Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 13, 1990 TAG: 9003133596
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A/2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
In cross-examining the former White House aide, Richard Beckler brought out North's earlier assertions that he was ordered to conceal his activities from Poindexter and others in 1984 and most of 1985.
North testified at a pretrial hearing three months ago that he had been told to disclose his Contra-related activities only to then-national security adviser Robert McFarlane and then-CIA Director William Casey.
On Monday, North testified that "I can't think of any" information he kept from Poindexter, who didn't become national security adviser until the end of 1985.
On Monday, North also testified that he watched Poindexter destroy a politically embarrassing presidential document. The destruction of the paper depicting U.S. involvement in a straight arms-for-hostages deal with Iran was the most damaging testimony North gave during his second day on the witness stand at Poindexter's trial.
Today, on cross-examination, Beckler brought out that a succeeding presidential paper contained much the same language about U.S. hostages.
The language in a succeeding paper "indicates that one of the missions" in the Iran arms sales "was to . . . further the release of American hostages," Beckler said. North readily agreed.
On Monday, Iran-Contra prosecutor Dan Webb asked North, "You were present when John Poindexter in his office . . . ripped [the paper] into shreds?"
"Not the way you describe," North said.
"You . . . saw" the former national security adviser "tear up the original finding?" Webb asked.
"Tear it in two," North replied.
"He threw it in a waste basket behind his desk or put it in a burn bag?" Webb asked.
"I think he just put it on his desk," North replied.
The finding approved a November 1985 shipment of Hawk missiles to Iran. On the same day that he destroyed the finding, Poindexter told some House and Senate intelligence committee members he hadn't found out about the Hawk shipment until January 1986.
"Admiral Poindexter was well aware [of the Hawks shipment] . . . he was aware because you kept advising him about it. Wasn't that right?" Webb asked.
"Yes," North replied.
President Reagan on Nov. 13, 1986, denied that the U.S. government was swapping arms for hostages, Webb noted, as he told North: "This document [the finding] on its face made Ronald Reagan out to be making a false statement to the American people."
"I guess so," North replied.
by CNB