Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12553 / 251,287

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19 2011/03/20 2011/03/21 2011/03/22 2011/03/23 2011/03/24 2011/03/25 2011/03/26 2011/03/27 2011/03/28 2011/03/29 2011/03/30 2011/03/31
2011/04/01 2011/04/02 2011/04/03 2011/04/04 2011/04/05 2011/04/06 2011/04/07 2011/04/08 2011/04/09 2011/04/10 2011/04/11 2011/04/12 2011/04/13 2011/04/14 2011/04/15 2011/04/16 2011/04/17 2011/04/18 2011/04/19 2011/04/20 2011/04/21 2011/04/22 2011/04/23 2011/04/24 2011/04/25 2011/04/26 2011/04/27 2011/04/28 2011/04/29 2011/04/30
2011/05/01 2011/05/02 2011/05/03 2011/05/04 2011/05/05 2011/05/06 2011/05/07 2011/05/08 2011/05/09 2011/05/10 2011/05/11 2011/05/12

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 96 97 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/06
1986/05
1987/06
1988/01
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/06 1992/12
1993/10
1996/11
1997/12
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Apia Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Auckland Consulate Amsterdam Consulate Adana American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belmopan Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dili Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown Consulate Fukuoka
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia Embassy Niamey Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples Consulate Naha
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Of Spain Embassy Port Louis Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Suva Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate St Petersburg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sapporo Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Toronto Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
APECO ASEC AMGT AFIN APER ACABQ AORC AEMR AF AE AR AGMT AU AY ABLD AS AG AJ APCS AX AM AMEX ATRN ADM AMED AFGHANISTAN AZ AL ASUP AND ARM ASEAN AFFAIRS AQ ATFN AMBASSADOR AODE APEC ACBAQ AFSI AFSN AO ABUD AC ADPM ADCO ASIG ARF AUC ASEX AGAO AA AER AVERY AGRICULTURE AIT AADP ASCH AORL AROC ACOA ANET AID AMCHAMS AINF AMG AFU AN ALOW ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG ACS ADANA AECL ACAO AORG AGR
BEXP BR BM BG BL BA BTIO BO BP BC BILAT BK BU BD BRUSSELS BB BF BBSR BIDEN BX BE BH BT BY BMGT BWC BTIU BN
CA CASC CFED CO CH CS CU CE CI CM CMGT CJAN COM CG CIS CVIS CR CKGR CHR CVR COUNTER CIA CLINTON CY CPAS CD CBW COUNTERTERRORISM CITEL CDG CW CODEL COUNTRY CLEARANCE COE CN CARICOM CB CONDOLEEZZA CWC CACS CSW CIDA CIC CITT CONS CL CACM CDB CDC CAN CF CJUS CTM CBSA CARSON CT CLMT CBC CEUDA CV COPUOS CTR CROS CAPC CAC CNARC CICTE CBE
DA DR DHS DPRK DEPT DEA DISENGAGEMENT DE DJ DOMESTIC DOD DOE DTRA DS DEFENSE DEAX DAO DCM DO DK
ECON ETRD EIND ENRG EC ELAB EAGR EAID EFIS EFIN EINV EUN EG EPET EAIR EU ELTN EWWT ECIN ERD EI ETTC EUR EN EZ ETC ENVI EMIN ET ENVR ER ECPS EINT EAP ES ENIV ECONOMY EXTERNAL EINN EFTA ECONOMIC EPA EXBS ECA ELN ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS ENGR ECUN ENGY ECONOMICS ELECTIONS EIAR EINDETRD EREL EUC ECONEFIN EURN EDU ETRDEINVTINTCS ECIP ENERG EFIM EAIDS EK ETRDECONWTOCS EINVETC ECONCS EUNCH ESA ECINECONCS EUREM ESENV EFINECONCS ETRC ENNP EAIG EXIM EEPET EINVECONSENVCSJA EUMEM ETRA ERNG ETRO ETRN EINVEFIN
