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
archive
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Man, 26, dies in collision with truck traveling at 100 mph
- Nevada’s just not for us, many top high schoolers say
- Holiday shoppers skip turkey for Strip stores
- Casino venue in Singapore will have Las Vegas flavor
- CityCenter completion might spur home foreclosures
- MGM Mirage: CityCenter not affected by debt woes
- Fontainebleau retail component seeks bankruptcy
- Holiday Auction 2009 items
- Real estate experts cautiously optimistic about market
- Metro admits to improper release of criminal history data
Blogs
The Kats Report
Could a savior of shuttered Las Vegas Art Museum be ... Peter Max? (5 Comments)
For Paul Stanley and KISS, rock and roll is not over (5 Comments)
Twenty years ago today, Human Nature took root on the farm (1 Comment)
Robin Leach's Las Vegas Celebrity Watch
Photo Gallery: Donny Osmond’s triumphant return to the Flamingo
The Kats Report
'DWTS' champ Donny Osmond still deft afoot in return to Flamingo (8 Comments)
Politics: The Early Line
Meeting of GOP governors draws challengers, not Gibbons (5 Comments)
Politics: Ralston's Flash
Oscar loves forcing developers to sign labor peace agreements, Culinary loves the city's downtown plans and all is forgiven (10 Comments)
Calendar »
- 28 Sat
- 29 Sun
- 30 Mon
- 1 Tue
- 2 Wed
-
KISS at the Pearl
The Pearl at the Palms
-
Christopher "Kid" Reid at the LA Comedy Club
LA Comedy Club @ Trader Vic's
-
Stevie Wonder at MGM Grand
MGM Grand Garden Arena | 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
-
UNLV Rebels vs. Louisville at the Thomas & Mack Center
The Thomas & Mack Center | 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
-
Joe Perry Project at the House of Blues
House of Blues | 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Vicente Fernandez at the Mandalay Bay Events Center
Mandalay Bay Events Center | 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.
-
Jay Leno at The Mirage
Terry Fator Theatre
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati










