Us Fears Rebels Will Not Return Missiles
Sydney Morning Herald
Monday March 13, 1989
WASHINGTON, Sunday: The Bush Administration is increasingly concerned that it may not be able to recover hundreds of sophisticated Stinger missiles still in the hands of US-backed Afghan rebels, senior Administration officials said yesterday.
In an effort to prevent the Stingers falling into the hands of private arms dealers or terrorists, the United States is devising a plan to buy back at least some of the missiles, the officials said.
The US may try to barter items such as state-of-the-art irrigation equipment, trucks, tractors, medical facilities, sheep and mules in exchange for the shoulder-held rockets.
At a White House meeting headed by the deputy national security adviser, Mr Robert Gates, on Wednesday, the Central Intelligence Agency was given the task of developing a strategy for the Stinger recovery.
The current thinking in the Administration is to convert a substantial amount of covert military aid already approved by Congress into funds for reconstruction projects and the return of up to five million refugees. Some of these "humanitarian" funds would be set aside for Stinger recovery.
The Stinger, the US Army's most advanced infantry antiaircraft missile, is often referred to as the perfect terrorist weapon.
© 1989 Sydney Morning Herald