FI FR FJ FAO FTAA FM FINR FAC FBI FREEDOM FOR FINANCE FTA FARC FOI FMLN FDA FOREIGN FO FISO FAS
GM GG GA GY GT GAERC GOV GE GZ GR GOI GV GH GAZA GANGS GCC GTIP GLOBAL GERARD GTMO GL GF
HR HA HO HU HILLARY HK HI HURI HUMAN HSTC HEBRON HYMPSK HUMOR
ICTY IN IS IR IC IZ IA INTERPOL IAEA IT IMO IO IV ID IRAQI IEA INRB IL IWC ITU ICAO ISRAELI ICRC IIP IMF IBRD ISLAMISTS ITALY ITALIAN ILO IPR IQ IRS IAHRC IZPREL IRAJ IDP ILC ITF ICJ IF ITPHUM INMARSAT ISRAEL IACI IBET ITRA INR IRC IDA ICTR IGAD INRA INRO IEFIN INTELSAT INTERNAL INDO ITPGOV
JA JO JUS JAMES JP JOSEPH JM JOHNNIE JOHN
KWMN KSCA KDEM KTFN KIPR KCRM KPAL KE KPAO KPKO KS KN KISL KFRD KJUS KIRF KFLO KG KTIP KTER KRCM KTIA KGHG KIRC KU KPRP KMCA KMPI KSEO KNNP KZ KNEI KCOR KOMC KCFC KSTC KMDR KFLU KSAF KSEP KSAC KR KGIC KSUM KWBG KCIP KDRG KOLY KAWC KCHG KHDP KRVC KBIO KAWK KGCC KHLS KBCT KPLS KREL KCFE KMFO KV KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KFTFN KVPR KTDB KSPR KIDE KVRP KTEX KBTR KTRD KICC KCOM KO KLIG KDEMAF KMRS KRAD KOCI KSTH KUNR KNSD KGIT KFSC KHIV KPAI KICA KACT KHUM KREC KSEC KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KCMR KPIN KESS KDEV KNAR KNUC KPWR KENV KWWMN KWMNCS KPRV KOM KBTS KCRS KNPP KWNM KRFD KVIR KTBT KAID KRIM KDDG KRGY KHSA KWMM KMOC KSCI KPAK KX KPAONZ KCGC KID KPOA KIFR KFIN KWAC KOMS KCRCM KNUP KMIG KNNPMNUC KERG KTLA KCSY KJUST
LY LE LH LTTE LG LO LI LAB LOG LT LU LABOR LA
MOPS MARR MASS MNUC MX MCAP MO MR MI MD MK MA MP MY MTCRE MOPPS MASC MIL MTS MLS MILI MAR MU MEPN MAPP MTCR MEPI MZ MEETINGS MG MW MAS MT MCC MIK ML MARAD MV MERCOSUR MTRE MPOS MEPP MILITARY MDC MQADHAFI MUCN MRCRE MAPS MEDIA MASSMNUC MC
NZ NZUS NL NU NATO NP NO NIPP NE NH NR NA NPT NI NSF NG NSG NAFTA NC NDP NEW NRR NATIONAL NT NS NASA NAR NV NORAD NSSP NK NPA NGO NSC NATOPREL NW NPG NSFO
OPDC OTRA OIIP OREP OVIP OSCE OEXC OIE OPRC OAS OPIC OTR OMIG OSAC OFFICIALS OECD OSCI OBSP OFDA OPCW ODIP OFDP OES OPAD OCII OHUM OVP ON OIC OCS
PHUM PREL PGOV PINR PTER PARM PREF PM PE PINS PK PHSA PBTS PRGOV PA PORG PP PS PGOF PL PO PARMS PKFK PSOE PEPR PAK POL PPA PINT PMAR PRELP PREFA PALESTINIAN PBIO PINF PNG PMIL PFOR PUNE PGOVLO PAO POLITICS PHUMBA PSEPC PTBS PCUL PROP PNAT PNR POLINT PGOVE PROG PHALANAGE PARTY PDEM PECON PROV PHUMPREL PGOC PY PCI PLN PDOV PREO PGIV PHUH PAS PU POGOV PF PINL POV PAHO PRL PG PRAM POLITICAL PARTIES POLICY PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGGV PHUS PSA PHUMPGOV PEL PSI PAIGH POSTS PBT PTERE
QA
RS RU RW RM RO RP REGION RSP RF RICE RCMP RFE RIGHTS RIGHTSPOLMIL ROBERT RUPREL RELATIONS ROOD REACTION RSO REPORT
SENV SNAR SCUL SR SC SOCI SMIG SI SP SU SO SW SY SA SZ SAN SF SN STEINBERG SG ST SIPDIS SNARIZ SNARN SSA SK SPCVIS SOFA SAARC SL SEVN SARS SIPRS SHUM SANC SWE SHI SYR SNARCS SPCE SYRIA SEN SH SCRS SENVKGHG
TRGY TSPL TPHY TSPA TBIO TI TW THPY TX TU TS TZ TC TH TT TIP TO TERRORISM TRSY TINT TN TURKEY TBID TL TV TNGD TD TF TP TFIN TAGS TK TR
UNSC UK UNGA UN US UNHRC UG UP UNMIK UNHCR UE USTR UNVIE UAE UZ UY UNO UNESCO USEU USOAS UV UNODC UNCHS UNFICYP UNEP UNIDROIT UNDESCO UNDP UNPUOS UNC UNAUS USUN UNCHC UNCHR UNCND UNICEF UNCSD UNDC USNC USPS USAID
VZ VE VT VM VTPREL VN VTIZ VAT VC VTEG VI
WTRO WHO WBG WB WWARD WHA WS WITH WI WIPO WTO WTRQ WHTI WEU WZ WFP WMD WMO WA
XK XG XA XW XL XM XV XF XC XB XU XR XT XZ XH XE XX XQ XS XD XTAG XI XY
YM YI YE YMCS
ZI ZF ZU ZP ZR ZEALAND ZN ZL ZB ZA ZK ZOELLICK ZO ZANU ZJ

