Nicaragua - A Lost Battlefield

摘要

The United States' Central American Policy in reference to Nicaragua is clouded by differing intra-governmental strategic ends. The Congress favors a diplomatic solution, the Executive and military solution. The result is a contradictory, ineffective comprise strategy that handcuffs the powers of the nation and bankrupts foreign policy. The Administration offers the Contras as a means of solving this dilemma. The Contra objective is straightforward, the overthrow of the Sandinista Communists by violent means. There are several competing strategies available to achieve this objective. The most productive Contra strategies use a protracted conflict to exploit Sandinista political and economic weakness or involve the incremental seizure of areas of Nicaragua as a base to rally the support of the people. In order to achieve success, the Contras must depend on the Unites States for international support, supplies, and a secure external base of operations.