Word: contra
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...performance fueled rather than stilled speculation in Washington that Poindexter was the Administration's designated scapegoat for the scandal. In earlier testimony North, who was Poindexter's hyperactive aide at the NSC, claimed he and Director of Central Intelligence William Casey had often ! discussed the intricacies of the Iran-contra operation. According to North, Casey said the Marine might have to play the "fall guy," taking blame for the entire operation if it was ever exposed. On further consideration, Casey speculated that North might not be "senior enough" to make a credible scapegoat; the CIA director suggested Poindexter would have...
Poindexter contended that during daily briefings he reported to Reagan "in general terms" on the status of the contras. He said he told the President of North's "instrumental" role in helping sustain the rebels, filling Reagan in on the secret airstrip built in Costa Rica by North's contra resupply network. The admiral said that while the President knew the rebels were being supported by private donations and contributions from third countries, he never asked where precisely the money was coming from. "The President . . . is not a man for great detail," said Poindexter, inadvertently provoking chuckles from the audience...
Poindexter insisted that he never discussed the diversion with any Administration official other than North. The admiral said he refrained from talking about the scheme with Casey -- even though the CIA had been deeply involved in previous contra activities. His rationale was that Casey often had to testify before the congressional intelligence-oversight committees and Poindexter did not want him to have to lie. North, however, told the Iran- contra committees that Casey knew all about the diversion...
Poindexter said he cautioned North against putting any information about contra support on paper. Nevertheless, North testified that he sent Poindexter five memorandums, each outlining the details of a specific transfer of arms proceeds to the contras. Each paper recommended briefing the President and seeking his approval of the transaction. North said he never knew if Reagan saw the memos, but he shredded all his copies of the documents when he learned that the arms deals might come to light. One memo, however, escaped the shredder and was discovered by investigators from the Justice Department...
...chain of command in the Iran-contra affair ran from Oliver North, who served as a National Security Council aide, through the National Security Adviser (first Robert McFarlane and then John Poindexter), to the President. Here, in paraphrase, is where the four stand in taking responsibility for key actions...