Confessed Iran-Contra Figure Lands Sensitive Pentagon Post

[G_j]

(joining other Iran/Contra criminals in the Bush admin.)

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0710-04.htm

Published on Sunday, July 10, 2005 by the Los Angeles Times

Confessed Iran-Contra Figure Lands Sensitive Pentagon Post
Robert Earl, who helped in the failed coverup of the '80s scandal, is now chief of staff to Gordon England, acting deputy secretary of Defense.

by John Hendren

WASHINGTON — In 1987, Robert L. Earl told a grand jury that he had destroyed and stolen national security documents while working for Lt. Col. Oliver L. North during the Iran-Contra scandal.

Now, he sits in one of the most coveted offices in the Pentagon as chief of staff to Gordon R. England, acting deputy secretary of Defense. Earl has clearance to review the kinds of classified documents he once destroyed.

As England goes through his Senate confirmation process, his hiring of Earl has drawn criticism from government ethics watchdogs. But congressional sources said it was unlikely to affect support for England, who was popular on Capitol Hill but whose nomination was tied up over an arcane financial rule.

President Bush nominated England to replace Paul D. Wolfowitz, who left the deputy secretary's post this spring to head the World Bank.

..more..

[two gun sid]

1. I guess all the Watergate burglers are either dead or too old.

[H2O Man]

2. This administration's policies

in the Middle East are clearly an extension of the Iran-Contra scandals. (It is important to recognize that, even more so than Watergate, Iran-Contra was a series of illegal behaviors. It was several scandals, wrapped in one.)

[G_j]

3. BIGGER, BADDER ... (article from 2003)

A BIGGER, BADDER SEQUEL TO IRAN-CONTRA

Jim Lobe, AlterNet

Just like Ollie North and his cohorts, a small network of officials are pursuing a covert foreign policy agenda -- except their aims are vastly more ambitious.

http://www.alternet.org/story/16597/

The specter of the Iran-Contra affair is haunting Washington. Some of the people and countries are the same, and so are the methods ? particularly the pursuit by a network of well-placed individuals of a covert, parallel foreign policy that is at odds with official policy.
Boiled down to its essentials, the Iran-Contra affair was about a small group of officials based in the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) that ran an "off-the-books" operation to secretly sell arms to Iran in exchange for hostages. The picture being painted by various insider sources in the media suggests a similar but far more ambitious scheme at work.

Taken collectively, what these officials describe and what is already on the public record suggests the existence of a disciplined network of zealous, like-minded individuals. Centered in Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Douglas Feith's office and around Richard Perle in the Defense Policy Board in the Pentagon, this exclusive group of officials operates under the aegis of Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, Pentagon chief Donald Rumsfeld and Vice President Dick Cheney.

This network includes high-level political appointees, such as Undersecretary of State John Bolton, who are scattered around several other key bureaucracies, notably in the State Department, the NSC staff, and most importantly, in Cheney's office.
...more..

[H2O Man]

4. This presents clear evidence

of the need to fully identify and prosecute those criminals in the administration. I've noted before that they are like an infection: we need to take the full dose of antibiotics, so that they do not mutate and return.

[indepat]

5. The good works of true-believers must not go unrewarded

[H2O Man]

6. It sure seems

that the bigger the criminal, the greater their reward in this administration.

[indepat]

11. One is usually rewarded in proportion to the value of his/her works

[G_j]

19. sort of like the mob

well, actually not 'sort of', we ARE talking about organized crime.

[Solly Mack]

7. I agree fully

It's not just that the people are the same - though that does influence it greatly - the policies are very much alike.

...As if their plans got put on hold for 8 years and are now back in full swing.

[H2O Man]

8. Yes, indeed.

I nominated this thread, as I think that it is extremely important for DUers to understand this type of connection.

