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STOP GLOBAL VIOLENCE
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| December 28, 2007 | 1:03 PM |
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BODY COUNT
Related to country: Iraq
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BODY COUNT. Global avoidable mortality since 1950
BODY COUNT. Global avoidable mortality since 1950
I am a highly published biological scientist and in 2003 published a huge pharmacological text entitled "Biochemical Targets of Plant Bioactive Compounds. A pharmacological reference guide to sites of action and biological effects" (Taylor & Francis, London & New York).
Over the last few years I have carefully researched, written, edited and finally published a science-based history book of very wide potential utility entitled “Body Count. Global avoidable mortality since 1950” (G.M. Polya, Melbourne, 2007; 220 pages, 24 tables; ISBN 1921377051). In the interests of Humanity I am sending copies of this big reference book to key scholars, writers, journalists, humanitarians, media and libraries around the world.
In 1998 I published a detailed book entitled “Jane Austen and the Black Hole of British History. Colonial rapacity holocaust denial and the crisis in biological sustainability” (G.M. Polya, Melbourne; second edition in preparation) (see: http://janeaustenand.blogspot.com/ ). This book dealt with the 2 century atrocity of British rule over India culminating in the man-made Bengal Famine of 1943/1944, The man-made, WW2 Bengal Famine killed 4 million people (it is similar in death toll magnitude to the WW2 Jewish Holocaust) but has been largely deleted from British historiography in a continuing process of sustained, racist holocaust denial. “Body count” documents the similarly non-reported avoidable death of 1.3 billion people since 1950 on Spaceship Earth with the First World in control of the flight deck.
“Body Count” is a carefully researched book by a 4 decade career biological scientist on a key social parameter “avoidable mortality” (excess death, deaths that should not have happened) which is nevertheless largely ignored by Mainstream media and for good reason – the post-1950 global avoidable mortality totals about 1.3 billion. Even in the United States, the richest country in the World, it can be estimated from publicly available UN demographic data that 0.14 million under-5 year old American infants have died avoidably over the last 7 years due to the warped Bush Administration priorities of international wars (that have so far caused 3.4 million excess deaths in the Occupied Iraqi and Afghan Territories alone, mostly of Women and Children) rather than of addressing urgent domestic priorities such as infant and maternal health.
I am a scientist and not an ideologue – my core humanitarian philosophy is simply that of the American Declaration of Independence, that all men are created equal and have an inalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
“Body Count” is a number of books efficiently packaged in a user-friendly way as a KEY REFERENCE WORK for laypersons, high school and college students, teachers, researchers, journalists, human rights activists and workers and other people in public life.
“Body Count”:
(a) summarizes, tabulates and analyzes avoidable mortality for every country in the world since 1950;
(b) uniquely provides a succinct and systematically organized history of every country in the world coupled with key avoidable mortality statistics (a fabulous resource for students, scholars, journalists and human rights activists);
(c) a systematic analysis of the actual causes of excess death in the world (noting that 16 million people die avoidably in the world every year, this including 10 million under-5 avoidable infant deaths); and
(d) finally, sets out a brief and systematic series of practical suggestions for halting the First World-complicit global avoidable mortality holocaust.
A picture says a thousand words. If you indeed become interested in my dispassionately scientific and scholarly but deeply humanitarian book you may also be interested in using the following huge paintings I have painted to spread a message of Peace, Love and Respect for Mother, Child and Woman e.g. “Sydney Madonna”: http://mwcnews.net/content/view/10865/26/ , “Manhattan Madonna”: http://mwcnews.net/content/view/10766/26/ , “Qana”: http://mwcnews.net/content/view/9547/26/ , “Truelove”: http://mwcnews.net/content/view/11031/26/ , Isfahan Matisse: http://mwcnews.net/content/view/14417/26/ , and Alhambra Pollock: http://mwcnews.net/content/view/14082/42/ . Please forward these links to everyone you know in the interests of Peace, Love, Mother and Child – just as I am sending copies of my book to key writers, media and libraries around the world.
Peace is the only way but Silence kills and Silence is complicity. We are obliged to INFORM others about abuses of Humanity.
I have set out below a detailed outline of “Body Count” and its contents.
1. Statement of aims and rationale
Avoidable mortality (excess mortality) is the difference between the ACTUAL deaths in a country over a given period and the deaths EXPECTED for a peaceful, decently-run country with the same demographics. Avoidable mortality provides the bottom-line measure of the consequences of human actions and the success or otherwise of societal, regional and global policies.
UN demographic data enabled calculation of avoidable mortality (and corroborative, independent under-5 infant mortality estimates) for every country in the world since 1950. The 1950-2005 avoidable mortality has totaled 1.3 billion for the world and 1.2 billion for the non-European world, these horrendous estimates being consonant with 1950-2005 under-5 infant mortality estimates of 0.88 billion for the world and 0.85 billion for the non-European world. The data have been tabulated for every country together with other key demographic data and important social indicators, namely adult literacy and annual per capita income.
The avoidable mortality and under-5 infant mortality outcomes have been best in Overseas European countries (the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Israel) that have never been occupied but have frequently invaded other countries – and the worst outcomes have been for Non-Arab African countries that have variously been subject to centuries of invasion and occupation. Detailed, summarized histories of all countries of the world are accompanied by precise estimates of avoidable mortality in the post-1950 era due to war, occupation, genocide and passive genocide. Thus the post-invasion avoidable mortality (excess deaths) and under-5 infant mortality in Coalition-occupied Iraq now total 1.0 million and 0.5 million, respectively (as adjudged from the latest UN and medical literature data).
Rational global human risk management requires avoidable mortality information, scientific analysis and sensible systemic change. There is no public discussion of the actual human cost of First World policies. For example, the post-invasion avoidable mortality and under-5 infant mortality in Occupied Iraq and Afghanistan now total 3.4 million and 2.4 million, respectively – estimates directly derived from publicly-available UN Population Division data but which are comprehensively ignored by mainstream media.
Avoidable mortality and under-5 infant mortality correlate with war and foreign occupation, with the latter encompassing both explicit violent occupation and neo-colonial hegemony. An apocalyptic quartet of violence, deprivation, disease and LYING is responsible for the continuing carnage. The ruler is responsible for the ruled, death is equally final whether violent or non-violent and mass avoidable mortality of subject people is passive genocide in violation of the Geneva Conventions. Extensive analysis of the causes of avoidable mortality has revealed politically disparate successes (e.g. Cuba and Fiji) that point the way to rational, humane and low cost global solutions involving peace, independence, very low but sufficient incomes, high literacy, good primary health care and governance for the common good.
The three core sections of the book uniquely involve:
(1) detailed analysis and tabulation of avoidable mortality, infant mortality and linked demographic parameters for every country in the world in the period 1950-2005;
(2) a concise summary of the history of every country in the world in the context of avoidable mortality and its political causation; and
(3) a detailed analysis of the physical causes of avoidable mortality (thanatology) and detailed, scientific solutions to a continuing catastrophe that kills 16 million people a year (44,000 daily, about 60% of them infants).
It is a horrifying testament to Mainstream lying by omission and politically correct racism (PC racism) that there are, to my knowledge, NO books doing ANY of these three things in a systematic and comprehensive fashion.
2. Table of contents with listing of chapter headings & short description of each chapter/section
Preamble
Title, Publication Details, Table of Contents, Key Quotations, Detailed Contents, List of Tables & Preface.
Chapter 1. Introduction – global avoidable mortality
1.1 Science & history – history ignored yields history repeated;
1.2 Deleting history – the “forgotten”, man-made WW2 Bengal Famine;
1.3 Avoidable mortality (excess mortality), under-5 infant mortality and foreign occupation;
1.4 Global avoidable mortality (excess mortality);
1.5 Non-reportage of global avoidable mortality ensures its continuance;
1.6 Summary
Chapter 2. Global post-1950 excess mortality and under-5 infant mortality
2.1 Estimation of mortality and avoidable mortality (excess mortality);
2.2 Calculation of under-5 infant mortality;
2.3 Comparison of global and regional post-1950 total mortality and under-5 infant mortality;
2.4 Estimation of avoidable under-5 infant mortality;
2.5 Comparison of under-5 infant mortality and excess mortality;
2.6 “Humanizing” mortality;
2.7 “Humanizing” excess mortality;
2.8 The human aspect of under-5 infant mortality;
Tables 2.1-2.12;
2.9 Summary
Chapter 3. Correlates and causes of post-1950 avoidable global mass mortality
3.1 “Big picture” regional analysis of global post-1950 under-5 infant mortality and excess mortality;
3.2 Overseas Europe: domestic democracy, prosperity, peace and Anglo-American invasion of distant lands;
3.3 Western Europe: domestic bliss and colonial and neo-colonial wars abroad;
3.4 Eastern Europe: totalitarianism, Russian occupation, general peace and low mortality;
3.5 Latin America and Caribbean: colonial and US hegemony – increased violence yields increased mortality;
3.6 East Asia: remarkable resurgence from European wars and sanctions;
3.7 Turkey, Iran and Central Asia: European occupation, intervention and war;
3.8 Arab North Africa and the Middle East: decolonization, Anglo-American and Israeli wars and oil;
3.9 South East Asia – European-imposed colonialism, occupation, war and militarism; 3.10 The Pacific- mixed colonial occupation and post-colonial outcomes;
3.11 South Asia – crippled by the legacies from British imperialism;
3.12 Non-Arab Africa – colonialism, neo-colonialism, corruption, militarism, war and HIV-1;
3.13 To be or not to be - lowest mortality countries invading distant high mortality countries;
3.14 Quantitative assessment of the mortality consequences of occupation;
3.15 Summary
Chapter 4. Country-by-country analysis of avoidable mortality in European countries
4.1 Introduction – matching excess mortality with foreign occupation; followed by detailed summaries of the histories of each country with quantitation of major avoidable mortality episodes:
4.2 Overseas Europe – internal democracy, external violence;
4.3 Western Europe – participation in colonial, neo-colonial and US-led “democratic imperialist” wars;
4.4 Eastern Europe – Communism, foreign occupation and tyranny but peace and good social services;
4.5 Summary
Chapter 5. Latin America and the Caribbean – from European invasion, genocide and slavery to US hegemony
5.1 Overview; followed by detailed summaries of the histories of each country with quantitation of major avoidable mortality episodes:
5.2 Latin American and Caribbean histories;
5.3 Summary
Chapter 6. North Africa, Asia & Pacific – the impact of colonialism, neo-colonialism and war
6.1 Overview; followed by detailed summaries of the histories of each country with quantitation of major avoidable mortality episodes:
6.2 East Asia – recovery from First World-imposed war and sanctions;
6.3 Turkey, Iran and Central Asia - Russian occupation, US interference, war and peace;
6.4 Arab North Africa and Middle East – Anglo-American, French and Israeli war and occupation;
6.5 South East Asia – colonialism, colonial wars, US-driven war and militarization; 6.6 The Pacific – colonialism, disease, war and maladministration;
6.7 South Asia – the disastrous legacy of rapacious British imperialism;
6.8 Summary
Chapter 7. Non-Arab Africa – colonialism, neo-colonialism, militarism, debt, economic constraint and incompetence
7.1 Overview of the continuing African tragedy; followed by detailed summaries of the histories of each country with quantitation of major avoidable mortality episodes: 7.2 Short histories of the countries of Non-Arab Africa;
7.3 Summary
Chapter 8. Synthesis, conclusions and suggestions
8.1 Finding causes and solutions;
8.2 Risk management;
8.3 Violent versus non-violent death;
8.4 The ruler is responsible for the ruled;
8.5 Passive genocide in Occupied Iraq and Afghanistan;
8.6 Genocide;
8.7 Famine;
8.8 Disease;
8.9 Human cost of occupation;
8.10 High technology war, horrendous civilian/invader death ratios and PC racism; 8.11 Killing by default – arms, debt, globalization and economic constraint;
8.12 Excuses for war and the War on Terror;
8.13 Feminist perspective - right to life, women and allo-mothering;
8.14 Academic, media, political and sectarian lying;
8.15 Conclusions and suggestions – how to save the world
Section 9. Notes
Notes for the Preamble and Chapters 1-8.
Section 10. Bibliography.
3. Brief description of each chapter/section:
The preamble contains title page, table of contents, detailed contents (chapter, sub-headings and tables), key quotes and a succinct preface.
Chapter 1 summarizes the overall thrust of the book, specifically that history ignored yields history repeated. The deadly consequences of tardy reportage of the WW2 Jewish Holocaust and the general non-reportage of the WW2 Bengal Famine (holocaust denial) (see Gideon Polya’s Jane Austen and the Black Hole of British History), are used to support the argument that non-reportage of global avoidable mortality ensures its continuance. Thus the non-reported 1950-2005 avoidable mortality has totaled 1.3 billion for the world, 1.2 billion for the non-European world and 0.6 billion for the Muslim world – a Muslim Holocaust 100 times greater than the WW2 Jewish Holocaust (6 million victims) or the “forgotten” WW2 Bengal Famine in British-ruled India (4 million victims).
Chapter 2 deals with the methodology used and presents detailed Tables summarizing regional and national avoidable mortality, under-5 infant mortality and other key demographic parameters and social indicators. The tables are organized by region in ascending order of post-1950 avoidable mortality. The best avoidable mortality outcomes have been in European countries and the worst in South Asia and non-Arab Africa. A useful way of comparing avoidable mortality outcomes is by “1950-2005 avoidable mortality”/“2005 population” ratios expressed as a percentage e.g. 2.9% for Australia but an appalling 81.0% for East Timor. The average “1950-2005 avoidable mortality”/ “2000 population ratio” in increasing order for the major global groupings is as follows: 2.7% (Overseas Europe) < st="on">atin America and Caribbean) < style=""> 27.3% (the Pacific) < style="" lang="EN-US">
Chapter 3 specifically addresses the correlates and causes of post-1950 avoidable mortality. Avoidable mortality correlates with foreign occupation which simply ensures rulers with decreased intrinsic regard for the ruled. Avoidable mortality provides a key measure of how rulers regard their domestic and foreign subjects and has been used to quantify the intrinsic racism of past and present imperialist powers. The surprising result is that the worst avoidable mortality-based “intrinsic racism scores” for the major First World “occupiers” have been for the Netherlands, Israel and Portugal and the best score for Russia, with the results for the UK, France and the US in between.
Chapters 4 to 7 provide detailed, summary “occupation histories” of all the countries of the world together with precise estimates for each country of avoidable mortality and under-5 infant mortality for particular post-1950 periods. The reader will be shocked by the magnitude of the actual human cost of specific post-1950 wars, occupations and other events as illustrated by the following three examples.
The post-invasion avoidable mortality in the Occupied Palestinian, Iraqi and Afghan Territories totals 0.3, 1.0 and 2.4 million, respectively, and the post-invasion under-5 infant mortality totals 0.2, 0.5 and 1.9 million, respectively (as of mid-2007). Avoidable mortality and under-5 infant mortality reached a minimum in post-colonial Iraq but doubled after the return of Western forces with sanctions in 1990 and have remained high ever since – the post-1990 avoidable mortality and under-5 infant mortality in Iraq now total 2.7 million and 1.7 million, respectively.
Similar avoidable carnage but for reasons of First World-complicit incompetent indigenous governance has occurred in Southern Africa in the post-Apartheid era. Careful inspection of the dynamics of avoidable mortality reveals that avoidable mortality increased dramatically in South Africa and its neighbours in the mid-1990s due to the utterly preventable HIV/AIDS epidemic. The percentage of the population now HIV positive (2003) is 20.6% (Swaziland), 19.9% (Botswana), 17.9% (Lesotho), 14.1% (Zimbabwe), 11.9% (South Africa), 10.7% (Namibia), 8.6% (Zambia) and 7.0% (Mozambique).
At the other end of the scale, relative to other European countries there has been markedly higher than average avoidable mortality in some Central and Eastern European countries subject to post-war Soviet occupation (specifically Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Latvia and the Ukraine). Thus, while Hungary has one of the best post-1950 under-5 infant mortality outcomes in the world, it has the worst post-1950 avoidable mortality outcome for any European country (1.4 million avoidable deaths since 1950 and currently 35,000 annually). Possible explanations for the excessive avoidable mortality in Hungary (and these other “frontline” countries also subject to partial or complete Soviet occupation in the post-war era) include smoking, drinking, depression, pollution, economically depressed Roma minorities and non-reported deliberate or accidental radiological contamination.
Chapter 8 provides a detailed summary of the causes of avoidable mortality including war, occupation, deprivation, famine, disease, genocide and passive genocide. Avoidable mortality is fundamentally caused by violence, deprivation, disease and lying. Requisite responses to man-made mass mortality include Cessation, Acknowledgement, Apology, Amends and Assertion of non-repetition (acronym: CAAAA or C4A) as exemplified by post-Holocaust Germany; this book attempts to at least enable “Acknowledgment” of the ongoing, First World-complicit avoidable mortality holocaust (16 million avoidable deaths per year – 44,000 per day - due to deprivation-related causes). Carefully considered, low cost, practical and humanitarian suggestions are made for halting the global avoidable mortality holocaust.
A Chapter 8 Appendix composed of 12 detailed Tables 8.1-8.12 summarizes the roughly current state of play (2003) for all regions and countries of the World in relation to the following parameters: mortality, excess mortality, under-5 infant mortality, mortality/population, excess mortality/population, under-5 infant mortality/population, under-5 infants/population, “annual under-5 infant death rate”, and % HIV positive.
Each of the above sections commences with 5 carefully chosen quotations that capture the essence of the book or its specific chapters. Each chapter is split into numbered and entitled sub-sections and concludes with a carefully constructed summary. For ease of reading and efficiency, all documenting references and notes are indicated by superscript numbers and listed in Section 9. The Bibliography Section 10 lists all works quoted in Section 9 in a consistent fashion e.g. author(s), year, title, publisher, city (for books); author(s), year, title, journal, volume, pages (for journal articles); and similarly defined documentation for other references (notably URLs for Web-accessible documents).
There is no Subject Index because the book has been carefully designed with a comprehensive Detailed Contents section and with systematically Alphabetized historical contents. “Body Count” represents both a powerful humanitarian statement and a key reference work for students, scholars, journalists, the general public and humanitarian activists.
4. People who would benefit from the “Body Count” resource
This book is special, original and important in that it is the ONLY work available that comprehensively quantifies the horrendous global human avoidable mortality and under-5 infant mortality that has occurred over the last half century and is still occurring unchecked. It is also a very useful reference resource in that it is the only book currently available (as far as I know) that provides a detailed summary history for every country in the world from the Neolithic era to the present.
This book by a humanist biological scientist is a relatively dispassionate scientific catalogue and analysis of an appalling human reality that the world comprehensively ignores, namely global avoidable mortality. The book represents an encyclopaedic, quantitative resource for students, scholars, journalists and the general public and an unanswerable moral weapon for humanitarian activists in all countries.
People who would particularly benefit from Body Count” include senior high school students, undergraduate and postgraduate university students and scholars. The academic areas that this book relates to include history (general and specific areas), economics (environmental economics, world trade), commerce, management (risk management), business, law (international law), sociology (racism, feminism, conflict), women’s studies, biology (disease, human ecology, biological sustainability), medicine (epidemiology, risk management), journalism, media studies and politics (political science).
This book is designed for ordinary citizens in all walks of life. Thus I have recently given a 16 lecture course based on this book and entitled “Science, History and Avoidable Mortality” to a University of the Third Age (U3A) class of retired citizens from many former occupations – teaching, science, librarianship, secretarial, armed services, medicine, nursing, surgery, management, business and academia.
In addition to the UK and the British Commonwealth there would be a very large potential readership in North America in particular. Thus there is a wonderful, humane North American constituency that is committed to the “equality of man and the unalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” and which is profoundly opposed to war.
Many in Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Pacific would find “Body Count” useful. In particular the huge population of educated, English-speaking Indians and Chinese should find utility in a detailed reference book quantitatively exposing the impact of the First World on the non-European world.
This book provides a wealth of quantitative data, thoughtful analysis and radical insights for students, scholars and humanitarian activists who demand humane global change but are enmeshed in a dominant global culture of comprehensive DENIAL. The dominant, prosperous, “politically correct racist” First World societies DENY their intrinsic racism, ignore the global carnage in which they are complicit and demonize their victims.
5. Related books
There are no such books about global avoidable mortality although there are many books dealing with specific conflict areas (e.g. the Iraq War) that constitute only a small part of my book. Thus Richard Hil and Paul Wilson have recently published “Dead Bodies Don’t Count: Civilian Casualties and the Forgotten Costs of the Iraq Conflict” (Zeus Publishing, Australia, 2007). Jared Diamond’s “Guns, Germs and Steel” deals in part with some major mass mortality events covered in parts of my book ( the Black Death and the effects of introduced disease in the Americas, Australasia and the Pacific).
Published books that come closest in subject matter to my book are some excellent books on past genocides [Chalk, F. & Jonassohn, K. (1990), The History and Sociology of Genocide. Analyses and Case Studies (Yale University Press, New Haven); Laqueur, W. (1980), The Terrible Secret. Suppression of the Truth about Hitler’s “Final Solution” (Penguin, London, 1982);
Wasserstein, B. (1979), Britain and the Jews of Europe 1939-1945 (Oxford University Press, 1988)], famine [Davis, M. (2001), Late Victorian Holocausts: El Nino Famines and the Making of the Third World (Verso, London); Greenough, P.R. (1982), Prosperity and Misery in Modern Bengal: the Famine of 1943-1944 (Oxford University Press, Oxford & New York); Polya, G.M. (1998), Jane Austen and the Black Hole of British History. Colonial rapacity, holocaust denial and the crisis in biological sustainability (Polya, Melbourne)] and the historical genesis of genocidal European racism [Lindqvist, S. (1992), Exterminate All the Brutes (Granta Books, London, 2002)] – all matters summarized quantitatively in my book with reference to these and many other works. However NONE of these books even touch on the 1.3 billion post-1950 avoidable mortality holocaust.
Various recent books and articles by humane writers such as John Pilger, Arundhati Roy, Noam Chomsky, Tariq Ali, George Monbiot, Scott Ritter, Edward Said, Paul Roberts, John Perkins, Emmanuel Todd and William Blum reveal much about the dishonesty and violence of post-war US and related imperialism but do not provide comprehensive quantitation of the human cost. My book does not go into the details of violent deaths and political machinations – it is simply largely concerned with the war- and occupation-related avoidable mortality of which violent death can be a relatively small part. My book provides a detailed statistical and historical complement to the works of these other writers.
In writing Chapters 4-7 of this book I would have loved to have been able to refer to a succinct summary of world history from about 2000BC onwards [the best I could find, albeit an account that finished in mid-1952, was Langer, W.L. (1953), An Encyclopaedia of World History (Harrap, London)] and the best such compendium of more recent Third World history finished in about 1990 [Bissio, R.R. (1990), Third World Guide 91/92 (Instituto del Tercer Mondo, Montevideo)].
I am not aware of any other current history book that succinctly summarizes the history of all countries in the world from the Neolithic era to 2005 (as is achieved by Chapters 4-7 of my book). No other book even attempts to deal with post-1950 avoidable mortality and under-5 infant mortality, let alone in a comprehensive fashion.
6. Brief CV of Dr Gideon Polya
Gideon Polya was born in Melbourne, Australia in 1944 and raised in Hobart, Tasmania. A graduate of the University of Tasmania, he gained a PhD in Biochemistry from Flinders University in Adelaide, South Australia. After postdoctoral research at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, he returned to the Australian National University as a Queen Elizabeth II Fellow and thence took up a position at La Trobe University, Melbourne in 1972. In 2003 he retired from a senior position at La Trobe University but returned in 2007 to deliver a big second year science subject (Biochemistry for Agricultural Science students).
Dr Gideon Polya published some 130 works in a 4 decade scientific career (search Google Advanced Scholar for many of these publications), most recently a huge pharmacological reference text "Biochemical Targets of Plant Bioactive Compounds. A pharmacological reference guide to sites of action and biological effects" (860 pages; 500 pages of tables; 4 indexes; Taylor & Francis/CRC Press, London & New York, 2003). In 1998 he published “Jane Austen and the Black Hole of British History. Colonial rapacity, holocaust denial and the crisis in biological sustainability” (Polya, Melbourne).
In recent years, in addition to writing “Body Count”, Dr Polya has written extensively about global avoidable mortality (numerous articles on this and related matters can be found by a simple Google search for "Gideon Polya" and on his websites: http://members.optusnet.com.au/~gpolya/links.html , http://globalavoidablemortality.blogspot.com/ , http://mwcnews.net/content/view/1375/247/ , http://gpolya.newsvine.com/ and http://gideon.sulekha.com/default.htm ).
Gideon Polya is married with 3 children. A keen artist he has published numerous cartoons (including illustrations for a statistics textbook), has painted a thousand paintings (abstract figurative and landscapes) and has drawn thousands of portraits.
Humanitarian Words having evidently failed (16 million people die avoidably each year i.e. 44,000 each day) Gideon Polya recently turned to Painting for Peace, painting HUGE works to spread a message of Peace, Love and respect for Woman and for Mother and Child, including: Sydney Madonna: http://mwcnews.net/content/view/10865/26/ , Manhattan Madonna: http://mwcnews.net/content/view/10766/26/ , Truelove: http://mwcnews.net/content/view/11031/254/ , Melbourne Madonna: http://mwcnews.net/content/view/13950/26/ , Qana (conceptually related to Pablo Picasso’s 1937 antiwar masterpiece Guernica about the Nazi bombing of the town of the same name): http://mwcnews.net/content/view/9547/26/ , Isfahan Matisse: http://mwcnews.net/content/view/14417/26/ , and Alhambra Pollock: http://mwcnews.net/content/view/14082/42/ (that is explained by the Acronym PEACE – Pólya, Escher, Alhambra, Cultural Ecumenism). I would be delighted if you would pass on these links on to your friends, colleagues, associates and local media in the interests of Peace, Amity and respect for Woman, Mother and Child.
7 . Inquiries about “Body Count”
Inquiries about “Body Count” can be addressed to G.M. Polya at: gpolya@optusnet.com.au or to 29 Dwyer Street, Macleod, Melbourne, Victoria, 3085, Australia.
By Dr Gideon Polya
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| December 14, 2007 | 11:48 PM |
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Sentencing convicted felons in the United States
Related to country: United States
available in: (original) | | | | | | | | |
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Chapter 3
United States v. John M. Poindexter
Navy Vice Adm. John M. Poindexter was appointed as President Reagan's national security adviser on December 4, 1985, succeeding Robert C. McFarlane, whom Poindexter had served under as deputy for two years. Poindexter's White House career ended November 25, 1986, when he was forced to resign in the wake of the public disclosure of the Iran/contra diversion.
Poindexter, Lt. Col. Oliver North and McFarlane were the three individuals Attorney General Edwin Meese III identified on November 25, 1986, as knowledgeable of the diversion. Poindexter's supervision of North and his own participation in the Iran and contra operations were early focuses of Independent Counsel's investigation.
As in the case against North, criminal evidence against Poindexter had to be gathered quickly before he was compelled to testify on Capitol Hill in the summer of 1987 under a grant of limited immunity. Otherwise, the prosecution of Poindexter was likely to be challenged on the grounds that it was derived from or in some way influenced by his immunized congressional testimony.
On March 16, 1988, Poindexter was indicted on seven felony charges arising from his involvement in the Iran/contra affair, as part of a 23-count multi-defendant indictment. He was named with North, retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Richard V. Secord and Albert Hakim as a member of the conspiracy to defraud the United States Government by effecting the Iran/contra diversion and other acts.
After the cases were severed and two of the original charges dismissed, Poindexter was tried and convicted in April 1990 of five felonies, including: one count of conspiring to obstruct official inquiries and proceedings, two counts of obstructing Congress, and two counts of false statements to Congress.1 U.S. District Judge Harold H. Greene sentenced him to a six-month prison term. In November 1991, Poindexter's convictions were overturned on appeal. In December 1992, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review the case.
