Prepping for a Covert Overt War

As Hasenfus stands trial, the CIA resumes open aid to the contras

As journalists and spectators jammed the small, steamy courtroom in Managua last week, the trial of Eugene Hasenfus began. Escorted by six guards, the jeans-clad ex-Marine glumly made his way to a seat before the People's Tribunal. For the next 80 minutes, Tribunal President Reynaldo Monterrey read the list of charges: terrorism, violation of public security, conspiracy to commit illicit acts. As Monterrey droned on, it became clear that more was at stake than the fate of Hasenfus, who was captured ferrying weapons to U.S.-backed contra rebels after Sandinista troops shot down an American ! Fairchild C-123K cargo plane over Nicaragua...

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