Reopening A Deadly Debate

Deadly Debate The CIA wants to have a freer hand during coups

Should the U.S. Government be involved in coups that might result in the assassination of foreign political leaders? That old controversy was being debated with new intensity last week in Washington. In the wake of this month's failed coup against Panama's Manuel Antonio Noriega, the fickle finger of blame is being pointed in all directions. It has been aimed at George Bush, at Congress, at CIA director William Webster and at the coup plotters themselves. Last week it targeted a section of a presidential order that bars all direct or indirect U.S. involvement in assassinations. The issue was whether American officials...

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