Oliver North back in Nicaragua as old foe leads

[arcos]

Oliver North back in Nicaragua as old foe leads

Oct 23, 2006 — MANAGUA, Nicaragua (Reuters) - U.S. Cold War warrior Oliver North, famous for his role in funding Nicaraguan rebels in the Iran-Contra affair, is back in the fray in the Central American nation's tense presidential election.

North, a former lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Marines, was in the Nicaraguan capital on Monday to give his backing to the ruling Liberal Party's conservative candidate, Jose Rizo.

North said he was worried by opinion polls that show his former enemy Daniel Ortega, who led the left-wing Sandinista government during the 1980s civil war against Contra rebels, could bounce back to power in the November 5 election.

<snip>

U.S. Ambassador Paul Trivelli, who favors Rizo's conservative rival Eduardo Montealegre, said North was a private citizen and not speaking for Washington.

<snip>

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=2601523

[TomInTib]

1. This is just bizarre..

Sending Nervous Breakdown (that's why he was shipped out of Vietnam) North to Nicaragua to campaign against Ortega just blows me away.

[Telly Savalas]

3. Maybe he's in charge of our Latin America policy again.

[TomInTib]

6. Yeah, and Fawn Hall has the 'roadmap' in her bra.

I have often considered (not fantasized - considered) doing awful shit to mr north.

When he showed up in his Marine uniform at the Iran-Contra hearings I wanted him gone.

Gone.

[sidpleasant]

19. Psycho Ollie and the Marine uniform

After he returned from a short (less than a month) assignment to Okinawa in 1974 Oliver North had a serious mental breakdown and spent 3 weeks in Bethesda Naval Hospital. North has never challenged reports that he ran naked through the streets waving a pistol and screaming. When North was assigned to the Reagan White House he was allowed to carry his personal file with him, a severe breach of regulations (Marines are usually never allowed to be alone with their file; if you want to read the records another person must always be present). Somehow, by the time Ollie arrived at the WH all records of his mental breakdown had mysteriously vanished from his file! While working in the WH North never wore his Marine uniform. He dressed in suits - one can only conclude that North was ashamed of the uniform. Of course he was only too happy to exploit the uniform he shunned for 5 years when he testified before Congress. My late father was a career Marine who absolutely despised Ollie for doing that, and his low opinion of Ollie was wide - spread in the Corps.

[ShortnFiery]

32. He still is NOT respected by many within the Marine Corps ...

We live close to Quantico Marine Corps base. My husband, a retired Marine despises Oliver North for his treasonous actions during Iraq Contra Operations and the subsequent cover-up. He keeps in contact with many friends and associates who are still Active Duty. Again, many save for the fringe super-right-wing Marines feel that Oliver North, if not in jail, should NOT be lauded in any way.

Military Officers take an Oath to uphold and defend The Constitution of the United States, NOT cover for those within The Executive Branch above all else. :wtf:

My husband and I were very proud to take that oath. Our Commissioning rates up there in the top five most treasured experiences in life. We enjoyed an all Military Wedding - wearing our Dress Blue Uniforms with the maids of honor and best man in their Class As (Greens).

We both know the downsides of active service. However, to claim that *we love the military* would be an understatement. However, my retired USMC husband and I (vet) do NOT honor Oliver North because the motto "Semper Fi" (always faithful) means absolutely nothing to him.

IMO (and many military, retirees and veterans) all that Oliver North served was his own best interests. :thumbsdown:

[havocmom]

7. One wonders how a convicted felon ...

(convicted for crimes involving that little corner of the world and illegal ops) is:

A) allowed a passport

B) allowed by Nicaragua to cross it's borders.

Bizarre in the EXTREME, TomInTib (damn, I almost made the mistake of using your screen-name initials again! Some day I'll be sleepy enough not to catch myself at that )

Olly North, Iran-Contra bag man can go 'campaign' in Nicaragua, but DHS gives little old ladies traveling within the US heartache, searches them at airports and Cat Stevens is dangerous?!?! :wtf: A-friggin-MAZING.

Olly pulling black ops again? Guess that TV thing isn't workin out for North?

[TomInTib]

9. Good points.

Across the board, but especially "b".

TIT

[gratuitous]

14. Remember, his conviction was overturned

And his criminal record wiped clean, because somehow the investigative bulldogs in the Republican-controlled Senate aired a bunch of evidence against good soldier Ollie that couldn't be used against him in a courtroom. So his convictions were overturned on a technicality, and a criminal thug was allowed to walk free by activist judges like David Sentelle. Whoops, I mean, justice was served.

[havocmom]

15. Still convicted. Wonder why ANY nation would grant a visa

The guy is a poster boy for disrupting democracy.

[hedgehog]

23. Which is a good thing to remember when demanding that

Congress investigate and impeach Bush. We have to be very careful what we wish for. Most people don't have the time to listen to all the testimony in a Congressional hearing. If Congress fails to nail Bush but taints the evidence, Bush walks and the Republicans will crow that it was all politics..

[MountainMamma]

2. What ya doing back down in Managua, Ollie???

Why not come on home and let those folks elect whom they want to elect. If they want the Sandinistas back in power, that is their business. Nose out!

