Word: shultz
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McFarlane discussed the Iranian overture with Shultz, Weinberger and Casey -- ironically, at about the time when Reagan, in a July 8 speech, was listing Iran as being first among a "confederation of terrorist states." In mid-July McFarlane, accompanied by Shultz, broached Kimche's ideas to Reagan in Bethesda Naval Hospital, where the President was recuperating from colon surgery. Reagan saw the dangers of an arms-for-hostages swap, but also appreciated the value of new contact with Iran. He bought the idea that arms shipments would be intended to strengthen a group that might eventually be able to wean...
...merchant, was also present. Kimche had represented Ghorbanifar as being politically astute, but McFarlane found him to be a "man of no integrity" who was obsessed with arms and insensitive to the political concerns of the U.S. McFarlane returned to Washington and gave a pessimistic report to the NSC. Shultz was traveling in Europe but sent advice to "not have anything more to do with this." McFarlane believed the Iranian arms deal was dead...
...wrong. On Jan. 7, 1986, shortly after McFarlane left the Government, Reagan convened another NSC meeting. According to Shultz, nothing was put to a vote and no formal decision was announced. But, says the Secretary, he could sense that the trend of the discussion was going in favor of additional arms sales. Still opposed, Shultz made little effort after that to find out what was happening; he told the Foreign Affairs Committee, "I . . . kick myself" for not being more aggressive...
...went downhill from there. During three days of talks the American quartet met only officials who appeared to have little constituency or influence. McFarlane returned to the U.S., made a negative report to the NSC and once more believed the Iranian connection was broken. At about the same time, Shultz has said, Casey and Poindexter told him the operation had been "stood down...
...November. But three more Americans were kidnaped in Lebanon beginning in September. Even so, Reagan clung to his Iranian initiative to the bitter end. In his Nov. 19 press conference, after the storm had broken, the President voiced a wan hope that diplomatic contacts with Iran could continue, and Shultz had to practically bludgeon the President into announcing that there would be no more arms sales...