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 07MANAGUA178, LACAYO: FSLN INTEREST GROUPS COMPETE FOR DOMINANCE

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #07MANAGUA178.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
07MANAGUA178 | 2007-01-23 15:43 | 2011-04-25 19:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Managua

Appears in these articles:
http://www.nacion.com/2011-04-25/Mundo/NotaPrincipal/Mundo2743916.aspx
http://www.nacion.com/2011-04-25/Mundo/Relacionados/Mundo2743919.aspx
http://www.nacion.com/2011-04-25/Mundo/Relacionados/Mundo2743922.aspx
http://www.nacion.com/2011-04-25/Mundo/Relacionados/Mundo2752792.aspx

`

    VZCZCXRO5825
    PP RUEHLMC
    DE RUEHMU #0178/01 0231543
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    P 231543Z JAN 07
    FM AMEMBASSY MANAGUA
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8722
    INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
    RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 0899
    RUMIAAA/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
    RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP WASHDC PRIORITY
    RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
    RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
    RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 MANAGUA 000178

    SIPDIS

    SIPDIS

    DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CEN

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2017
    TAGS: KDEM NU PGOV PINR PREL ENRG EPET
    SUBJECT: LACAYO: FSLN INTEREST GROUPS COMPETE FOR DOMINANCE

    REF: MANAGUA 0155

    Classified By: Ambassador Paul A. Trivelli. Reasons 1.4 (B,D).

    ¶1.  (C) Summary:  Antonio Lacayo, secretary minister of the
    presidency during Violeta Chamorro's presidency and her
    son-in-law, believes that the power struggle among competing
    Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) interest groups
    will "test" the new Ortega government and could be exploited
    to the opposition's advantage.  He recently warned the
    Ambassador that Ortega is intent on mounting a "parallel
    government" operating outside of public scrutiny, but
    believes the opposition holds the key to counter this trend.
    End Summary.

    Ortega Set on Mounting Parallel Government
    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

    ¶2.  (C) In a January 18 meeting with Ambassador, DCM, and
    PolCouns, Antonio Lacayo warned us that President Ortega is
    determined to mount a parallel government that will operate
    outside of public scrutiny.  Lacayo, who served as Violeta
    Chamorro's secretary minister of the presidency and is her
    son-in-law, described Ortega's new cabinet as "a group of
    largely unqualified, incapable novices".  Their loyalty to
    Ortega is unequivocal, but they will exercise no significant
    influence.  Citing Education Minister de Castilla as a case
    in point, Lacayo observed that the minister's double
    discourse has the population reeling, and even pro-Sandinista
    education union ANDEN has criticized de Castilla.  Lacayo
    recounted how in the course of a week de Castilla had
    proposed eliminating school cafeterias, and then reinstated
    them.  Similarly, the minister declared educational autonomy
    "dead" and ordered parents to refuse to pay any
    administrative school fees; days later, however, de Castilla
    announced that parents will be responsible for holding fund
    raising events to contribute to their children's schools.

