Letter: Iran-Contra affair forgotten

Monday, Nov. 19, 2001 | 8:56 a.m.

This is in response to Carl Ridenour's Nov. 5 letter, blaming President Clinton for selling a sophisticated communication system to Syria, which in turn went to the Taliban regime: What a false accusation!

Did Mr. Ridenour forget the Iran-Contra affair that was plotted by Republican President Ronald Reagan and Vice President George Bush Sr.? They sent Oliver North and Robert McFarlane to Iran with an offer to sell that country the most sophisticated systems, armaments and technology that was supposed to be used only by the United States of America.

Not only was the offer illegal, but was made when pro-Iranian terrorists in Lebanon were holding Americans hostage. The offer was so generous they could not believe it. After signing the contract, one member of Iran's government jokingly said, "And do not forget to bring a chocolate cake, too." Months later McFarlane went back to Iran to deliver the chocolate cake. The Iranians were laughing their eyes out.

The money from that sale was used by North to buy armaments for the "freedom fighters" of Nicaragua, although the Congress had vetoed any assistance to the group after it was found out that the Contras were dealing in drugs, even using airplanes that North was getting from Panama's President Manuel Noriega.

Those airplanes belonged to the Cali cartel lords.

For me that's a horrendous treason, especially being done by a high-ranking military officer, as was Oliver North.

ADELA KING