1983

Rumblefish released.

A Spaceman in the White House
Star Wars – technically known as SDI – announced to great media ridicule. – March.

The Poor get Poorer
The net flow of capital from North to south began to reverse in 1983.

Honduras
The CIA gives Honduran military officers the Human Resource Exploitation Training Manual – 1983 – which teaches how to torture people. Honduras’ notorious “battalion 316” then uses these techniques, with the CIA’s full knowledge, on thousands of leftist dissidents. At least 184 are murdered.
Go to www.secretgovernmentlabs.com/show.php?doc=torture

Nuclear Weapons
“British plutonium sales to the US” August 2nd
It started in 1959 and continued to 1979 when it was terminated by Carter Barter agreement, US supplied UK with tritium and high enriched uranium for nuclear powered Polaris submarines in exchange for plutonium from Magnox plutonium purer than that from PWR. In 1980 supply resumed to fend off criticisms from from Reagan on the eve of election.”
1966 – 1970 and 1975 – 1979, Benn as minister for energy was unaware of this.

“Hibakusha” victims of the actual bomb raids. 2/3 die of cancer. The government doesn’t recognise these illnesses. “I had always accepted the general explanation that it was done to hasten the end of the war, but actually the then US Sec of Defense revealed that it was done to establish a strong position vis-à-vis the Soviet Union before the war was ended.”

Two countries, the USA and the USSR have massive arsenals of nuclear weapons – about 55,000 between the two. Three other countries, Britain France and China have about 1,000 nuclear weapons each.
By now Israel and India have nuclear weapons too, and probably south Africa.
Argentina and Pakistan will become nuclear powers in the next couple of years, and by the end of the century countries such as South Korea, Taiwan, Libya, Egypt, Iran, Iraq and Brazil too.
“Death of Deterrence”, CND, Malcom Dando and Paul Rogers.

The US out-gun Russia with around 22,000 long-range weapons compared to USSR’s 16,000.

Martial Law ended in Poland on the 21st July.

Grenada
25th October 1983. An approved history of the US claims that invasion cost just 18 lives.
Invasion of Grenade to prevent mild social revolution. Justified by: in event of Soviet attack Grenade could stop oil supplies from Carribean to western Europe and the US wouldn’t be able to defend allies.
“The most interesting aspect of the whole [Grenadan] affair, however, is the question of Soviet and Cuban behaviour over the internal NJM spilt between Maurice Bishop and Bernard Coard, which finally resulted in the US-led invasion.”
“Castro compared Coard to Pol Pot”. “the Soviet Union’s initial reaction to the invasion was restricted to a criticism of the USA’s interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state; there was no blame or condemnation of Coard for provoking the crisis”.
On March 23rd, Reagan, made  a tv speech about Grenada, and also announced SDI, AKA, Star Wars.
Thatcher fell out with Ronnie over the invasion and over attempt to impose sanctions against European countries trading with the USSR over gas pipelines in the 1980s. Rifkin was sent to meet US Deputy Sec of State Kenneth Dam, came up with what the US called the Dam/ Rifkin agreement. Based on Rifkin article, Guardian, 19/07/03.
Colin Powell’s role in Grenada?

Cyprus
The Turkish Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, declared a breakaway state in Northern Cyprus.

Israel
January 28th a bus carrying 20 people was attacked in Tel Aviv by a terrorist squad, wounding a number of people or terrorists attacked a bus of soldiers from Lebanon to weekend leave, 21 wounded.
Sharon claimed 1,002 people killed in terrorist attacks between ’68 and ’80, but the correct figure was 629.
Kahan Commision on February 8th, called for Sharon’s resignation or dismissal. Sharon refused.
February 10th, a young man threw a grenade into a crowd of Peace Now supporters. One died and ten wounded.
The cabinet voted to adopt recommendations of Kohan commission by 16 to 1 (Sharon)
He was relived of his duties as defence minister on Feb 14th - Sharon remained after February 14th as minister without portfolio. Sharon came back in 2000 – as prime minister.

