The Covert War in Nicaragua and Martial Law

Chances are that if you've ever heard of the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA), it is in relation to a natural disaster such as a hurricane, flood, tornado, or earthquake. In the event of a disaster of this nature, it is FEMA's responsibility to coordinate the government response and provide assistance to victims. However, in 1984, President Ronald Reagan signed a presidential directive authorizing FEMA to coordinate a readiness exercise, codenamed "Rex 84," designed to test the agency's ability to coordinate the imposition of martial law and the suspension of the Constitution in the event of a "national emergency."

At the time Rex 84 was being planned, the Reagan Administration was actively supporting the "contras," a rebel army in Nicaragua, in an effort to overthrow the Nicaraguan government. Although U.S. aid to the contras was supposed to be secret, press reports detailing the covert war began to appear in 1982, prompting growing grass-roots protest across the United States. By 1984, domestic opposition to U.S. military intervention in Central America was considerable, yet there was serious talk of a possible invasion of Nicaragua by American troops. In the event that such an invasion took place, the Reagan Administration anticipated nationwide protests, similar to those that occurred during the Vietnam War.

The plan being tested as part of Rex 84 involved the declaration of martial law and the suspension of the Constitution. Military commanders would replace civilian government officials, and National Guard troops would be used to round up approximately 400,000 undocumented Central American immigrants, along with members of the antiwar movement, and detain them at military bases throughout the southwestern United States.

This entire scenario was the creation of the Emergency Preparedness Mobilization Board, an interdepartmental group established by presidential directive in 1982. One of the chief members of the Board -- and one of the principal architects of Rex 84 -- was Lt. Colonel Oliver North, a Marine assigned to the National Security Council.

In August 1984, Attorney General William French Smith became aware of the proposed expansion of FEMA's authority and objected strenuously, effectively curtailing FEMA's role for the time being in this type of emergency planning. Not long thereafter, Oliver North became the point man in coordinating the Reagan Administration's ongoing effort to provide military assistance to the Nicaraguan contras, in defiance of a congressional prohibition on such aid. Some of the funds used to arm the contras came from the proceeds of illegal sales of military equipment to Iran.

In November 1986, what came to be known as the "Iran-Contra" scandal became public, and the following summer saw Congress conduct televised hearings investigating the scandal. Oliver North was the star witness. At one point during North's testimony, the subject of Rex 84 was raised by Congressman Jack Brooks of Texas. When he attempted to inquire about the Reagan Administration's plans to expand FEMA's powers and to impose martial law in the event of a U.S. military invasion of Central America, Brooks was quickly informed by the chairman of the investigating committee that this was not a matter suitable for public discussion.