European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - July 14, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 18 the stars and stripes july 1985 latin american governments Guatemala Al Salvador Cost Arica civilian governments elected prior to 1979 civilian governments elected since 1979 recognized by As civilian government Chicago Tribune graphic Sourova Chicago Tribune Honduras Centrepiece in americas Central America policy by Carl Manning associated press bolstered by increased Aid and train the honduran military clearly has cast its lot with the United states in the regional face off against the leftist sandinista in neighbor ing the Long regarded As the Backwater of the has become the Centrepiece in the Reagan administrations Central american policy and its increasingly hostile air toward the toward this Honduras and the United states have been conducting joint military exercises since 1983 that have included about american soldiers and nearly All of Honduras armed during these honduran soldiers have received extensive training from their american who in have been Busy building and upgrading military facilities throughout it now is the location for a spread of military facilities stretched from the Pacific to Atlantic coasts to the North of honduran leaders have made it Clear treat they want this partnership to despite criticism that surges from time to time within the the exercises have a persuasive character to make Nicaragua Lay aside its Bellicose Honduras does not discount an eventual armed aggression from foreign minister Edgardo Paz Barnica the United states maintains about troops in Honduras with its task Force Headquarters at Palmerola air which also serves As the training base for the Honduras air in president Reagan has promised the United states will take appropriate measures to support Honduras in its efforts to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity against communist relations Between Honduras and Nicaragua soured after the sandinista came to Power in july Contra rebels made their base Here to launch attacks into and they have stayed for More than three the continuing presence is viewed As a Clear signal for the leftist sandinista government to stay on its Side of the for Honduras the threat of an invasion is seen As a real president Roberto Suazo Cordovan inauguration in 1982 ended nearly two decades of almost uninterrupted military the soldiers returned to their and the generals pledged to stay at least visibly out of the United states has made it Clear it expects a Western style democracy in return for continued american since the United states has furnished lion in military Aid to the increases have been rising to million proposed for the military exercises have the purpose of fortifying the defensive capacity of Honduras to maintain the Liberty and Honor of the said Walter Lopez honduran armed forces he said Honduras would continue participating in the joint Maneu vers because it will improve our defensive capacity in front of the destabilizing action of marxist the first big Pine was con ducted in february with troops and honduran its main purpose was to Check the hondurans to see what Type of additional training would be this was followed by big Pine which included american soldiers and honduran during big Pine forces extended a dirt runway from feet to feet at aquacade in Eastern making it capable of handling larger aircraft such As the c130 next came Granaderos involving honduran and it also included for the Only time salvadoran during this and honduran troops constructed two Landing each capable of handling Large troop and transport one was built at 33 Miles from the salvadoran and the other was at 20 Miles from the Nicar Guan the last was big Pine involving troops and honduran and honduran forces used the time to construct hangers and improve the Landing strips at san 100 Miles South of the and there Are reports of new Landing strips under construction at la Ceiba on the Northern along with other shared air strips at nearby san Pedro Sula and Trujillo and puerto Lempira on the Eastern Shore near the nicaraguan radar facilities Are in operation at Sierra de la North of san and on Tiger Island in the Gulf of which separates Honduras from Nicaragua and Al forces in information is based on interviews with Airfield Airfield shared with few american training or support unit regional military training due to close this summer a Euzell new taxiways under military task Force operating in and also a honduran air Force or vt1 tuning Guatemala fort he of army 193d infantry Albrook air Force inter american air forces army Supply depot and maintenance also army Tropic test researching effects of tropical climate on soldiers and Howard air Force Bate and fort to of air Force Southern air aviation units of air Force and fort army special operations and fort Jungle warfare training Rodman naval Small Craft training National Security Agency gathering site Navy communications Cost Arica e san Joss new training Camp Tor Costa Alcan civil army Green Beret trainers Quarry to of Tor visiting and coordination of naval contingency Miles 200 not