José Francisco Cardenal

José Francisco Cardenal(born 1940) was aNicaraguanbusinessman who became known as one of the most pugnacious opponents of theSomozaand then theSandinistaregimes ofNicaragua,and played an important role in the early days of theContrarebellion.

In 1980 he fled Nicaragua for Miami where he began to organize the15th of September Legionto oppose theSomozaregime.On August 11, 1981, hisNicaraguan Democratic Union(UDN) merged with September 15 Legion to form theNicaraguan Democratic Force(FDN). A political triumvirate was formed, consisting of Cardenal and Mariano Mendoza from the UDN, andAristides Sánchezfrom the Legion.

However, the strong-willed Cardenal alienated his compatriots. His dealings with his Argentine patrons, intended to show that this was a Nicaraguan struggle to which they were only advisors, they found insulting and ungrateful. His assertions of civilian primacy over the military seemed to the high command to be interference in matters in which he was unqualified. He also had contempt for the FDN's political executive committee in Miami, regarding them as a clique of corrupt, bickering petty politicians, who it turn began seeing him as a would-becaudillo.When he declared them disbanded, they in turn dismissed him.

Cardenal still enjoyed good relations with the CIA, and they agreed to fund an effort However, the Agency severed funding after he publicly mentioned his plans to create an Internal Front in an interview. His network had been penetrated by Sandinista intelligence from its inception, and they now rolled it up. After this, Cardenal gave up on rebel politics and began selling life insurance in Miami. However, he did not turn on the movement, and when Congress approved $100 million in aid to the Contras in 1986, he appeared at a press conference with the UNO (United Nicaraguan Opposition) leaders to join in the celebrations.