31 lines
2.1 KiB
Markdown
31 lines
2.1 KiB
Markdown
---
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category: "Iran-Contra"
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tags:
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- Person
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- Contra_War
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- 1980s
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- ARDE
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summary: Dr. Felix Saborio was a Nicaraguan pediatrician and childhood friend of Danilo Blandón who served as Eden Pastora's representative to the Cuban community, media liaison, and ARDE fundraiser.
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---
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### Background
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Dr. Felix Saborio was a Nicaraguan pediatrician and close childhood friend of [[Danilo Blandon|Danilo Blandón]] from before the Sandinista revolution. "Felix Saborio was a close friend of Blandón from childhood," said Carol Prado, [[Eden Pastora|Eden Pastora's]] former aide. "I also knew them from childhood. They were very rich people."[^1]
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### Role with ARDE
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After the [[Central Intelligence Agency]] cutoff of funding to Pastora's [[ARDE]] in mid-1984, Saborio volunteered to become Pastora's representative to the anti-Communist Cuban community in southern Florida, his liaison with the U.S. news media, and an ARDE fund-raiser. Saborio was frequently quoted in the [[Miami]] Herald and other papers as Pastora's spokesman during 1984 and 1985.[^1]
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Prado described attending a party in Miami at Saborio's house with Pastora where she saw Blandón. The connections between Saborio, Blandón, and the Contra fundraising network were extensive.[^1]
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### Connection to Ronald Lister
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Saborio was also acquainted with [[Ronald Lister]]. Lister told the CIA that he had "travelled to Hialeah, Florida sometime in 1982 or 1983 and met with a Contra member named 'Dr. Sabario' in an effort to sell 'military supplies' to the Contras." The CIA report stated the military supplies were "commercially available equipment such as non-reflective paint for equipment and surveillance detection gear of the type that can be purchased at electronic shops and 'spy' stores."[^1]
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### Legal Support for Blandón
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In 1992, Saborio posted part of Chepita Blandón's bond after she was arrested on drug trafficking charges in San Diego. No evidence has surfaced implicating Saborio in drug dealing.[^1]
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### Footnotes
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[^1]: Webb, Gary. *Dark Alliance: The CIA, the Contras, and the Crack Cocaine Explosion.* Seven Stories Press, 1998. Chapter 11: "They were looking in the other direction"
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