[Solly Mack]

9. McFarland's new role in Iraq

And in an interesting twist, some prominent Iraqi families that are interested in winning contracts from the U.S. government have contacted the Livingston Group, run by former House Appropriations Committee Chairman Bob Livingston, R-La., for help with American officials. Moreover, foreign companies in countries that were U.S. allies in the war are also pressing for Iraq work, including Shaheen Business Group, a Jordanian conglomerate that has hired Qorvis Communications, and a Ukrainian pipeline company that's getting help from former national security adviser Robert "Bud" McFarland.

http://www.4law.co.il/Lea5.htm

[G_j]

12. well that certainlty is revealing

the 'enterprise' lives on

[Solly Mack]

13. I swear, if they could bring Casey back, they would

but then, I've got my doubts about his manner of death to begin with...

McFarland is brokering again - just like he did before.

I still wonder what role Powell is playing in "retirement"

And North has to serve some purpose...someway, somehow...

The Bush's never cut losses....they just redirect need.

[G_j]

15. nasty flashbacks

to watching the Iran-Contra coverup (hearings)

If truth & justice had been persued then, would the BFEE be where it is today?
..No
..there might not even have been a 9-11 IMHO

[Solly Mack]

16. Exactly. Once they got immunity to testify - justice was thrown out the

window.

The convictions of Poindexter were overturned because of that Congressional immunity. But they'll be those that call that compromise...that at least he was convicted and people know....but I think what we are living today proves those convictions amounted to nothing...and it's because of Congressional immunity that they do amount to nothing.

[G_j]

20. not only was it just a few slaps on the wrist

they are still allowed to hold positions in the government.
..bad idea! :thumbsdown:

[Solly Mack]

21. Exactly! And people treat that like it's no big deal

No wonder some people can support Bush.

[G_j]

22. and after pushing the envelope until criminal acts are shrugged off

the wingers blather on about "values".
oh the irony! :-(

[Solly Mack]

23. Exactly! (again) It's so infuriating when they spew their values BS

and then support corruption ...

[G_j]

24. what blows my mind

is that I grew up with "Christian" parents with "traditional" values.
Corruption, lying, cheating, slander, war profiteering etc. would certainly be considered way beyond the pale. So when they talk about getting back to "traditional values", I have no idea what they are talking about.
Maybe they are wishing for the good old days of child labor and slavery. :shrug:

[Solly Mack]

25. Thank you! I don't know what they mean either

Like you, the values they embrace have no connection to the "traditional" values of my upbringing.

and I happen to think they do wish for those things. (child labor and slavery)

[G_j]

26. funny because

those "values" help form the person I am today, the very person the soap-box stone throwers hate.

ah well, my Mom taught me well.

[Solly Mack]

27. I often wonder about a right wingers childhood

Just what were they taught as children?

Course, we all know when they say "traditional values" it's just a catch-phrase for "I hate all things Liberal" (such as fair-play, justice, truth, honor, integrity etc)

[G_j]

28. and another thing!! LOL

since we are spouting off.

How come in every other country in the world the "right wing" are the dictators and fascists, but in America being on the right for far too many, is supposed to be something good? :argh:

[Solly Mack]

29. LOL! That's a good question!

Years of indoctrination?

[G_j]

31. &4@*&$$)@!!

:argh::argh::argh:

had to get that get that out of my system..

must get get to bed now, great ranting W/U!

:hi:

[Solly Mack]

32. Night!

lol

[jhain]

10. Of course he does.

Does anyone else have a permanent palm mark on their forehead?

[Village Idiot]

14. Why NOT Earl?

Poindexter, Norteh, et al. are ALL working for the * administration to some extent, so it should not be a surprise to anyone that Earl has been appointed to office...

[StaggerLee]

17. Let's not forget Negroponte

Are bodies still turning up all over Iraq with their hands bound? You know...the same people who witnesses say they last saw with Iraqi policemen?

[G_j]

18. as much as I'd like to forget him

you're right about our new 'intelligence Czar'

:scared:

[Solly Mack]

30. Iran-Contra Refresher (link to Walsh Report)

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

In case anyone needs it.

Iran-Contra players return to power

http://www.sptimes.com/2002/11/25/Columns/Iran_Contra_players_r.shtml