<P> Commander Carrion testified that the United States was involved in the mining of Nicaragua's ports between February--April 1984 . The mining operation was carried out by CIA ships directing the operation from international waters, while the actual mining was carried out by CIA employees on board speedboats operating inshore . After the mine - laying was completed the speedboats returned to the mother vessel . </P> <P> Carrion stated that 3,886 people had been killed and 4,731 wounded in the four years since the contras began their attacks . Carrion estimated property damage at $375 million . </P> <P> Commander Carrion stated if the United States stopped aid, support and training, this would result in the end of the contras military activities within three months . Asked why he was so sure of this, Commander Carrion answered, "Well, because the contras are an artificial force, artificially set up by the United States, that exists only because it counts on United States direction, on United States training, on United States assistance, on United States weapons, on United States everything...Without that kind of support and direction the contras would simply disband, disorganize, and thus lose their military capacity in a very short time". </P> <P> David MacMichael was an expert on counter-insurgency, guerrilla warfare, and Latin American affairs, he was also a witness because he was closely involved with U.S. intelligence activities as a contract employee from March 1981--April 1983 . MacMichael worked for Stanford Research Institute, which was contracted by the U.S. Department of Defense . After this he worked two years for the CIA as a "senior estimates officer", preparing the National Intelligence Estimate . Dr. MacMichael's responsibility was centered upon Central America . He had top - secret clearance . He was qualified and authorized to have access to all relevant U.S. intelligence concerning Central America, including intelligence relating to alleged Nicaraguan support for, and arms shipments to the anti-Government insurgents in El Salvador . He took part in high level meetings of the Latin American affairs office of the CIA . Including a fall 1981 meeting, which submitted the initial plan to set up a 1500 - man covert force on the Nicaraguan border, shipping arms from Nicaragua to the El Salvador insurgents . This plan was approved by President Reagan . </P>

Findings of the icj in the nicaragua case