1 The Poindexter case was tried by Associate Counsel Dan K. Webb, Christian J. Mixter, Howard M. Pearl, and Louise R. Radin.
Poindexter joined the National Security Council staff in June 1981, following a distinguished naval career that included battleship command and high-ranking Pentagon posts. In October 1983 he became deputy to National Security Adviser McFarlane; among his subordinates was North. During Poindexter's one-year tenure as national security adviser, which began in December 1985, he oversaw the Iran/contra operations in which North was directly involved.
In November 1986, as the secret operations were becoming publicly exposed, Poindexter became the senior Administration official responsible for briefing the President's other top advisers about the Iran arms sales. In a series of White House meetings with other officials and members of Congress throughout the month, he repeatedly laid out a false version of the transactions that distanced President Reagan from the legally questionable 1985 arms shipments made through Israel, particularly the November 1985 HAWK-missile transaction.
Although Poindexter was the spokesman, he was not alone responsible for knowing the facts. Virtually every other senior official, including President Reagan, who heard his version of the arms sales in briefings throughout November 1986 had reason to believe it was wrong. Yet no one, according to contemporaneous notes of those briefings, spoke up to correct Poindexter.
Poindexter along with North and others in November 1986 attempted to shred and alter the paper trail reflecting their Iran/contra activities. Among other things, Poindexter destroyed the only existing signed presidential covert-action Finding that was intended to authorize retroactively CIA involvement in the November 1985 HAWKs shipment.
Poindexter and North were less successful in eradicating the computer-message trail of their Iran/contra activities. Poindexter and North often communicated through a special channel that Poindexter, a computer expert, had set up on the NSC computer system. This channel, known as ``Private Blank Check,'' allowed Poindexter and North to relay messages to each other without their being routed through channels in which others on the NSC staff could screen them.
Between November 22 to 29, 1986, North deleted from his computer file 736 messages, and Poindexter deleted 5,012 messages during the same period.2 Despite these deletions, the White House routinely saved back-up tapes containing all data in the system for two weeks to protect against inadvertent loss. When the Iran/contra affair was exposed in late November 1986, the White House Communications Agency, which manages the NSC computer system, retained the back-up tapes dating from November 15. Investigators, therefore, were able to retrieve copies of all messages that were in the Poindexter-North computer files in mid-November 1986 before most of the deletions occurred. These computer messages became important evidence in both the Poindexter and North trials.
2 Williams, Poindexter Trial Testimony, 3/15/90, pp. 1752-65.
Poindexter admitted to many of his activities before the Select Committees in July 1987 under a grant of testimonial immunity, which prevented his admissions from being used against him in any criminal proceeding. Because President Reagan did not testify in that forum, Poindexter was called to answer the question that dominated the hearings: Did the President know about and approve the diversion of the Iran arms sales proceeds to the contras? Poindexter answered no, ``the buck stops here with me.'' 3 He said he deliberately withheld the information from President Reagan because ``I wanted the President to have some deniability so that he would be protected. . . .'' 4
3 Poindexter, Select Committees Testimony, 7/15/87, p. 95.
4 Ibid., p. 101.
Facing a criminal trial, Poindexter confronted a different dilemma: It was no longer a question of protecting the President but defending himself against five felony charges. Before Congress, Poindexter's most significant testimony corroborated President Reagan's repeated denials of awareness of the Iran/contra diversion. In the courtroom, Poindexter mounted a higher-authorization defense, attempting to convince the jury that the President had approved his actions, including those that resulted in criminal charges. Instead of taking the stand in his own defense, however, he called President Reagan to testify.
Pre-Trial Proceedings
U.S. District Judge Gerhard A. Gesell in June 1988 ordered that the multi-defendant case against Poindexter, North, Secord and Hakim be severed.5 Following severance, Poindexter's case was transferred to Chief Judge Aubrey E. Robinson, Jr., and then to Judge Greene, who presided over further proceedings.
5 For a more detailed description of the severance of the multi-defendant case, see North chapter.
All of Poindexter's substantive challenges to the validity of the indictment were dismissed before trial. The remaining important issues concerned: (1) the preservation of the conspiracy charge; (2) the resolution of classified-information disputes; (3) the resolution of issues related to Poindexter's immunized congressional testimony, under the ruling known as Kastigar; and (4) the defendant's successful effort to secure trial testimony from former President Reagan.
Preserving and Narrowing the Conspiracy Charge
Problems with classified information led to the dismissal of the central conspiracy charges before the North trial, and similar problems were expected to arise in the case against Poindexter. On June 20, 1989, Independent Counsel moved to eliminate the original broad conspiracy charges based upon the supply of the contras and the diversion and to substantially narrow the charge of conspiracy to violate other substantive criminal statutes, forbidding false statements and obstruction. After filings and oral argument, the court granted the Government's motion.
The charge was refocused on the illegal act of conspiring with North and Secord to conceal activities from Congress. Independent Counsel argued successfully that this narrowing of the conspiracy charge would minimize the classified-information problems that plagued the North prosecution.
Classified Information Issues
The Classified Information Procedures Act (CIPA) allowed the trial court effectively to resolve issues involving the use of classified documents and testimony in Poindexter. Judge Greene's supervision of the CIPA process and fruitful negotiations between counsel for the Government and Poindexter resolved most disputes with a minimum of delay.
In contrast to North, there was no prolonged or significant litigation concerning the form or scope of Poindexter's CIPA notices to the court to disclose classified information at trial. Between November 27, 1989, and March 13, 1990, Poindexter served 11 such notices, including eight that listed classified documents he wanted to use at trial, two describing possible classified testimony, and one focused solely on information he wanted to elicit at the deposition of President Reagan.
Judge Greene ordered that all differences over classified information be negotiated between the parties before being brought before the court. Judge Greene held six closed CIPA hearings before the trial began and supplemented those with several shorter hearings during trial. Most of his rulings on the relevance and admissibility of classified information, and on the adequacy of substitutions proposed by the Government, were made from the bench.
Taken together, Poindexter's CIPA notices listed approximately 1,200 documents, only a small fraction of which were ultimately introduced at trial. Most classified information was covered by Government stipulations to certain facts and other unclassified substitutions. This allowed the trial to proceed smoothly, without the conflicts that complicated North or the case against former CIA station chief Joseph F. Fernandez, which was dismissed due to classified-information problems.6
6 See Fernandez chapter.
Kastigar Proceedings
Poindexter was compelled under a grant of use immunity to testify in 1987 before the Select Committees investigating Iran/contra. As did the other Iran/contra defendants who gave immunized testimony before Congress, Poindexter moved to dismiss the indictment on the theory that it violated the standards enunciated in Kastigar v. United States,7 arguing that his immunized testimony was used against him in the Grand Jury and at trial. This argument proved unsuccessful on the trial level but ultimately prevailed in the Court of Appeals.
7 406 U.S. 411 (1972).
Before their trials were severed, Poindexter moved jointly with North and Hakim, who also had received immunity to testify before Congress, to have the charges against them dismissed on the ground that the evidence against them was tainted by their immunized testimony. Judge Gesell denied that motion. However, in deference to defense claims that they would use one another's possibly exculpatory immunized testimony, Judge Gesell in June 1988 severed the trials.
Poindexter renewed his Kastigar motion before Judge Greene in August 1989. After briefing and argument,8 the court ordered that two evidentiary hearings be held. At the first, the court heard testimony from Associate Counsel Dan K. Webb and Howard M. Pearl concerning their exposure to Poindexter's immunized testimony before joining the Office of Independent Counsel. Webb and Pearl joined the OIC staff in 1989 and had not, before their appointments, been subject to OIC's procedures to insulate itself from Poindexter's immunized testimony. Judge Greene found their exposure to Poindexter's testimony to be insignificant and allowed both attorneys to participate in the trial.
8 The Poindexter case was tried before the Court of Appeals ruled in North that witness hearings were necessary to permit the trial of an immunized defendant.
The second set of court hearings concerned trial witnesses, whose testimony may have been tainted by Poindexter's immunized testimony. Judge Greene accepted Judge Gesell's earlier review of Grand Jury witnesses and declined to re-examine his findings. He also refused to dismiss the indictment on the basis of potential grand juror exposure to the immunized testimony.
Regarding trial witnesses, the court took extensive measures to ensure that Poindexter's immunized statements were not used against him. The court ordered the Government to make an ex parte submission (later disclosed to Poindexter) of all statements made by potential trial witnesses before Poindexter gave his immunized testimony before Congress in July 1987. The court found that all of the proposed testimony of most of the potential witnesses had been memorialized before Poindexter appeared publicly on July 15, 1987, and therefore was not tainted.
As for those witnesses whose expected trial testimony would not be limited to the evidence OIC had sealed with the court prior to Poindexter's immunized testimony, Judge Greene required additional information. He concluded that the Government had failed to establish that five of its potential witnesses were free of taint and ordered them to appear at a pre-trial hearing. Two of the three witnesses who ultimately appeared at trial credibly affirmed that their anticipated testimony would not be influenced in any way by Poindexter's immunized testimony; the third, North, refused to do so.
North stated at the pre-trial hearing that he was unable, with respect to any subject, to distinguish what he had personally done, observed or experienced from what he had learned from watching Poindexter's immunized testimony.9 As for Poindexter's destruction of the December 1985 presidential covert-action Finding -- important evidence in the obstruction of Congress -- North acknowledged that he had seen Poindexter destroy a piece of paper but insisted that he did not know it was a Finding until Poindexter stated that fact in his immunized testimony before Congress.
9 North Testimony, Poindexter Pre-trial Hearing, 12/13/89, pp. 374-77.
The court rejected North's pre-trial testimony as not believable. North, the court found, ``appears to have been embarked at that time [at the hearing] upon the calculated course of attempting to assist his former colleague and co-defendant . . . by prevaricating on various issues . . .'' 10
10 Opinion, Poindexter, 3/8/90, p. 9.
In a separate post-trial ruling, the court added that as far as the destruction of the Finding was concerned, North's testimony at his own trial about the event was inconsistent with his claim that he could not remember it independent of Poindexter's immunized testimony. The court found it ``inherently incredible'' that North did not remember ``his participation in an event he witnessed first hand and that was as dramatic, indeed historic, as the tearing up of an extremely rare Presidential Finding.'' 11
11 Ibid., 5/29/90, pp. 32-40.
The Reagan Subpoena
One of the most notable aspects of the Poindexter case was the defendant's successful attempt to call former President Reagan to testify at his trial by videotaped deposition.
Poindexter first sought presidential and vice presidential notes from OIC as part of his pre-trial discovery requests. In a pre-trial hearing on September 6, 1989, Poindexter's attorneys told the court that presidential notes would reflect that Poindexter informed the President of his denials to Congress in 1986 of NSC activity in support of the contras, and that the notes would ``show what the President was told about what was being done to support the contras in Central America, and the President's consent and ratification and approval of that activity.'' 12 In seeking vice presidential notes, Poindexter's attorneys told the court that ``anytime he [Bush] missed a meeting, Admiral Poindexter briefed him on it afterwards.'' 13
12 Robinson, Poindexter Pre-trial Hearing, 9/6/89, p. 18.
13 Ibid., p. 19.
The court, before making a decision on whether to compel OIC to produce these documents, on September 11, 1989, directed Poindexter to file an ex parte memo explaining precisely how these documents would assist his defense.14 It required from Independent Counsel a legal memorandum concerning its responsibility to produce presidential and vice presidential documents not in OIC's possession.
14 Opinion, Poindexter, 9/11/89, p. 22.
Independent Counsel in a filing on September 18, 1989, told the court that the office did not have in its possession presidential notes, but rather had been granted access to notes and allowed to copy only a portion of them with special permission. As far as President Reagan's diary was concerned, Independent Counsel had been allowed to review typed extracts of portions deemed relevant by White House counsel, but the President had retained custody of his diary, which both he and the national archivist regarded as personal records, making them unaccessible under the Presidential Records Act unless their production were compelled by subpoena.15
15 Government's Memorandum Concerning Presidential and Vice Presidential Documents that Are Not in the Possession of Independent Counsel, 9/18/89.
Attached to Independent Counsel's filing was a declaration by John Fawcett, assistant archivist for the Office of Presidential Libraries of the National Archives and Records Administration. Fawcett stated that President Bush's vice presidential records were transferred to the archives at the end of the Reagan Administration, but, ``No personal diary of former Vice President Bush has been specifically identified as being included in the Vice Presidential records. However, these Vice Presidential records have not yet been processed.'' 16
16 Ibid., Exhibit A. President Bush in December 1992 for the first time informed Independent Counsel that he had kept a diary as vice president from 1986 to 1988. See Bush chapter.
On September 25, 1989, Poindexter's attorneys informed the court that ``the defendant is willing to seek access to the personal diaries and notes of former President Reagan and former Vice President Bush pursuant to a . . . subpoena.'' 17 After reviewing Poindexter's ex parte submission on the materiality of presidential and vice presidential documents, the court on October 24, 1989, ruled that there was sufficient likelihood that President Reagan's documents would be material to the defense. Judge Greene differentiated between Reagan and Bush documents, however, because ``the Vice President had no operational authority with respect to Poindexter,'' because the information contained in vice presidential papers may be largely cumulative, and because of deference to the sitting President Bush.18
17 Defendant's Response to Government's Memorandum Concerning Presidential and Vice President Documents That Are Not in the Possession of Independent Counsel, 9/25/89, p. 2.
18 U.S. v. Poindexter, 725 F. Supp. 13, 28-31 (D.D.C. 1989). Judge Greene added that with respect to Bush documents, he would reevaluate the matter if Poindexter at a later date showed a more pressing need for them.
On November 3, 1989, Poindexter filed with the court a classified petition for leave to serve subpoenas on former President Reagan and the National Archives, seeking materials and testimony relevant to Iran/contra activities in 67 categories. On November 16, Judge Greene granted Poindexter's petition. Both President Reagan and the National Archives moved to quash the subpoena for documents.
In a pre-trial hearing December 4 the court stated that its order covered only documents, and not the President's possible trial testimony. On December 18 Poindexter sought the court's leave to subpoena President Reagan to testify at trial. In deciding whether Poindexter could subpoena President Reagan's testimony, Judge Greene asked Poindexter to submit a list of specific questions he intended to ask. Poindexter submitted a list of 183 questions, which were not made available to Independent Counsel.19 The court ruled that the questions directly related to the charges in the indictment and to Poindexter's anticipated defense.
19 In 1993, during preparation of this report, Independent Counsel obtained copies of these questions and other ex parte submissions from Poindexter's case.
In his February 5, 1990, ruling upholding the testimonial subpoena of Reagan, Judge Greene described Poindexter's proposed questions as falling into 12 categories. These included: (1) the frequency and occasions on which President Reagan and Poindexter met; (2) the President's view of the Boland Amendment and how it applied to contra support; (3) whether the President authorized Poindexter to seek foreign support for the contras; (4) what instructions the President gave Poindexter regarding meetings with Central American officials, and what information Poindexter subsequently relayed back to the President; (5) presidential discussions with Central American leaders concerning contra support; (6) presidential discussions with Poindexter regarding actions to be taken if Congress did not renew contra aid; (7) presidential knowledge of North's relationship to Iran/contra figures; (8) Poindexter's briefings of the President regarding a congressional inquiry in 1986 into North's activities; (9) Poindexter's communications with Congress at the direction of the President; (10) whether Poindexter informed the President about Secord's status; (11) discussions Poindexter had with the President regarding a chronology of the Iran arms sales prepared in November 1986; and (12) the President's knowledge of the arms shipments to Iran.
In his opinion explaining his decision to uphold Poindexter's subpoena of President Reagan, Judge Greene concluded:
Former President Ronald Reagan is claimed by Admiral Poindexter to have direct and important knowledge that will help to exonerate him from the criminal charges lodged against him. In view of the prior professional relationship between the two men, and defendant's showing discussed above, that claim cannot be dismissed as fanciful or frivolous. That being so, it would be inconceivable -- in a Republic that subscribes neither to the ancient doctrine of the divine right of kings nor to the more modern conceit of dictators that they are not accountable to the people whom they claim to represent or to their courts of law -- to exempt Mr. Reagan from the duty of every citizen to give evidence that will permit the reaching of a just outcome of this criminal prosecution. Defendant has shown that the evidence of the former President is needed to protect his right to a fair trial, and he will be given the opportunity to secure that evidence.20
20 U.S. v. Poindexter, 732 F. Supp. 142, 159-60 (D.D.C. 1990)
President Reagan did not claim executive privilege once he was ordered to testify.
The seven-hour videotaped deposition of the former President was taken February 16 and 17, 1990, in the Los Angeles federal courthouse, near his residence. The public and the press were not allowed to attend the deposition. Transcripts and the opportunity to view the videotape were made available to members of the press before the trial.
As for Poindexter's subpoena for documents from the former President, Judge Greene ordered President Reagan to make diary entries available for the court's in camera review. After its review, the court ordered President Reagan to produce the relevant diary entries to Poindexter in the absence of a claim of executive privilege. President Reagan, joined by the Bush Administration, claimed executive privilege as to the diary entries on February 5, 1990. On March 21, the court granted the Reagan-Bush motions to quash the subpoena for the diary entries, concluding that Poindexter's defense would be adequately served by the President's testimony.
The Poindexter Trial
The month-long Poindexter trial, which resulted in a five-count conviction on April 7, 1990, centered largely on the testimony of two witnesses: Oliver North for the prosecution and former President Reagan for the defense.
Both men attempted to help the defendant in their appearances on the witness stand, but each had given prior testimony harmful to Poindexter, and they could not deviate from that under threat of perjury charges.21 North could not abandon his earlier defense stance that he dutifully reported his activities -- including those found to be crimes -- to his superior, Poindexter. President Reagan was compelled at trial to state, as he had previously, that he repeatedly told his aides to obey the law and that he was unaware of their criminal acts.
21 Before taking the witness stand in Poindexter, North had testified before the Select Committees in July 1987, at his own trial in 1989, and at a Poindexter pre-trial hearing in 1990.
President Reagan was questioned by his Tower Commission on two occasions in early 1987. More significantly, the President in November 1987 answered 53 written interrogatories from Independent Counsel, which were submitted as sworn testimony to the federal Grand Jury investigating the Iran/contra affair.
Poindexter chose not to testify at his trial.
Although Poindexter and North had destroyed and altered official papers and computer messages, the prosecution offered convincing documentary evidence that Poindexter was kept apprised of North's efforts to provide military aid to the Nicaraguan contras while it was outlawed from October 1984-October 1986 by the Boland Amendment; that Poindexter adopted false statements McFarlane and North made to Congress; and that Poindexter had been fully aware of the ill-fated November 1985 HAWK missile shipment to Iran, which he subsequently tried to conceal from Congress.
The Trial Testimony of Oliver L. North
The testimony of North, named as a co-conspirator in the case, was important to proving each of the five charges against Poindexter:
-- Count One, that Poindexter conspired with North and Secord to obstruct congressional inquiries of Iran- and contra-related matters, to make false statements to Congress, and to falsify, remove and destroy official documents.
-- Count Two, that Poindexter obstructed Congress in 1986 when it was investigating media allegations that North was raising funds and providing military aid to the contras. In letters to three committees, Poindexter answered questions by repeating denials McFarlane made before Congress in 1985 of North's involvement in contra-support activities, even though Poindexter knew the denials to be false. He set up a meeting with the House Intelligence Committee in August 1986 in which he knew North would have to give false testimony, and afterward congratulated North on his performance.
-- Count Three, that Poindexter obstructed Congress in November 1986 by participating with North in the preparation of false chronologies of the secret U.S. arms sales to Iran and by making false statements to the House and Senate intelligence committees. Specifically, Poindexter falsely asserted that no U.S. official knew before January 1986 that HAWK missiles had been shipped to Iran in November 1985. The indictment stated that North as early as November 20, 1985, told Poindexter about the shipment in advance and advised him of it again after the fact in late 1985.
-- Counts Four and Five, that Poindexter made false statements about the HAWK shipment to the House and Senate intelligence committees on November 21, 1986. As in Count Three, the false statement charges were based on North's informing Poindexter about the shipment in 1985.
In four days of trial testimony, North reluctantly recounted his central operational role in the Iran/contra affair. He described the extensive contra-resupply network he ran with Secord and Hakim,22 his contra fund-raising efforts, and the military advice he gave the contras. He testified that he kept his bosses McFarlane and Poindexter fully informed of his activities and that he acted only with their approval.23
22 North objected to the prosecutor's use of the word ``Enterprise'' to describe the profit-making web of contra- and Iran-related operations he undertook with Secord and Hakim. He also objected to the use of the word ``testimony'' in reference to the false statements he made before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in August 1986, and the word ``diversion'' to describe the scheme in which he, Poindexter and others diverted Iran arms sales proceeds to the contras.
23 North, Poindexter Trial Testimony, 3/12/90, pp. 1275-76.
North, who was forced to testify for the prosecution under a grant of immunity, frequently claimed that he could not recall many of the incidents in question, some of which had occurred several years before. North admitted a wide range of contra-support and Iran-related actions only when confronted with prior testimony in which he had provided extensive details.
North admitted that he lied in August 1986 when he told the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) he was not engaged in raising funds or providing military support to the Nicaraguan contras.24 North described exchanges with Poindexter before and after the meeting that directly implicated Poindexter in a scheme to frustrate the congressional investigation.25
24 Ibid., 3/9/90, pp. 1042-43.
25 Ibid., 3/12/90, p. 1083.
HPSCI was one of three congressional committees pursuing a House inquiry into reports of North's contra-aid activities. North testified that prior to appearing before the committee in the White House Situation Room, he told Poindexter he would be asked about ``things that I had been told never to reveal.'' 26 In response, Poindexter told him, ``You can handle it, you can take care of it,'' according to North.27
26 Ibid., 3/9/90, p. 1033.
27 Ibid.
After receiving reports of North's statements to HPSCI, which Poindexter knew were false, Poindexter by way of his computer sent North a terse congratulatory message: ``Well done.'' 28
28 PROFs Note from Poindexter to North, 8/11/86, AKW 018921.
Based on the statements of North and Poindexter, HPSCI Chairman Lee Hamilton informed other members of Congress that the media allegations about North could not be proven. North's false testimony, in combination with Poindexter's perpetuation of McFarlane's previous lies, successfully frustrated the congressional oversight process. It was not until Nicaraguan soldiers on October 5, 1986, shot down a contra-resupply plane carrying American Eugene Hasenfus that Congress renewed its investigation into North's activities.
North testified that he kept Poindexter apprised of his involvement in the covert sales of U.S. arms to Iran in 1985 and 1986, including the operation's most secret aspect: the Iran/contra diversion. He sent Poindexter five or six memos stating that overcharges to the Iranian buyers would generate millions of dollars for diversion to the contras.29 North said Poindexter told him the diversion should never be revealed.30 North said he reported the diversion plan to Poindexter because he thought that projects funded by it ``ought to have the authority of the President behind them.'' 31
29 North, Poindexter Trial Testimony, 3/12/90, pp. 1107-11.
30 Ibid., pp. 1103-05.
31 Ibid., p. 1111.
North testified that in November 1985, he became directly involved in an Israeli shipment of U.S. HAWK missiles to Iran at McFarlane's behest.32 North said he got permission from both McFarlane, who was then the national security adviser, and Poindexter, then deputy national security adviser, to enlist Secord's help in resolving logistical problems surrounding the shipment.33 He also got McFarlane and Poindexter's permission to supply the Israelis with the name of a CIA-connected airline to assist.34 North outlined the details of the planned HAWK shipment in a computer note to Poindexter on November 20, 1985.35 By memoranda on December 4 and on December 9, 1985, North informed Poindexter that the Iranians were unhappy with the shipment and wanted the missiles to be retrieved.36
32 Ibid., pp. 1118-20.
33 Ibid., pp. 1121-22.
34 Ibid., pp. 1122-27.
35 PROFs Note from North to Poindexter, 11/20/85, AKW 002066.
36 PROFs Note from North to Poindexter, 12/4/85, AKW 002070-73; Memorandum from North to McFarlane and Poindexter, 12/9/85, AKW 002088-91.
When CIA officials insisted after the HAWK shipment that the President should retroactively authorize the agency's participation in the operation, CIA Director William J. Casey on November 26, 1985, gave Poindexter a covert-action Finding for President Reagan's signature.37 North testified that he saw the signed Finding either in Poindexter's office safe or in the safe of NSC counsel Paul Thompson.38
37 Memorandum from Casey to Poindexter, 11/26/85, AMY 000651-52.
38 North, Poindexter Trial Testimony, 3/12/90, p. 1245.
After public exposure of the Iran arms sales in November 1986, North -- at Poindexter's request -- prepared a chronology of U.S. involvement in the Iran arms sales, which underwent a series of re-writes. North testified that McFarlane removed from the chronology North's factual account of the November 1985 HAWKs shipment and substituted a cover story: that although the CIA became involved in the November 1985 shipment after Israel encountered logistical difficulties, U.S. officials at the time believed the cargo to be oil-drilling parts and did not learn until January 1986 that the true cargo was weapons.39
39 Ibid., pp. 1188-98.
Asked whether the McFarlane revision was part of a plan to ``cover up'' the existence of the November 1985 Finding, North answered: ``I don't know that cover up is the right word. I listened to the President's press conferences, I listened to statements being made by people and they just didn't talk about it.'' 40 North said McFarlane told him the cover story should be incorporated into the chronology because the 1985 Finding authorizing the weapons shipment described too directly an arms-for-hostages swap, which, if exposed, would politically embarrass the President.41
40 Ibid., p. 1191.
41 Ibid., pp. 1190-91.
The same oil-drilling-parts cover story was part of a CIA-prepared chronology that Casey and his deputy, Robert Gates, brought to a White House meeting on November 20, 1986, with Poindexter, North, Meese, Cooper and Thompson. The purpose of the meeting was to prepare Casey and Poindexter for their congressional testimony the following day. North was asked at trial:
Q: . . . did it become clear to you by the time McFarlane tells you that [the finding was too close to an arms-for-hostage swap] and by the time you see the CIA show up with this phony chronology, then at least did it appear to you that there was some effort or plan going on to cover up with U.S. involvement because of that finding?
A: Well, there is no doubt in my mind that I came to realize that finding was a disaster, and I understood that.42
42 Ibid., pp. 1208-09.
North testified that he altered and destroyed numerous documents in October and November 1986 that would have revealed details of the Iran and contra operations. He said he assured Poindexter that he had ``taken care of'' the documents that reflected his activities.43 He said he told Poindexter all the documents describing the Iran/contra diversion were destroyed, after learning from Poindexter on November 21, 1986, that Attorney General Meese would be conducting a weekend investigation into the Iran arms sales.44 North also testified that he altered other original NSC documents, after receiving Poindexter's permission to retrieve them from the NSC document-archiving system.45
43 Ibid., p. 1218.
44 Ibid., pp. 1120-21.
45 Ibid., pp. 1224-27.
More important, North reluctantly testified that he saw Poindexter destroy the only known copy of the signed presidential Finding that sought to authorize retroactively the November 1985 shipment of HAWK missiles to Iran.46 North's eyewitness account of the destruction of the Finding provided significant proof of Poindexter's intent to conceal facts about the HAWK missile shipment from Congress in November 1986.47
46 Ibid., 1252-54.
47 The destruction of the 1985 Finding was not charged as a separate crime in the indictment of Poindexter because Independent Counsel did not learn of it until North testified about it at his own trial in April 1989. Poindexter had told the Select Committees in 1987 that he destroyed the only signed copy of the 1985 presidential Finding. Independent Counsel did not learn of this statement at the time, however, because the OIC had taken measures to insulate itself from all immunized testimony. Even if Independent Counsel had been aware of the Poindexter testimony, OIC could not have used it in any criminal proceeding against Poindexter under the terms of immunity grant.
North's wide-ranging testimony enabled the prosecution to streamline its witness list to only nine other individuals, many of whom supplemented the central details provided by North.
