Iran-Contra Hearings - Testimony of Colonel Oliver North.
Iran-Contra Hearings - Testimony of Colonel Oliver North.
Iran-Contra Hearings - Testimony of Colonel Oliver North.
Iran-Contra Hearings - Testimony of Colonel Oliver North.
Mr. Sullivan-Mr. Chairman? Rep. Jack Brooks-Anyway Colonel you did play a central role in the events in which we are investigating. We re not here to prosecute anyone for accepting gratitudes, diverting public funds, destroying public documents, lying to congress or any other conduct. We are here only to determine what did happen and the serious impact these activities may have had on the conduct of American Foreign Policy and indeed on our national security. Now I want to tell you that I believe your testimony has been quite revealing. And the most revealing thing to me has been that you confirmed that you were not acting alone. And you put it I believe that you were not a lone wolf. And Lieutenant Colonel s in the Marine Corps simplify don t have that kind of authority, I was one. You ve testified very persuasively that you had lots of help. And I thought you did. The defense department helped and provided the missiles, the Hock parts modified the codes to meet the specs. The Department of Justice helped. Provided the DEA agents, held off the FBI. The Department of State helped. Ambassadors were used to facilitate the movement of weapons, construction of air strips. And despite what Assistant Secretary Abrams said about not knowing nothing about nothing. He had to be authorized to tell the truth if you recall.
Iran-Contra Hearings - Testimony of Colonel Oliver North.
It was very clear that you testified that he didn t have to ask. He already knew everything you were doing in Central America. The CIA helped. You testified you talked to Director Casey several times a week, worked closely with him. The CIA bought the missiles from the DOD and sold them to Iran. CIA operatives assisted in setting up and running air supply to Nicaragua. And of course you were not the only one at the National Security Council involved. You testified that everything you did, all of the imagination, the operations, the phone calls, the traveling was supported by your superiors: Mr. McFarlane, Admiral Poindexter. You Secretary Ms. Hall testified that your travel was authorized by someone higher than you. And you ve testified repeatedly that you even thought you had the help of the President of the United States. Now Colonel North, you ve added a great deal to our knowledge about the involvement of a large number of people in these events. Most of these activities could have been carried out by these same people in the normal course of their duties. They would have had to comply with a certain amount of accountability. Provisions like written findings as provided by the President s own National Security decision directive of 159. Reporting to the House and Senate Select Committee s on intelligence as required by the intelligence oversight act. Reporting to the Foreign Affairs committee as required by the Foreign Military Sales Act; and I guess they would have had to deposit the proceeds into the US Treasury since those missiles were paid for with taxpayer s money. Now instead this elaborate scheme was to carry out these activities which worked out to be a government within a government. And it s a very interesting variation of now you see it now you don t. The US government was acting as a party when needed and it was a private citizen when it came to reporting to Congress or counting the profits. And I believe Colonel north, you testified that Director Casey really wanted a more or less off the shelf, stand alone, self sustaining operation for covert activities. Was that your understanding of what he requested? Colonel Oliver North-Yes.