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ACTION SS-25
INFO OCT-01 ISO-00 SSO-00 /026 W
--------------------- 092561
O 021835Z DEC 76
FM AMEMBASSY MEXICO
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8965
C O N F I D E N T I A L MEXICO 15179
STADIS//////////////////////////
EXDIS
FROM ASSISTANT SECRETARY SHLAUDEMAN
E.O. 11652: GDS
TAGS: MASS, PE, CO, VE, HO, NU, ES, GT, DR, MX, CI, EC
SUBJ: FUTURE OF MILITARY GROUPS
1. IF I UNDERSTAND THE SRG DECISION, WE INTEND TO ASK THE
CONGRESS TO APPROVE THE RETENTION OF MILGROUPS IN ALL LA
COUNTRIES WHERE THEY NOW EXIST. THIS WOULD SEEM, AS AN
INITIAL GESTURE AT LEAST, TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM OF
DISCRIMINATION THAT HAS BOTHERED ARA FROM THE OUTSET --
PARAGUAY AND URUGAUY EXCEPTED, OF COURSE.
2. BUT BY GOING THIS ROUTE WE RISK A GOOD DEAL. IT APPEARS
INEVITABLE TO ME THAT THE PROCESS OF SEEKING APPROVAL WILL
INVOLVE LITIGATING IN THE CONGRESS THE HUMAN RIGHTS
PRACTICES OF A ANUMBER OF LA GOVERNMENTS. THE RESULT COULD
WELL BE APPROVAL FOR SOME AND DENIAL FOR OTHERS. AS ARA
HAS TRIED TO EXPLAIN, THE ENDEMIC BORDER DISPUTES AND
OTHER RIVALRIES IN LATIN AMERICA ARE SUCH THAT NO COUNTRY
WILL SEE THE ELIMINATION OF ITS MILGROUP IN THOSE CIRCUM-
STANCES AS OTHER THAN AN ACT OF POLITICAL DISCRIMI-
NATION ON THE PART OF THE UNITED STATES. THIS WILL BE THE
OUTCOME EVEN THOUGH A SECURITY ASSISTANCE OFFICE
IS ESTABLISHED IN THE EMBASSY AND NO SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE
IN SERVICES AVAILABLE TO THE LOCAL MILITARY TAKES PLACE.
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IN OTHER WORDS, THE SYMBOLISM IS IMPORTANT.
3. ARA SOUGHT TO AVOID THIS PROBLEM BY PROPOSING THE
ELIMINATION OF THE "MILGROUP" DESIGNATION IN ALL BUT FOUR
SPECIAL CASES, THUS ELIMINATING THE NEED FOR SPECIFIC
COUNTRY-BY-COUNTRY CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL. I KNOW OF
NO COUNTRY OUTSIDE THOSE FOUR WHERE A SIX-MAN UNIT IN
THE EMBASSY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ENTIRELY ADEQUATE TO
MAINTAIN THE EXISTING MILITARY RELATIONSHIPS AND TO
SERVICE OUR DECLINING SECURITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.
(I FULLY SUPPORT THE DECISION TO SEEK LEGISLATION
INCREASING THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE FOR THESE UNITS FROM
THREE TO SIX.)
4. AS FOR STAFFING LEVELS UNDER THE SRG DECISION
(PARA 6 REFTEL), SIX-NUMBER MILGROUPS SHOULD BE ADEQUATE
IN PERU, COLOMBIA AND CENTRAL AMERICA. THREE-MEMBER
MILGROUPS SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT IN VENEZUELA AND CHILE
(WHERE SEVERE CONGRESSIONAL RESTRICTIONS APPLY) AND
IN ECUADOR AND THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.
JOVA
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