The Trial Testimony of President Reagan
Before the trial of Poindexter, President Reagan had not testified publicly about Iran/contra. On February 16 and 17, 1990, he gave a seven-hour videotaped deposition as a defense witness. No classified matters were discussed and executive privilege was not invoked in response to any question. The videotaped deposition was shown in full, therefore, to the Poindexter jury during the trial on March 21 and 22, 1990.48
48 Immediately after each tape was shown to the jury, a copy was given to the television networks, allowing the public to see President Reagan's only courtroom testimony on the Iran/contra affair.
In direct examination, defense counsel sought to show presidential knowledge and approval of Poindexter's activities. But President Reagan frequently claimed memory lapses when questioned about specific exchanges he may have had with Poindexter and about his knowledge of individuals and details involved in the Iran and contra operations.
Although President Reagan exhibited virtually no detailed knowledge of the Iran/contra matter, he made clear to the jury that it had his imprimatur, calling it ``a covert action that was taken at my behest.'' 49 President Reagan said North was the only person he remembered being involved in the arms initiative.50 He could not recall being briefed by Poindexter on the May 1986 trip by McFarlane and North to Tehran, but he said he did recall signing a Bible for Iranians.51 President Reagan testified that the amount of weapons sold to Iran totaled $12.2 million.52
49 Reagan, Poindexter Trial Deposition, 2/16/90, p. 9.
50 Ibid., p. 21.
51 Ibid., p. 24.
52 Ibid., pp. 154-55.
Asked specifically about the November 1985 HAWK shipment to Iran, President Reagan said he recalled a plan in which the Israelis would turn their plane around in mid-delivery of the weapons if no hostages were released.53 He did not recall when he became aware of the November 1985 HAWK shipment; 54 he did not recall Poindexter telling him in November 1986 that others in the White House were having trouble remembering when they learned of it.55
53 Ibid., pp. 24-25.
54 Ibid., pp. 33-36.
55 Ibid., pp. 38-39.
President Reagan also claimed virtually no memory of the November 1986 period in which his top advisers were scrambling to limit public exposure of the Iran arms sales. He only generally recalled telling members of Congress about the arms sales on November 12, 1986.56 He could not remember receiving any information from Poindexter for any of his presentations on the matter in that time.57 The former President could not remember asking Poindexter to assemble the facts on the arms sales.58 He could not recall that Poindexter briefed the House and Senate intelligence committees on November 21, 1986.59
56 Ibid., pp. 37-38.
57 Ibid., p. 30.
58 Ibid., p. 28.
59 Ibid., pp. 44-45.
Defense counsel's questions suggested that their client had significant exchanges with the President during the arms-sale period and its aftermath. But Reagan's lack of recollection, and lack of specificity when he did remember events or individuals, left those questions unresolved.
President Reagan provided more helpful testimony for the defense on the subject of contra-support operations. Calling the Boland prohibition on contra funding a ``disaster,'' 60 Reagan testified that he urged his aides to do what they could to support the contras, while staying ``within the law.'' 61 Reagan recalled that Saudi Arabia's King Fahd pledged millions of dollars for the contras.62 He said he told his aides not to solicit contributions for the contras directly but to tell people how they could contribute if they wanted to help.63
60 Ibid., p. 69.
61 Ibid., pp. 53-54.
62 Ibid., pp. 74-75.
63 Ibid., pp. 53-54.
Asked whether Poindexter briefed him on the contras, President Reagan said: ``Oh yes, I depended on him for that.'' 64 He said he had no reason to believe that Poindexter was not keeping him fully informed.
64 Ibid., p. 116.
Asked to describe what he knew about North's responsibilities in the White House, President Reagan said:
Well, he was mainly performing tasks, as I understand it, for the NSC, but he -- his background and record had been one of being decorated for heroism and so forth in the Vietnamese conflict, and that he had been a very bold and brave soldier -- Marine.
And -- so, he was -- it was my impression, not from any specific reports or anything, that in through all of this that he was communicating back and forth between on the need for the support of the Contras and so forth.65
65 Ibid., p. 131.
In addition to professing a benign view of North and his activities, President Reagan indicated general knowledge of and support for the contra-resupply operation in Central America:
Q: Do you recall any discussions that he [Poindexter] may have had with you about the construction of an airstrip down there in Central America?
A: Well, I did hear -- we had learned that there was a rather primitive lane in there in the jungle near the border of Costa Rican [sic], and that was then being put into better shape as a usable airstrip.
Q: Did you have any -- do you recall any discussion about who was constructing the airstrip?
A: Well, no. I assume it was the Costa Rican government.
Q: And do you know what that airstrip was going to be used for?
A: Well, I know that -- I hoped that it would be used in the delivery of when once again we could supply, keep the Contras supplied, that it could be involved in the -- used there, if there was need for a refueling or anything of that kind of a plane.66
66 Ibid., p. 121.
President Reagan was then asked whether he knew who would be using the Costa Rican airstrip for contra resupply. His answer reflected knowledge of the operation supposedly being funded and run by private citizens -- the so-called ``private benefactors'' -- that was in fact being run by Secord at North's direction:
Q: Do you know who it was that was going to be using the airstrip? It was going to be used for supplying the Contras, but do you know who it was that was actually going to be doing the supplying and using the airstrip?
A: No, I do not on that. I don't think -- I don't think I ever considered that it would be military planes of ours. So, possibly some of those that weren't officially planes of ours that had been helping in the past in deliveries to the Contras and so forth.
Q: Earlier this morning or earlier today, I should say, you mentioned General Secord. That you knew that he was involved in the Contra supply effort.
Was it part of his operation you thought that he might be using the airstrip?
A: I can't say that I actually recall that, but it seems to me logical that he would have been involved in that.67
67 Ibid., p. 122.
President Reagan, who winked and smiled at Poindexter from the witness stand, did not hide his contempt toward congressional inquiries into NSC staff contra-support activities. Shown misleading letters written by Poindexter in July 1986 to the committees of Congress that were investigating allegations of North's contra efforts, Reagan said: ``I am in total agreement. If I had written it myself, I might have used a little profanity.'' 68
68 Ibid., pp. 146-47.
In cross-examination, the prosecution was able to impeach much of President Reagan's testimony. This was possible because Reagan late in 1987 had answered, under oath, 53 written interrogatories for Independent Counsel and the Grand Jury investigating the Iran/contra matter.
The July 21, 1986, letters -- in which Poindexter embraced and perpetuated the lies McFarlane had told Congress about North's contra-support activities a year earlier -- were a key element in the obstruction charges against the defendant. Under cross-examination by the prosecution, President Reagan was asked whether he was aware that the Poindexter letters repeated McFarlane's previous lies. The former President equivocated:
Well, I simply -- no, I did not have this information, but I have a great deal of confidence in the man who was quoted as sending these letters, McFarlane. And I have never -- I have never caught him or seen him doing anything that was in any way out of line or dishonest. And so, I was perfectly willing to accept his defense.69
69 Ibid., p. 151.
President Reagan said he did not know that McFarlane had pleaded guilty to withholding information from Congress in connection with the false letters.70
70 Ibid., pp. 220-21.
Asked whether he approved either the McFarlane or Poindexter letters to Congress, the former President said he had no recollection of doing so, adding that his memory could be faulty.71 Asked directly whether he would approve of sending false information to Congress, President Reagan conceded that he would not.72 Would he have authorized Poindexter to make false statements to Congress? President Reagan again attempted to assist his former aide: ``No. And I don't think any false statements were made.'' 73
71 Ibid., pp. 150-51.
72 Ibid., pp. 151-52.
73 Ibid., p. 158.
President Reagan also testified that he did not approve the destruction of Iran/contra documents by Poindexter, and that he was not told about their destruction.74 But the former President, in response to subsequent questioning, described the dilemma in which he placed his aides in November 1986 by instructing them that certain information could not be revealed because ``it will bring to risk and danger to people that are held and with the people that we were negotiating with.'' 75
74 Ibid., p. 160.
75 Ibid., p. 252.
Asked again whether he approved the destruction of alteration of any Iran/contra records, President Reagan said: ``And this, I cannot answer. I cannot recall because it is the possibility that there were such papers that would violate the secrecy that was protecting those individuals' lives.'' 76 President Reagan had denied in response to the earlier written interrogatories that he approved the destruction and alteration of documents; when confronted with his previous testimony he stated that it was truthful.
76 Ibid., p. 255.
On the issue of the contras, President Reagan said he ``never had any inkling'' that North was guiding their military strategy.77 But Reagan muddied the issue in a later statement about North:
77 Ibid., p. 170.
I know that he [North] was very active, and that was certainly with my approval, because I yesterday made plain how seriously I felt about the Contra situation and what it meant to all of us here in the Americas. And, so, obviously, there were many things that were being done. But, again, as I say, I was convinced that they were all being done within the law.78
78 Ibid., p. 189.
In questioning about the Iran/contra diversion, President Reagan surprisingly asserted that he had no proof that a diversion had occurred:
And to this day, I still with all of the investigations that have been made, I still have never been given one iota of evidence as to who collected the price, who delivered the final delivery of the weapons, or what was -- whether there was ever more money in that Swiss account that had been diverted someplace else. I am still waiting to find those things out and have never found them out.79
79 Ibid., p. 155.
Asked whether he had approved a diversion, Reagan again stated:
May I simply point out that I had no knowledge then or now that there had been a diversion, and I never used the term. And all I knew was that there was some money that came from some place in another account, and that the appearance was that it might have been a part of the negotiated sale. And to this day, I don't have any information or knowledge that that wasn't the total amount that -- or that there was a diversion.80
80 Ibid., p. 156.
Asked again whether he would have approved a diversion, President Reagan said he would not. But, he added, ``No one has proven to me that there was a diversion.'' 81
81 Ibid., p. 157.
President Reagan said he did not recall that the Tower Commission concluded in March 1987 that, in fact, a diversion had occurred. ``I, to this day, do not recall ever hearing that there was a diversion,'' he said.82 Shown that portion of the Tower Commission report describing the diversion, Reagan said: ``This report -- this is the first time that I have ever seen a reference that actually specified there was a diversion.'' 83
82 Ibid., p. 240.
83 Ibid., p. 243.
Asked whether Poindexter should have told him about an Iran/contra diversion, Reagan said: ``Yes. Unless maybe he thought he was protecting me from something.'' 84
84 Ibid., pp. 243-44.
The Verdict and Sentencing
After six days of deliberation, the jury on April 7, 1990, found Poindexter guilty of each of the five felony charges against him. Judge Greene on June 11, 1990, sentenced Poindexter to six months imprisonment on each of the five counts, to be served concurrently.
In imposing the sentence, Judge Greene noted complaints by Poindexter's supporters that the most he was guilty of was having become embroiled in a political quarrel between the White House and Congress. Judge Greene stated:
Whatever may have been the nature of the original dispute, what the defendant and his associates did was emphatically not a part of the normal political process.
. . . When Admiral Poindexter and his associates obstructed the Congress, what were they seeking to accomplish? In a word, it was to nullify the decision that body had made on the issue of supplies to the Contras. . . .
President Reagan did not, or for parliamentary reasons he could not, veto the bill [which contained the Boland prohibition on contra aid]. He did not attempt to assert his own constitutional powers or take the issue to the people, and at the conclusion of the political process the Boland Amendment thus became law.
No problem. What the president was unwilling or unable to do -- to defeat this law -- Admiral Poindexter, together with Oliver North and others, did on their own. They decided that the policy embodied in the Boland Amendment was wrong, and they went about to violate it on a large scale and for a lengthy period, and then to lie about their activities to prevent the Congress and the public from finding out. . . .
With all due respect to the distinguished military records of Admiral Poindexter, Colonel North, General Secord, and the others, they have no standing in a democratic society to invalidate the decisions made by elected officials . . . As I said several times during the trial, it is immaterial to this criminal case who was right and who was wrong about the wisdom of the Contra policy. That is not what this trial was about. The jury and this court were not competent to decide for this nation whether resistance forces in Nicaragua should or should not have been supplied with weapons.
But more importantly for present purposes, neither was Admiral Poindexter. When he and his associates took it upon themselves to make that decision anyway, to implement it on a broad scale, and to work actively to keep what they were doing from the Congress and the public, they not only violated various statutes. They were also in violation of a principle fundamental to this constitutional Republic -- that those elected by and responsible to the people shall make the important policy decisions, and that their decisions may not be nullified by appointed officials who happen to be in positions that give them the ability to operate programs prohibited by law. It is unfortunate that, whatever may be his view of his own purposes and actions, the defendant still gives no evidence of recognizing that principle and the seriousness of its violation.
Given the nature of the offenses, the sentencing principle that is primarily applicable here is that of deterrence, and as a practical matter, deterrence means meaningful penalties. If the court were not to impose such a penalty here, when the defendant before it was the decision-making head of the Iran-contra operation, its action would be tantamount to a statement that a scheme to lie to and obstruct Congress is of no great moment, and that even if the perpetrators are found out, the courts will treat their criminal acts as no more than minor infractions.
A message of that kind could not help but encourage others in positions of authority and secrecy to frustrate laws that fail to accord with their notions of what is best for this country, and to carry out their own private policies in the name of the United States. . . .85
85 Judge Greene, Poindexter Transcript of Sentencing, 6/11/90, pp. 18-22
The Appeal
A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in a 2-1 decision on November 15, 1991, reversed Poindexter's convictions on the grounds that his trial was impermissibly tainted by his immunized congressional testimony. The Poindexter ruling was based on the appeals court decision in the North case, which extended the protections of the use immunity statute to prohibit use of any witness whose testimony has been refreshed or shaped in any way by the defendant's immunized testimony. In his dissenting opinion, Chief Judge Abner Mikva noted that the majority ruling ``tells future defendants that all they need to evade responsibility [to testify at trial] is a well timed case of amnesia.'' 86
86 U.S. v. Poindexter, 951 F.2d 369, 390 (D.C. Cir. 1991).
The Poindexter appeals panel also overturned the two obstruction convictions on the grounds that the statute was ``unconstitutionally vague'' in its proscription of ``corruptly'' endeavoring to impede a congressional inquiry. The appeals panel ruled that a defendant's lying to Congress does not constitute obstruction unless the defendant corruptly influences someone else to do so. Again, Chief Judge Mikva dissented, finding it ``obvious . . . that Poindexter 'corruptly' obstructed the congressional investigation when he lied to Congress.'' 87
87 Ibid.
In October 1992, Independent Counsel petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to review the Poindexter case. Independent Counsel said the appeals court ruling that the obstruction statute was unconstitutional ``leaves a large gap in the criminal law, while endorsing a method of analyzing constitutional vagueness challenges that could prove enormously destructive to a substantial body of federal legislation.'' 88 The petition noted that at least 17 other laws besides the obstruction statute at issue use the word ``corruptly'' to define an element of the offense.89
88 U.S. v. Poindexter, Crim. No. 88-0080-01, Petition for Writ of Certiorari by United States of America, at 9 (October 1992).
89 Ibid., p. 10.
On immunized testimony, Independent Counsel in its petition to the Supreme Court said the appeals ruling in Poindexter would
make almost impossible the prosecution of any case involving public immunized statements that requires testimony by persons sympathetic to the accused, such as co-conspirators or other associates. And the dangers of abuse and manipulation are magnified by the court of appeals' view, expressed in North, that a witness inclined to assist the defense may become disqualified from testifying at trial by the simple expedient of soaking himself in the defendant's immunized statements. 90
90 Ibid., p. 22.
Independent Counsel also noted that the appeals ruling
. . . will have its most profound impact on cases involving public immunized testimony before Congress -- cases that, by definition, involve issues of the most fundamental import. If the court of appeals has erred, this Court should right that error before significant further damage is done to the legislative oversight function. 91
91 Ibid., p. 29.
The U.S. Supreme Court in December 1992 declined, without comment, to review the Poindexter case.
Conclusion
Poindexter was responsible for providing President Reagan with advice on national-security matters of highest importance. What his conviction showed was that a jury of ordinary citizens can sort and weigh complex evidence and agree that obstructing and lying to Congress is a serious act worthy of felony conviction.
The Poindexter trial served the public interest in another sense. Poindexter's determination to call President Reagan as a witness allowed the public the rare opportunity to see him testify for seven hours about the Iran/contra matter.
The completion of the Poindexter trial in April 1990, two years after the original indictment was returned, necessitated the re-activation of the criminal investigation into Iran/contra. For the first time, Poindexter and North were available for questioning by Independent Counsel. Although this decision was questioned by some, Independent Counsel determined that his Iran/contra investigative mandate could not be fulfilled until the central operational figures were interrogated to find out whether other high-ranking officials helped support and cover up their activities.
Condamner les criminels condamnés aux Etats-Unis
Automatically translated into French thanks to WorldLingo
Chapitre 3
Etats-Unis v. John M. Vice
Adm de marine de Poindexter. John M. Poindexter a été nommé en tant que conseiller de sécurité nationale du Président Reagan le 4 décembre 1985, réussissant Robert C. McFarlane, que Poindexter avait servi dessous de député pendant deux années. La carrière de la Maison Blanche de Poindexter a fini le 25 novembre 1986, quand il a été forcé de démissionner à la suite de la révélation publique de l'Iran/contre la déviation.
Poindexter, lieutenant. Colonne Le nord et le McFarlane d'Oliver étaient l'Attorney General Edwin Meese III de trois individus identifié le 25 novembre 1986, comme bien informé de la déviation. La surveillance de Poindexter du nord et sa propre participation en Iran et contre des opérations étaient les centres tôt de la recherche de l'avocat-conseil indépendant.
Comme dans le point de droit contre le nord, l'évidence criminelle contre Poindexter a dû être recueillie rapidement avant qu'il ait été obligé de témoigner sur Capitol Hill en été de 1987 sous une concession d'immunité limitée. Autrement, la poursuite de Poindexter était susceptible d'être défiée parce qu'elle a été dérivée de ou d'une manière quelconque influencée par son témoignage congressionnel immunisé.
Le 16 mars 1988, Poindexter a été accusé sur sept frais de crime résultant de sa participation en Iran/contre l'affaire, en tant qu'élément d'un acte d'accusation de multi-défendeur de 23 comptes. Il a été appelé avec le nord, commandant retiré de l'Armée de l'Air. Générateur. Richard V. Secord et Albert Hakim en tant que membre de la conspiration à frauder le gouvernement des Etats-Unis en effectuant l'Iran/contre la déviation et autre agit.
Après que les cas aient été divisés et deux des frais originaux ont été écartés, Poindexter a été essayé et condamné en avril 1990 de cinq crimes, incluant : un compte de conspiration pour obstruer des enquêtes et des démarches officielles, deux comptes d'obstruer le congrès, et deux comptes de rapports faux à Congress.1 États-Unis Juge Harold H. de zone. Greene l'a condamné à une limite de six mois de prison. En novembre 1991, les convictions de Poindexter ont été retournées sur l'appel. En décembre 1992, les États-Unis Cour suprême refusée pour passer en revue le cas.
1 le cas de Poindexter a été essayé par des avocats-conseils Dan K. d'associé. Webb, chrétien J. Mixter, Howard M. Perle, et Louise R. Radin.
Poindexter a joint le personnel du Conseil de sécurité nationale en juin 1981, suivant une carrière navale distinguée qui a inclus la commande de cuirassé et les poteaux du haut rang du Pentagone. En octobre 1983 il est devenu député au conseiller McFarlane de sécurité nationale ; parmi ses subalternes était du nord. Pendant la tenure d'une année de Poindexter en tant que conseiller de sécurité nationale, qui a commencé en décembre 1985, il a surveillé l'Iran/contre les opérations dans lesquelles le nord a été directement impliqué.
En novembre 1986, pendant que les opérations secrètes devenaient publiquement exposées, Poindexter est allé bien au fonctionnaire aîné d'administration responsable de donner des instructions d'autres conseillers supérieurs du président au sujet des ventes d'armes de l'Iran. Dans une série de réunions de la Maison Blanche avec d'autres fonctionnaires et membres du congrès tout au long du mois, il a à plusieurs reprises présenté une version fausse des transactions qui ont distancé le Président Reagan des 1985 cargaisons des armes légalement incertaines faites par l'Israel, en particulier la transaction de Faucon-missile du novembre 1985.
Bien que Poindexter ait été le porte-parole, il n'était pas seul responsable de savoir les faits. Pratiquement chaque autre haut fonctionnaire, y compris le Président Reagan, qui a entendu que sa version des ventes d'armes dans les briefings tout au long du novembre 1986 a eu la raison de la croire avaient tort. Pourtant personne, selon les notes contemporaines de ces briefings, rai jusqu'à Poindexter correct.
Poindexter avec le nord et d'autres en novembre 1986 essayés pour déchiqueter et changer la traînée de papier reflétant le leur Iran/contre des activités. Entre autres, Poindexter a détruit la seule conclusion présidentielle signée existante de secret-action qui a été prévue pour autoriser rétroactivement la participation de CIA dans l'expédition de fauconx du novembre 1985.
Poindexter et nord étaient moins réussis en supprimant la traînée d'ordinateur-message du leur Iran/contre des activités. Poindexter et nord ont souvent communiqué par un canal spécial que Poindexter, un informaticien, avait établi sur le système informatique de NSC. Ce canal, connu sous le nom de « contrôle blanc privé, » Poindexter permis et nord pour transmettre par relais des messages entre eux sans leur étant conduits par les canaux en lesquels d'autres sur le personnel de NSC pourraient les examiner.
Entre le 22 au 29 novembre 1986, le nord a supprimé de ses messages du fichier électronique 736, et Poindexter a supprimé 5.012 messages pendant le même period.2 en dépit de ces suppressions, les bandes par habitude sauvées de support de la Maison Blanche contenant toutes les données dans le système pendant deux semaines pour se protéger contre la perte négligente. Quand l'Iran/contre l'affaire a été exposé dans le défunt novembre 1986, l'agence de communications de la Maison Blanche, qui contrôle le système informatique de NSC, a maintenu les bandes de secours datant à partir du 15 novembre. Les investigateurs pouvaient, donc, rechercher des copies de tous les messages qui étaient dans les fichiers informatiques de Poindexter-Nord dans le mi novembre 1986 avant que la plupart des suppressions se soient produites. Ces messages d'ordinateur sont devenus évidence importante dans le Poindexter et des épreuves du nord.
2 Williams, témoignage d'essai de Poindexter, 3/15/90, pp. 1752-65.
Poindexter admis à plusieurs de ses activités avant que les comités choisis en juillet 1987 sous une concession d'immunité testimoniale, qui a empêché ses admissions d'être employé contre lui dans la démarche criminelle. Puisque le Président Reagan n'a pas témoigné du fait le forum, Poindexter s'est appelé pour répondre à la question qui a dominé les auditions : Le président a-t-il su et est-ce qu'approuver la déviation des ventes d'armes de l'Iran procède aux contras ? Poindexter a répondu au non, « les arrêts de mâle ici avec moi. » 3 qu'il a dits il a délibérément retenu l'information au Président Reagan parce que ``j'ai voulu que le président eût un certain deniability de sorte qu'il soit protégé. . . . '' 4
3 Poindexter, témoignage choisi de comités, 7/15/87, P. 95.
4 Ibid., P. 101.
Faisant face à une épreuve criminelle, Poindexter a confronté un dilemme différent : Ce n'était plus une question de protéger le président mais se défendre contre cinq frais de crime. Devant le congrès, le témoignage le plus significatif de Poindexter démentis répétés du Président Reagan corroboré de la conscience de l'Iran/contre la déviation. Dans l'auditoire de tribunal, Poindexter a monté une défense de haut-autorisation, essayant de convaincre le jury que le président avait approuvé ses actions, y compris ceux qui ont eu comme conséquence les frais criminels. Au lieu de prendre le stand dans sa propre défense, cependant, il a appelé le Président Reagan pour témoigner.
Démarches Pre-Trial
États-Unis Juge Gerhard A. de zone. Gesell a en juin 1988 commandé que la caisse de multi-défendeur contre Poindexter, nord, Secord et Hakim soit severed.5 après séparation, le cas de Poindexter a été transféré au juge en chef Aubrey E. Robinson, Jr., et juger alors Greene, qui a présidé démarches d'excédent d'autres.
5 pour une description plus détaillée de la séparation de la caisse de multi-défendeur, voir le chapitre du nord.
Tous les défis substantifs de Poindexter à la validité de l'acte d'accusation ont été écartés avant épreuve. Les questions importantes restantes sont concernées : (1) la conservation de la charge de conspiration ; (2) la résolution des conflits de la classifier-information ; (3) la résolution des questions liées au témoignage congressionnel immunisé de Poindexter, selon régner connu sous le nom de Kastigar ; et (4) l'effort réussi du défendeur de fixer le témoignage d'essai de l'ancien Président Reagan.
La préservation et le rétrécissement des problèmes de charge
de conspiration avec des informations secrètes ont mené au renvoi des frais centraux de conspiration avant l'épreuve du nord, et on s'est attendu à ce que des problèmes semblables surgissent dans le point de droit contre Poindexter. Le 20 juin 1989, les avocats-conseils indépendants se sont déplacés pour éliminer les larges frais originaux de conspiration basés sur l'approvisionnement en contras et déviation et pour rétrécir sensiblement la charge de la conspiration pour violer les autres statuts criminels substantifs, rapports faux menaçants et obstruction. Après des classements et argument oral, la cour a accordé le mouvement du gouvernement.
La charge a été refocalisée sur l'acte illégal de la conspiration avec le nord et le Secord pour cacher des activités du congrès. Les avocats-conseils indépendants ont argué du fait avec succès que ce rétrécissement de la charge de conspiration réduirait au minimum les problèmes de la classifier-information qui ont infesté la poursuite du nord.
Les questions classifiées de l'information que
les procédures classifiées de l'information agissent (CIPA) ont permis à la cour d'essai efficacement de résoudre des questions comportant l'utilisation des documents et du témoignage classifiés dans Poindexter. Jugez la surveillance de Greene du processus de CIPA et les négociations fructueuses entre les avocats-conseils pour le gouvernement et le Poindexter résolus la plupart des conflits avec un minimum de retardent.
Contrairement au nord, il n'y avait aucune prolongée ou le litige significatif au sujet de la forme ou de la portée des notifications du CIPA de Poindexter à la cour de révéler a classifié l'information à l'épreuve. Entre les 27 novembre 1989 et 13 mars 1990, Poindexter a servi 11 telles notifications, y compris le témoignage huit que les documents classifiés énumérés il ont voulu employer à l'épreuve, deux classifié possible décrivant, et une concentrée seulement sur l'information qu'il a voulu obtenir au dépôt du Président Reagan.
Jugez Greene a commandé que toutes les différences que l'excédent a classifié l'information soient négociées entre les parties avant d'être apporté devant la cour. Jugez Greene a tenu six auditions clôturées de CIPA avant l'épreuve a commencé et a complété ceux avec plusieurs auditions plus courtes pendant l'épreuve. La plupart de ses actes sur la pertinence et l'admissibilité d'informations secrètes, et sur l'adéquation des substitutions proposées par le gouvernement, ont été faites à partir du mettre hors jeu.
Prises ensemble, les notices du CIPA de Poindexter ont énuméré approximativement 1.200 documents, seulement une petite fraction dont ont été finalement présentés à l'épreuve. La plupart des informations secrètes ont été couvertes par des conditions de Government à certains faits et à d'autres substitutions non classifiées. Ceci a permis à l'épreuve de procéder sans à-coup, sans conflits qui ont compliqué le nord ou le point de droit contre l'ancienne station Joseph en chef F. de CIA. Fernandez, qui était dû écarté à la classifier-information problems.6
6 voient le chapitre de Fernandez.
Des démarches Poindexter
de Kastigar ont été obligées sous une concession d'immunité d'utilisation de témoigner en 1987 devant les comités choisis étudiant l'Iran/contre. De même que l'autre Iran/contre les défendeurs qui ont donné le témoignage immunisé devant le congrès, Poindexter déplacé pour écarter l'acte d'accusation sur la théorie qu'elle a violé les normes déclarées dans Kastigar v. Les Etats-Unis, 7 arguant du fait que son témoignage immunisé a été employé contre lui dans le jury grand et à l'épreuve. Cet argument a prouvé non réussi au niveau d'essai mais a finalement régné dans la cour des appels.
les 7 406 États-Unis 411 (1972).
