Central America Contra Countdown

Suddenly, the Sandinistas were on the offensive, lobbing peace grenades in the general direction of Washington. A Nicaraguan government delegation showed up in Costa Rica a full week ahead of schedule for face-to-face talks with the U.S.-backed contras. When the rebel leaders dismissed the offer as a publicity stunt and refused to begin talks prematurely, the Sandinistas hurled another surprise. They called for an international commission to monitor Nicaragua's compliance with a Central American peace plan. The panel would include not only representatives from the Organization of American States, Socialist International and the United Nations but also members of the U.S....