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Nicaragua II: The Threat to the U.S. and the Americas
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14543 |
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Section : |
CURRENT ISSUES
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| Issue
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3 / 1988 |
2,354 Words |
| Author
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Lt. Col. Oliver L. North
Lt. Col. North is a graduate of the Naval Academy, a Marine
infantry officer who received the Silver Star Medal in
Vietnam, and was, from 1981, a member of the National Security
Council until his dismissal in November 1986. |
The Soviets clearly recognize the geographic significance of Central America. Strategically, Central America is of vital importance to the economic stability and security of the United States. The Soviets already have a willing partner in Cuba, threatening our sea lines of communication and trade, and placing at risk our access to vital resources.
Through the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean pass 55 percent of our crude oil, 45 percent of our imports and exports and, in the event of war in NATO or the Persian Gulf, 60 percent of our reinforcements and supplies. Sixty-five percent of the trade passing through the Panama Canal is either coming to or from the United States. The Soviets recognize that a foothold on the mainland, particularly on this vital land bridge between North and South America, would be of enormous advantage.
In 1983, then Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko clearly reflected Soviet intentions. His statements in Moscow were ample indication that the Soviets have designs which we seem to ignore.
Also in 1983, Chief of Soviet Armed Forces Marshal Ogarkov, in discussions he had with a visiting delegation from Grenada's communist movement, clearly reflected Soviet views on the "contest" for control of the Caribbean basin.
Soviet policy goals summarized from their own writing and journals indicate that the Soviets see considerable advantage in fostering revolution in this hemisphere.
The Soviets have backed their policy with more than just rhetoric. They are consistently outspending us in our own hemisphere--both economically and militarily.
U.S. coasts targeted
In 1985, a Soviet surface action battle group was photographed just miles off the Louisiana coast. The Soviets and their surrogates no longer consider the Caribbean to be an "American Lake." Deployments such as these send a clear message to our friends in the region that the United States no longer controls the water frontiers off our own coastline. To Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and Costa Rica this serves as intimidation.
The Soviets have supplied Cuba with sufficient numbers of diesel submarines to threaten U.S. re-supply for Europe in the event of war. In World War II
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