Avant que leurs épreuves aient été divisées, Poindexter s'est déplacé en commun avec le nord et Hakim, qui également avait reçu l'immunité pour témoigner devant le congrès, pour avoir les frais contre eux a écarté pour la raison que l'évidence contre eux a été corrompue par leur témoignage immunisé. Le juge Gesell a nié ce mouvement. Cependant, par la déférence pour la défense réclame qu'ils emploieraient probablement le témoignage immunisé justificatif de chacun, juge que Gesell ont en juin 1988 divisé les épreuves.
Poindexter a remplacé son mouvement de Kastigar avant juge Greene en août 1989. Après le briefing et l'argument, 8 la cour ont commandé que deux auditions probatoires soient tenues. Au premier, la cour a entendu le témoignage des avocats-conseils Dan K. d'associé. Webb et Howard M. Perlez au sujet de leur exposition au témoignage immunisé de Poindexter avant de joindre l'Office des avocats-conseils indépendants. Webb et perle ont joint le personnel d'OIC en 1989 et ne l'ont pas eu, avant leurs rendez-vous, été sujet aux procédures d'OIC pour s'isoler du témoignage immunisé de Poindexter. Jugez Greene a trouvé leur exposition au témoignage de Poindexter pour être insignifiant et a permis aux deux mandataires de participer à l'épreuve.
8 le cas de Poindexter ont été essayés devant la cour des appels régnés dans le nord que les auditions de témoin étaient nécessaires pour permettre l'épreuve d'un défendeur immunisé.
Le deuxième ensemble d'auditions de cour est concerné les témoins d'essai, dont le témoignage a pu avoir été corrompu par le témoignage immunisé de Poindexter's. Un examen plus tôt de Gesell de juge admis par Greene de juge des témoins de fortune grands et refusé pour examiner de nouveau ses résultats. Il a également refusé d'écarter l'acte d'accusation sur la base de l'exposition grande potentielle de juré au témoignage immunisé.
Concernant les témoins d'essai, la cour a pris des mesures étendues de s'assurer que les rapports immunisés de Poindexter n'ont pas été employés contre lui. La cour a commandé le gouvernement pour faire une soumission ex de parte (plus tard révélée à Poindexter) de tous les rapports faits par les témoins d'essai potentiels avant que Poindexter ait donné son témoignage immunisé devant le congrès en juillet 1987. La cour a constaté que tout les témoignage proposé de la plupart des témoins potentiels avait été memorialized avant que Poindexter soit apparu publiquement le 15 juillet 1987, et donc n'a pas été corrompu.
Quant à ces témoins dont ont prévu que le témoignage d'essai ne serait pas limité à l'évidence OIC avait scellé avec la cour avant le témoignage immunisé de Poindexter, l'information additionnelle requise par Greene de juge. Il a conclu que le gouvernement n'avait pas établi que cinq de ses témoins potentiels étaient exempts de traces et leur avait passé commande à apparaître à une audition pre-trial. Deux des trois témoins qui finalement sont apparus à l'épreuve credibly ont affirmé que leur témoignage prévu ne serait pas influencé de quelque façon par le témoignage immunisé de Poindexter's ; le troisième, nord, refusé pour faire ainsi.
Nord indiqué à l'audition pre-trial qu'il ne pouvait pas, en ce qui concerne n'importe quel sujet, distinguer ce qu'il avait personnellement fait, observé ou éprouvé de ce qu'il avait appris d'observer le testimony.9 immunisé de Poindexter quant à la destruction de Poindexter de la conclusion présidentielle de secret-action du décembre 1985 -- évidence importante dans l'obstruction du congrès -- Le nord a reconnu qu'il avait vu Poindexter détruire un morceau de papier mais insistée sur le fait qu'il n'a pas su lui était une conclusion jusqu'à ce que Poindexter ait déclaré ce fait dans son témoignage immunisé devant le congrès.
9 témoignage du nord, audition Pre-trial de Poindexter, 12/13/89, pp. 374-77.
La cour a rejeté le témoignage pre-trial du nord comme non crédible. Le nord, la cour trouvée, ``semble avoir été embarqué à ce moment-là [à l'audition] sur le cours calculé d'essayer d'aider son anciens collègue et Co-défendeur. . . par la tergiversation sur de diverses questions. . . opinion 10
, Poindexter, 3/8/90, P. du '' 10. 9.
Dans une poteau-épreuve séparée régnant, la cour a ajouté qu'en ce qui concerne la destruction de la conclusion, le témoignage du nord à sa propre épreuve au sujet de l'événement était contradictoire avec sa réclamation qu'il ne pourrait pas se rappeler l'indépendant du témoignage immunisé de Poindexter. La cour l'a trouvé « en soi incroyable » que le nord ne s'est pas rappelé « sa participation à un événement qu'il était témoin de première main et cela était comme dramatique, en effet historique, en tant que déchirer d'une conclusion présidentielle extrêmement rare. » 11
11 Ibid., 5/29/90, pp. 32-40.
La citation une
de Reagan des aspects les plus notables du cas de Poindexter était la tentative réussie du défendeur d'appeler l'ancien Président Reagan pour témoigner à son épreuve par le dépôt enregistré en vidéo.
Notes présidentielles présidentielles de Poindexter et vice d'abord cherchées d'OIC en tant qu'élément de ses demandes de découverte pre-trial. Dans une audition pre-trial le 6 septembre 1989, les mandataires de Poindexter ont dit à la cour que les notes présidentielles refléteraient ce Poindexter ont informé le président de ses démentis au congrès dans 1986 de l'activité de NSC à l'appui des contras, et que les notes « montreraient ce que le président a été informé sur ce qu'était fait pour soutenir les contras en Amérique Centrale, et le consentement du président et la ratification et l'approbation de cette activité. » 12 en cherchant les notes présidentielles vice, les mandataires de Poindexter ont dit la cour que « n'importe quand il [Bush] a manqué une réunion, amiral Poindexter l'ai donné des instructions là-dessus après. » 13
12 Robinson, audition Pre-trial de Poindexter, 9/6/89, P. 18.
13 Ibid., P. 19.
La cour, avant de prendre une décision dessus si contraindre OIC pour produire ces documents, le 11 septembre 1989, a dirigé Poindexter pour classer une note ex de parte expliquant avec précision comment ces documents aideraient son defense.14 qu'elle a exigé des avocats-conseils indépendants un mémorandum légal au sujet de sa responsabilité de produire les documents présidentiels présidentiels et vice pas en possession d'OIC.
14 opinion, Poindexter, 9/11/89, P. 22.
Independent Counsel in a filing on September 18, 1989, told the court that the office did not have in its possession presidential notes, but rather had been granted access to notes and allowed to copy only a portion of them with special permission. As far as President Reagan's diary was concerned, Independent Counsel had been allowed to review typed extracts of portions deemed relevant by White House counsel, but the President had retained custody of his diary, which both he and the national archivist regarded as personal records, making them unaccessible under the Presidential Records Act unless their production were compelled by subpoena.15
15 Government's Memorandum Concerning Presidential and Vice Presidential Documents that Are Not in the Possession of Independent Counsel, 9/18/89.
Attached to Independent Counsel's filing was a declaration by John Fawcett, assistant archivist for the Office of Presidential Libraries of the National Archives and Records Administration. Fawcett stated that President Bush's vice presidential records were transferred to the archives at the end of the Reagan Administration, but, ``No personal diary of former Vice President Bush has been specifically identified as being included in the Vice Presidential records. However, these Vice Presidential records have not yet been processed.'' 16
16 Ibid., Exhibit A. President Bush in December 1992 for the first time informed Independent Counsel that he had kept a diary as vice president from 1986 to 1988. See Bush chapter.
On September 25, 1989, Poindexter's attorneys informed the court that ``the defendant is willing to seek access to the personal diaries and notes of former President Reagan and former Vice President Bush pursuant to a . . . subpoena.'' 17 After reviewing Poindexter's ex parte submission on the materiality of presidential and vice presidential documents, the court on October 24, 1989, ruled that there was sufficient likelihood that President Reagan's documents would be material to the defense. Judge Greene differentiated between Reagan and Bush documents, however, because ``the Vice President had no operational authority with respect to Poindexter,'' because the information contained in vice presidential papers may be largely cumulative, and because of deference to the sitting President Bush.18
17 Defendant's Response to Government's Memorandum Concerning Presidential and Vice President Documents That Are Not in the Possession of Independent Counsel, 9/25/89, p. 2.
18 U.S. v. Poindexter, 725 F. Supp. 13, 28-31 (D.D.C. 1989). Judge Greene added that with respect to Bush documents, he would reevaluate the matter if Poindexter at a later date showed a more pressing need for them.
On November 3, 1989, Poindexter filed with the court a classified petition for leave to serve subpoenas on former President Reagan and the National Archives, seeking materials and testimony relevant to Iran/contra activities in 67 categories. On November 16, Judge Greene granted Poindexter's petition. Both President Reagan and the National Archives moved to quash the subpoena for documents.
In a pre-trial hearing December 4 the court stated that its order covered only documents, and not the President's possible trial testimony. On December 18 Poindexter sought the court's leave to subpoena President Reagan to testify at trial. In deciding whether Poindexter could subpoena President Reagan's testimony, Judge Greene asked Poindexter to submit a list of specific questions he intended to ask. Poindexter submitted a list of 183 questions, which were not made available to Independent Counsel.19 The court ruled that the questions directly related to the charges in the indictment and to Poindexter's anticipated defense.
19 In 1993, during preparation of this report, Independent Counsel obtained copies of these questions and other ex parte submissions from Poindexter's case.
In his February 5, 1990, ruling upholding the testimonial subpoena of Reagan, Judge Greene described Poindexter's proposed questions as falling into 12 categories. These included: (1) the frequency and occasions on which President Reagan and Poindexter met; (2) the President's view of the Boland Amendment and how it applied to contra support; (3) whether the President authorized Poindexter to seek foreign support for the contras; (4) what instructions the President gave Poindexter regarding meetings with Central American officials, and what information Poindexter subsequently relayed back to the President; (5) presidential discussions with Central American leaders concerning contra support; (6) presidential discussions with Poindexter regarding actions to be taken if Congress did not renew contra aid; (7) presidential knowledge of North's relationship to Iran/contra figures; (8) Poindexter's briefings of the President regarding a congressional inquiry in 1986 into North's activities; (9) Poindexter's communications with Congress at the direction of the President; (10) whether Poindexter informed the President about Secord's status; (11) discussions Poindexter had with the President regarding a chronology of the Iran arms sales prepared in November 1986; and (12) the President's knowledge of the arms shipments to Iran.
In his opinion explaining his decision to uphold Poindexter's subpoena of President Reagan, Judge Greene concluded:
Former President Ronald Reagan is claimed by Admiral Poindexter to have direct and important knowledge that will help to exonerate him from the criminal charges lodged against him. In view of the prior professional relationship between the two men, and defendant's showing discussed above, that claim cannot be dismissed as fanciful or frivolous. That being so, it would be inconceivable -- in a Republic that subscribes neither to the ancient doctrine of the divine right of kings nor to the more modern conceit of dictators that they are not accountable to the people whom they claim to represent or to their courts of law -- to exempt Mr. Reagan from the duty of every citizen to give evidence that will permit the reaching of a just outcome of this criminal prosecution. Defendant has shown that the evidence of the former President is needed to protect his right to a fair trial, and he will be given the opportunity to secure that evidence.20
20 U.S. v. Poindexter, 732 F. Supp. 142, 159-60 (D.D.C. 1990)
President Reagan did not claim executive privilege once he was ordered to testify.
The seven-hour videotaped deposition of the former President was taken February 16 and 17, 1990, in the Los Angeles federal courthouse, near his residence. The public and the press were not allowed to attend the deposition. Transcripts and the opportunity to view the videotape were made available to members of the press before the trial.
As for Poindexter's subpoena for documents from the former President, Judge Greene ordered President Reagan to make diary entries available for the court's in camera review. After its review, the court ordered President Reagan to produce the relevant diary entries to Poindexter in the absence of a claim of executive privilege. President Reagan, joined by the Bush Administration, claimed executive privilege as to the diary entries on February 5, 1990. On March 21, the court granted the Reagan-Bush motions to quash the subpoena for the diary entries, concluding that Poindexter's defense would be adequately served by the President's testimony.
The Poindexter Trial
The month-long Poindexter trial, which resulted in a five-count conviction on April 7, 1990, centered largely on the testimony of two witnesses: Oliver North for the prosecution and former President Reagan for the defense.
Both men attempted to help the defendant in their appearances on the witness stand, but each had given prior testimony harmful to Poindexter, and they could not deviate from that under threat of perjury charges.21 North could not abandon his earlier defense stance that he dutifully reported his activities -- including those found to be crimes -- to his superior, Poindexter. President Reagan was compelled at trial to state, as he had previously, that he repeatedly told his aides to obey the law and that he was unaware of their criminal acts.
21 Before taking the witness stand in Poindexter, North had testified before the Select Committees in July 1987, at his own trial in 1989, and at a Poindexter pre-trial hearing in 1990.
President Reagan was questioned by his Tower Commission on two occasions in early 1987. More significantly, the President in November 1987 answered 53 written interrogatories from Independent Counsel, which were submitted as sworn testimony to the federal Grand Jury investigating the Iran/contra affair.
Poindexter chose not to testify at his trial.
Although Poindexter and North had destroyed and altered official papers and computer messages, the prosecution offered convincing documentary evidence that Poindexter was kept apprised of North's efforts to provide military aid to the Nicaraguan contras while it was outlawed from October 1984-October 1986 by the Boland Amendment; that Poindexter adopted false statements McFarlane and North made to Congress; and that Poindexter had been fully aware of the ill-fated November 1985 HAWK missile shipment to Iran, which he subsequently tried to conceal from Congress.
The Trial Testimony of Oliver L. North
The testimony of North, named as a co-conspirator in the case, was important to proving each of the five charges against Poindexter:
-- Count One, that Poindexter conspired with North and Secord to obstruct congressional inquiries of Iran- and contra-related matters, to make false statements to Congress, and to falsify, remove and destroy official documents.
-- Count Two, that Poindexter obstructed Congress in 1986 when it was investigating media allegations that North was raising funds and providing military aid to the contras. In letters to three committees, Poindexter answered questions by repeating denials McFarlane made before Congress in 1985 of North's involvement in contra-support activities, even though Poindexter knew the denials to be false. He set up a meeting with the House Intelligence Committee in August 1986 in which he knew North would have to give false testimony, and afterward congratulated North on his performance.
-- Count Three, that Poindexter obstructed Congress in November 1986 by participating with North in the preparation of false chronologies of the secret U.S. arms sales to Iran and by making false statements to the House and Senate intelligence committees. Specifically, Poindexter falsely asserted that no U.S. official knew before January 1986 that HAWK missiles had been shipped to Iran in November 1985. The indictment stated that North as early as November 20, 1985, told Poindexter about the shipment in advance and advised him of it again after the fact in late 1985.
-- Counts Four and Five, that Poindexter made false statements about the HAWK shipment to the House and Senate intelligence committees on November 21, 1986. As in Count Three, the false statement charges were based on North's informing Poindexter about the shipment in 1985.
In four days of trial testimony, North reluctantly recounted his central operational role in the Iran/contra affair. He described the extensive contra-resupply network he ran with Secord and Hakim,22 his contra fund-raising efforts, and the military advice he gave the contras. He testified that he kept his bosses McFarlane and Poindexter fully informed of his activities and that he acted only with their approval.23
22 North objected to the prosecutor's use of the word ``Enterprise'' to describe the profit-making web of contra- and Iran-related operations he undertook with Secord and Hakim. He also objected to the use of the word ``testimony'' in reference to the false statements he made before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in August 1986, and the word ``diversion'' to describe the scheme in which he, Poindexter and others diverted Iran arms sales proceeds to the contras.
23 North, Poindexter Trial Testimony, 3/12/90, pp. 1275-76.
North, who was forced to testify for the prosecution under a grant of immunity, frequently claimed that he could not recall many of the incidents in question, some of which had occurred several years before. North admitted a wide range of contra-support and Iran-related actions only when confronted with prior testimony in which he had provided extensive details.
North admitted that he lied in August 1986 when he told the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) he was not engaged in raising funds or providing military support to the Nicaraguan contras.24 North described exchanges with Poindexter before and after the meeting that directly implicated Poindexter in a scheme to frustrate the congressional investigation.25
24 Ibid., 3/9/90, pp. 1042-43.
25 Ibid., 3/12/90, p. 1083.
HPSCI was one of three congressional committees pursuing a House inquiry into reports of North's contra-aid activities. North testified that prior to appearing before the committee in the White House Situation Room, he told Poindexter he would be asked about ``things that I had been told never to reveal.'' 26 In response, Poindexter told him, ``You can handle it, you can take care of it,'' according to North.27
26 Ibid., 3/9/90, p. 1033.
27 Ibid.
After receiving reports of North's statements to HPSCI, which Poindexter knew were false, Poindexter by way of his computer sent North a terse congratulatory message: ``Well done.'' 28
28 PROFs Note from Poindexter to North, 8/11/86, AKW 018921.
Based on the statements of North and Poindexter, HPSCI Chairman Lee Hamilton informed other members of Congress that the media allegations about North could not be proven. North's false testimony, in combination with Poindexter's perpetuation of McFarlane's previous lies, successfully frustrated the congressional oversight process. It was not until Nicaraguan soldiers on October 5, 1986, shot down a contra-resupply plane carrying American Eugene Hasenfus that Congress renewed its investigation into North's activities.
North testified that he kept Poindexter apprised of his involvement in the covert sales of U.S. arms to Iran in 1985 and 1986, including the operation's most secret aspect: the Iran/contra diversion. He sent Poindexter five or six memos stating that overcharges to the Iranian buyers would generate millions of dollars for diversion to the contras.29 North said Poindexter told him the diversion should never be revealed.30 North said he reported the diversion plan to Poindexter because he thought that projects funded by it ``ought to have the authority of the President behind them.'' 31
29 North, Poindexter Trial Testimony, 3/12/90, pp. 1107-11.
30 Ibid., pp. 1103-05.
31 Ibid., p. 1111.
North testified that in November 1985, he became directly involved in an Israeli shipment of U.S. HAWK missiles to Iran at McFarlane's behest.32 North said he got permission from both McFarlane, who was then the national security adviser, and Poindexter, then deputy national security adviser, to enlist Secord's help in resolving logistical problems surrounding the shipment.33 He also got McFarlane and Poindexter's permission to supply the Israelis with the name of a CIA-connected airline to assist.34 North outlined the details of the planned HAWK shipment in a computer note to Poindexter on November 20, 1985.35 By memoranda on December 4 and on December 9, 1985, North informed Poindexter that the Iranians were unhappy with the shipment and wanted the missiles to be retrieved.36
32 Ibid., pp. 1118-20.
33 Ibid., pp. 1121-22.
34 Ibid., pp. 1122-27.
35 PROFs Note from North to Poindexter, 11/20/85, AKW 002066.
36 PROFs Note from North to Poindexter, 12/4/85, AKW 002070-73; Memorandum from North to McFarlane and Poindexter, 12/9/85, AKW 002088-91.
When CIA officials insisted after the HAWK shipment that the President should retroactively authorize the agency's participation in the operation, CIA Director William J. Casey on November 26, 1985, gave Poindexter a covert-action Finding for President Reagan's signature.37 North testified that he saw the signed Finding either in Poindexter's office safe or in the safe of NSC counsel Paul Thompson.38
37 Memorandum from Casey to Poindexter, 11/26/85, AMY 000651-52.
38 North, Poindexter Trial Testimony, 3/12/90, p. 1245.
After public exposure of the Iran arms sales in November 1986, North -- at Poindexter's request -- prepared a chronology of U.S. involvement in the Iran arms sales, which underwent a series of re-writes. North testified that McFarlane removed from the chronology North's factual account of the November 1985 HAWKs shipment and substituted a cover story: that although the CIA became involved in the November 1985 shipment after Israel encountered logistical difficulties, U.S. officials at the time believed the cargo to be oil-drilling parts and did not learn until January 1986 that the true cargo was weapons.39
39 Ibid., pp. 1188-98.
Asked whether the McFarlane revision was part of a plan to ``cover up'' the existence of the November 1985 Finding, North answered: ``I don't know that cover up is the right word. I listened to the President's press conferences, I listened to statements being made by people and they just didn't talk about it.'' 40 North said McFarlane told him the cover story should be incorporated into the chronology because the 1985 Finding authorizing the weapons shipment described too directly an arms-for-hostages swap, which, if exposed, would politically embarrass the President.41
40 Ibid., p. 1191.
41 Ibid., pp. 1190-91.
The same oil-drilling-parts cover story was part of a CIA-prepared chronology that Casey and his deputy, Robert Gates, brought to a White House meeting on November 20, 1986, with Poindexter, North, Meese, Cooper and Thompson. The purpose of the meeting was to prepare Casey and Poindexter for their congressional testimony the following day. North was asked at trial:
Q: . . . did it become clear to you by the time McFarlane tells you that [the finding was too close to an arms-for-hostage swap] and by the time you see the CIA show up with this phony chronology, then at least did it appear to you that there was some effort or plan going on to cover up with U.S. involvement because of that finding?
A: Well, there is no doubt in my mind that I came to realize that finding was a disaster, and I understood that.42
42 Ibid., pp. 1208-09.
North testified that he altered and destroyed numerous documents in October and November 1986 that would have revealed details of the Iran and contra operations. He said he assured Poindexter that he had ``taken care of'' the documents that reflected his activities.43 He said he told Poindexter all the documents describing the Iran/contra diversion were destroyed, after learning from Poindexter on November 21, 1986, that Attorney General Meese would be conducting a weekend investigation into the Iran arms sales.44 North also testified that he altered other original NSC documents, after receiving Poindexter's permission to retrieve them from the NSC document-archiving system.45
43 Ibid., p. 1218.
44 Ibid., pp. 1120-21.
45 Ibid., pp. 1224-27.
More important, North reluctantly testified that he saw Poindexter destroy the only known copy of the signed presidential Finding that sought to authorize retroactively the November 1985 shipment of HAWK missiles to Iran.46 North's eyewitness account of the destruction of the Finding provided significant proof of Poindexter's intent to conceal facts about the HAWK missile shipment from Congress in November 1986.47
46 Ibid., 1252-54.
47 The destruction of the 1985 Finding was not charged as a separate crime in the indictment of Poindexter because Independent Counsel did not learn of it until North testified about it at his own trial in April 1989. Poindexter had told the Select Committees in 1987 that he destroyed the only signed copy of the 1985 presidential Finding. Independent Counsel did not learn of this statement at the time, however, because the OIC had taken measures to insulate itself from all immunized testimony. Even if Independent Counsel had been aware of the Poindexter testimony, OIC could not have used it in any criminal proceeding against Poindexter under the terms of immunity grant.
North's wide-ranging testimony enabled the prosecution to streamline its witness list to only nine other individuals, many of whom supplemented the central details provided by North.
The Trial Testimony of President Reagan
Before the trial of Poindexter, President Reagan had not testified publicly about Iran/contra. On February 16 and 17, 1990, he gave a seven-hour videotaped deposition as a defense witness. No classified matters were discussed and executive privilege was not invoked in response to any question. The videotaped deposition was shown in full, therefore, to the Poindexter jury during the trial on March 21 and 22, 1990.48
48 Immediately after each tape was shown to the jury, a copy was given to the television networks, allowing the public to see President Reagan's only courtroom testimony on the Iran/contra affair.
In direct examination, defense counsel sought to show presidential knowledge and approval of Poindexter's activities. But President Reagan frequently claimed memory lapses when questioned about specific exchanges he may have had with Poindexter and about his knowledge of individuals and details involved in the Iran and contra operations.
Although President Reagan exhibited virtually no detailed knowledge of the Iran/contra matter, he made clear to the jury that it had his imprimatur, calling it ``a covert action that was taken at my behest.'' 49 President Reagan said North was the only person he remembered being involved in the arms initiative.50 He could not recall being briefed by Poindexter on the May 1986 trip by McFarlane and North to Tehran, but he said he did recall signing a Bible for Iranians.51 President Reagan testified that the amount of weapons sold to Iran totaled $12.2 million.52
49 Reagan, Poindexter Trial Deposition, 2/16/90, p. 9.
50 Ibid., p. 21.
51 Ibid., p. 24.
52 Ibid., pp. 154-55.
Asked specifically about the November 1985 HAWK shipment to Iran, President Reagan said he recalled a plan in which the Israelis would turn their plane around in mid-delivery of the weapons if no hostages were released.53 He did not recall when he became aware of the November 1985 HAWK shipment; 54 he did not recall Poindexter telling him in November 1986 that others in the White House were having trouble remembering when they learned of it.55
53 Ibid., pp. 24-25.
54 Ibid., pp. 33-36.
55 Ibid., pp. 38-39.
President Reagan also claimed virtually no memory of the November 1986 period in which his top advisers were scrambling to limit public exposure of the Iran arms sales. He only generally recalled telling members of Congress about the arms sales on November 12, 1986.56 He could not remember receiving any information from Poindexter for any of his presentations on the matter in that time.57 The former President could not remember asking Poindexter to assemble the facts on the arms sales.58 He could not recall that Poindexter briefed the House and Senate intelligence committees on November 21, 1986.59
56 Ibid., pp. 37-38.
57 Ibid., p. 30.
58 Ibid., p. 28.
59 Ibid., pp. 44-45.
Defense counsel's questions suggested that their client had significant exchanges with the President during the arms-sale period and its aftermath. But Reagan's lack of recollection, and lack of specificity when he did remember events or individuals, left those questions unresolved.
President Reagan provided more helpful testimony for the defense on the subject of contra-support operations. Calling the Boland prohibition on contra funding a ``disaster,'' 60 Reagan testified that he urged his aides to do what they could to support the contras, while staying ``within the law.'' 61 Reagan recalled that Saudi Arabia's King Fahd pledged millions of dollars for the contras.62 He said he told his aides not to solicit contributions for the contras directly but to tell people how they could contribute if they wanted to help.63
60 Ibid., p. 69.
61 Ibid., pp. 53-54.
62 Ibid., pp. 74-75.
63 Ibid., pp. 53-54.
Asked whether Poindexter briefed him on the contras, President Reagan said: ``Oh yes, I depended on him for that.'' 64 He said he had no reason to believe that Poindexter was not keeping him fully informed.
64 Ibid., p. 116.
Asked to describe what he knew about North's responsibilities in the White House, President Reagan said:
Well, he was mainly performing tasks, as I understand it, for the NSC, but he -- his background and record had been one of being decorated for heroism and so forth in the Vietnamese conflict, and that he had been a very bold and brave soldier -- Marine.
And -- so, he was -- it was my impression, not from any specific reports or anything, that in through all of this that he was communicating back and forth between on the need for the support of the Contras and so forth.65
65 Ibid., p. 131.
In addition to professing a benign view of North and his activities, President Reagan indicated general knowledge of and support for the contra-resupply operation in Central America:
Q: Do you recall any discussions that he [Poindexter] may have had with you about the construction of an airstrip down there in Central America?
A: Well, I did hear -- we had learned that there was a rather primitive lane in there in the jungle near the border of Costa Rican [sic], and that was then being put into better shape as a usable airstrip.
Q: Did you have any -- do you recall any discussion about who was constructing the airstrip?
A: Well, no. I assume it was the Costa Rican government.
Q: And do you know what that airstrip was going to be used for?
A: Well, I know that -- I hoped that it would be used in the delivery of when once again we could supply, keep the Contras supplied, that it could be involved in the -- used there, if there was need for a refueling or anything of that kind of a plane.66
66 Ibid., p. 121.
President Reagan was then asked whether he knew who would be using the Costa Rican airstrip for contra resupply. His answer reflected knowledge of the operation supposedly being funded and run by private citizens -- the so-called ``private benefactors'' -- that was in fact being run by Secord at North's direction:
Q: Do you know who it was that was going to be using the airstrip? It was going to be used for supplying the Contras, but do you know who it was that was actually going to be doing the supplying and using the airstrip?
