‘Invasion’ of Nicaragua Quote No Quip, Dole Says

Senate Republican leader Bob Dole said today he wasn’t simply making “a quip” when he was quoted as saying that “a little three-day invasion” of Nicaragua would be welcomed by the people of that Central American nation.

The Kansas Republican told reporters that “I was just expressing an opinion” that Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega is not well-liked by the people of Central America.

“It wasn’t a quip. It was a very serious interview” with reporters from the Milwaukee Sentinel, Dole said.

Dole, an unannounced candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, visited Nicaragua during the monthlong congressional recess which ended today. During the visit, he met with Ortega, leader of the leftist Sandinista government.

In the interview, Dole suggested that Ortega is so disliked by other Central American leaders that Costa Rican President Oscar Arias wouldn’t object “if somebody came down there and sort of blew (Ortega) away.”

According to the newspaper, the “three-day invasion” remark came while Dole was trying to explain the phrase “blew him away.”

Asked today about the invasion comment, Dole declined to repeat it. But he added: “I just said some people would not find that too offensive. The point is that people don’t like communism in Central America.”

“It’s my observation that Ortega doesn’t have too many friends down there,” said Dole. “Ortega’s not a popular figure.”