    ¶3.  (C) As for Health Minister Maritza Cuant, Lacayo
    highlighted the fact that she was quick to correct the FSLN's
    pre-election opposition to abortion of any kind and is now
    openly opposing the penalization of abortion.  As for
    National Energy Institute (INE) director David Castillo, "he
    is totally crazy," declared Lacayo, while new Energy Minister
    Emilio Rapacciolli is one of the capable few in the new
    cabinet.  (Comment:  The FSLN has traditionally openly
    supported therapeutic abortion; its change of heart in the
    lead up to the November 2006 national election was clearly a
    political ploy to gain more votes and ingratiate the party
    with the Catholic Church.  (Note: The January 22 editions of
    Nicaragua's dailies La Prensa and El Nuevo Diario both
    featured Managua Archbishop Leopoldo Brenes' comments that
    the FSLN should remember its campaign position against
    abortion.)

    ¶4.  (C) According to Lacayo, another reason for Ortega's
    delay in standing up his cabinet and the lack of transparency
    surrounding the process is his inability to deliver on his
    campaign promise to appoint women to 50% of the government
    positions.  Lacayo reported that GON "Zero Hunger" director
    Orlando Nunez had apprised him of the dilemma -- many capable
    women work for NGOs and are unwilling to sacrifice their
    generous salaries to take a much lower paying government job,
    especially if Ortega delivers on his promise to halve the
    salaries of senior government officials.

    So, Who is in Charge?
    - - - - - - - - - -

    ¶5.  (C) Depicting President Ortega as a "disorganized sort
    with absolutely no sense of time," Lacayo believes that
    Ortega will not be engaged in the daily goings on of his
    government.  He ventured that the increasingly evident
    rivalries and divisions among Sandinista leaders close to
    Ortega will further complicate the Ortega government.  Lacayo
    listed four main currents: Ortega's wife Rosario; his new
    senior economic advisor Bayardo Arce; Managua Mayor Dionisio
    "Nicho" Marenco; and, the ever-present Lenin Cerna, still a
    power to reckon with, even though he is not to Rosario's
    liking.  Lacayo opined that in the scheme of things,
    Rosario's influence is on rise, recounting that while a year
    ago Tomas Borge had ordered Rosario to "shut up," today he
    would not dare to confront her.

    MANAGUA 00000178  002 OF 003

    ¶6.  (C) Comment: The other shadow power figures in Ortega's
    government will be Miguel D'Escoto, Alvaro Baltodano, Manuel
    Coronel Krautz and Mohammed Lashtar.  Marenco's presidential
    ambitions could eventually trump his loyalty to Ortega.
    While National Assembly Deputy Edwin Castro and Foreign
    Minister Samuel Santos (and probably Nicaraguan
    Ambassador-designate to the United States Arturo Cruz) lie
    within Rosario's camp (considered the more "moderate" and
    "intellectual" wing), National Assembly President Rene Nunez
    appears closer to Bayardo Arce.  Lacayo predicted that the
    power struggles among these camps will test the new Ortega
    government and suggested that these tensions could be
    exploited to the opposition's advantage.  End Comment.

    ¶7.  (C) The Ambassador raised concerns regarding Ortega's
    choice of former Libyan/naturalized Nicaraguan Muhamad
    Muhktar Lashtar as his personal secretary, noting that
    Lashtar was a commercial attache at the Libyan embassy in
    Managua in the 1980s and reportedly associated with Libyan
    intelligence.  Lacayo, who shared the Ambassador's concern,
    remarked that Pepe Mathus, a former Contra (associated with
    the Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance, ALN) who has been involved
    in some business dealings with Lashtar, told Lacayo recently
    that the Libyan Embassy had informed him that Lashtar no
    longer maintains any relation with the embassy.  PolCouns
    shared that Lashtar is reportedly Moammar al-Ghadafi's
    nephew.

    Disgruntled Convergencia
    - - - -  - - - - - - - -

    ¶8.  (C) Lacayo related how Edwin Castro had sent a letter to
    President Ortega recommending he appoint Convergencia leader
    Santiago Rivas as Defense Minister, but Cerna knocked the
    idea down and lobbied for wife Marisol Castillo to take the
    job.  Only vigorous foreign and domestic objections derailed
    Castillo's appointment, opined Lacayo.  Similarly, Luis
    Guzman, another Convergencia member, was not taken into
    account, said Lacayo, who added that at one point he was also
    affiliated with Convergencia.