A: No, I do not on that. I don't think -- I don't think I ever considered that it would be military planes of ours. So, possibly some of those that weren't officially planes of ours that had been helping in the past in deliveries to the Contras and so forth.
Q: Earlier this morning or earlier today, I should say, you mentioned General Secord. That you knew that he was involved in the Contra supply effort.
Was it part of his operation you thought that he might be using the airstrip?
A: I can't say that I actually recall that, but it seems to me logical that he would have been involved in that.67
67 Ibid., p. 122.
President Reagan, who winked and smiled at Poindexter from the witness stand, did not hide his contempt toward congressional inquiries into NSC staff contra-support activities. Shown misleading letters written by Poindexter in July 1986 to the committees of Congress that were investigating allegations of North's contra efforts, Reagan said: ``I am in total agreement. If I had written it myself, I might have used a little profanity.'' 68
68 Ibid., pp. 146-47.
In cross-examination, the prosecution was able to impeach much of President Reagan's testimony. This was possible because Reagan late in 1987 had answered, under oath, 53 written interrogatories for Independent Counsel and the Grand Jury investigating the Iran/contra matter.
The July 21, 1986, letters -- in which Poindexter embraced and perpetuated the lies McFarlane had told Congress about North's contra-support activities a year earlier -- were a key element in the obstruction charges against the defendant. Under cross-examination by the prosecution, President Reagan was asked whether he was aware that the Poindexter letters repeated McFarlane's previous lies. The former President equivocated:
Well, I simply -- no, I did not have this information, but I have a great deal of confidence in the man who was quoted as sending these letters, McFarlane. And I have never -- I have never caught him or seen him doing anything that was in any way out of line or dishonest. And so, I was perfectly willing to accept his defense.69
69 Ibid., p. 151.
President Reagan said he did not know that McFarlane had pleaded guilty to withholding information from Congress in connection with the false letters.70
70 Ibid., pp. 220-21.
Asked whether he approved either the McFarlane or Poindexter letters to Congress, the former President said he had no recollection of doing so, adding that his memory could be faulty.71 Asked directly whether he would approve of sending false information to Congress, President Reagan conceded that he would not.72 Would he have authorized Poindexter to make false statements to Congress? President Reagan again attempted to assist his former aide: ``No. And I don't think any false statements were made.'' 73
71 Ibid., pp. 150-51.
72 Ibid., pp. 151-52.
73 Ibid., p. 158.
President Reagan also testified that he did not approve the destruction of Iran/contra documents by Poindexter, and that he was not told about their destruction.74 But the former President, in response to subsequent questioning, described the dilemma in which he placed his aides in November 1986 by instructing them that certain information could not be revealed because ``it will bring to risk and danger to people that are held and with the people that we were negotiating with.'' 75
74 Ibid., p. 160.
75 Ibid., p. 252.
Asked again whether he approved the destruction of alteration of any Iran/contra records, President Reagan said: ``And this, I cannot answer. I cannot recall because it is the possibility that there were such papers that would violate the secrecy that was protecting those individuals' lives.'' 76 President Reagan had denied in response to the earlier written interrogatories that he approved the destruction and alteration of documents; when confronted with his previous testimony he stated that it was truthful.
76 Ibid., p. 255.
On the issue of the contras, President Reagan said he ``never had any inkling'' that North was guiding their military strategy.77 But Reagan muddied the issue in a later statement about North:
77 Ibid., p. 170.
I know that he [North] was very active, and that was certainly with my approval, because I yesterday made plain how seriously I felt about the Contra situation and what it meant to all of us here in the Americas. And, so, obviously, there were many things that were being done. But, again, as I say, I was convinced that they were all being done within the law.78
78 Ibid., p. 189.
In questioning about the Iran/contra diversion, President Reagan surprisingly asserted that he had no proof that a diversion had occurred:
And to this day, I still with all of the investigations that have been made, I still have never been given one iota of evidence as to who collected the price, who delivered the final delivery of the weapons, or what was -- whether there was ever more money in that Swiss account that had been diverted someplace else. I am still waiting to find those things out and have never found them out.79
79 Ibid., p. 155.
Asked whether he had approved a diversion, Reagan again stated:
May I simply point out that I had no knowledge then or now that there had been a diversion, and I never used the term. And all I knew was that there was some money that came from some place in another account, and that the appearance was that it might have been a part of the negotiated sale. And to this day, I don't have any information or knowledge that that wasn't the total amount that -- or that there was a diversion.80
80 Ibid., p. 156.
Asked again whether he would have approved a diversion, President Reagan said he would not. But, he added, ``No one has proven to me that there was a diversion.'' 81
81 Ibid., p. 157.
President Reagan said he did not recall that the Tower Commission concluded in March 1987 that, in fact, a diversion had occurred. ``I, to this day, do not recall ever hearing that there was a diversion,'' he said.82 Shown that portion of the Tower Commission report describing the diversion, Reagan said: ``This report -- this is the first time that I have ever seen a reference that actually specified there was a diversion.'' 83
82 Ibid., p. 240.
83 Ibid., p. 243.
Asked whether Poindexter should have told him about an Iran/contra diversion, Reagan said: ``Yes. Unless maybe he thought he was protecting me from something.'' 84
84 Ibid., pp. 243-44.
The Verdict and Sentencing
After six days of deliberation, the jury on April 7, 1990, found Poindexter guilty of each of the five felony charges against him. Judge Greene on June 11, 1990, sentenced Poindexter to six months imprisonment on each of the five counts, to be served concurrently.
In imposing the sentence, Judge Greene noted complaints by Poindexter's supporters that the most he was guilty of was having become embroiled in a political quarrel between the White House and Congress. Judge Greene stated:
Whatever may have been the nature of the original dispute, what the defendant and his associates did was emphatically not a part of the normal political process.
. . . When Admiral Poindexter and his associates obstructed the Congress, what were they seeking to accomplish? In a word, it was to nullify the decision that body had made on the issue of supplies to the Contras. . . .
President Reagan did not, or for parliamentary reasons he could not, veto the bill [which contained the Boland prohibition on contra aid]. He did not attempt to assert his own constitutional powers or take the issue to the people, and at the conclusion of the political process the Boland Amendment thus became law.
No problem. What the president was unwilling or unable to do -- to defeat this law -- Admiral Poindexter, together with Oliver North and others, did on their own. They decided that the policy embodied in the Boland Amendment was wrong, and they went about to violate it on a large scale and for a lengthy period, and then to lie about their activities to prevent the Congress and the public from finding out. . . .
With all due respect to the distinguished military records of Admiral Poindexter, Colonel North, General Secord, and the others, they have no standing in a democratic society to invalidate the decisions made by elected officials . . . As I said several times during the trial, it is immaterial to this criminal case who was right and who was wrong about the wisdom of the Contra policy. That is not what this trial was about. The jury and this court were not competent to decide for this nation whether resistance forces in Nicaragua should or should not have been supplied with weapons.
But more importantly for present purposes, neither was Admiral Poindexter. When he and his associates took it upon themselves to make that decision anyway, to implement it on a broad scale, and to work actively to keep what they were doing from the Congress and the public, they not only violated various statutes. They were also in violation of a principle fundamental to this constitutional Republic -- that those elected by and responsible to the people shall make the important policy decisions, and that their decisions may not be nullified by appointed officials who happen to be in positions that give them the ability to operate programs prohibited by law. It is unfortunate that, whatever may be his view of his own purposes and actions, the defendant still gives no evidence of recognizing that principle and the seriousness of its violation.
Given the nature of the offenses, the sentencing principle that is primarily applicable here is that of deterrence, and as a practical matter, deterrence means meaningful penalties. If the court were not to impose such a penalty here, when the defendant before it was the decision-making head of the Iran-contra operation, its action would be tantamount to a statement that a scheme to lie to and obstruct Congress is of no great moment, and that even if the perpetrators are found out, the courts will treat their criminal acts as no more than minor infractions.
A message of that kind could not help but encourage others in positions of authority and secrecy to frustrate laws that fail to accord with their notions of what is best for this country, and to carry out their own private policies in the name of the United States. . . .85
85 Judge Greene, Poindexter Transcript of Sentencing, 6/11/90, pp. 18-22
The Appeal
A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in a 2-1 decision on November 15, 1991, reversed Poindexter's convictions on the grounds that his trial was impermissibly tainted by his immunized congressional testimony. The Poindexter ruling was based on the appeals court decision in the North case, which extended the protections of the use immunity statute to prohibit use of any witness whose testimony has been refreshed or shaped in any way by the defendant's immunized testimony. In his dissenting opinion, Chief Judge Abner Mikva noted that the majority ruling ``tells future defendants that all they need to evade responsibility [to testify at trial] is a well timed case of amnesia.'' 86
86 U.S. v. Poindexter, 951 F.2d 369, 390 (D.C. Cir. 1991).
The Poindexter appeals panel also overturned the two obstruction convictions on the grounds that the statute was ``unconstitutionally vague'' in its proscription of ``corruptly'' endeavoring to impede a congressional inquiry. The appeals panel ruled that a defendant's lying to Congress does not constitute obstruction unless the defendant corruptly influences someone else to do so. Again, Chief Judge Mikva dissented, finding it ``obvious . . . that Poindexter 'corruptly' obstructed the congressional investigation when he lied to Congress.'' 87
87 Ibid.
In October 1992, Independent Counsel petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to review the Poindexter case. Independent Counsel said the appeals court ruling that the obstruction statute was unconstitutional ``leaves a large gap in the criminal law, while endorsing a method of analyzing constitutional vagueness challenges that could prove enormously destructive to a substantial body of federal legislation.'' 88 The petition noted that at least 17 other laws besides the obstruction statute at issue use the word ``corruptly'' to define an element of the offense.89
88 U.S. v. Poindexter, Crim. No. 88-0080-01, Petition for Writ of Certiorari by United States of America, at 9 (October 1992).
89 Ibid., p. 10.
On immunized testimony, Independent Counsel in its petition to the Supreme Court said the appeals ruling in Poindexter would
make almost impossible the prosecution of any case involving public immunized statements that requires testimony by persons sympathetic to the accused, such as co-conspirators or other associates. And the dangers of abuse and manipulation are magnified by the court of appeals' view, expressed in North, that a witness inclined to assist the defense may become disqualified from testifying at trial by the simple expedient of soaking himself in the defendant's immunized statements. 90
90 Ibid., p. 22.
Independent Counsel also noted that the appeals ruling
. . . will have its most profound impact on cases involving public immunized testimony before Congress -- cases that, by definition, involve issues of the most fundamental import. If the court of appeals has erred, this Court should right that error before significant further damage is done to the legislative oversight function. 91
91 Ibid., p. 29.
The U.S. Supreme Court in December 1992 declined, without comment, to review the Poindexter case.
Conclusion
Poindexter was responsible for providing President Reagan with advice on national-security matters of highest importance. What his conviction showed was that a jury of ordinary citizens can sort and weigh complex evidence and agree that obstructing and lying to Congress is a serious act worthy of felony conviction.
The Poindexter trial served the public interest in another sense. Poindexter's determination to call President Reagan as a witness allowed the public the rare opportunity to see him testify for seven hours about the Iran/contra matter.
The completion of the Poindexter trial in April 1990, two years after the original indictment was returned, necessitated the re-activation of the criminal investigation into Iran/contra. For the first time, Poindexter and North were available for questioning by Independent Counsel. Although this decision was questioned by some, Independent Counsel determined that his Iran/contra investigative mandate could not be fulfilled until the central operational figures were interrogated to find out whether other high-ranking officials helped support and cover up their activities.
Condenar criminales condenados en los Estados Unidos
Automatically translated into Spanish thanks to WorldLingo
Capítulo 3
Estados Unidos v. Juan M. Vicio
Adm de la marina de guerra de Poindexter. Juan M. Poindexter fue designado como consejero de la seguridad nacional de presidente Reagan el 4 de diciembre de 1985, teniendo éxito a Roberto C. McFarlane, que Poindexter había servido debajo como diputado por dos años. La carrera blanca de la casa de Poindexter terminó el 25 de noviembre de 1986, cuando lo forzaron dimitir como consecuencia del acceso público del Irán/contra la diversión.
Poindexter, teniente. Columna El norte y McFarlane de Oliver eran el Procurador General de la República Edwin Meese III de tres individuos identificado el 25 de noviembre de 1986, como bien informado de la diversión. La supervisión de Poindexter del norte y su propia participación en el Irán y contra operaciones eran focos tempranos de la investigación independiente del consejo.
Como en el caso en contra de la evidencia del norte, criminal contra Poindexter tuvo que ser recolectado rápidamente antes de que a le obligaran que atestiguara en Capitol Hill en el verano de 1987 bajo concesión de la inmunidad limitada. Si no, el procesamiento de Poindexter era probable ser desafiado considerando que fue derivado de o de cierta manera influenciado por su testimonio del congreso inmunizado.
El 16 de marzo de 1988, Poindexter fue procesado en siete cargas del crimen que se presentaban de su implicación en el Irán/contra asunto, como parte de una acusación del multi-demandado de 23 cuentas. Lo nombraron con el norte, comandante jubilado de la fuerza aérea. Generador. Richard V. Secord y Albert Hakim como miembro de la conspiración a defraudar el gobierno de Estados Unidos efectuando el Irán/contra la diversión y otra actúa.
Después de que los casos fueran separados y dos de las cargas originales fueron despedidos, Poindexter fue intentado y condenado en abril de 1990 por cinco crímenes, incluyendo: una cuenta de conspiración obstruir investigaciones y procedimientos oficiales, dos cuentas de obstruir a congreso, y dos cuentas de declaraciones falsas a Congress.1 los E.E.U.U. Juez Harold H. del districto. Greene lo condenó a un término de seis meses de la prisión. En noviembre de 1991, las convicciones de Poindexter fueron volcadas en súplica. En diciembre de 1992, los E.E.U.U. Tribunal Supremo declinado para repasar el caso.
1 el caso de Poindexter fue intentado por los consejos Dan K. del asociado. Webb, cristiano J. Mixter, Howard M. Perla, y Louise R. Radin.
Poindexter ensambló a personal del consejo de la seguridad nacional en junio de 1981, siguiendo una carrera naval distinguida que incluyó los postes del pentágono del comando y de la alto-graduación del acorazado. En octubre de 1983 él hizo diputado al consejero McFarlane de la seguridad nacional; entre sus subordinados era del norte. Durante el arrendamiento anual de Poindexter como consejero de la seguridad nacional, que comenzó en diciembre de 1985, él supervisó el Irán/contra las operaciones en las cuales el norte estuvo implicado directamente.
En noviembre de 1986, como las operaciones secretas se exponían público, Poindexter sintió bien al funcionario mayor de la administración responsable de resumir a otros consejeros superiores del presidente sobre las ventas de armas de Irán. En una serie de las reuniones blancas de la casa con otros funcionarios y miembros del congreso a través del mes, él presentó en varias ocasiones a una versión falsa de las transacciones que distanciaron a presidente Reagan de los 1985 envíos de brazos legalmente cuestionables hechos a través de Israel, particularmente la transacción del Halcón-misil del noviembre de 1985.
Aunque Poindexter era el portavoz, él no era responsable solo de saber los hechos. Virtualmente cada otro alto funcionario, incluyendo presidente Reagan, que oyó que su versión de las ventas de armas en informes a través del noviembre de 1986 tenía razón de creerla eran incorrectos. Con todo nadie, según las notas contemporáneas de esos informes, rayo hasta Poindexter correcto.
Poindexter junto con el norte y otros procurados en noviembre de 1986 para destrozar y para alterar el rastro de papel que refleja su Irán/contra actividades. Entre otras cosas, Poindexter destruyó único encontrar presidencial firmado existente de la secreto-acción que fue pensado para autorizar retroactivo la implicación de la Cia en el envío de los halcones del noviembre de 1985.
Poindexter y el norte eran menos acertados en la supresión del rastro del computadora-mensaje de su Irán/contra actividades. Poindexter y el norte se comunicaron a menudo a través de un canal especial que Poindexter, especialista en computadoras, había instalado en el sistema informático de NSC. Este canal, conocido como el “cheque en blanco privado,” Poindexter permitido y norte para retransmitir mensajes el uno al otro sin su siendo encaminado a través de los canales en los cuales otros en el personal de NSC podrían defenderlos.
Entre del 22 al 29 de noviembre de 1986, el norte suprimido de sus mensajes del fichero electrónico 736, y Poindexter suprimió 5.012 mensajes durante el mismo period.2 a pesar de estas canceladuras, el respaldo rutinariamente ahorrado blanco de la casa graba contener todos los datos en el sistema por dos semanas para proteger contra pérdida inadvertida. Cuando el Irán/contra asunto fue expuesto en el último noviembre de 1986, la agencia blanca de las comunicaciones de la casa, que maneja el sistema informático de NSC, conservó las cintas de reserva que fechaban a partir del 15 de noviembre. Los investigadores, por lo tanto, podían recuperar las copias de todos los mensajes que estaban en los ficheros informáticos del Poindexter-Norte en el noviembre de 1986 mediados de antes de que la mayor parte de ocurrieran las canceladuras. Estos mensajes de la computadora se convirtieron en evidencia importante en el Poindexter y los ensayos del norte.
2 Williams, testimonio de ensayo de Poindexter, 3/15/90, pp. 1752-65.
Poindexter admitido a muchas de sus actividades antes de que los comités selectos en julio de 1987 bajo concesión de la inmunidad testimonial, que evitó que sus admisiones fueran utilizadas contra él en el procedimiento criminal. Porque presidente Reagan no atestiguó en que el foro, Poindexter fue llamado para contestar a la pregunta que dominó las audiencias: ¿El presidente sabía alrededor y aprobar la diversión de las ventas de armas de Irán procede a los contras? Poindexter contestó a no, “las paradas del buck aquí con mí.” 3 que él dijo él retuvo deliberadamente la información de presidente Reagan porque ``quisiera que el presidente tuviera algún deniability de modo que lo protegieran. . . . '' 4
3 Poindexter, testimonio selecto de los comités, 7/15/87, P. 95.
4 Ibid., P. 101.
Haciendo frente a un proceso penal, Poindexter enfrentó un diverso dilema: Era no más una cuestión de proteger al presidente pero de defenderse contra cinco cargas del crimen. Antes de congreso, el testimonio más significativo de Poindexter negaciones repetidas de presidente Reagan corroborado del conocimiento del Irán/contra la diversión. En la sala de tribunal, Poindexter montó una defensa de la alto-autorización, procurando convencer al jurado que el presidente hubiera aprobado sus acciones, incluyendo los que dieron lugar a cargas criminales. En vez de tomar el soporte en su propia defensa, sin embargo, él llamó a presidente Reagan para atestiguar.
Procedimientos Pre-Trial
los E.E.U.U. Juez Gerhard A. del districto. Gesell pidió en junio de 1988 que la caja del multi-demandado contra Poindexter, norte, Secord y Hakim sea severed.5 después de la separación, el caso de Poindexter fue transferido al principal juez Aubrey E. Robinson, Jr., y entonces juzgar a Greene, que presidió otros procedimientos del excedente.
5 para una descripción más detallada de la separación de la caja del multi-demandado, vea el capítulo del norte.
Todos los desafíos substantivos de Poindexter a la validez de la acusación fueron despedidos antes de ensayo. Las ediciones importantes restantes trataron: (1) la preservación de la carga de la conspiración; (2) la resolución de la clasificar-información disputa; (3) la resolución de las ediciones relacionadas con el testimonio del congreso inmunizado de Poindexter, bajo decisión conocida como Kastigar; y (4) el esfuerzo acertado del demandado de asegurar el testimonio de ensayo de presidente anterior Reagan.
Preservar y enangostar los problemas de la carga
de la conspiración con la información clasificada condujeron al despido de las cargas centrales de la conspiración antes del ensayo del norte, y se esperaba que los problemas similares se presentaran en el caso en contra de Poindexter. El 20 de junio de 1989, los consejos independientes se movieron para eliminar las amplias cargas originales de la conspiración basadas sobre la fuente de los contras y de la diversión y para enangostar substancialmente la carga de conspiración para violar los otros estatutos criminales substantivos, declaraciones falsas de prohibición y obstrucción. Después de limaduras y de la discusión oral, la corte concedió el movimiento del gobierno.
La carga era refocused en el acto ilegal de la conspiración con el norte y Secord encubrir actividades del congreso. Los consejos independientes discutieron con éxito que el este enangostar de la carga de la conspiración redujera al mínimo los problemas de la clasificar-información que plagaron el procesamiento del norte.
La información clasificada publica
los procedimientos clasificados de la información actúa (CIPA) permitió que la corte de ensayo con eficacia resolviera las ediciones que implican el uso de documentos y del testimonio clasificados en Poindexter. Juzgue la supervisión de Greene del proceso de CIPA y las negociaciones fructuosas entre los consejos para el gobierno y Poindexter resueltos la mayoría de los conflictos con un mínimo de retrasan.
En contraste con el norte, no había haber prolongado o el pleito significativo referente la forma o al alcance de los avisos de CIPA de Poindexter a la corte de divulgar clasificó la información en el ensayo. Entre el 27 de noviembre de 1989 y 13 de marzo de 1990, Poindexter sirvió 11 tales avisos, incluyendo el testimonio clasificado posible que describía ocho que los documentos clasificados mencionados él desearon utilizar en el ensayo, dos, y uno centrado solamente en la información que él deseó sacar en la deposición de presidente Reagan.
Juzgue a Greene pidió que todas las diferencias que el excedente clasificó la información estén negociadas entre los partidos antes de ser traído antes de la corte. Juzgue a Greene llevó a cabo seis audiencias cerradas de CIPA antes del ensayo comenzó y suplió ésos con varias audiencias más cortas durante ensayo. La mayor parte de sus actos en la importancia y la admisibilidad de la información clasificada, y en la suficiencia de las substituciones propuestas por el gobierno, fueron hechos del banco.
Tomados juntos, los avisos de CIPA de Poindexter enumeraron aproximadamente 1.200 documentos, sólo una fracción pequeña de los cuales fue introducida en última instancia en el ensayo. La mayoría de la información clasificada fue cubierta por las estipulaciones de Government a ciertos hechos y a otras substituciones sin clasificar. Esto permitió que el ensayo procediera suavemente, sin los conflictos que complicaron el norte o el caso en contra de la estación anterior principal José F. de la Cia. Fernandez, que era despedido debido a la clasificar-información problems.6
6 ve el capítulo de Fernandez.
Se obligó a los procedimientos
Poindexter de Kastigar bajo concesión de la inmunidad del uso que atestiguaran en 1987 ante los comités selectos que investigaban Irán/contra. Al igual que el otro Irán/contra los demandados que dieron testimonio inmunizado antes de congreso, Poindexter movido para despedir la acusación en la teoría que violó los estándares declarados en Kastigar v. Estados Unidos, 7 que discuten que su testimonio inmunizado fuera utilizado contra él en el jurado magnífico y en el ensayo. Esta discusión probó fracasado en el nivel de ensayo pero prevaleció en última instancia en el tribunal de apelación.
los 7 406 E.E.U.U. 411 (1972).
Antes de que sus ensayos fueran separados, Poindexter se movió en común con el norte y Hakim, que también había recibido inmunidad para atestiguar antes de congreso, para tener las cargas contra ellos despidió en la tierra que la evidencia contra ellos fue corrompida por su testimonio inmunizado. El juez Gesell negó ese movimiento. Sin embargo, en respeto a la defensa demanda que utilizarían uno - posiblemente el testimonio inmunizado justificativo de otra persona, juez Gesell separó en junio de 1988 los ensayos.
Poindexter renovó su movimiento de Kastigar antes del juez Greene en agosto de 1989. Después del informe y de la discusión, 8 la corte pidieron que dos audiencias evidentiary estén llevadas a cabo. En el primer, la corte oyó testimonio de los consejos Dan K. del asociado. Webb y Howard M. Aljofare referente a su exposición al testimonio inmunizado de Poindexter antes de ensamblar la oficina de consejos independientes. Webb y la perla ensamblaron a personal de OIC en 1989 y no lo tenían, antes de sus citas, sido conforme a los procedimientos de OIC aislarse del testimonio inmunizado de Poindexter. Juzgue a Greene encontró su exposición al testimonio de Poindexter para ser insignificante y permitió que ambos abogados participaran en el ensayo.
8 el caso de Poindexter fueron intentados antes del tribunal de apelación gobernada en el norte que las audiencias del testigo eran necesarias permitir el ensayo de un demandado inmunizado.
El segundo sistema de audiencias de corte se refirió a los testigos de ensayo, que testimonio se pudo haber corrompido por el testimonio inmunizado de Poindexter. El juez Greene aceptó la revisión anterior de Gesell del juez de testigos del jurado magníficos y declinó reexaminar sus resultados. Él también rechazó despedir la acusación en base de la exposición magnífica potencial del miembro del jurado al testimonio inmunizado.
Con respecto a los testigos de ensayo, la corte tomó medidas extensas de asegurarse de que las declaraciones inmunizadas de Poindexter no fueron utilizadas contra él. La corte pidió el gobierno para hacer una sumisión ex del parte (divulgada más adelante a Poindexter) de todas las declaraciones hechas por los testigos de ensayo potenciales antes de que Poindexter diera su testimonio inmunizado antes de congreso en julio de 1987. La corte encontró que todo el testimonio propuesto la mayor parte de de los testigos potenciales había estado memorialized antes de que apareciera Poindexter público el 15 de julio de 1987, y por lo tanto no fue corrompido.
En cuanto a esos testigos que esperaron que el testimonio de ensayo no fuera limitado a la evidencia OIC había sellado con la corte antes del testimonio inmunizado de Poindexter, información adicional requerida Greene del juez. Él concluyó que el gobierno no había podido establecer que cinco de sus testigos potenciales estaban libres de la corrupción y les había ordenado a aparecer en una audiencia pre-trial. Dos de los tres testigos que aparecieron en última instancia en el ensayo credibly afirmaron que su testimonio anticipado no sería influenciado de ninguna manera por el testimonio inmunizado de Poindexter; el tercer, del norte, rechazado hacer tan.
Norte indicado en la audiencia pre-trial que él no podía, con respecto a cualquier tema, distinguir lo que él había hecho personalmente, observado o experimentado de lo que él había aprendido de mirar testimony.9 inmunizado de Poindexter en cuanto a la destrucción de Poindexter de encontrar presidencial de la secreto-acción del diciembre de 1985 -- evidencia importante en la obstrucción del congreso -- El norte reconoció que él había visto Poindexter destruir un pedazo de papel pero insistido que él no sabía le era el encontrar hasta que Poindexter indicó ese hecho en su testimonio inmunizado antes de congreso.
9 testimonio del norte, audiencia Pre-trial de Poindexter, 12/13/89, pp. 374-77.
La corte rechazó el testimonio pre-trial del norte como no believable. Del norte, la corte encontrada, ``aparece haber sido emprendida en aquel momento [en la audiencia] el curso calculado de procurar asistir a su colega y co-demandado anteriores. . . tergiversando en varias ediciones. . . opinión 10
, Poindexter del '' 10, 3/8/90, P. 9.
En un poste-ensayo separado que gobernaba, la corte agregó que por lo que la destrucción de encontrar, el testimonio del norte en su propio ensayo sobre el acontecimiento era contrario con su demanda que él no podría recordarla independiente del testimonio inmunizado de Poindexter. La corte lo encontró “intrínsecamente increíble” que el norte no recordó “su participación en un acontecimiento que él atestiguó de primera mano y eso estaba como dramático, de hecho histórico, como el rasgado para arriba de encontrar presidencial extremadamente raro.” 11
11 Ibid., 5/29/90, pp. 32-40.
La citación una
de Reagan de los aspectos más notables del caso de Poindexter era la tentativa acertada del demandado de llamar a presidente anterior Reagan para atestiguar en su ensayo por la deposición grabada.
