Mixed Blessing

A Senate report provides a damning vindication for Reagan

For the first time in the short history of the labyrinthine White House scandal, a plausible version of events was taking shape, based on sworn testimony and Administration documents. According to the latest scenario, the Administration's weapons deals with Iran were a straightforward arms-for- hostages swap. Reagan's repeated claim that the transactions were an overture to moderate factions in the Iranian government was no more than a rationale concocted by CIA Director William Casey. Lieut. Colonel Oliver North was instrumental in persuading the President to proceed; North's boss, former National Security Adviser John Poindexter, was aware that Iran arms profits were...

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