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State Department cable stating Montesinos's influence
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Just how far Montesinos's control had advanced is clear in this July 1999 State Department cable obtained under the Freedom of Information Act: "There is no one who stands toe-to-toe with Montesinos in the Peruvian government, and nothing the government does on intelligence, enforcement and security issues occurs without his blessing. Like it or not, he is the go-to guy, particularly [for] any major counternarcotics issue."
Page: 3
Channel: n/a
Current Class: [blacked out]
Current Handling: EXDIS
Document Number: 1999LIMA04555
PAGE 04 LIMA 04555 01 OF 02 222018Z
MONTESINOS AS A POLITICAL LIABILITY ONE WOULD NOT KNOW IT FROM HIS PUBLIC STATEMENTS ABOUT HIS NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR. IN FACT, FUJIMORI IS DEPENDING ON MONTESINOS TO ENSURE HIS REELECTION. WITH A REALIGNED CABINET AND THE RETIREMENT OF GENERAL HERMOSA RIOS LATE LAST YEAR, THERE IS NO ONE WHO STANDS TOE-TO-TOE WITH MONTESINOS IN THE PERUVIAN GOVERNMENT AND NOTHING THAT THE GOVERNMENT DOES ON INTELLIGENCE, ENFORCEMENT, AND SECURITY ISSUES OCCURS WITHOUT HIS BLESSING. LIKE IT OR NOT, HE IS THE GO TO GUY, SHORT OF THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF ON ANY KEY ISSUE, PARTICULARLY ANY MAJOR COUNTERNARCOTICS ISSUE.
6. © MONTESINOS OFFERS A PEACE PIPE: FOR THE PAST SIX MONTHSMONTESINOS HAS PUT OUT INFORMAL FEELERS THROUGHVARIOUS CHANNELS THAT HE WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO MEET WITHGENERAL MCCAFFREY WHENEVER AND WHEREVER, PRESUMABLY TO CLEARTHE AIR. WHILE UNTIL NOW WE HAVE FENDED OFF THOSE FEELERS,WITH THE PLANNED AUGUST VISIT TO PERU IT WILL BE TRULYIMPOSSIBLE TO IGNORE MONTESINOS. TO AVOID CONTACT AND INSIST ON MONTESINOS NOT BEING PRESENT AT OFFICIAL MEETINGSWOULD COMPLETELY UNDERMINE THE VALUE OF THE VISIT. SIMPLYPUT, IF GENERAL MCCAFFREY COMES TO PERU HE MUST COME
[blacked out] PTQ0332
PAGE 01 LIMA 04555 02 OF 02 222018Z
ACTION SS-00
INFO LOG-OO ADS-00 SAS-OO /000W
E427AE 222021Z /38
R 222021Z JUL 99
FM AMEMBASSY LIMA
TO DIRONDCP WASHDC
SECSTATE WASHDC 9664
[blacked out]SECTION 02 OF 02 LIMA 004555
EXDIS
ONDCP FOR DIRECTOR MCCAFFREY FROM LIMA NARCOTICS COUNTRY TEAM
SECSTATE FOR WHA AND INL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 1.6X6
TAGS: SNAR PE
Current Class: [blacked out]
UNCLASSIFIED