Various government agencies. have taken preparatory steps to intervene militarily in El Salvador. Policy makers appear to have concluded that such a move could succeed in preventing the collapse of the current regime.
Current policy consistently underestimates the do-. mestic legitimacy and international support enjoyed by the opposition FDR/DRU coaliFurthermore, policy makers fail to recognise the scope of military capabilities of opposition guerrilla forces and ignore the logistical value and potential impact of their neighbouring countries.
Contingency scenarios for US military deployment tend to underestimate troop requirements, casualty rates, and the : time and geographic scope of required engagement. PoliticoAHRIAN the potential for regionalisation of armed conflict in the isthmus.
In particular they underestimate the implications of the Nicaraguan and Cuban commitment to provide military support Salvadoran guerrilla forces the of continued escalation of US involvement.
HOTOS and words have narrowed down our policy options to a single path of gradual escalation of direct military involvement in a region vital to out national interests and within a political context that gives the use of force few chances to achieve a satisfactory outcome.
Strengthening counterinsurgency capabilities of armed forces through:
*Increased training middle and low ranking officers.
*Improving military frastructures for more effective urban and rural combat communications rapid troop deployment. Socialist Challenge 17 December 1980
Deputy General Segretary; Local Government and Public Services Union (Ireland)
AS WE approach the festive season, time is running out for the hunger strikers. reversible Shortly after, they will be dead.
After years of protest, fronted the following range of options -win recognition of their status, and wither away, or die with They could not and can never accept the criminalisation of the national struggle and of the national ideal. Soon, they will suffer irdamage to their health.
they conwaste dignityIN Use your muscle, your movement.
occupation.
ship. serves strengthen resistance ing the supreme sacrifice.
your power, yOU!
and women. It is your union and To the British, we say: You fools! You have learned nothing from centuries of You have not learned the obvious lesson of Irish history only stiffen In the tradition of earlier generations it should be clear that the men of the H Blocks and the women of Armagh cannot be broken even to the point of mak-
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Present US activities in El Salvador
blood to save the lives of fellow workers. fellow trade unionists and fellow Irish
that the kind of treatment being dished out to the prisoners, while inflicting hard