Notas presidenciales presidenciales de Poindexter y vice primero buscadas de OIC como parte de sus peticiones del descubrimiento pre-trial. En una audiencia pre-trial el 6 de septiembre de 1989, los abogados de Poindexter dijeron a corte que las notas presidenciales reflejaran ese Poindexter informaran al presidente sus negaciones al congreso en 1986 de la actividad de NSC en apoyo de los contras, y que las notas “demostrarían lo que hablaron el presidente de lo que era hecho para apoyar los contras en America Central, y el consentimiento del presidente y la ratificación y la aprobación de esa actividad.” 12 en buscar vice notas presidenciales, los abogados de Poindexter dijeron la corte que “en caulquier momento él [Bush] faltó una reunión, almirante Poindexter lo resumieron en ella luego.” 13
12 Robinson, audiencia Pre-trial de Poindexter, 9/6/89, P. 18.
13 Ibid., P. 19.
La corte, antes de tomar una decisión encendido si obligar a OIC que elabore estos documentos, el 11 de septiembre de 1989, ordenó Poindexter para archivar una nota ex del parte que explicaba exacto cómo estos documentos asistirían a su defense.14 que requirió de consejos independientes un memorándum legal referente a su responsabilidad de elaborar documentos presidenciales presidenciales y vice no en la posesión de OIC.
14 opinión, Poindexter, 9/11/89, P. 22.
Independent Counsel in a filing on September 18, 1989, told the court that the office did not have in its possession presidential notes, but rather had been granted access to notes and allowed to copy only a portion of them with special permission. As far as President Reagan's diary was concerned, Independent Counsel had been allowed to review typed extracts of portions deemed relevant by White House counsel, but the President had retained custody of his diary, which both he and the national archivist regarded as personal records, making them unaccessible under the Presidential Records Act unless their production were compelled by subpoena.15
15 Government's Memorandum Concerning Presidential and Vice Presidential Documents that Are Not in the Possession of Independent Counsel, 9/18/89.
Attached to Independent Counsel's filing was a declaration by John Fawcett, assistant archivist for the Office of Presidential Libraries of the National Archives and Records Administration. Fawcett stated that President Bush's vice presidential records were transferred to the archives at the end of the Reagan Administration, but, ``No personal diary of former Vice President Bush has been specifically identified as being included in the Vice Presidential records. However, these Vice Presidential records have not yet been processed.'' 16
16 Ibid., Exhibit A. President Bush in December 1992 for the first time informed Independent Counsel that he had kept a diary as vice president from 1986 to 1988. See Bush chapter.
On September 25, 1989, Poindexter's attorneys informed the court that ``the defendant is willing to seek access to the personal diaries and notes of former President Reagan and former Vice President Bush pursuant to a . . . subpoena.'' 17 After reviewing Poindexter's ex parte submission on the materiality of presidential and vice presidential documents, the court on October 24, 1989, ruled that there was sufficient likelihood that President Reagan's documents would be material to the defense. Judge Greene differentiated between Reagan and Bush documents, however, because ``the Vice President had no operational authority with respect to Poindexter,'' because the information contained in vice presidential papers may be largely cumulative, and because of deference to the sitting President Bush.18
17 Defendant's Response to Government's Memorandum Concerning Presidential and Vice President Documents That Are Not in the Possession of Independent Counsel, 9/25/89, p. 2.
18 U.S. v. Poindexter, 725 F. Supp. 13, 28-31 (D.D.C. 1989). Judge Greene added that with respect to Bush documents, he would reevaluate the matter if Poindexter at a later date showed a more pressing need for them.
On November 3, 1989, Poindexter filed with the court a classified petition for leave to serve subpoenas on former President Reagan and the National Archives, seeking materials and testimony relevant to Iran/contra activities in 67 categories. On November 16, Judge Greene granted Poindexter's petition. Both President Reagan and the National Archives moved to quash the subpoena for documents.
In a pre-trial hearing December 4 the court stated that its order covered only documents, and not the President's possible trial testimony. On December 18 Poindexter sought the court's leave to subpoena President Reagan to testify at trial. In deciding whether Poindexter could subpoena President Reagan's testimony, Judge Greene asked Poindexter to submit a list of specific questions he intended to ask. Poindexter submitted a list of 183 questions, which were not made available to Independent Counsel.19 The court ruled that the questions directly related to the charges in the indictment and to Poindexter's anticipated defense.
19 In 1993, during preparation of this report, Independent Counsel obtained copies of these questions and other ex parte submissions from Poindexter's case.
In his February 5, 1990, ruling upholding the testimonial subpoena of Reagan, Judge Greene described Poindexter's proposed questions as falling into 12 categories. These included: (1) the frequency and occasions on which President Reagan and Poindexter met; (2) the President's view of the Boland Amendment and how it applied to contra support; (3) whether the President authorized Poindexter to seek foreign support for the contras; (4) what instructions the President gave Poindexter regarding meetings with Central American officials, and what information Poindexter subsequently relayed back to the President; (5) presidential discussions with Central American leaders concerning contra support; (6) presidential discussions with Poindexter regarding actions to be taken if Congress did not renew contra aid; (7) presidential knowledge of North's relationship to Iran/contra figures; (8) Poindexter's briefings of the President regarding a congressional inquiry in 1986 into North's activities; (9) Poindexter's communications with Congress at the direction of the President; (10) whether Poindexter informed the President about Secord's status; (11) discussions Poindexter had with the President regarding a chronology of the Iran arms sales prepared in November 1986; and (12) the President's knowledge of the arms shipments to Iran.
In his opinion explaining his decision to uphold Poindexter's subpoena of President Reagan, Judge Greene concluded:
Former President Ronald Reagan is claimed by Admiral Poindexter to have direct and important knowledge that will help to exonerate him from the criminal charges lodged against him. In view of the prior professional relationship between the two men, and defendant's showing discussed above, that claim cannot be dismissed as fanciful or frivolous. That being so, it would be inconceivable -- in a Republic that subscribes neither to the ancient doctrine of the divine right of kings nor to the more modern conceit of dictators that they are not accountable to the people whom they claim to represent or to their courts of law -- to exempt Mr. Reagan from the duty of every citizen to give evidence that will permit the reaching of a just outcome of this criminal prosecution. Defendant has shown that the evidence of the former President is needed to protect his right to a fair trial, and he will be given the opportunity to secure that evidence.20
20 U.S. v. Poindexter, 732 F. Supp. 142, 159-60 (D.D.C. 1990)
President Reagan did not claim executive privilege once he was ordered to testify.
The seven-hour videotaped deposition of the former President was taken February 16 and 17, 1990, in the Los Angeles federal courthouse, near his residence. The public and the press were not allowed to attend the deposition. Transcripts and the opportunity to view the videotape were made available to members of the press before the trial.
As for Poindexter's subpoena for documents from the former President, Judge Greene ordered President Reagan to make diary entries available for the court's in camera review. After its review, the court ordered President Reagan to produce the relevant diary entries to Poindexter in the absence of a claim of executive privilege. President Reagan, joined by the Bush Administration, claimed executive privilege as to the diary entries on February 5, 1990. On March 21, the court granted the Reagan-Bush motions to quash the subpoena for the diary entries, concluding that Poindexter's defense would be adequately served by the President's testimony.
The Poindexter Trial
The month-long Poindexter trial, which resulted in a five-count conviction on April 7, 1990, centered largely on the testimony of two witnesses: Oliver North for the prosecution and former President Reagan for the defense.
Both men attempted to help the defendant in their appearances on the witness stand, but each had given prior testimony harmful to Poindexter, and they could not deviate from that under threat of perjury charges.21 North could not abandon his earlier defense stance that he dutifully reported his activities -- including those found to be crimes -- to his superior, Poindexter. President Reagan was compelled at trial to state, as he had previously, that he repeatedly told his aides to obey the law and that he was unaware of their criminal acts.
21 Before taking the witness stand in Poindexter, North had testified before the Select Committees in July 1987, at his own trial in 1989, and at a Poindexter pre-trial hearing in 1990.
President Reagan was questioned by his Tower Commission on two occasions in early 1987. More significantly, the President in November 1987 answered 53 written interrogatories from Independent Counsel, which were submitted as sworn testimony to the federal Grand Jury investigating the Iran/contra affair.
Poindexter chose not to testify at his trial.
Although Poindexter and North had destroyed and altered official papers and computer messages, the prosecution offered convincing documentary evidence that Poindexter was kept apprised of North's efforts to provide military aid to the Nicaraguan contras while it was outlawed from October 1984-October 1986 by the Boland Amendment; that Poindexter adopted false statements McFarlane and North made to Congress; and that Poindexter had been fully aware of the ill-fated November 1985 HAWK missile shipment to Iran, which he subsequently tried to conceal from Congress.
The Trial Testimony of Oliver L. North
The testimony of North, named as a co-conspirator in the case, was important to proving each of the five charges against Poindexter:
-- Count One, that Poindexter conspired with North and Secord to obstruct congressional inquiries of Iran- and contra-related matters, to make false statements to Congress, and to falsify, remove and destroy official documents.
-- Count Two, that Poindexter obstructed Congress in 1986 when it was investigating media allegations that North was raising funds and providing military aid to the contras. In letters to three committees, Poindexter answered questions by repeating denials McFarlane made before Congress in 1985 of North's involvement in contra-support activities, even though Poindexter knew the denials to be false. He set up a meeting with the House Intelligence Committee in August 1986 in which he knew North would have to give false testimony, and afterward congratulated North on his performance.
-- Count Three, that Poindexter obstructed Congress in November 1986 by participating with North in the preparation of false chronologies of the secret U.S. arms sales to Iran and by making false statements to the House and Senate intelligence committees. Specifically, Poindexter falsely asserted that no U.S. official knew before January 1986 that HAWK missiles had been shipped to Iran in November 1985. The indictment stated that North as early as November 20, 1985, told Poindexter about the shipment in advance and advised him of it again after the fact in late 1985.
-- Counts Four and Five, that Poindexter made false statements about the HAWK shipment to the House and Senate intelligence committees on November 21, 1986. As in Count Three, the false statement charges were based on North's informing Poindexter about the shipment in 1985.
In four days of trial testimony, North reluctantly recounted his central operational role in the Iran/contra affair. He described the extensive contra-resupply network he ran with Secord and Hakim,22 his contra fund-raising efforts, and the military advice he gave the contras. He testified that he kept his bosses McFarlane and Poindexter fully informed of his activities and that he acted only with their approval.23
22 North objected to the prosecutor's use of the word ``Enterprise'' to describe the profit-making web of contra- and Iran-related operations he undertook with Secord and Hakim. He also objected to the use of the word ``testimony'' in reference to the false statements he made before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in August 1986, and the word ``diversion'' to describe the scheme in which he, Poindexter and others diverted Iran arms sales proceeds to the contras.
23 North, Poindexter Trial Testimony, 3/12/90, pp. 1275-76.
North, who was forced to testify for the prosecution under a grant of immunity, frequently claimed that he could not recall many of the incidents in question, some of which had occurred several years before. North admitted a wide range of contra-support and Iran-related actions only when confronted with prior testimony in which he had provided extensive details.
North admitted that he lied in August 1986 when he told the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) he was not engaged in raising funds or providing military support to the Nicaraguan contras.24 North described exchanges with Poindexter before and after the meeting that directly implicated Poindexter in a scheme to frustrate the congressional investigation.25
24 Ibid., 3/9/90, pp. 1042-43.
25 Ibid., 3/12/90, p. 1083.
HPSCI was one of three congressional committees pursuing a House inquiry into reports of North's contra-aid activities. North testified that prior to appearing before the committee in the White House Situation Room, he told Poindexter he would be asked about ``things that I had been told never to reveal.'' 26 In response, Poindexter told him, ``You can handle it, you can take care of it,'' according to North.27
26 Ibid., 3/9/90, p. 1033.
27 Ibid.
After receiving reports of North's statements to HPSCI, which Poindexter knew were false, Poindexter by way of his computer sent North a terse congratulatory message: ``Well done.'' 28
28 PROFs Note from Poindexter to North, 8/11/86, AKW 018921.
Based on the statements of North and Poindexter, HPSCI Chairman Lee Hamilton informed other members of Congress that the media allegations about North could not be proven. North's false testimony, in combination with Poindexter's perpetuation of McFarlane's previous lies, successfully frustrated the congressional oversight process. It was not until Nicaraguan soldiers on October 5, 1986, shot down a contra-resupply plane carrying American Eugene Hasenfus that Congress renewed its investigation into North's activities.
North testified that he kept Poindexter apprised of his involvement in the covert sales of U.S. arms to Iran in 1985 and 1986, including the operation's most secret aspect: the Iran/contra diversion. He sent Poindexter five or six memos stating that overcharges to the Iranian buyers would generate millions of dollars for diversion to the contras.29 North said Poindexter told him the diversion should never be revealed.30 North said he reported the diversion plan to Poindexter because he thought that projects funded by it ``ought to have the authority of the President behind them.'' 31
29 North, Poindexter Trial Testimony, 3/12/90, pp. 1107-11.
30 Ibid., pp. 1103-05.
31 Ibid., p. 1111.
North testified that in November 1985, he became directly involved in an Israeli shipment of U.S. HAWK missiles to Iran at McFarlane's behest.32 North said he got permission from both McFarlane, who was then the national security adviser, and Poindexter, then deputy national security adviser, to enlist Secord's help in resolving logistical problems surrounding the shipment.33 He also got McFarlane and Poindexter's permission to supply the Israelis with the name of a CIA-connected airline to assist.34 North outlined the details of the planned HAWK shipment in a computer note to Poindexter on November 20, 1985.35 By memoranda on December 4 and on December 9, 1985, North informed Poindexter that the Iranians were unhappy with the shipment and wanted the missiles to be retrieved.36
32 Ibid., pp. 1118-20.
33 Ibid., pp. 1121-22.
34 Ibid., pp. 1122-27.
35 PROFs Note from North to Poindexter, 11/20/85, AKW 002066.
36 PROFs Note from North to Poindexter, 12/4/85, AKW 002070-73; Memorandum from North to McFarlane and Poindexter, 12/9/85, AKW 002088-91.
When CIA officials insisted after the HAWK shipment that the President should retroactively authorize the agency's participation in the operation, CIA Director William J. Casey on November 26, 1985, gave Poindexter a covert-action Finding for President Reagan's signature.37 North testified that he saw the signed Finding either in Poindexter's office safe or in the safe of NSC counsel Paul Thompson.38
37 Memorandum from Casey to Poindexter, 11/26/85, AMY 000651-52.
38 North, Poindexter Trial Testimony, 3/12/90, p. 1245.
After public exposure of the Iran arms sales in November 1986, North -- at Poindexter's request -- prepared a chronology of U.S. involvement in the Iran arms sales, which underwent a series of re-writes. North testified that McFarlane removed from the chronology North's factual account of the November 1985 HAWKs shipment and substituted a cover story: that although the CIA became involved in the November 1985 shipment after Israel encountered logistical difficulties, U.S. officials at the time believed the cargo to be oil-drilling parts and did not learn until January 1986 that the true cargo was weapons.39
39 Ibid., pp. 1188-98.
Asked whether the McFarlane revision was part of a plan to ``cover up'' the existence of the November 1985 Finding, North answered: ``I don't know that cover up is the right word. I listened to the President's press conferences, I listened to statements being made by people and they just didn't talk about it.'' 40 North said McFarlane told him the cover story should be incorporated into the chronology because the 1985 Finding authorizing the weapons shipment described too directly an arms-for-hostages swap, which, if exposed, would politically embarrass the President.41
40 Ibid., p. 1191.
41 Ibid., pp. 1190-91.
The same oil-drilling-parts cover story was part of a CIA-prepared chronology that Casey and his deputy, Robert Gates, brought to a White House meeting on November 20, 1986, with Poindexter, North, Meese, Cooper and Thompson. The purpose of the meeting was to prepare Casey and Poindexter for their congressional testimony the following day. North was asked at trial:
Q: . . . did it become clear to you by the time McFarlane tells you that [the finding was too close to an arms-for-hostage swap] and by the time you see the CIA show up with this phony chronology, then at least did it appear to you that there was some effort or plan going on to cover up with U.S. involvement because of that finding?
A: Well, there is no doubt in my mind that I came to realize that finding was a disaster, and I understood that.42
42 Ibid., pp. 1208-09.
North testified that he altered and destroyed numerous documents in October and November 1986 that would have revealed details of the Iran and contra operations. He said he assured Poindexter that he had ``taken care of'' the documents that reflected his activities.43 He said he told Poindexter all the documents describing the Iran/contra diversion were destroyed, after learning from Poindexter on November 21, 1986, that Attorney General Meese would be conducting a weekend investigation into the Iran arms sales.44 North also testified that he altered other original NSC documents, after receiving Poindexter's permission to retrieve them from the NSC document-archiving system.45
43 Ibid., p. 1218.
44 Ibid., pp. 1120-21.
45 Ibid., pp. 1224-27.
More important, North reluctantly testified that he saw Poindexter destroy the only known copy of the signed presidential Finding that sought to authorize retroactively the November 1985 shipment of HAWK missiles to Iran.46 North's eyewitness account of the destruction of the Finding provided significant proof of Poindexter's intent to conceal facts about the HAWK missile shipment from Congress in November 1986.47
46 Ibid., 1252-54.
47 The destruction of the 1985 Finding was not charged as a separate crime in the indictment of Poindexter because Independent Counsel did not learn of it until North testified about it at his own trial in April 1989. Poindexter had told the Select Committees in 1987 that he destroyed the only signed copy of the 1985 presidential Finding. Independent Counsel did not learn of this statement at the time, however, because the OIC had taken measures to insulate itself from all immunized testimony. Even if Independent Counsel had been aware of the Poindexter testimony, OIC could not have used it in any criminal proceeding against Poindexter under the terms of immunity grant.
North's wide-ranging testimony enabled the prosecution to streamline its witness list to only nine other individuals, many of whom supplemented the central details provided by North.
The Trial Testimony of President Reagan
Before the trial of Poindexter, President Reagan had not testified publicly about Iran/contra. On February 16 and 17, 1990, he gave a seven-hour videotaped deposition as a defense witness. No classified matters were discussed and executive privilege was not invoked in response to any question. The videotaped deposition was shown in full, therefore, to the Poindexter jury during the trial on March 21 and 22, 1990.48
48 Immediately after each tape was shown to the jury, a copy was given to the television networks, allowing the public to see President Reagan's only courtroom testimony on the Iran/contra affair.
In direct examination, defense counsel sought to show presidential knowledge and approval of Poindexter's activities. But President Reagan frequently claimed memory lapses when questioned about specific exchanges he may have had with Poindexter and about his knowledge of individuals and details involved in the Iran and contra operations.
Although President Reagan exhibited virtually no detailed knowledge of the Iran/contra matter, he made clear to the jury that it had his imprimatur, calling it ``a covert action that was taken at my behest.'' 49 President Reagan said North was the only person he remembered being involved in the arms initiative.50 He could not recall being briefed by Poindexter on the May 1986 trip by McFarlane and North to Tehran, but he said he did recall signing a Bible for Iranians.51 President Reagan testified that the amount of weapons sold to Iran totaled $12.2 million.52
49 Reagan, Poindexter Trial Deposition, 2/16/90, p. 9.
50 Ibid., p. 21.
51 Ibid., p. 24.
52 Ibid., pp. 154-55.
Asked specifically about the November 1985 HAWK shipment to Iran, President Reagan said he recalled a plan in which the Israelis would turn their plane around in mid-delivery of the weapons if no hostages were released.53 He did not recall when he became aware of the November 1985 HAWK shipment; 54 he did not recall Poindexter telling him in November 1986 that others in the White House were having trouble remembering when they learned of it.55
53 Ibid., pp. 24-25.
54 Ibid., pp. 33-36.
55 Ibid., pp. 38-39.
President Reagan also claimed virtually no memory of the November 1986 period in which his top advisers were scrambling to limit public exposure of the Iran arms sales. He only generally recalled telling members of Congress about the arms sales on November 12, 1986.56 He could not remember receiving any information from Poindexter for any of his presentations on the matter in that time.57 The former President could not remember asking Poindexter to assemble the facts on the arms sales.58 He could not recall that Poindexter briefed the House and Senate intelligence committees on November 21, 1986.59
56 Ibid., pp. 37-38.
57 Ibid., p. 30.
58 Ibid., p. 28.
59 Ibid., pp. 44-45.
Defense counsel's questions suggested that their client had significant exchanges with the President during the arms-sale period and its aftermath. But Reagan's lack of recollection, and lack of specificity when he did remember events or individuals, left those questions unresolved.
President Reagan provided more helpful testimony for the defense on the subject of contra-support operations. Calling the Boland prohibition on contra funding a ``disaster,'' 60 Reagan testified that he urged his aides to do what they could to support the contras, while staying ``within the law.'' 61 Reagan recalled that Saudi Arabia's King Fahd pledged millions of dollars for the contras.62 He said he told his aides not to solicit contributions for the contras directly but to tell people how they could contribute if they wanted to help.63
60 Ibid., p. 69.
61 Ibid., pp. 53-54.
62 Ibid., pp. 74-75.
63 Ibid., pp. 53-54.
Asked whether Poindexter briefed him on the contras, President Reagan said: ``Oh yes, I depended on him for that.'' 64 He said he had no reason to believe that Poindexter was not keeping him fully informed.
64 Ibid., p. 116.
Asked to describe what he knew about North's responsibilities in the White House, President Reagan said:
Well, he was mainly performing tasks, as I understand it, for the NSC, but he -- his background and record had been one of being decorated for heroism and so forth in the Vietnamese conflict, and that he had been a very bold and brave soldier -- Marine.
And -- so, he was -- it was my impression, not from any specific reports or anything, that in through all of this that he was communicating back and forth between on the need for the support of the Contras and so forth.65
65 Ibid., p. 131.
In addition to professing a benign view of North and his activities, President Reagan indicated general knowledge of and support for the contra-resupply operation in Central America:
Q: Do you recall any discussions that he [Poindexter] may have had with you about the construction of an airstrip down there in Central America?
A: Well, I did hear -- we had learned that there was a rather primitive lane in there in the jungle near the border of Costa Rican [sic], and that was then being put into better shape as a usable airstrip.
Q: Did you have any -- do you recall any discussion about who was constructing the airstrip?
A: Well, no. I assume it was the Costa Rican government.
Q: And do you know what that airstrip was going to be used for?
A: Well, I know that -- I hoped that it would be used in the delivery of when once again we could supply, keep the Contras supplied, that it could be involved in the -- used there, if there was need for a refueling or anything of that kind of a plane.66
66 Ibid., p. 121.
President Reagan was then asked whether he knew who would be using the Costa Rican airstrip for contra resupply. His answer reflected knowledge of the operation supposedly being funded and run by private citizens -- the so-called ``private benefactors'' -- that was in fact being run by Secord at North's direction:
Q: Do you know who it was that was going to be using the airstrip? It was going to be used for supplying the Contras, but do you know who it was that was actually going to be doing the supplying and using the airstrip?
A: No, I do not on that. I don't think -- I don't think I ever considered that it would be military planes of ours. So, possibly some of those that weren't officially planes of ours that had been helping in the past in deliveries to the Contras and so forth.
Q: Earlier this morning or earlier today, I should say, you mentioned General Secord. That you knew that he was involved in the Contra supply effort.
Was it part of his operation you thought that he might be using the airstrip?
A: I can't say that I actually recall that, but it seems to me logical that he would have been involved in that.67
67 Ibid., p. 122.
President Reagan, who winked and smiled at Poindexter from the witness stand, did not hide his contempt toward congressional inquiries into NSC staff contra-support activities. Shown misleading letters written by Poindexter in July 1986 to the committees of Congress that were investigating allegations of North's contra efforts, Reagan said: ``I am in total agreement. If I had written it myself, I might have used a little profanity.'' 68
68 Ibid., pp. 146-47.
In cross-examination, the prosecution was able to impeach much of President Reagan's testimony. This was possible because Reagan late in 1987 had answered, under oath, 53 written interrogatories for Independent Counsel and the Grand Jury investigating the Iran/contra matter.
The July 21, 1986, letters -- in which Poindexter embraced and perpetuated the lies McFarlane had told Congress about North's contra-support activities a year earlier -- were a key element in the obstruction charges against the defendant. Under cross-examination by the prosecution, President Reagan was asked whether he was aware that the Poindexter letters repeated McFarlane's previous lies. The former President equivocated:
Well, I simply -- no, I did not have this information, but I have a great deal of confidence in the man who was quoted as sending these letters, McFarlane. And I have never -- I have never caught him or seen him doing anything that was in any way out of line or dishonest. And so, I was perfectly willing to accept his defense.69
69 Ibid., p. 151.
President Reagan said he did not know that McFarlane had pleaded guilty to withholding information from Congress in connection with the false letters.70
70 Ibid., pp. 220-21.
Asked whether he approved either the McFarlane or Poindexter letters to Congress, the former President said he had no recollection of doing so, adding that his memory could be faulty.71 Asked directly whether he would approve of sending false information to Congress, President Reagan conceded that he would not.72 Would he have authorized Poindexter to make false statements to Congress? President Reagan again attempted to assist his former aide: ``No. And I don't think any false statements were made.'' 73
71 Ibid., pp. 150-51.
72 Ibid., pp. 151-52.
73 Ibid., p. 158.
President Reagan also testified that he did not approve the destruction of Iran/contra documents by Poindexter, and that he was not told about their destruction.74 But the former President, in response to subsequent questioning, described the dilemma in which he placed his aides in November 1986 by instructing them that certain information could not be revealed because ``it will bring to risk and danger to people that are held and with the people that we were negotiating with.'' 75
74 Ibid., p. 160.
75 Ibid., p. 252.
Asked again whether he approved the destruction of alteration of any Iran/contra records, President Reagan said: ``And this, I cannot answer. I cannot recall because it is the possibility that there were such papers that would violate the secrecy that was protecting those individuals' lives.'' 76 President Reagan had denied in response to the earlier written interrogatories that he approved the destruction and alteration of documents; when confronted with his previous testimony he stated that it was truthful.
76 Ibid., p. 255.
On the issue of the contras, President Reagan said he ``never had any inkling'' that North was guiding their military strategy.77 But Reagan muddied the issue in a later statement about North:
77 Ibid., p. 170.
I know that he [North] was very active, and that was certainly with my approval, because I yesterday made plain how seriously I felt about the Contra situation and what it meant to all of us here in the Americas. And, so, obviously, there were many things that were being done. But, again, as I say, I was convinced that they were all being done within the law.78
78 Ibid., p. 189.
In questioning about the Iran/contra diversion, President Reagan surprisingly asserted that he had no proof that a diversion had occurred:
And to this day, I still with all of the investigations that have been made, I still have never been given one iota of evidence as to who collected the price, who delivered the final delivery of the weapons, or what was -- whether there was ever more money in that Swiss account that had been diverted someplace else. I am still waiting to find those things out and have never found them out.79
79 Ibid., p. 155.
Asked whether he had approved a diversion, Reagan again stated:
May I simply point out that I had no knowledge then or now that there had been a diversion, and I never used the term. And all I knew was that there was some money that came from some place in another account, and that the appearance was that it might have been a part of the negotiated sale. And to this day, I don't have any information or knowledge that that wasn't the total amount that -- or that there was a diversion.80
80 Ibid., p. 156.
Asked again whether he would have approved a diversion, President Reagan said he would not. But, he added, ``No one has proven to me that there was a diversion.'' 81
81 Ibid., p. 157.
President Reagan said he did not recall that the Tower Commission concluded in March 1987 that, in fact, a diversion had occurred. ``I, to this day, do not recall ever hearing that there was a diversion,'' he said.82 Shown that portion of the Tower Commission report describing the diversion, Reagan said: ``This report -- this is the first time that I have ever seen a reference that actually specified there was a diversion.'' 83
82 Ibid., p. 240.
83 Ibid., p. 243.
Asked whether Poindexter should have told him about an Iran/contra diversion, Reagan said: ``Yes. Unless maybe he thought he was protecting me from something.'' 84
84 Ibid., pp. 243-44.
The Verdict and Sentencing
After six days of deliberation, the jury on April 7, 1990, found Poindexter guilty of each of the five felony charges against him. Judge Greene on June 11, 1990, sentenced Poindexter to six months imprisonment on each of the five counts, to be served concurrently.
