Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 26, 1994 TAG: 9403280139
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: TOM TAYLOR
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
North's a decorated Vietnam War hero. On the staff of the National Security Council, he became the architect of a top-secret communications project, which greatly strengthened America's position in nuclear-arms talks with the Russians and was a tremendous contribution to our security.
He orchestrated the capture of the Achille Lauro hijacker and was a key planner in curbing Libya's terrorist activity around the world. During the TWA hijacking in Beirut in 1985, he had a key role in freeing 39 Americans being held hostage. Throughout the early '80s, he was the official who almost single-handedly kept the anti-communist freedom fighters of Nicaragua going. Largely because of this, Nicaragua didn't become another communist Cuba on our doorstep. His hard work, sacrifice and unselfish love for America are beyond question and every American owes him a debt of thanks.
That said, what about his lie to Congress? To understand it, we must go back to the early '80s when a Democrat-controlled Congress was struggling with conservative President Reagan over America's policy toward Central America. The Sandinista government of Nicaragua was openly going communist - a fact that greatly alarmed Reagan and others concerned with America's security.
The Sandinistas began taking tremendous amounts of aid from the Soviets: money, tanks, attack helicopters and long-range artillery. Libya supplied experts in terrorist tactics. The Sandinista army soon grew larger than all the other armies of Central America combined. A communist takeover of Central America, which would allow Russian submarine bases off both our coasts, became a very real possibility.
Meanwhile, Nicaraguans by the thousands fled their country and organized a rebel army known as the Contras. Determined to take their country back from the communists, they were willing to do the fighting and dying, wanting only support from America, the supposed champion of freedom. But in 1982, Congress cut off military aid for the Contras.
Even though he couldn't use congressionally appropriated funds, Reagan was determined to keep the Contras going, knowing that if he didn't American troops might one day have to fight in Central America. Using contributions from private citizens and foreign countries, North worked with retired Gen. Richard Secord to build a private air force that would ferry arms and supplies to the Contras. The arms were purchased from private dealers and didn't involve public funds.
At the same time, North became a key negotiator in a plan to free American hostages being held by Shiite Moslems in Lebanon. One part of the plan, which North didn't approve at first, was to sell weapons to Iran in exchange for Iranian efforts to free the hostages. As an inducement for North to use his services, one arms broker in the deal with Iran offered to donate part of his profits to the Contra war effort. North jumped at the chance to secure more money for his Contras, and there was nothing illegal about an arms dealer donating his own money. The plan worked well for a while. One, two, then three hostages were released; money flowed to the Contras.
But then a C-123 in Secord's ragtag air force was shot down over Nicaragua, and the only surviving crewman, Eugene Hasenfus, was captured by the Sandinistas. In the resulting media frenzy, reporters obtained phone records linking a house in San Salvador where air crews lived to North's office at the NSC. Scenting Reagan's blood, several congressmen demanded a meeting with North. That meeting, which took place at the White House and caused North's eventual indictment, was billed as an informal request for information, and North wasn't under oath.
Put yourself in North's place that day: You know that if you tell the whole truth it may mean the end of the Nicaraguan resistance. Contra freedom fighters, many of whom you know personally and who trust you, may be captured or killed. The lives of secret contacts in Nicaragua will be jeopardized.
And, remember, there are still hostages in Lebanon. You know that if the Iranians (who support the Sandinistas) find out part of their money went to the Contras, they'll be furious enough to possibly kill the hostages. Certainly no more will be released, and secret contacts in Iran will be endangered as well.
That's why North didn't tell the truth that day. He tried to avoid telling direct lies, but he didn't tell the whole truth.
Those who so glibly call him a liar - what would you have done? Could your conscience live with the blood on your hands if you had betrayed the operation? North took the only honorable course open to him. Honor, obviously, isn't a prerequisite for service in Congress. But I believe that quality, along with his other qualifications, would make him a good senator for Virginia.
Tom Taylor of Roanoke is a bookkeeper.
by CNB