
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, May 25, 1993                   TAG: 9305250633
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

ANOTHER VIEW OF OLIVER NORTH

RAY GARLAND wrote hundreds of words recently (April 22 column, "The question for the GOP is: Can the right make might?"), trying to belittle Lt. Col. Oliver North. Garland completely lost credibility, however, when he stated that North is "a small man thrust by an accident of history into a struggle for power." If North is a small man, then we need many more in our government.

A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy in 1968, North was a Marine platoon commander in the Vietnam War. His military decorations include the Silver Star, the Bronze Star with a "V," two Purple Hearts and three Navy Commendation Medals.

Following Vietnam, he served with distinction in a variety of assignments, both in the United States and abroad. In 1981, North was ordered to the White House for duty with the National Security Council staff, and eventually was named deputy director of political-military affairs.

While on the NSC staff, he was involved in planning the liberation of Grenada and the rescue of 804 medical students held on the island. North played a major role in the operation that resulted in the capture of the hijackers of the cruise ship Achille Lauro. He later helped plan the U.S. raid on Gadhafi's terrorist training camps in Libya.

North is best known for the role he played in carrying out President Reagan's policy of support for the Nicaraguan freedom fighters and his involvement in the rescue of American hostages held in Beirut, Lebanon. A target of congressional opponents to Reagan administration policies, North was fully cleared of all legal charges in the so-called Iran-Contra affair in 1991.

Today, he is a successful businessman and a very popular public speaker. He is also president of Freedom Alliance, a nonprofit foundation dedicated to promoting principles of individual liberty, a strong defense and traditional values in national policy. He writes a weekly syndicated newspaper column, broadcasts a daily radio commentary, and is the author of an international best seller, "Under Fire."

Hard-core Democrats, pro-abortionists and liberals dislike North. Nevertheless, the more his enemies attack him, the more popular he becomes. The big "small man" just continues to grow. FRANK ROGERS CHRISTIANSBURG

by CNB