In imposing the sentence, Judge Greene noted complaints by Poindexter's supporters that the most he was guilty of was having become embroiled in a political quarrel between the White House and Congress. Judge Greene stated:
Whatever may have been the nature of the original dispute, what the defendant and his associates did was emphatically not a part of the normal political process.
. . . When Admiral Poindexter and his associates obstructed the Congress, what were they seeking to accomplish? In a word, it was to nullify the decision that body had made on the issue of supplies to the Contras. . . .
President Reagan did not, or for parliamentary reasons he could not, veto the bill [which contained the Boland prohibition on contra aid]. He did not attempt to assert his own constitutional powers or take the issue to the people, and at the conclusion of the political process the Boland Amendment thus became law.
No problem. What the president was unwilling or unable to do -- to defeat this law -- Admiral Poindexter, together with Oliver North and others, did on their own. They decided that the policy embodied in the Boland Amendment was wrong, and they went about to violate it on a large scale and for a lengthy period, and then to lie about their activities to prevent the Congress and the public from finding out. . . .
With all due respect to the distinguished military records of Admiral Poindexter, Colonel North, General Secord, and the others, they have no standing in a democratic society to invalidate the decisions made by elected officials . . . As I said several times during the trial, it is immaterial to this criminal case who was right and who was wrong about the wisdom of the Contra policy. That is not what this trial was about. The jury and this court were not competent to decide for this nation whether resistance forces in Nicaragua should or should not have been supplied with weapons.
But more importantly for present purposes, neither was Admiral Poindexter. When he and his associates took it upon themselves to make that decision anyway, to implement it on a broad scale, and to work actively to keep what they were doing from the Congress and the public, they not only violated various statutes. They were also in violation of a principle fundamental to this constitutional Republic -- that those elected by and responsible to the people shall make the important policy decisions, and that their decisions may not be nullified by appointed officials who happen to be in positions that give them the ability to operate programs prohibited by law. It is unfortunate that, whatever may be his view of his own purposes and actions, the defendant still gives no evidence of recognizing that principle and the seriousness of its violation.
Given the nature of the offenses, the sentencing principle that is primarily applicable here is that of deterrence, and as a practical matter, deterrence means meaningful penalties. If the court were not to impose such a penalty here, when the defendant before it was the decision-making head of the Iran-contra operation, its action would be tantamount to a statement that a scheme to lie to and obstruct Congress is of no great moment, and that even if the perpetrators are found out, the courts will treat their criminal acts as no more than minor infractions.
A message of that kind could not help but encourage others in positions of authority and secrecy to frustrate laws that fail to accord with their notions of what is best for this country, and to carry out their own private policies in the name of the United States. . . .85
85 Judge Greene, Poindexter Transcript of Sentencing, 6/11/90, pp. 18-22
The Appeal
A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in a 2-1 decision on November 15, 1991, reversed Poindexter's convictions on the grounds that his trial was impermissibly tainted by his immunized congressional testimony. The Poindexter ruling was based on the appeals court decision in the North case, which extended the protections of the use immunity statute to prohibit use of any witness whose testimony has been refreshed or shaped in any way by the defendant's immunized testimony. In his dissenting opinion, Chief Judge Abner Mikva noted that the majority ruling ``tells future defendants that all they need to evade responsibility [to testify at trial] is a well timed case of amnesia.'' 86
86 U.S. v. Poindexter, 951 F.2d 369, 390 (D.C. Cir. 1991).
The Poindexter appeals panel also overturned the two obstruction convictions on the grounds that the statute was ``unconstitutionally vague'' in its proscription of ``corruptly'' endeavoring to impede a congressional inquiry. The appeals panel ruled that a defendant's lying to Congress does not constitute obstruction unless the defendant corruptly influences someone else to do so. Again, Chief Judge Mikva dissented, finding it ``obvious . . . that Poindexter 'corruptly' obstructed the congressional investigation when he lied to Congress.'' 87
87 Ibid.
In October 1992, Independent Counsel petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to review the Poindexter case. Independent Counsel said the appeals court ruling that the obstruction statute was unconstitutional ``leaves a large gap in the criminal law, while endorsing a method of analyzing constitutional vagueness challenges that could prove enormously destructive to a substantial body of federal legislation.'' 88 The petition noted that at least 17 other laws besides the obstruction statute at issue use the word ``corruptly'' to define an element of the offense.89
88 U.S. v. Poindexter, Crim. No. 88-0080-01, Petition for Writ of Certiorari by United States of America, at 9 (October 1992).
89 Ibid., p. 10.
On immunized testimony, Independent Counsel in its petition to the Supreme Court said the appeals ruling in Poindexter would
make almost impossible the prosecution of any case involving public immunized statements that requires testimony by persons sympathetic to the accused, such as co-conspirators or other associates. And the dangers of abuse and manipulation are magnified by the court of appeals' view, expressed in North, that a witness inclined to assist the defense may become disqualified from testifying at trial by the simple expedient of soaking himself in the defendant's immunized statements. 90
90 Ibid., p. 22.
Independent Counsel also noted that the appeals ruling
. . . will have its most profound impact on cases involving public immunized testimony before Congress -- cases that, by definition, involve issues of the most fundamental import. If the court of appeals has erred, this Court should right that error before significant further damage is done to the legislative oversight function. 91
91 Ibid., p. 29.
The U.S. Supreme Court in December 1992 declined, without comment, to review the Poindexter case.
Conclusion
Poindexter was responsible for providing President Reagan with advice on national-security matters of highest importance. What his conviction showed was that a jury of ordinary citizens can sort and weigh complex evidence and agree that obstructing and lying to Congress is a serious act worthy of felony conviction.
The Poindexter trial served the public interest in another sense. Poindexter's determination to call President Reagan as a witness allowed the public the rare opportunity to see him testify for seven hours about the Iran/contra matter.
The completion of the Poindexter trial in April 1990, two years after the original indictment was returned, necessitated the re-activation of the criminal investigation into Iran/contra. For the first time, Poindexter and North were available for questioning by Independent Counsel. Although this decision was questioned by some, Independent Counsel determined that his Iran/contra investigative mandate could not be fulfilled until the central operational figures were interrogated to find out whether other high-ranking officials helped support and cover up their activities.
Sentenziare i felons condannati negli Stati Uniti
Automatically translated into Italian thanks to WorldLingo
Capitolo 3
Stati Uniti v. John M. Vizio
Adm del blu marino di Poindexter. John M. Poindexter è stato nominato come consigliere di sicurezza nazionale del presidente Reagan il 4 dicembre 1985, riuscendo Robert C. McFarlane, quale Poindexter aveva servito sotto da delegato per due anni. La carriera della Casa Bianca del Poindexter si è conclusa il 25 novembre 1986, quando è stato costretto a dimettersi come conseguenza della rilevazione pubblica dell'Iran/contra la diversione.
Poindexter, tenente. Colonna Il nord e McFarlane del Oliver erano il Attorney General Edwin Meese III dei tre individui identificato il 25 novembre 1986, come informato della diversione. Il controllo del Poindexter del nord e la sua propria partecipazione nell'Iran e contra i funzionamenti erano fuochi in anticipo di ricerca del consulente legale indipendente.
Come nell'argomento contro prova del nord e criminale contro Poindexter ha dovuto essere riunitoe rapidamente prima che fosse costretto a testimoniare su Capitol Hill di estate di 1987 sotto una concessione di immunità limitata. Altrimenti, il processo di Poindexter era probabile essere sfidato considerando che è stato derivato da o in qualche modo è stato influenzato dalla sua testimonianza congressuale immunizzata.
Il 16 marzo 1988, Poindexter è stato incriminato su sette spese di crimine in seguito alla sua partecipazione nell'Iran/contra l'affare, come componente di un atto d'accusa del multi-difensore di 23 conteggi. È stato chiamato con il nord, maggiore pensionato dell'aeronautica. Generatore. Richard V. Secord ed Albert Hakim come membro della cospirazione da defraudare il governo degli Stati Uniti effettuando l'Iran/contra la diversione ed altra si comporta.
Dopo che i casi si dividano e due delle spese originali siano allontanati, Poindexter è stato provato e condannato stato nell'aprile 1990 di cinque crimini, includendo: un conteggio di cospirazione ostruire le inchieste ed atti ufficiali, due conteggi di ostruzione del congresso e due conteggi delle dichiarazione false a Congress.1 Stati Uniti Giudice Harold H. del distretto. Greene lo ha sentenziato ad un termine di sei mesi della prigione. Nel novembre 1991, le convinzioni del Poindexter sono state capovolte su appello. Nel dicembre 1992, gli Stati Uniti Corte suprema rifiutata per rivedere il caso.
1 il caso di Poindexter è stato provato dai consulenti legali Dan K. del socio. Webb, cristiano J. Mixter, Howard M. Perla e Louise R. Radin.
Poindexter ha unito il personale del Consiglio di sicurezza nazionale nel giugno 1981, seguendo una carriera navale distinta che ha incluso gli alberini di pentagono di ordine e di alto-posto del battleship. Nell'ottobre 1983 è diventato delegato al consigliere McFarlane di sicurezza nazionale; fra i suoi subalterni era del nord. Durante il possesso di un anno del Poindexter come consigliere di sicurezza nazionale, che ha cominciato nel dicembre 1985, ha sorvegliato l'Iran/contra i funzionamenti in cui il nord direttamente è stato coinvolto.
Nel novembre 1986, mentre i funzionamenti segreti stavano essendo esposti pubblicamente, Poindexter ha stato bene al funzionario maggiore della gestione responsabile dell'impartire le direttive ad altri consiglieri più importanti del presidente circa le vendite di armi dell'Iran. in serie di riunioni della Casa Bianca con altri funzionari e membri del congresso durante il mese, ha presentato ripetutamente una versione falsa delle transazioni che distanced il presidente Reagan dalle 1985 spedizioni legalmente discutibili di armi fatte attraverso l'Israele, specialmente la transazione del HAWK-missile del novembre 1985.
Anche se Poindexter era il portavoce, non era responsabile solo del conoscere i fatti. Virtualmente ogni altro funzionario, compreso il presidente Reagan, che si è sentito che la sua versione delle vendite di armi nelle istruzioni durante il novembre 1986 ha pensata esso erano errati. Tuttavia nessuno, secondo le note contemporanee di quelle istruzioni, spoke fino a Poindexter corretto.
Poindexter con il nord ed altri nel novembre 1986 tentati per tagliuzzare ed alterare la traccia di carta che riflette il loro Iran/contra le attività. Tra l'altro, Poindexter ha distrutto l'unica individuazione presidenziale firmata esistente di segreto-azione che è stata intesa per autorizzare con effetto retroattivo la partecipazione di CIA alla spedizione dei HAWKs del novembre 1985.
Poindexter ed il nord riuscivano meno in lo sradicamento della traccia del calcolatore-messaggio del loro Iran/contra le attività. Poindexter ed il nord hanno comunicato spesso attraverso una scanalatura speciale che Poindexter, uno specialista in materia di computer, aveva installato sul sistema di elaborazione di NSC. Questa scanalatura, conosciuta come “il controllo in bianco riservato,„ ha permesso che Poindexter ed il nord trasmettessero l'un l'altro i messaggi senza il loro che è diretto attraverso le scanalature in cui altre sul personale di NSC potrebbero selezionarle.
Fra dal 22 al 29 novembre 1986, il nord ha cancellato dai suoi messaggi dell'archivio elettronico 736 e Poindexter ha cancellato 5.012 messaggi durante lo stesso period.2 malgrado queste omissioni, i nastri ordinariamente conservati di sostegno della Casa Bianca che contengono tutti i dati nel sistema affinchè due settimane proteggesse da perdita eventuale. Quando l'Iran/contra l'affare è stato esposto nel novembre 1986 tardo, l'agenzia di comunicazioni della Casa Bianca, che controlla il sistema di elaborazione di NSC, ha mantenuto i nastri di sostegno che datano dal 15 novembre. I ricercatori, quindi, potevano richiamare le copie di tutti i messaggi che erano negli archivi informatici di Poindexter-Nord nel metà di novembre 1986 prima che la maggior parte delle omissioni accadessero. Questi messaggi del calcolatore si sono trasformati in in prova importante sia nel Poindexter che nelle prove del nord.
2 Williams, testimonianza di prova di Poindexter, 3/15/90, pp. 1752-65.
Poindexter ammesso a molte delle sue attività prima che i comitati ristretti nel luglio 1987 sotto una concessione di immunità testimonial, che ha impedito le sue ammissioni usando contro di lui nel procedimento affatto criminale. Poiché il presidente Reagan non ha testimoniato in quanto la tribuna, Poindexter è stata denominata per rispondere alla domanda che ha dominato le udienze: Il presidente ha saputo circa ed approvare la diversione le vendite di armi dell'Iran continua ai contras? Poindexter ha risposto a no, “gli arresti del buck qui con me.„ 3 ha detto che ha ritenuto deliberatamente le informazioni dal presidente Reagan perché ``ho desiderato il presidente avere certo deniability in modo che sia protetto. . . . '' 4
3 Poindexter, testimonianza prescelta dei comitati, 7/15/87, P. 95.
4 Ibid., P. 101.
Di fronte ad una prova criminale, Poindexter ha confrontato un dilemma differente: Non era più una questione di protezione del presidente ma difendersi contro cinque spese di crimine. Prima del congresso, testimonianza più significativa del Poindexter smentite ripetute del presidente Reagan confermato di consapevolezza dell'Iran/contra la diversione. Nell'aula di tribunale, Poindexter ha montato una difesa di alto-autorizzazione, tentante di convincere la giuria che il presidente aveva approvato le sue azioni, compreso quelle che hanno provocato le spese criminali. Invece di testimoniare nella sua propria difesa, tuttavia, ha denominato il presidente Reagan per testimoniare.
Atti Pre-Trial
Stati Uniti Giudice Gerhard A. del distretto. Gesell nel giugno 1988 ha ordinato che la cassa del multi-difensore contro Poindexter, nord, Secord e Hakim è severed.5 dopo la separazione, caso del Poindexter è stato trasferito al giudice principale Aubrey E. Robinson, Jr. ed allora giudicare Greene, che ha presieduto ulteriori atti dell'eccedenza.
5 per una descrizione più dettagliata della separazione della cassa del multi-difensore, veda il capitolo del nord.
Tutte le sfide sostanziali del Poindexter alla validità dell'atto d'accusa sono state allontanate prima della prova. Le edizioni importanti restanti si sono interessate: (1) la conservazione della carica di cospirazione; (2) la risoluzione delle classific-informazioni disputa; (3) la risoluzione delle edizioni relative alla testimonianza congressuale immunizzata del Poindexter, secondo il regolamento conosciuto come Kastigar; e (4) lo sforzo riuscito del difensore assicurare testimonianza di prova dall'ex presidente Reagan.
La conservazione e limitare dei problemi della carica
di cospirazione con le informazioni classificate hanno condotto allo scioglimento delle spese centrali di cospirazione prima della prova del nord ed i problemi simili si sono pensati che presentassero nell'argomento contro Poindexter. Il 20 giugno 1989, i consulenti legali indipendenti si sono mossi per eliminare le vaste spese originali di cospirazione basate sul rifornimento dei contras e della diversione e per limitare sostanzialmente la carica della cospirazione per violare gli altri statuti criminali sostanziali, dichiarazione false ostili ed ostruzione. Dopo le limature e la discussione orale, la corte ha assegnato il movimento del governo.
La carica era refocused sull'atto illegale della cospirazione con il nord e Secord celare le attività dal congresso. I consulenti legali indipendenti hanno sostenuto con successo che questo stringimento della carica di cospirazione minimizzerebbe i problemi delle classific-informazioni che hanno contagiato il processo del nord.
Le informazioni classificate pubblicano
le procedure classificate delle informazioni si comportano (CIPA) hanno permesso che la corte di prova efficacemente risolvesse i problema che coinvolgono l'uso dei documenti e della testimonianza classificati in Poindexter. Giudichi il controllo del Greene del processo di CIPA e le trattative fruttuose fra i consulenti legali per il governo e Poindexter risolti la maggior parte delle dispute con un minimo di fa ritardare.
Contrariamente al nord, non ci era prolungato o la controversia significativa riguardo alla forma o alla portata degli avvisi di CIPA del Poindexter alla corte rilevare ha classificato le informazioni alla prova. Fra il 27 novembre 1989 e 13 marzo 1990, Poindexter ha servito 11 tali avviso, compreso la testimonianza classificata possibile di descrizione otto che i documenti classificati elencati lui hanno desiderato usare alla prova, due ed uno messo a fuoco solamente sulle informazioni che ha desiderato trarre al deposito del presidente Reagan.
Giudichi Greene ha ordinato che tutte le differenze che eccedenza ha classificato le informazioni sono negoziate fra i partiti prima di essere portato davanti alla corte. Giudichi Greene ha tenuto sei udienze chiuse di CIPA prima della prova ha cominciato e completato quelli con parecchie udienze più corte durante la prova. La maggior parte delle sue decisioni sull'attinenza e sull'ammissibilità delle informazioni classificate e sull'adeguatezza delle sostituzioni proposte dal governo, sono state fatte dal banco.
Presi insieme, gli avvisi di CIPA del Poindexter hanno elencato circa 1.200 documenti, solo una piccola frazione di cui infine è stata introdotta alla prova. La maggior parte delle informazioni classificate sono state coperte dalle stipulazioni del Government a determinati fatti e ad altre sostituzioni non classificate. Ciò ha permesso che la prova continuasse uniformemente, senza i conflitti che hanno complicato il nord o l'argomento contro la stazione precedente Joseph principale F. di CIA. Fernandez, che era allontanato dovuto le classific-informazioni problems.6
6 vede il capitolo del Fernandez.
Gli atti Poindexter
di Kastigar sono stati costretti sotto una concessione di immunità di uso a testimoniare in 1987 prima dei comitati ristretti che studiano l'Iran/contra. Come l'altro Iran/contra i difensori che hanno dato la testimonianza immunizzata prima del congresso, Poindexter spostato per allontanare l'atto d'accusa sulla teoria che ha violato i campioni enunciati in Kastigar v. Gli Stati Uniti, 7 che sostengono che la sua testimonianza immunizzata è stata usata contro di lui nella grande giuria ed alla prova. Questa discussione ha dimostrato infruttuoso al livello di prova ma infine è prevalso nella Corte d'Appello.
i 7 406 Stati Uniti 411 (1972).
Prima che le loro prove si dividano, Poindexter spostato insieme con il nord e Hakim, che inoltre avevano ricevuto l'immunità per testimoniare prima del congresso, per avere le spese contro di loro ha allontanato sulla terra che la prova contro di loro è stata alterata dalla loro testimonianza immunizzata. Il giudice Gesell ha negato quel movimento. Tuttavia, nella deferenza a difesa sostiene che userebbero uno - possibilmente la testimonianza immunizzata giustificativa di un altro, il giudice Gesell nel giugno 1988 ha diviso le prove.
Poindexter ha rinnovato il suo movimento di Kastigar prima del giudice Greene nell'agosto 1989. Dopo l'istruzione e la discussione, 8 la corte hanno ordinato che due udienze probatorie sono tenute. Al primo, la corte ha sentito la testimonianza dai consulenti legali Dan K. del socio. Webb e Howard M. Imperli riguardo alla loro esposizione alla testimonianza immunizzata del Poindexter prima di unire l'ufficio dei consulenti legali indipendenti. Webb e la perla hanno unito il personale di OIC in 1989 e non hanno avuti, prima dei loro appuntamenti, stato conforme alle procedure del OIC isolarsi dalla testimonianza immunizzata del Poindexter. Giudichi Greene ha trovato la loro esposizione alla testimonianza del Poindexter per essere insignificante ed ha permesso che entrambi gli avvocati partecipassero alla prova.
8 il caso di Poindexter sono stati provati prima della Corte d'Appello regolati nel nord che le udienze del testimone erano necessarie da consentire la prova di un difensore immunizzato.
Il secondo insieme delle udienze di corte ha interessato i testimoni di prova, di cui la testimonianza può essere alterata dalla testimonianza immunizzata del Poindexter. Il giudice Greene ha accettato la revisione più iniziale del Gesell del giudice di grandi testimoni Jury ed ha rifiutato di riesaminare i suoi risultati. Inoltre ha rifiutato di allontanare l'atto d'accusa in base a grande esposizione potenziale del juror alla testimonianza immunizzata.
Per quanto riguarda i testimoni di prova, la corte ha approntato le vaste misure accertarsi che le dichiarazione immunizzate del Poindexter non fossero usate contro di lui. La corte ha ordinato il governo per fare un'ex presentazione del parte (più successivamente rilevata a Poindexter) di tutte le dichiarazione rilasciate dai testimoni di prova potenziali prima che Poindexter desse la sua testimonianza immunizzata prima del congresso nel luglio 1987. La corte ha trovato che tutta la testimonianza proposta di la maggior parte dei testimoni potenziali era stata memorialized prima che Poindexter comparisse pubblicamente il 15 luglio 1987 e quindi non è stata alterata.
Per quanto riguarda quei testimoni di cui hanno previsto che la testimonianza di prova non fosse limitata alla prova OIC aveva sigillato con la corte prima della testimonianza immunizzata del Poindexter, le informazioni supplementari richieste Greene del giudice. Ha concluso che il governo non era riuscito a stabilire che cinque dei relativi testimoni potenziali erano esenti da segno ed aveva ordinato loro da comparire ad un'udienza pre-trial. Due dei tre testimoni che infine sono comparso alla prova credibly hanno affermato che la loro testimonianza prevista non sarebbe influenzata in nessun modo dalla testimonianza immunizzata del Poindexter; il terzo, del nord, rifiutato di fare così.
Nord dichiarato all'udienza pre-trial che non poteva, riguardo a tutto l'oggetto, distinguersi che cosa aveva fatto personalmente, osservato o sperimentato da che cosa aveva imparato dal guardare testimony.9 immunizzato del Poindexter per quanto riguarda distruzione del Poindexter dell'individuazione presidenziale di segreto-azione del dicembre 1985 -- prova importante nell'ostruzione del congresso -- Il nord ha riconosciuto che aveva visto Poindexter distruggere pezzo di carta ma insistita che non ha saputo esso era un'individuazione fino a che Poindexter non dichiarasse quel fatto nella sua testimonianza immunizzata prima del congresso.
9 testimonianza del nord, udienza Pre-trial di Poindexter, 12/13/89, pp. 374-77.
La corte ha rifiutato la testimonianza pre-trial del nord come non believable. Del nord, la corte trovata, ``sembra essere intrapresa a quel tempo [all'udienza] il corso calcolato di tentare di aiutare il suoi ex collega e co-difensore. . . tergiversando sulle varie edizioni. . . opinione 10
, Poindexter, 3/8/90, P. del '' 10. 9.
In una alberino-prova separata che regola, la corte ha aggiunto che per quanto la distruzione dell'individuazione, la testimonianza del nord alla sua propria prova circa l'evento era contradditoria con il suo reclamo che non potrebbe ricordarselo indipendente dalla testimonianza immunizzata del Poindexter. La corte lo ha trovato “inerentemente incredibile„ che il nord non si è ricordato “della sua partecipazione ad un evento ch'ha testimoniato firsthand e quello era come drammatico, effettivamente storico, come lo strappo in su di un'individuazione presidenziale estremamente rara.„ 11
11 Ibid., 5/29/90, pp. 32-40.
Il Subpoena uno
del Reagan delle funzioni più notevoli del caso di Poindexter era il tentativo riuscito del difensore di denominare l'ex presidente Reagan per testimoniare alla sua prova tramite il deposito registrato.
Poindexter in primo luogo ha cercato le note presidenziali presidenziali e vice da OIC come componente delle sue richieste di scoperta pre-trial. In un'udienza pre-trial il 6 settembre 1989, gli avvocati del Poindexter hanno detto alla corte a che le note presidenziali riflettessero quel Poindexter informassero il presidente delle sue smentite al congresso in 1986 di attività di NSC a sostegno dei contras e che le note “mostrerebbero a che cosa il presidente si è detto circa che cosa stava facendo per sostenere i contras in America Centrale ed il consenso del presidente e ratifica e l'approvazione di quell'attività.„ 12 nella ricerca delle note presidenziali vice, gli avvocati del Poindexter hanno detto alla corte che “in qualunque momento [Bush] ha mancato una riunione, l'ammiraglio Poindexter gli ho impartito le direttive su esso in seguito.„ 13
12 Robinson, udienza Pre-trial di Poindexter, 9/6/89, P. 18.
13 Ibid., P. 19.
La corte, prima di prendere una decisione sopra se costringere OIC per redigere l'11 settembre 1989 questi documenti, ha diretto Poindexter per archiviare un ex appunto del parte che spiega precisamente come questi documenti aiuterebbero il suo defense.14 che ha richiesto dai consulenti legali indipendenti un memorandum legale riguardo alla relativa responsabilità di redigere i documenti presidenziali presidenziali e vice non in possesso del OIC.
14 opinione, Poindexter, 9/11/89, P. 22.
Independent Counsel in a filing on September 18, 1989, told the court that the office did not have in its possession presidential notes, but rather had been granted access to notes and allowed to copy only a portion of them with special permission. As far as President Reagan's diary was concerned, Independent Counsel had been allowed to review typed extracts of portions deemed relevant by White House counsel, but the President had retained custody of his diary, which both he and the national archivist regarded as personal records, making them unaccessible under the Presidential Records Act unless their production were compelled by subpoena.15
15 Government's Memorandum Concerning Presidential and Vice Presidential Documents that Are Not in the Possession of Independent Counsel, 9/18/89.
Attached to Independent Counsel's filing was a declaration by John Fawcett, assistant archivist for the Office of Presidential Libraries of the National Archives and Records Administration. Fawcett stated that President Bush's vice presidential records were transferred to the archives at the end of the Reagan Administration, but, ``No personal diary of former Vice President Bush has been specifically identified as being included in the Vice Presidential records. However, these Vice Presidential records have not yet been processed.'' 16
16 Ibid., Exhibit A. President Bush in December 1992 for the first time informed Independent Counsel that he had kept a diary as vice president from 1986 to 1988. See Bush chapter.
On September 25, 1989, Poindexter's attorneys informed the court that ``the defendant is willing to seek access to the personal diaries and notes of former President Reagan and former Vice President Bush pursuant to a . . . subpoena.'' 17 After reviewing Poindexter's ex parte submission on the materiality of presidential and vice presidential documents, the court on October 24, 1989, ruled that there was sufficient likelihood that President Reagan's documents would be material to the defense. Judge Greene differentiated between Reagan and Bush documents, however, because ``the Vice President had no operational authority with respect to Poindexter,'' because the information contained in vice presidential papers may be largely cumulative, and because of deference to the sitting President Bush.18
17 Defendant's Response to Government's Memorandum Concerning Presidential and Vice President Documents That Are Not in the Possession of Independent Counsel, 9/25/89, p. 2.
18 U.S. v. Poindexter, 725 F. Supp. 13, 28-31 (D.D.C. 1989). Judge Greene added that with respect to Bush documents, he would reevaluate the matter if Poindexter at a later date showed a more pressing need for them.
On November 3, 1989, Poindexter filed with the court a classified petition for leave to serve subpoenas on former President Reagan and the National Archives, seeking materials and testimony relevant to Iran/contra activities in 67 categories. On November 16, Judge Greene granted Poindexter's petition. Both President Reagan and the National Archives moved to quash the subpoena for documents.