[lastknowngood]

4. I hope they arrest that asshole for the crimes he commited against

the people of Nicaraga

[mitchtv]

10. Nicaraguan version of Illegal combatant

If anyone deserves to visit a secret Nico prison, he does. State terrorist.

[struggle4progress]

5. The proper response to this non-subtle threat would be to arrest Ollie

as a principal in a terrorist conspiracy.

[AlCzervik]

8. Ollie better hope he's a good security team.

[bigworld]

11. This is supposed to help Ortega's opponent?

If anything, it'll send support to Ortega. Bizarre!

[bemildred]

12. Boy, that is stupid on so many levels you don't know where to start. nt

[razors edge]

13. something tells me he ain't there for a campaign commercial,

probably spreading more of our tax dollars around and rubbing elbows with the needy rich.

[davidinalameda]

16. keep him!

[ngant17]

17. a lot of leftwing governments to subvert in South America

so Ollie is wasting his time in Nicaragua, I guess he thinks there is a National Security threat for the USA. Like, maybe the coffee bean and banana industries might be at risk of going over to the communists.

RayGun's 'evil empire' was an invention to keep Ollie's war machines financed.

Maybe he will go senile and fade away like Mr. RayGun.

[DoYouEverWonder]

18. He's just checking out new vacation spots

for all his criminal buddies that will be fleeing the country when the DEMS take back Congress.

[yellowcanine]

20. Does he secretly want Ortega to win? His being there almost guarantees

it. Nothing like having a gringo campaigning for an opponent to boost your chances.

[geek tragedy]

21. He's about as welcome there as Mark Foley

is at a high school pep rally.

[MGKrebs]

22. Maybe a slight detour to Paraguay on the way back.

Evaluate the security needs of the new NeoCon Valley Estates down there.

[annabanana]

24. (Oliver) "North warns against Ortega vote"

Ex-White House aide Oliver North - at the centre of a 1980s scheme to finance Contra rebels in Nicaragua - has warned the country not to return to the past.
Mr North said he hoped voters would not elect ex-Sandinista leader and former President Daniel Ortega - whom the rebels sought to topple.

Mr Ortega is the favourite to win the 5 November presidential elections.

- snip -

"My hope is that the people of Nicaragua are not going to return to that. That's not good for your country. That's not good for my country."

Mr North visited a memorial for fallen Contra rebels.

What the hell is that snake doing still running around "on our behalf"... What's his actual job?

[peacetalksforall]

25. His job is propaganda. No drugs in sight. nt

[dipsydoodle]

26. What's his actual job?

pokin' his nose where it don't belong I guess.

[habitual]

27. I believe the going lie is the following:

he is a private citizen acting on his own behalf.

Apparently, he just happened to be in the neighborhood (Nicaragua).

[Greeby]

28. And on November 6th, if Ortega wins

Someone needs to put up a banner outside 41's house that simply reads "You Failed" :evilgrin:

[RaleighNCDUer]

29. That first line is worded wrong --

it should be "Ex-convict Oliver North..."

[bowens43]

30. Who cares what this freedom hating felon thinks?

Amazing that the press gives this scum any time at all.

[Tempest]

31. Is North secretly working for Ortega?

No Nicaraguan who lived through, or saw the results of, Reagan's secret dirty war is going to listen to one of the masterminds of the war.

It would be like Chilians voting for a candidate Pinochet supported.

[MGKrebs]

34. "Mastermind" isn't the first thing that springs to mind (lol)

when talking about Ollie, but I suppose it's technically correct, such as it is. :-)

[donsu]

33. where ever North goes it's to do criminal business

he belongs in prison

[ngant17]

37. the criminal has returned to the scene of the crime(s)

or at least, that is the old saying.

I'm sure there is a small base of rich conservative Nicaraguans who are thrilled to see this gringo back in town.

OTOH dear Ollie might want to avoid certain towns in the country-side, as I wouldn't think his safety could not be guaranteed in some of those locations where in the past US-financed contra death-squads ran amok on his behalf.

[TheCowsCameHome]

35. Aw, the teary-eyed Marine heads home. Maybe he'll stay there this time.

What an asshole.

[mogster]

36. OK, I just dropped this as a new thread, here's from the BBC

(Ollie) North warns against Ortega vote

Ex-White House aide Oliver North - at the centre of a 1980s scheme to finance Contra rebels in Nicaragua - has warned the country not to return to the past.
Mr North said he hoped voters would not elect ex-Sandinista leader and former President Daniel Ortega - whom the rebels sought to topple.

Mr Ortega is the favourite to win the 5 November presidential elections.

His left-wing Sandinistas led Nicaragua in the 1980s and were voted out in 1990 after a decade of civil war.
(...)
North:
"My hope is that the people of Nicaragua are not going to return to that. That's not good for your country. That's not good for my country."
(...)
Mr North visited a memorial for fallen Contra rebels.

He also met conservative Jose Rizo, who according to polls is running third behind the conservative candidate favoured by Washington, Eduardo Montealegre.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6080172.stm

-----------------------------------------------

Note the use of lingo here? 'Left-wing Sandinistas' vs. conservative isn't unbiased, considered the very real following Ortega has and what we know about the Contra movement and North's past.
We need to critisize the BBC if we want to keep it liberal.