Vanderbilt Television News Archive

(Studio) Document allegedly leaked to United States embassy in Nicaragua reported claiming Sandinistas plan to sell junta leader Dan. Ortega to United States media; details given. Ortega noted currently in New York City for United Nations address; his commitment to November elecs. outlined. [ORTEGA - (thru translator) invites outside election observers; comments on purchase of USSR fighter planes.] Recent deaths of United States mercenaries during raid on Nicaragua recalled.
REPORTER: Tom Brokaw

(Las Vegas, NV) Role of American mercenaries, Vietnam vets., in war against Nicaragua and in El Salvador examined; films shown. Their presence in El Salvador noted circumventing congressionally imposed limit on number United States military advisers. [Mercenary Bill BROOKS - notes advisers encourage them.] "Soldier of Fortune" mag. mentioned financing many "vacation" mercenaries; details given. [Salvadoran Major Armando AZMITIA - praises mercenaries.] Mercenaries said encouraged by reticence of Reagan administration Congress noted unaware of mercenaries' involvement until recently, despite "Soldier of Fortune" magazine's readers' and Pentagon's awareness; extent of magazine's readership and financing of training teams for region discussed. [Senator Christopher DODD - resents civilians conducting nation's foreign policy.] Rationalization of mercenaries' efforts by mag. publisher Colonel Robert Brown (ret.) outlined. [BROWN - won't apologize for mercenaries, include their deaths.] Readers' donation of equipment, not weapons, noted possible through loopholes in Neutrality Act; details given.
REPORTER: Fred Francis