LAST WEDNESDAY the first United States soldier to die in El Salvador was shot dead on the Western outskirts of the capital San Salvador.
Commander Albert Schaulfelberger was depuhead of the US Em bassy's military group. member the navy's 'special forces' The death of Schaulfelberger highlights the US military embroilment in the Central American conflict.
The US soldiers in El Salvador have been directing battles leading patrols, not just discussing military theory in the confines of the US embassy. before the assassination of the left wing FMLN guerrillas launched an attack on the crucial Quebrada Seca bridge which spans the Pan-American highway Forty four of the 80 defending governiel troops were killed and the bridge sent crashing into a ravine.
Last week the Popular Literation Forces (FPL), one of the five groups in the FMLN, announced the formation of a regional the coveramerl Chalatenango province. The FPL controls 26 of the 33 townships in the region, after government troops have given up the attempt to permanently occupy the region.
While the fighting in El Salvador continues to go badly for the US and its local allies, DICSSUIC against the Sandinista government being escalated.
Over the past two weeks the counter-revolutionary guerrillas being sent over the border from Honduras has sharply increased Auditic cudsi region Sandinista militias have fought a fierce battle with Miskito Indian guerthe leadership of the well known rightwing leader Steadman Fagoth. At the same time on the Pacific coast in the province of Nueve Segovia, Somocista forces making their fourth tempt to capture the provincial capital of Jalapa have dere led by nee once against Nicaraguan army.
A recent poll in the United States revealed a six-to-one majority oppos to US intervention in carold But that has not stoppod the Reagan government. CIA director William Casey made prediction last week that the Sandinista government would fall a statement hastily retracted. the first time the United States has admitted huge surveillance operation, regular or Nicaragua plane overflights and El Salvador.
The present military operation against Nicaragua will not bring down the Sandinista April demonstra The 28 demonstra THOT 150,000 Managua - in reponse to Reagan's speech attacking the Sandinistas - showed mood popular outrage with America and support for the ment. US marines on the attack. Will they go into Central America?
But the war is dealing a severe blow to Nicaragua's hard The mobilisation of pressed coally the population against the at tackers inevitably sets inaustry pack. mine cross border raids, numerous agricultural specialists and doctors have heen killed. Now the Nicaraguan sugar quota to the United States has been cut back by 90 The precipitate military and political collapse Salvadorean .the governmen makes the Unite States more and more determined to strik a major blow at revolution an ine region. More thar ever solidarity with the revolutionary forces is needed.
Socialist Action 3 June 1983