Falklands War Documents - April 13, 1982 – ABC World News Tonight – Communications during the Crisis, 7:00 PM [Excerpts]

ABC News Broadcast Transcripts: 

The CIA followed international news sources which reported on important intelligence information. In these news transcripts, released by the CIA and excerpted here for copyrights reasons, reporters from ABC break a story at 7 pm that they have learned through U.S. government officials that the US is providing Britain with communications, military intelligence, weather forecasting, and extensive supplies on Ascension Island. “The United States has mounted what officials say is a huge intelligence survey of Argentine military activity, and has passed on virtually every piece of significant information to the British. That information included early photographic evidence suggesting the possibility of an Argentine invasion of the Falklands.” Nevertheless, the journalists also report that a few minutes before the broadcast of this news several top-level US officials telephoned ABC news and made statements that the reports were incorrect. By the air time of the Nightline report, just four and a half hours later, ABC reported that the White House officials who had denied the previous story had called the station to retract their statements and to simply leave “no-comment”.

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CARL BERSTEIN:

Officials here have told ABC News that the United States has been providing Great Britain with extensive assistance in its military preparations. As described to ABC News by several officials at the Pentagon and State Department, the assistance is in four areas: Communications. The United States is providing a vital link in Britain's communications with its submarine fleet in the blockade area around the Falklands. 

The U.S. has an extensive network of satellites that can beam signals to the British subs and the armada now steaming toward the South Atlantic. Intelligence. The United States has mounted what officials say is a huge intelligence survey of Argentine military activity, and has passed on virtually ever piece of significant information to the British. That information included early photographic evidence suggesting the possibility of an Argentine invasion of the Falklands. Weather forecasting.

U.S. satellites are providing information for the British on weather on iceberg conditions in the South Atlantic. Supply. The United States, which is bound by treaty to share use of Ascension Island with Britain, is undertaking a massive supply operation there for the British fleet. Storage tanks have been topped off with more than two million gallons of jet fuel for British aircraft. What all this adds up to a tacit U.S. commitment to America's closest ally, Britain, despite President Reagants suggestion that the United States intends to pursue a neutral course between nations he has described as two good friends. 

REYNOLDS:

 Late this afternoon, high-ranking officials of the government denied that the United States is extending any help to the British, military intelligence or any other information. However, a Pentagon spokesman today confirmed the main points in Carl Bernstein's report. And other officials in other departments of, the government have also said the U.S. is giving the British intelligence assistance.