Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Neocon who wrote (399942)	4/28/2003 12:10:03 PM
From: JakeStraw	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769670

>>The recession was a logical consequence of the bursting of the high tech bubble, coupled with >>the inevitable slowed down of an economy ridden with personal debt. And was exacerbated by 9/11...

To: Neocon who wrote (399942)	4/28/2003 2:32:25 PM
From: J_F_Shepard	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769670

"Some people got into trouble for clandestine operations during the Reagan Administrations. Calling them criminals is ludicrous." Here's a brief refresher.....criminals is not an inappropriate word... HUTCHINSON ENCYCLOPEDIA Irangate US political scandal in 1987 involving senior members of the Reagan administration (the name echoes the Nixon administration's Watergate ). Congressional hearings 198687 revealed that the US government had secretly sold weapons to Iran in 1985 and traded them for hostages held in Lebanon by pro-Iranian militias, and used the profits to supply right-wing Contra guerrillas in Nicaragua with arms. The attempt to get around the law (Boland amendment) specifically prohibiting military assistance to the Contras also broke other laws in the process. Arms, including Hawk missiles, were sold to Iran via Israel (at a time when the USA was publicly calling for a worldwide ban on sending arms to Iran), violating the law prohibiting the sale of US weapons for resale to a third country listed as a terrorist nation, as well as the law requiring sales above 14 million to be reported to Congress. The negotiator in the field was Lt Col Oliver North, a military aide to the National Security Council, reporting in the White House to the national-security adviser (first Robert McFarlane, then John Poindexter). North and his associates were also channelling donations to the Contras from individuals and from other countries, including 2 million from Taiwan, 10 million from the sultan of Brunei, and 32 million from Saudi Arabia. The Congressional Joint Investigative Committee reported in November 1987 that the president bore ultimate responsibility for allowing a cabal of zealots to seize control of the administration's policy, but found no firm evidence that President Reagan had actually been aware of the Contra diversion. Reagan persistently claimed to have no recall of events, and some evidence was withheld on grounds of national security. The hearings were criticized for finding that the president was not responsible for the actions of his subordinates. North was tried and convicted in May 1989 on charges of obstructing Congress and unlawfully destroying government documents. Poindexter was found guilty on all counts in 1990. Former defence secretary Caspar Weinberger was pardoned in 1992 by President George Bush to prevent further disclosures. In December 1993 the independent prosecutor Lawrence Walsh published his final report. It asserted that Reagan and Bush were fully aware of attempts to free US hostages in Lebanon in 198586 by means of unsanctioned arms sales to Iran. The total cost of the Irangate enquiries came to 35 million. tiscali.co.uk " I do not consider allies like the UK, Australia, Spain, Italy, the Czech Republic, Poland, Kuwait, Qatar and the rest, to be laughable. In fact, I consider it an honor that most of the former Eastern Bloc nations supported us, because they credit us with their liberation, to a large extent." The UK supplied 40,000 troops, Australia 2,000, Spain none, Italy none, the Czechs none, Poland 200, Kuwait..visitation rights, Qatar land and air space use, and the rest LOL!! Oh yeah, Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania allowed air space use.... The former Soviet bloc nations were seeking support to join NATO....