Chile
January, IMF agrees package of US$850m. Government take over nine key banks and financial institutions. BHC empire forced into liquidation by government. Nine former congressman of the National Party criticise regime’s economic policies.
February
90 day moratorium announced pending agreement on the rescheduling of US$2.8bn debt, cabinet reshuffle. Carlos Caceros becomes fourth finance minister in 12 months . Press censorship reintroduced. General Sinclair takes over as Pinochet’s second in command.
March, Caceros seeks extra US$1.2bn loan from commercial banks. Broad opposition front of political parties (except communists) formed. 200 arrested after clashes between police and demonstrators. Import tariffs douled to 20%. “Democrat manifesto” signed by broad spectrum of parties.
April, SNA warn that free market policies in algriculture have led to a massive shortage in basic foods.
May 1st – May Day demos in Santiago, 76 arrested; 11th – national day of protest called by the copper workers trade union (CTC) attracts widespread aupport from all sectors. Two civilians killed, 150 injured and 600 arrested. Pinochet advocates the formation of pro-government civilian-military movement. US$480m bridging loan requested to meet short-term cash shortage.
June 14th – second day of national protest, more than a thousand arrests, and three shot dead. CTC president, Rodolfo Seguel arrested; 17th – 24 hour protest strike by copper workers; 22nd – Adolfo Quinteros, leader of the truckowners federation arrested.; 23rd – 26th General strike.

Iran contra
“In December (1982), a cap on contra aid guaranteed a crisis in the administration’s contra program the following year.”
Reagan asked congress for the authority to oust Sandinistas – but Congress refused in April - so covert action began. The CIA began supplying the contras, exiles fighting against Sandinistas from bases in Honduras and Costa Rica.  See previous entry 1982.

In June 1983, Henry Jackson proposed the establishment of a national bipartisan commission of Central America. Co-sponsors were Senator Charles M.C. Mathias, Jr, Dem-Md; Representative Michael D Barnes, Dem-Md; Representative Jack F. Kemp, Rep-NY. On July 18 Reagan announced the commission and would “lay the foundation for a long-term unified national approach to the freedom and independence of the countries of Central America.” On July 19th Reagan signed Executive Order 12433 – National Bipartisan Commission on Central America – aka the Kissinger Commission – K was the chairman. It was to submit a final report in January 1984 and then terminate.
Members: Clements Jr, former Republican Governor of Texas; Lane Kirkwood, president of the AFL-CIO; Potter Stewart – former Supreme Court; Justice Robert S Strauss, Washington lawyer and democrat; Nicholas Brady, New Jersey businessman (former interim GOP Senator for 8 months in 82); Henry G Cisneros, mayor of san Antonio; charles F Diaz-alejandro, prof of economics at Yale Uni; Wilson S Johnson, pres of the National Fed of Independent Business; Richard M Scammon, Washington political consultant. John Silber, pres of Boston Uni; Willliam B Walsh, Pres of Project Hope.
Senior Counsellors: Jackson (replaced by David K Inouye, Dem-Hi); Mathias, Lloyd Bentsen, Pete Domenici, Jim Wright, Barnes, Kemp, Broomfield, William D Rogers – former Asst Sec of State for Inter American affairs, Winston Lord – pres of CF Relations, Jean J Kirkpatrick, US ambassador to the UN and Reagan’s representative on the commission. The report came out on Jan 11th 1984.

Iran - Iraq
Reagan continued the “hands off approach to the war of Carter – until in 1982 Iran turned the military tide. The incentives – replace Iran as representing US in middle east, and push out the USSR who were Iraq’s ally at that point.

US National Security Decision directive 114 (concluded in 1983) gave formal sanction to billions of dollars in loan guarantees and other credits to Baghdad.
The US was involved in 80 shipments of chemical and biological components including strains of botulism, anthrax, gangrene bacteria, West Nile fever virus and Dengul fever virus. Iran Iraq timeline?

Rumsfeld went to Baghdad in 1983 and 1984 to discuss economic cooperation, re-established diplomatic relations in November 1984, made available extensive loans and subsidies, provided intelligence information, encouraged its allies to arm Iraq, and engaged in military actions in the Persian Gulf against Iran. The US also provided dual use equipment that it knew Iraq was using for military purposes [Joyce Battle, ed., “shaking hands with saddam Hussein: The US tilt Toward Iraq, 1980 to 1984”.
http://www2.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB82/

 “This won’t be embarrassing in 20 years’ time”. Rumsfeld’s hearty handshake with Saddam Hussein. The stern lecture on human rights and crimes against humanity, presumably came later.

