits. This minimum immediate aim is required to gain time for ultimately destroying the revolutionary forces in Central America. The preferred method for achieving this end falls short of the direct intervention of U.S. troops.

In the final analysis, however, the U.S. government will go as far as necessary to achieve its counterrevolutionary aims, including maximum commitment of military power. The only real (continued on page 2, in “Las Vegas unions still out”) (continued For a few days last March, the international banking fraternity went into a state of shock. "We are on the edge of the precipice looking into the abyss," wailed one banker. What set the alarm bells ringing was the announcement by Argentina that it might not be able to make the latest interest payment on its foreign debt.

Why should this cause such panic? Bankers have not panicked when laidMexico owes $89 billion; and Brazil, $93 billion. The total debt for Latin America is $360 billion. Adding in the rest of the Third World and the workers' states in Eastern Europe, the total debt reaches the staggering sum of $689 billion: $400 billion of it owed directly to U.S. and European banks.

This incredible total is spiraling upward as loans are added to loans, and bank charges run into the millions.

Socialist Action Joe Rvan Mexico has to pay $250 million in interest every week, without reducing its debt a single peso. Argentina owed $500 million on a single installment.

The origin of these staggering debts goes back to 1945, when the U.S. ruling class emerged the victor in World War Il and proceeded to make the world safe for U.S. capital. They were barred from (continued on page 4, in “Coalition pushes antiwar referendum”)