    Transformation in the Fast Lane
    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

    ¶9.  (C) The Ambassador observed that President Ortega appears
    intent on a transformation of state along the lines of the
    Chavez model and is quickly trying to pass legislation that
    would reduce the role of traditional governmental
    institutions.  The Ambassador added that Ortega's aggressive
    efforts to consolidate power and his association with the
    Venezuelan, Bolivian, and Iranian presidents is causing him
    to quickly waste the political capital he had gained during
    the campaign and following his election.

    Stepping Back on Law 290
    - - - - - - - - - - - - -

    ¶10.  (C) Lacayo, who agreed with the Ambassador's assessment,
    attributed Ortega's recent decision to retreat a few steps on
    some of his party's most egregious proposed changes to Law
    290 (including revisions that would have accorded Ortega
    direct control over the police and the military) to his
    realization that he can only go so far, so fast before the
    opposition will dig in its heels.  However, Ortega is certain
    to try to "score other goals," warned Lacayo.

    Ortega's Double Discourse -- A Matter of Money
    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

    ¶11.  (C) The Ambassador solicited Lacayo's views on whether
    Ortega is serious in his "double discourse" that he seeks
    positive relations with the United States while allowing the
    Venezuelan and Iranian presidents to lambaste the United
    States as they signed a number of cooperation agreements.
    Lacayo's response was immediate: "It's all about the money"
    -- Ortega wants to remain within the graces of the IMF, and
    with the U.S., EU, Japan, and other donors.  Thus, Ortega's
    rhetoric during his inaugural ceremonies was relatively
    benign.  However, because Ortega needs more funds than these
    traditional sources can provide to deliver on all of his
    campaign promises, he must court Chavez.  Ortega knows that
    President Chavez saved Cuba, explained Lacayo, adding that
    "Chavez is not a revolutionary, he's a gorilla."  Fidel
    Castro does not even respect Chavez and Daniel possibly might

    MANAGUA 00000178  003 OF 003

    not even consider Chavez a "true ideological" colleague, but
    they both need him, he concluded.

    ¶12.  (C)  The Ambassador commented that some of Chavez'
    offers are to problems that the Nicaraguans do not have, for
    example, the construction of a refinery that will process
    much more crude than Nicaragua's domestic consumption
    requires.  Lacayo replied that the refinery and pipeline are
    directed at meeting China's growing energy needs.

    Taking Advantage of the New Political Chapter
    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  - - - - - - - -

    ¶13.  (C) Lacayo mused that Ortega's return to power and his
    fast-track efforts to transform Nicaragua's political model
    has panicked the opposition and opened a new political
    "chapter" that offers the divided liberals and other
    opposition parties a chance to rally around a common purpose.
     He listed lawmakers Wilfredo Navarro, Francisco Aguirre
    Sacasa and Jose Pallais as some of the PLC deputies who might
    be willing to participate in such an effort with their ALN
    and Sandinista Renovation Movement (MRS) counterparts.  Both
    Navarro and Aguirre Sacasa hold strong ambitions to run for
    president, so their loyalty to Aleman could be compromised,
    he explained.  Referring to DCM/POL's recent meeting with PLC
    caucus chief Maximino Rodriguez, he agreed that Rodriguez
    would be another good candidate.

    A Bit of Pact History
    - - - - - - - - - - -

    ¶14.  (C) Commenting that Aguirre Sacasa claims he is
    "different" from his father Francisco Aguirre Baca, Lacayo
    related how Aguirre Baca, who resides in the United States,
    and Humberto Ortega were the initial intermediaries who set
    up the "pact" between Arnoldo Aleman and Daniel Ortega.
    Later on, current VP Jaime Morales and Managua Mayor Nicho
    Marenco replaced Aguirre Baca and Humberto Ortega as the pact
    intermediaries, he explained.

    Comment
    - - - -

    ¶15.  (C) Lacayo's insights track closely with many of our
    other contacts, although he seems out of touch regarding PLC
    deputy Wilfredo Navarro; thus far, Navarro has shunned ALN
    efforts to seek common ground against Ortega.  The fissures
    within Ortega's inner circle can be exploited to the
    opposition's and our advantage, particularly if the
    opposition starts rallying around a common goal to prevent
    Ortega from transforming Nicaragua's political model and
    remaining indefinitely in power.  The  media can also help by
    informing the public that Chavez' use of Nicaragua as his
    bully pulpit against the United States demonstrates his
    aggressive, neo-imperialistic intentions for the region.
    TRIVELLI

`