Rumsfeld had been passed over by Reagan when setting up his administration. But in 1983 was offered special emissary to SH to re-establish diplomatic relations, which Iraq had severed in 1967 over support for Israel. CBS story: “US and Iraq go way back” article. “It was Rumsfeld…then a special presidential envoy, whose December 1983 meeting with SH led to the normalisation of ties between Washington and Baghdad, according to the Washington Post.”
“The NY Times reported…that the United States gave Iraq vital battle-planning help during its war with Iran as part of a secret program under President Reagan – even though US intelligence agencies knew the Iraqis would unleash chemical weapons.” MSNBC – August 18th 2002.

Rumsfeld did not raise the matter of Iraq’s use of chemical weapons in his two meetings with SH. They discussed their mutual hatred of Iran and Syria, US efforts to block arms going to Iran, and US financing of an oil pipeline from Iraq to Jordanian port of Aqaba. The second meeting was in March 1984.

Iraq’s first use of chemical weapons was in 1983. The US “took a very restrained view. When the evidence of Iraqi use of these weapons could no longer be denied, the US issued a mild condemnation, but made clear that this would have no effect on commercial or diplomatic relations between the US and Iraq. Iran asked the Security Council to condemn Iraq’s chemical weapons use, but the US delegate to the UN was instructed to try to prevent a resolution from coming to the vote or else to abstain. An Iraqi official told the US that Iraq strongly preferred a Security council presidential statement to a resolution and did not want any specific country identified as responsible for chemical weapons use…so on March 30th 1984 the UNSC issued a press statement condemning chemical weapons without naming Iraq as the offending party.
See www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/nsaebb/nsaebbbb82/
The US wasn’t only providing the means – but knew that Iraq was producing the end product and using it. At the same time the US provided intelligence and planning assistance to the Iraqi armed forces.
[Patrick Tyler, “officers say US aided Iraq in war despite use of gas”, New York times, August 18th, 2002 P.1].

From November 1983 to August 1988, Iraq’s use of chemical weapons escalated both in quantity and sophistication. The first attacks involved mustard gas, a blistering agent first employed by the Germans in Ypres in 1917. By the end of thr war Iran was using sophisticated nerve agents as well as “cocktails” of nerve gas, cyanide, and mustard gas. Peter W. Galbraith’s “The End of Iraq”

22nd August Chad made the cover of Newsweek Magazine -  a five page article. Why the sudden interest? “Chad lies directly south of Libya where the mad Colonel Qaddafi rules”. Qaddafi had asked for some military assistance from chad to drive Hissene Habres forces from Northern Chad.
Newsweek’s hysterical claim was “K marched into the god forsaken sand trap of Chad to feed his own fantasies of a pan-Islamic empire stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea.”
Suddenly US strategic interests were at stake. See p.86 for “couscous” remark. Maybe worth scanning pp. 85, 87.

Unwelcome History
“The US government had known that many US companies were aiding Hitler, like Standard Oil, General Motors and chase Bank, all of which was sensational after Pearl Harbor . But as NY Times reporter Charles Higham later discovered, and published in his 1983 ground-breaking boo, “Trading with the Enemy: The Nazi American Money Plot 1933 – 1949”, “the government smothered everything during and even after the war…why? According to Higham the US government believed “a public scandal…would have drastically affected public moral, caused widespread strikes and perhaps provoked mutinies in the amred services.” See 1994.

Philippines
Benigno Aquino returned from US exile. As he stepped onto Filipino soil, he was killed by a shot to the head.

September 1st 1983, Korean Air Lines flight 007 was shot down by a Russian fighter. On board was Georgia’s Representative, Larry McDonald.

November – Iraq’s use of chemical weapons excalated – the first attacks involved mustard gas but by end (August 1988) was using sophisticated nerve agents, and “cocktails” of nerve gas, cyanide and mustard gas.

notes
US troops helped build bases near the borders of Honduras.

State Department analysts concluded in 1983 that China was assisting Pakistan with the production of fissile materials and possibly the design of weapons.