"Bud" McFarlane, Reagans's NSA testified in Iran-Contra

[sangha]

http://www.fas.org/irp/offdocs/walsh/chap_01.htm

"Robert C. ``Bud'' McFarlane was President Reagan's national security adviser from October 1983 to December 1985. He briefed the President daily about world events and conferred regularly with Vice President Bush, Secretary of State George P. Shultz, Secretary of Defense Caspar W. Weinberger and CIA Director William J. Casey, who were the principal members of President Reagan's National Security Council.

Prior to becoming national security adviser, McFarlane had been deputy to his predecessor William Clark; counselor to Alexander M. Haig, Jr., when he was secretary of state; a member of the staff of the Senate Armed Services Committee; and military aide to Henry Kissinger when he was national security adviser to President Nixon. An Annapolis graduate, he commanded the first U.S. Marine battery to land in the Republic of South Vietnam. He completed two tours, each characterized by the heavy fighting in I-Corps just south of the demilitarized zone that separated North and South Vietnam. He received a Bronze Star for valor and other individual and unit decorations. He resigned from the U.S. Marine Corps as a lieutenant colonel. ...

Beginning in December 1986 after the public exposure of Iran/contra, McFarlane voluntarily provided information to Congress, to President Reagan's Tower Commission and to Independent Counsel. Because McFarlane was only partially truthful, it was difficult for investigators to determine on which matters he could be believed. Further complicating the matter was the fact that McFarlane's testimony was, in some crucial respects, at odds with that of other senior Reagan Administration officials. McFarlane, for example, stood alone in insisting that President Reagan had approved the earliest 1985 sales of U.S. arms to Iran by Israel and had agreed to replenish Israeli weapons stocks. It was only after contemporary notes recording the events in question were discovered late in Independent Counsel's investigation that much of what McFarlane said could be verified. His desire to keep secret certain contra-assistance activities resulted in criminal charges being brought against him.

After lengthy negotiations with Independent Counsel, McFarlane on March 11, 1988, pleaded guilty to four misdemeanor charges that he unlawfully withheld information from Congress about North's contra-support activities and about the solicitation of foreign funding for the contras. As a condition of his plea, he agreed to cooperate with the ongoing criminal investigation. On December 24, 1992, McFarlane was one of six Iran/contra defendants pardoned by President Bush....

[Davis_X_Machina]

1. OT, but true story...

...in the mid-late 80's I was coaching a HS forensics program, and judging a lot of foreign extemporaneous speaking.

The extempers can't use notes, and one Saturday, I can't remember the question, but it was Iran-Contra related, and the kid speaking had had a brain fart, crosswiring "Spuds McKenzie" (the Budweiser dog) and "Bud McFarlane".

So we had a nice five-minute speech basically suggesting that the Budweiser terrier was running US FoPo.

Worked for me... I gave him a second in that round.

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

2. didn't he try to commit suicide?

good find, btw.

[sangha]

4. Good memory

"Other factors also played a role in Independent Counsel's decision to accept McFarlane's guilty plea to misdemeanor charges. In February 1987, McFarlane attempted to commit suicide. It was clear from his extensive meetings, interviews and testimony thereafter that he continued to suffer as a consequence of his role as national security adviser in Iran/contra policies. Independent Counsel also gave McFarlane credit for his willingness -- unlike Poindexter and North, who invoked their Fifth Amendment privilege and refused to testify without immunity -- to assist the investigation at an early date, prior to his plea."

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

7. went and got my copy of "the clothes have no emperor"

by paul slansky

feb 9, 1987
"On the eve of his testimony before the tower commission, robert mcfarlane takes upwards of 20 valiums in a failed suicide attempt."


on a more humorous note... feb. 11, 1987

"president reagan tells the tower commission that after discussing it with don regan, he now remembers that he did not authorize the arms sales in advance. commission members are disheartened when, while reciting his recollection from a staff-supplied memo, he mistakenly reads his stage instructions aloud."

[MSgt213]

3. No NSA has ever testified about policy even though some have testified

that's Condi's and the administration's argument. Which really does'nt hold water with me.

[sangha]

5. The evidence suggests otherwise

"Beginning in December 1986 after the public exposure of Iran/contra, McFarlane voluntarily provided information to Congress, to President Reagan's Tower Commission and to Independent Counsel. Because McFarlane was only partially truthful, it was difficult for investigators to determine on which matters he could be believed. Further complicating the matter was the fact that McFarlane's testimony was, in some crucial respects, at odds with that of other senior Reagan Administration officials. McFarlane, for example, stood alone in insisting that President Reagan had approved the earliest 1985 sales of U.S. arms to Iran by Israel and had agreed to replenish Israeli weapons stocks. It was only after contemporary notes recording the events in question were discovered late in Independent Counsel's investigation that much of what McFarlane said could be verified. His desire to keep secret certain contra-assistance activities resulted in criminal charges being brought against him. "

I'd say that "sales of U.S. arms to Iran by Israel" and agreements to "replenish Israeli weapons stocks" could be considered "policy"

[MSgt213]

6. Right agree I'm telling you what she is saying she is trying to say that

all the NSA priors had done it as matters of investigations and not about what policy the President they were advising. However, you and I know that it's all the same damn thing. Her and her right wing buddies are trying to spin this and they know they have their base that is too utterly stupid to understand that there really is not any difference.

[sangha]

8. Ahh, I see

Y'know, they're right. Their idiot Bush*bots won't understand that there isn't a difference

[Vickers]

9. "On December 24, 1992, McFarlane was one of six Iran/contra defendants..."

"pardoned by President Bush...."

C'mon, Condi, if you spill the beans, Georgie will give you a Get Out Of Jail Free card!

[Q]

10. The Bushies are using 'executive privilege' without...

...using those exact words. Shades of Nixon...they now call it 'separation of powers'.

- They have no legal ground to stand on and they know it. There is also something called 'coequal branches of government' and the legislative branch has full power to request or compel anyone in the executive branch to testify under oath on any matter...even national security.

[G_j]

11. He certainly did

and his testimony was key, although in the end it was all a joke. If they had rooted out the criminals behind the "enterprise" there wouldn't be a BFEE today and we wouldn't be having this discussion.

[snippy]

12. Carter's NSA and Clinton's NSA also testified.

Other presidential aides have waived their immunity; President Jimmy Carter's national security adviser, Zbigniew Brzezinski, did, as did President Bill Clinton's national security adviser, Samuel R. "Sandy" Berger. McCormack said the comparisons are not applicable because Berger did not testify in public about policy matters.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A25177-2004Mar25.html

I notice that Rice's spokesman distinguishes only Berger's testifying without addressing Brzezinski. Apparently, this satisfied our obedient media.

[sangh0]

13. *kck*

for the morning crew

[Stephanie]

14. WHY isn't anyone talking about this???

They let Condi prattle on with her lies and then they all nod their heads and agree. "It's a very important principle."

BS! Let's see some honest reporting on this question.

I'm SICK of the press swallowing the WH spin whole. It's ridiculously transparent.

I believe it was mentioned IN the hearings that Brezhinski and Berger have both also testified.

[Stephanie]

15. p.s. - What about the PRINCIPLE of CHECKS & BALANCES

Separations of Powers VS. Checks & Balances

This WH wants to be above the law. They are about to learn otherwise.

[tom_paine]

16. Because we are a Totalitarian Empire without a Free Press

Isn't this proof enough of that?

Yes, I miss those days and that country. I think that neither is coming back.

DOES THAT MEAN I'M GIVING UP? HELL NO! KERRY IN '04!

[G_j]

17. kick