On the Record

Black and White and Red All Over MANAGUA-The well-known black pacifist Abbie Hoffman said today that “We must not wait for the United States to invade Nicaragua. In- stead we must invade the United States right now, with the truth.” Diario de las Americas Miami August 22, 1985 Unprecedented Rights Abuses Mrs. Ines Duarte Durin, the young mother of three children, and Miss Cecilia Villeda were kidnapped by FMLN terrorists who, in contrast to norms of all civilized peoples and contrary to the Judeo-Christian ethic, have held the two women for over a month without permitting anyone to examine the conditions under which they are held or their personal health and safety. This criminal act is unpre- cedented in Latin America. Ambassador Edwin Corr, San Salvador October 12, 1985 Onward Christian Soldiers! WASHINGTON, Aug. 12-Rebels fighting the Sandinista government of Nicaragua have received as much as $25 million in donations from private individuals in the United States and foreign sources, according to a retired general and Administration officials who work with the insurgents. They said the anti-Sandinista move- ment was growing rapidly, adding ad- vanced weapons and struggling for greater unity. The guerrillas, widely known by the name contras, now pose a real threat to the Nicaraguan government, United States officials and rebel lead- ers assert. Shirley Christian The New York Times August 13, 1985 TEGUCIGALPA, HONDURAS, Nov.3-The leaders of the main Nicaraguan anti-government rebel al- liance are divided by politically damaging disagreements over the ob- jectives and tactics of the movement, according to rebel and American of- ficial as well as Congressional sources. Their dispute appears to have blunted the appeal of the rebels, who are grouped under the newly formed United Nicaraguan Opposition, known by its Spanish acronym of UNO. James LeMoyne The New York Times November 4, 1985 Rep. Henry Hyde (R-Ill.): They are freedom fighters. Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.): We went around and recruited them . with the best terrorists in Argentina to bring them in, to train them. Rep. Hyde: Read a book. Read Shir- ley Christian’s new book called Nicaragua, which is brand new- she’s a New York Times reporter– Rep. Miller: I know it well. I know it well. Rep. Hyde: Read it, and you’ll find everything you’ve said is rebutted in here. Is she wrong and you’re right? Rep. Miller: She’s very wrong. She’s very, very wrong. The MacNeil/Lehrer News Hour October 21, 1985 By Invitation Only Q. Grenada? A. What? Q. Grenada? A. Grenada. Ah. We had several hundred young American medical stu- dents there. Our intelligence revealed that they were threatened as potential hostages, and the government of Gre- nada requested help, military help. President Reagan Interview with Soviet journalists, October 31, 1985 The photographs on pages 39 and 53 of our May/June issue “Sandinista Foreign Pol- icy” were not credited. Both photographs were taken by Ken Silverman, to whom we apologize. President ReaganInterview with Soviet journalists,October 31, 1985