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Reagan's Boys, Contra Invasion, U.S. Terrorism

By Bill Branson

In late March our groups of heavily armed contras—nearly 6000 men total—were posted on the northern border of Nicaragua. The first group penetrated 15 kilometers into Nicaraguan territory when they were engaged by the army. Immediately troops were placed on maximum alert and deployed along the border. While a running battle developed with the first group of Contras, it became apparent that they were merely a feint to draw the attention of the Nicaraguan army so that one or more of the remaining groups could open the way for the bulk of the Contra forces to invade in strength. As these additional forces attempted to cross the border they were met and stopped dead by military unite in a series of fire-fights right along the border. In the process of smashing this Contra offensive, Nicaraguan and Contra forces crossed and re-crossed the border many times. At the close of the action, Nicaraguan troops again resumed defensive positions.

This is the context of the fables "invasion" that Reagan proceeded to crow about. Congressmen and Senators brayed in inflated self-righteous anger while the President of Honduras enjoyed his Holy Week holiday (though it was his country supposedly "invaded"). U.S. helicopters and crews roared to the border loaded with Honduran troops while newsmen, looking for bellicose quotes found the Honduran government buildings practically deserted. Defeated Contra rabble, streaming back to the well-equipped camps screamed, "the sky is falling," "the Nica are coming," for all to hear and forget how they got their asses kicked.

In fact there was an invasion, one overlooked by the media as inconsequential. The havoc those 6000 Contras would have caused is beyond imagination for most citizens of the U.S. Unfortunately, for Nicaraguans, one's own family or the people down the road can provide living evidence of the way the U.S.—backed and led Contra terrorists spread "freedom and democracy." Hospitals filled with 13-16 year old kids without legs and arms, pictures of dead sons and daughters, children filled with terror, crouching in holes while parents (farmers) fought like animals with kidnappers "made in the U.S.A.": these are the legacy of previous visits by Reagan's fellow Contras.

One need not speculate what devastation on population centers Reagan would unleash if, for instance, 6000 terrorists crossed over from Mexico and attempted to sack Mexicali. What measures would Shultz and Weinburger propose if, for instance, the government of France bankrolled the enemy? We all know that U.S. troops would rush up to the line and stop shooting, wouldn't they? (Just like they stopped when chasing Pancho Villa.) Yet this is what North Americans (particularly politicians looking for a way to be "anti-communist") would expect an infinitely poorer and less technologically advanced country to do in the midst of a trackless jungle. Oh, didn't you know? There is no painted line on that border with little white stones and candy-striped gates.

In the midst of growing awareness of their actual role as CIA army, amid think-tank declarations of their defeat, what better time for the Contras to stage a show of force than the Congressional vote on "humanitarian aid?" When the word of a panicked defeat reached Washington, the cries of "invasion" sounded. Frantic calls went out to the Honduran government and our allies. But no Gulf of Tonkin materialized. It was all a rather shabby show and soon was left to die a silent death.

Months from now this incident will be referred to in some speech by our leaders as evidence of the Sandinista/Communist aggression that is bound to sweep up Latin America and engulf San Antonio. It would almost be a laughing matter except for the absolute truth that some very brave and young people died in that battle defending their country, absolutely dead.

Bill Branson
VVAW