The Tico Times Online Daily Page

Rumsfeld Lauds Nicaragua
As Strong U.S. Ally
By Tim Rogers
Tico Times Nicaragua Correspondent
trogers@ticotimes.net

MANAGUA, Nicaragua – U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld last Friday told Nicaraguan President Enrique Bolaños that the U.S. government strongly supports his embattled administration during a time when Nicaragua 's opposition political leaders are threatening Bolaños with impeachment over a campaign finance scandal (TT, Oct. 15, 22).

“His dedication to freedom and democracy is evident in his leadership of Nicaragua ,” Rumsfeld said during a nationally televised press conference Friday afternoon in Managua . “ Nicaragua has been a strong and resolute partner in the global struggle against terrorism. The United States supports the constitutional order in Nicaragua and the rule of law and we appreciate your efforts to eradicate corruption and we will certainly continue to support you in your efforts.”

Rumsfeld was in Nicaragua for two days as part of his five-day tour of Central America , which also included stops in El Salvador and Panama .

The hawkish Secretary of Defense thanked Nicaragua , a member of the “coalition of the willing,” for its previous help in Iraq in de-mining and humanitarian work.

“The work of Nicaraguan troops has helped to make Iraq a better place for the Iraqi people. And I thank you on their behalf,” he said

Nicaragua sent one brigade of troops to Iraq at the end of last year, but withdrew its troops in February due to lack of funding.

Rumsfeld also acknowledged Nicaragua 's efforts to combat the “nexus of terror, drugs and organized crime,” especially on the rural Atlantic coast, where Nicaraguan security forces have confiscated more than 6,000 kilograms of cocaine in 2004.

Bolaños, meanwhile, promised Rumsfeld that Nicaragua would continue to destroy its stockpiled surface-to-air missiles, known as SAM-7s. Nicaragua last July completed the destruction of 33% of its current stockpile at the request of the U.S. government, which is nervous the anti-aircraft missiles could fall into the hands of terrorists.

Bolaños did not offer a date for when the missile destruction would continue, although new legislation in Nicaragua now stipulates that further missile destruction would be a decision made by Congress, not the President.

Bolaños also took advantage of the meeting to tell Rumsfeld to pass along to U.S. President George W. Bush his congratulations on his recent reelection, and hopes that Nicaragua and the United States will continue to strengthen security and defense cooperation and ratify the Central American Free-Trade Agreement during Bush's second term in office.

For more on Rumsfeld visit, read this Friday's TT print edition.