Pouncing on a Transgressor

Nicaragua steps over the line, helping the contras get aid

The first reports were sketchy, and they came from Washington, the scene of the political battle, rather than from Honduras, the scene of the real one. On Monday the White House leaked word that some 1,500 Nicaraguan troops had pushed across their northern border into Honduras to attack bases of the U.S.-backed contras who have been waging civil war against the Sandinista regime. At first there was skepticism. Not only did Nicaragua deny the report, but so did Honduras. But the next day a terse statement from the Honduran government confirmed that the Sandinista army had crossed the line and noted...

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