In a pre-trial hearing December 4 the court stated that its order covered only documents, and not the President's possible trial testimony. On December 18 Poindexter sought the court's leave to subpoena President Reagan to testify at trial. In deciding whether Poindexter could subpoena President Reagan's testimony, Judge Greene asked Poindexter to submit a list of specific questions he intended to ask. Poindexter submitted a list of 183 questions, which were not made available to Independent Counsel.19 The court ruled that the questions directly related to the charges in the indictment and to Poindexter's anticipated defense.
19 In 1993, during preparation of this report, Independent Counsel obtained copies of these questions and other ex parte submissions from Poindexter's case.
In his February 5, 1990, ruling upholding the testimonial subpoena of Reagan, Judge Greene described Poindexter's proposed questions as falling into 12 categories. These included: (1) the frequency and occasions on which President Reagan and Poindexter met; (2) the President's view of the Boland Amendment and how it applied to contra support; (3) whether the President authorized Poindexter to seek foreign support for the contras; (4) what instructions the President gave Poindexter regarding meetings with Central American officials, and what information Poindexter subsequently relayed back to the President; (5) presidential discussions with Central American leaders concerning contra support; (6) presidential discussions with Poindexter regarding actions to be taken if Congress did not renew contra aid; (7) presidential knowledge of North's relationship to Iran/contra figures; (8) Poindexter's briefings of the President regarding a congressional inquiry in 1986 into North's activities; (9) Poindexter's communications with Congress at the direction of the President; (10) whether Poindexter informed the President about Secord's status; (11) discussions Poindexter had with the President regarding a chronology of the Iran arms sales prepared in November 1986; and (12) the President's knowledge of the arms shipments to Iran.
In his opinion explaining his decision to uphold Poindexter's subpoena of President Reagan, Judge Greene concluded:
Former President Ronald Reagan is claimed by Admiral Poindexter to have direct and important knowledge that will help to exonerate him from the criminal charges lodged against him. In view of the prior professional relationship between the two men, and defendant's showing discussed above, that claim cannot be dismissed as fanciful or frivolous. That being so, it would be inconceivable -- in a Republic that subscribes neither to the ancient doctrine of the divine right of kings nor to the more modern conceit of dictators that they are not accountable to the people whom they claim to represent or to their courts of law -- to exempt Mr. Reagan from the duty of every citizen to give evidence that will permit the reaching of a just outcome of this criminal prosecution. Defendant has shown that the evidence of the former President is needed to protect his right to a fair trial, and he will be given the opportunity to secure that evidence.20
20 U.S. v. Poindexter, 732 F. Supp. 142, 159-60 (D.D.C. 1990)
President Reagan did not claim executive privilege once he was ordered to testify.
The seven-hour videotaped deposition of the former President was taken February 16 and 17, 1990, in the Los Angeles federal courthouse, near his residence. The public and the press were not allowed to attend the deposition. Transcripts and the opportunity to view the videotape were made available to members of the press before the trial.
As for Poindexter's subpoena for documents from the former President, Judge Greene ordered President Reagan to make diary entries available for the court's in camera review. After its review, the court ordered President Reagan to produce the relevant diary entries to Poindexter in the absence of a claim of executive privilege. President Reagan, joined by the Bush Administration, claimed executive privilege as to the diary entries on February 5, 1990. On March 21, the court granted the Reagan-Bush motions to quash the subpoena for the diary entries, concluding that Poindexter's defense would be adequately served by the President's testimony.
The Poindexter Trial
The month-long Poindexter trial, which resulted in a five-count conviction on April 7, 1990, centered largely on the testimony of two witnesses: Oliver North for the prosecution and former President Reagan for the defense.
Both men attempted to help the defendant in their appearances on the witness stand, but each had given prior testimony harmful to Poindexter, and they could not deviate from that under threat of perjury charges.21 North could not abandon his earlier defense stance that he dutifully reported his activities -- including those found to be crimes -- to his superior, Poindexter. President Reagan was compelled at trial to state, as he had previously, that he repeatedly told his aides to obey the law and that he was unaware of their criminal acts.
21 Before taking the witness stand in Poindexter, North had testified before the Select Committees in July 1987, at his own trial in 1989, and at a Poindexter pre-trial hearing in 1990.
President Reagan was questioned by his Tower Commission on two occasions in early 1987. More significantly, the President in November 1987 answered 53 written interrogatories from Independent Counsel, which were submitted as sworn testimony to the federal Grand Jury investigating the Iran/contra affair.
Poindexter chose not to testify at his trial.
Although Poindexter and North had destroyed and altered official papers and computer messages, the prosecution offered convincing documentary evidence that Poindexter was kept apprised of North's efforts to provide military aid to the Nicaraguan contras while it was outlawed from October 1984-October 1986 by the Boland Amendment; that Poindexter adopted false statements McFarlane and North made to Congress; and that Poindexter had been fully aware of the ill-fated November 1985 HAWK missile shipment to Iran, which he subsequently tried to conceal from Congress.
The Trial Testimony of Oliver L. North
The testimony of North, named as a co-conspirator in the case, was important to proving each of the five charges against Poindexter:
-- Count One, that Poindexter conspired with North and Secord to obstruct congressional inquiries of Iran- and contra-related matters, to make false statements to Congress, and to falsify, remove and destroy official documents.
-- Count Two, that Poindexter obstructed Congress in 1986 when it was investigating media allegations that North was raising funds and providing military aid to the contras. In letters to three committees, Poindexter answered questions by repeating denials McFarlane made before Congress in 1985 of North's involvement in contra-support activities, even though Poindexter knew the denials to be false. He set up a meeting with the House Intelligence Committee in August 1986 in which he knew North would have to give false testimony, and afterward congratulated North on his performance.
-- Count Three, that Poindexter obstructed Congress in November 1986 by participating with North in the preparation of false chronologies of the secret U.S. arms sales to Iran and by making false statements to the House and Senate intelligence committees. Specifically, Poindexter falsely asserted that no U.S. official knew before January 1986 that HAWK missiles had been shipped to Iran in November 1985. The indictment stated that North as early as November 20, 1985, told Poindexter about the shipment in advance and advised him of it again after the fact in late 1985.
-- Counts Four and Five, that Poindexter made false statements about the HAWK shipment to the House and Senate intelligence committees on November 21, 1986. As in Count Three, the false statement charges were based on North's informing Poindexter about the shipment in 1985.
In four days of trial testimony, North reluctantly recounted his central operational role in the Iran/contra affair. He described the extensive contra-resupply network he ran with Secord and Hakim,22 his contra fund-raising efforts, and the military advice he gave the contras. He testified that he kept his bosses McFarlane and Poindexter fully informed of his activities and that he acted only with their approval.23
22 North objected to the prosecutor's use of the word ``Enterprise'' to describe the profit-making web of contra- and Iran-related operations he undertook with Secord and Hakim. He also objected to the use of the word ``testimony'' in reference to the false statements he made before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in August 1986, and the word ``diversion'' to describe the scheme in which he, Poindexter and others diverted Iran arms sales proceeds to the contras.
23 North, Poindexter Trial Testimony, 3/12/90, pp. 1275-76.
North, who was forced to testify for the prosecution under a grant of immunity, frequently claimed that he could not recall many of the incidents in question, some of which had occurred several years before. North admitted a wide range of contra-support and Iran-related actions only when confronted with prior testimony in which he had provided extensive details.
North admitted that he lied in August 1986 when he told the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) he was not engaged in raising funds or providing military support to the Nicaraguan contras.24 North described exchanges with Poindexter before and after the meeting that directly implicated Poindexter in a scheme to frustrate the congressional investigation.25
24 Ibid., 3/9/90, pp. 1042-43.
25 Ibid., 3/12/90, p. 1083.
HPSCI was one of three congressional committees pursuing a House inquiry into reports of North's contra-aid activities. North testified that prior to appearing before the committee in the White House Situation Room, he told Poindexter he would be asked about ``things that I had been told never to reveal.'' 26 In response, Poindexter told him, ``You can handle it, you can take care of it,'' according to North.27
26 Ibid., 3/9/90, p. 1033.
27 Ibid.
After receiving reports of North's statements to HPSCI, which Poindexter knew were false, Poindexter by way of his computer sent North a terse congratulatory message: ``Well done.'' 28
28 PROFs Note from Poindexter to North, 8/11/86, AKW 018921.
Based on the statements of North and Poindexter, HPSCI Chairman Lee Hamilton informed other members of Congress that the media allegations about North could not be proven. North's false testimony, in combination with Poindexter's perpetuation of McFarlane's previous lies, successfully frustrated the congressional oversight process. It was not until Nicaraguan soldiers on October 5, 1986, shot down a contra-resupply plane carrying American Eugene Hasenfus that Congress renewed its investigation into North's activities.
North testified that he kept Poindexter apprised of his involvement in the covert sales of U.S. arms to Iran in 1985 and 1986, including the operation's most secret aspect: the Iran/contra diversion. He sent Poindexter five or six memos stating that overcharges to the Iranian buyers would generate millions of dollars for diversion to the contras.29 North said Poindexter told him the diversion should never be revealed.30 North said he reported the diversion plan to Poindexter because he thought that projects funded by it ``ought to have the authority of the President behind them.'' 31
29 North, Poindexter Trial Testimony, 3/12/90, pp. 1107-11.
30 Ibid., pp. 1103-05.
31 Ibid., p. 1111.
North testified that in November 1985, he became directly involved in an Israeli shipment of U.S. HAWK missiles to Iran at McFarlane's behest.32 North said he got permission from both McFarlane, who was then the national security adviser, and Poindexter, then deputy national security adviser, to enlist Secord's help in resolving logistical problems surrounding the shipment.33 He also got McFarlane and Poindexter's permission to supply the Israelis with the name of a CIA-connected airline to assist.34 North outlined the details of the planned HAWK shipment in a computer note to Poindexter on November 20, 1985.35 By memoranda on December 4 and on December 9, 1985, North informed Poindexter that the Iranians were unhappy with the shipment and wanted the missiles to be retrieved.36
32 Ibid., pp. 1118-20.
33 Ibid., pp. 1121-22.
34 Ibid., pp. 1122-27.
35 PROFs Note from North to Poindexter, 11/20/85, AKW 002066.
36 PROFs Note from North to Poindexter, 12/4/85, AKW 002070-73; Memorandum from North to McFarlane and Poindexter, 12/9/85, AKW 002088-91.
When CIA officials insisted after the HAWK shipment that the President should retroactively authorize the agency's participation in the operation, CIA Director William J. Casey on November 26, 1985, gave Poindexter a covert-action Finding for President Reagan's signature.37 North testified that he saw the signed Finding either in Poindexter's office safe or in the safe of NSC counsel Paul Thompson.38
37 Memorandum from Casey to Poindexter, 11/26/85, AMY 000651-52.
38 North, Poindexter Trial Testimony, 3/12/90, p. 1245.
After public exposure of the Iran arms sales in November 1986, North -- at Poindexter's request -- prepared a chronology of U.S. involvement in the Iran arms sales, which underwent a series of re-writes. North testified that McFarlane removed from the chronology North's factual account of the November 1985 HAWKs shipment and substituted a cover story: that although the CIA became involved in the November 1985 shipment after Israel encountered logistical difficulties, U.S. officials at the time believed the cargo to be oil-drilling parts and did not learn until January 1986 that the true cargo was weapons.39
39 Ibid., pp. 1188-98.
Asked whether the McFarlane revision was part of a plan to ``cover up'' the existence of the November 1985 Finding, North answered: ``I don't know that cover up is the right word. I listened to the President's press conferences, I listened to statements being made by people and they just didn't talk about it.'' 40 North said McFarlane told him the cover story should be incorporated into the chronology because the 1985 Finding authorizing the weapons shipment described too directly an arms-for-hostages swap, which, if exposed, would politically embarrass the President.41
40 Ibid., p. 1191.
41 Ibid., pp. 1190-91.
The same oil-drilling-parts cover story was part of a CIA-prepared chronology that Casey and his deputy, Robert Gates, brought to a White House meeting on November 20, 1986, with Poindexter, North, Meese, Cooper and Thompson. The purpose of the meeting was to prepare Casey and Poindexter for their congressional testimony the following day. North was asked at trial:
Q: . . . did it become clear to you by the time McFarlane tells you that [the finding was too close to an arms-for-hostage swap] and by the time you see the CIA show up with this phony chronology, then at least did it appear to you that there was some effort or plan going on to cover up with U.S. involvement because of that finding?
A: Well, there is no doubt in my mind that I came to realize that finding was a disaster, and I understood that.42
42 Ibid., pp. 1208-09.
North testified that he altered and destroyed numerous documents in October and November 1986 that would have revealed details of the Iran and contra operations. He said he assured Poindexter that he had ``taken care of'' the documents that reflected his activities.43 He said he told Poindexter all the documents describing the Iran/contra diversion were destroyed, after learning from Poindexter on November 21, 1986, that Attorney General Meese would be conducting a weekend investigation into the Iran arms sales.44 North also testified that he altered other original NSC documents, after receiving Poindexter's permission to retrieve them from the NSC document-archiving system.45
43 Ibid., p. 1218.
44 Ibid., pp. 1120-21.
45 Ibid., pp. 1224-27.
More important, North reluctantly testified that he saw Poindexter destroy the only known copy of the signed presidential Finding that sought to authorize retroactively the November 1985 shipment of HAWK missiles to Iran.46 North's eyewitness account of the destruction of the Finding provided significant proof of Poindexter's intent to conceal facts about the HAWK missile shipment from Congress in November 1986.47
46 Ibid., 1252-54.
47 The destruction of the 1985 Finding was not charged as a separate crime in the indictment of Poindexter because Independent Counsel did not learn of it until North testified about it at his own trial in April 1989. Poindexter had told the Select Committees in 1987 that he destroyed the only signed copy of the 1985 presidential Finding. Independent Counsel did not learn of this statement at the time, however, because the OIC had taken measures to insulate itself from all immunized testimony. Even if Independent Counsel had been aware of the Poindexter testimony, OIC could not have used it in any criminal proceeding against Poindexter under the terms of immunity grant.
North's wide-ranging testimony enabled the prosecution to streamline its witness list to only nine other individuals, many of whom supplemented the central details provided by North.
The Trial Testimony of President Reagan
Before the trial of Poindexter, President Reagan had not testified publicly about Iran/contra. On February 16 and 17, 1990, he gave a seven-hour videotaped deposition as a defense witness. No classified matters were discussed and executive privilege was not invoked in response to any question. The videotaped deposition was shown in full, therefore, to the Poindexter jury during the trial on March 21 and 22, 1990.48
48 Immediately after each tape was shown to the jury, a copy was given to the television networks, allowing the public to see President Reagan's only courtroom testimony on the Iran/contra affair.
In direct examination, defense counsel sought to show presidential knowledge and approval of Poindexter's activities. But President Reagan frequently claimed memory lapses when questioned about specific exchanges he may have had with Poindexter and about his knowledge of individuals and details involved in the Iran and contra operations.
Although President Reagan exhibited virtually no detailed knowledge of the Iran/contra matter, he made clear to the jury that it had his imprimatur, calling it ``a covert action that was taken at my behest.'' 49 President Reagan said North was the only person he remembered being involved in the arms initiative.50 He could not recall being briefed by Poindexter on the May 1986 trip by McFarlane and North to Tehran, but he said he did recall signing a Bible for Iranians.51 President Reagan testified that the amount of weapons sold to Iran totaled $12.2 million.52
49 Reagan, Poindexter Trial Deposition, 2/16/90, p. 9.
50 Ibid., p. 21.
51 Ibid., p. 24.
52 Ibid., pp. 154-55.
Asked specifically about the November 1985 HAWK shipment to Iran, President Reagan said he recalled a plan in which the Israelis would turn their plane around in mid-delivery of the weapons if no hostages were released.53 He did not recall when he became aware of the November 1985 HAWK shipment; 54 he did not recall Poindexter telling him in November 1986 that others in the White House were having trouble remembering when they learned of it.55
53 Ibid., pp. 24-25.
54 Ibid., pp. 33-36.
55 Ibid., pp. 38-39.
President Reagan also claimed virtually no memory of the November 1986 period in which his top advisers were scrambling to limit public exposure of the Iran arms sales. He only generally recalled telling members of Congress about the arms sales on November 12, 1986.56 He could not remember receiving any information from Poindexter for any of his presentations on the matter in that time.57 The former President could not remember asking Poindexter to assemble the facts on the arms sales.58 He could not recall that Poindexter briefed the House and Senate intelligence committees on November 21, 1986.59
56 Ibid., pp. 37-38.
57 Ibid., p. 30.
58 Ibid., p. 28.
59 Ibid., pp. 44-45.
Defense counsel's questions suggested that their client had significant exchanges with the President during the arms-sale period and its aftermath. But Reagan's lack of recollection, and lack of specificity when he did remember events or individuals, left those questions unresolved.
President Reagan provided more helpful testimony for the defense on the subject of contra-support operations. Calling the Boland prohibition on contra funding a ``disaster,'' 60 Reagan testified that he urged his aides to do what they could to support the contras, while staying ``within the law.'' 61 Reagan recalled that Saudi Arabia's King Fahd pledged millions of dollars for the contras.62 He said he told his aides not to solicit contributions for the contras directly but to tell people how they could contribute if they wanted to help.63
60 Ibid., p. 69.
61 Ibid., pp. 53-54.
62 Ibid., pp. 74-75.
63 Ibid., pp. 53-54.
Asked whether Poindexter briefed him on the contras, President Reagan said: ``Oh yes, I depended on him for that.'' 64 He said he had no reason to believe that Poindexter was not keeping him fully informed.
64 Ibid., p. 116.
Asked to describe what he knew about North's responsibilities in the White House, President Reagan said:
Well, he was mainly performing tasks, as I understand it, for the NSC, but he -- his background and record had been one of being decorated for heroism and so forth in the Vietnamese conflict, and that he had been a very bold and brave soldier -- Marine.
And -- so, he was -- it was my impression, not from any specific reports or anything, that in through all of this that he was communicating back and forth between on the need for the support of the Contras and so forth.65
65 Ibid., p. 131.
In addition to professing a benign view of North and his activities, President Reagan indicated general knowledge of and support for the contra-resupply operation in Central America:
Q: Do you recall any discussions that he [Poindexter] may have had with you about the construction of an airstrip down there in Central America?
A: Well, I did hear -- we had learned that there was a rather primitive lane in there in the jungle near the border of Costa Rican [sic], and that was then being put into better shape as a usable airstrip.
Q: Did you have any -- do you recall any discussion about who was constructing the airstrip?
A: Well, no. I assume it was the Costa Rican government.
Q: And do you know what that airstrip was going to be used for?
A: Well, I know that -- I hoped that it would be used in the delivery of when once again we could supply, keep the Contras supplied, that it could be involved in the -- used there, if there was need for a refueling or anything of that kind of a plane.66
66 Ibid., p. 121.
President Reagan was then asked whether he knew who would be using the Costa Rican airstrip for contra resupply. His answer reflected knowledge of the operation supposedly being funded and run by private citizens -- the so-called ``private benefactors'' -- that was in fact being run by Secord at North's direction:
Q: Do you know who it was that was going to be using the airstrip? It was going to be used for supplying the Contras, but do you know who it was that was actually going to be doing the supplying and using the airstrip?
A: No, I do not on that. I don't think -- I don't think I ever considered that it would be military planes of ours. So, possibly some of those that weren't officially planes of ours that had been helping in the past in deliveries to the Contras and so forth.
Q: Earlier this morning or earlier today, I should say, you mentioned General Secord. That you knew that he was involved in the Contra supply effort.
Was it part of his operation you thought that he might be using the airstrip?
A: I can't say that I actually recall that, but it seems to me logical that he would have been involved in that.67
67 Ibid., p. 122.
President Reagan, who winked and smiled at Poindexter from the witness stand, did not hide his contempt toward congressional inquiries into NSC staff contra-support activities. Shown misleading letters written by Poindexter in July 1986 to the committees of Congress that were investigating allegations of North's contra efforts, Reagan said: ``I am in total agreement. If I had written it myself, I might have used a little profanity.'' 68
68 Ibid., pp. 146-47.
In cross-examination, the prosecution was able to impeach much of President Reagan's testimony. This was possible because Reagan late in 1987 had answered, under oath, 53 written interrogatories for Independent Counsel and the Grand Jury investigating the Iran/contra matter.
The July 21, 1986, letters -- in which Poindexter embraced and perpetuated the lies McFarlane had told Congress about North's contra-support activities a year earlier -- were a key element in the obstruction charges against the defendant. Under cross-examination by the prosecution, President Reagan was asked whether he was aware that the Poindexter letters repeated McFarlane's previous lies. The former President equivocated:
Well, I simply -- no, I did not have this information, but I have a great deal of confidence in the man who was quoted as sending these letters, McFarlane. And I have never -- I have never caught him or seen him doing anything that was in any way out of line or dishonest. And so, I was perfectly willing to accept his defense.69
69 Ibid., p. 151.
President Reagan said he did not know that McFarlane had pleaded guilty to withholding information from Congress in connection with the false letters.70
70 Ibid., pp. 220-21.
Asked whether he approved either the McFarlane or Poindexter letters to Congress, the former President said he had no recollection of doing so, adding that his memory could be faulty.71 Asked directly whether he would approve of sending false information to Congress, President Reagan conceded that he would not.72 Would he have authorized Poindexter to make false statements to Congress? President Reagan again attempted to assist his former aide: ``No. And I don't think any false statements were made.'' 73
71 Ibid., pp. 150-51.
72 Ibid., pp. 151-52.
73 Ibid., p. 158.
President Reagan also testified that he did not approve the destruction of Iran/contra documents by Poindexter, and that he was not told about their destruction.74 But the former President, in response to subsequent questioning, described the dilemma in which he placed his aides in November 1986 by instructing them that certain information could not be revealed because ``it will bring to risk and danger to people that are held and with the people that we were negotiating with.'' 75
74 Ibid., p. 160.
75 Ibid., p. 252.
Asked again whether he approved the destruction of alteration of any Iran/contra records, President Reagan said: ``And this, I cannot answer. I cannot recall because it is the possibility that there were such papers that would violate the secrecy that was protecting those individuals' lives.'' 76 President Reagan had denied in response to the earlier written interrogatories that he approved the destruction and alteration of documents; when confronted with his previous testimony he stated that it was truthful.
76 Ibid., p. 255.
On the issue of the contras, President Reagan said he ``never had any inkling'' that North was guiding their military strategy.77 But Reagan muddied the issue in a later statement about North:
77 Ibid., p. 170.
I know that he [North] was very active, and that was certainly with my approval, because I yesterday made plain how seriously I felt about the Contra situation and what it meant to all of us here in the Americas. And, so, obviously, there were many things that were being done. But, again, as I say, I was convinced that they were all being done within the law.78
78 Ibid., p. 189.
In questioning about the Iran/contra diversion, President Reagan surprisingly asserted that he had no proof that a diversion had occurred:
And to this day, I still with all of the investigations that have been made, I still have never been given one iota of evidence as to who collected the price, who delivered the final delivery of the weapons, or what was -- whether there was ever more money in that Swiss account that had been diverted someplace else. I am still waiting to find those things out and have never found them out.79
79 Ibid., p. 155.
Asked whether he had approved a diversion, Reagan again stated:
May I simply point out that I had no knowledge then or now that there had been a diversion, and I never used the term. And all I knew was that there was some money that came from some place in another account, and that the appearance was that it might have been a part of the negotiated sale. And to this day, I don't have any information or knowledge that that wasn't the total amount that -- or that there was a diversion.80
80 Ibid., p. 156.
Asked again whether he would have approved a diversion, President Reagan said he would not. But, he added, ``No one has proven to me that there was a diversion.'' 81
81 Ibid., p. 157.
President Reagan said he did not recall that the Tower Commission concluded in March 1987 that, in fact, a diversion had occurred. ``I, to this day, do not recall ever hearing that there was a diversion,'' he said.82 Shown that portion of the Tower Commission report describing the diversion, Reagan said: ``This report -- this is the first time that I have ever seen a reference that actually specified there was a diversion.'' 83
82 Ibid., p. 240.
83 Ibid., p. 243.
Asked whether Poindexter should have told him about an Iran/contra diversion, Reagan said: ``Yes. Unless maybe he thought he was protecting me from something.'' 84
84 Ibid., pp. 243-44.
The Verdict and Sentencing
After six days of deliberation, the jury on April 7, 1990, found Poindexter guilty of each of the five felony charges against him. Judge Greene on June 11, 1990, sentenced Poindexter to six months imprisonment on each of the five counts, to be served concurrently.
In imposing the sentence, Judge Greene noted complaints by Poindexter's supporters that the most he was guilty of was having become embroiled in a political quarrel between the White House and Congress. Judge Greene stated:
Whatever may have been the nature of the original dispute, what the defendant and his associates did was emphatically not a part of the normal political process.
. . . When Admiral Poindexter and his associates obstructed the Congress, what were they seeking to accomplish? In a word, it was to nullify the decision that body had made on the issue of supplies to the Contras. . . .
President Reagan did not, or for parliamentary reasons he could not, veto the bill [which contained the Boland prohibition on contra aid]. He did not attempt to assert his own constitutional powers or take the issue to the people, and at the conclusion of the political process the Boland Amendment thus became law.
No problem. What the president was unwilling or unable to do -- to defeat this law -- Admiral Poindexter, together with Oliver North and others, did on their own. They decided that the policy embodied in the Boland Amendment was wrong, and they went about to violate it on a large scale and for a lengthy period, and then to lie about their activities to prevent the Congress and the public from finding out. . . .
With all due respect to the distinguished military records of Admiral Poindexter, Colonel North, General Secord, and the others, they have no standing in a democratic society to invalidate the decisions made by elected officials . . . As I said several times during the trial, it is immaterial to this criminal case who was right and who was wrong about the wisdom of the Contra policy. That is not what this trial was about. The jury and this court were not competent to decide for this nation whether resistance forces in Nicaragua should or should not have been supplied with weapons.
But more importantly for present purposes, neither was Admiral Poindexter. When he and his associates took it upon themselves to make that decision anyway, to implement it on a broad scale, and to work actively to keep what they were doing from the Congress and the public, they not only violated various statutes. They were also in violation of a principle fundamental to this constitutional Republic -- that those elected by and responsible to the people shall make the important policy decisions, and that their decisions may not be nullified by appointed officials who happen to be in positions that give them the ability to operate programs prohibited by law. It is unfortunate that, whatever may be his view of his own purposes and actions, the defendant still gives no evidence of recognizing that principle and the seriousness of its violation.
Given the nature of the offenses, the sentencing principle that is primarily applicable here is that of deterrence, and as a practical matter, deterrence means meaningful penalties. If the court were not to impose such a penalty here, when the defendant before it was the decision-making head of the Iran-contra operation, its action would be tantamount to a statement that a scheme to lie to and obstruct Congress is of no great moment, and that even if the perpetrators are found out, the courts will treat their criminal acts as no more than minor infractions.
A message of that kind could not help but encourage others in positions of authority and secrecy to frustrate laws that fail to accord with their notions of what is best for this country, and to carry out their own private policies in the name of the United States. . . .85
85 Judge Greene, Poindexter Transcript of Sentencing, 6/11/90, pp. 18-22
The Appeal
A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in a 2-1 decision on November 15, 1991, reversed Poindexter's convictions on the grounds that his trial was impermissibly tainted by his immunized congressional testimony. The Poindexter ruling was based on the appeals court decision in the North case, which extended the protections of the use immunity statute to prohibit use of any witness whose testimony has been refreshed or shaped in any way by the defendant's immunized testimony. In his dissenting opinion, Chief Judge Abner Mikva noted that the majority ruling ``tells future defendants that all they need to evade responsibility [to testify at trial] is a well timed case of amnesia.'' 86
86 U.S. v. Poindexter, 951 F.2d 369, 390 (D.C. Cir. 1991).
The Poindexter appeals panel also overturned the two obstruction convictions on the grounds that the statute was ``unconstitutionally vague'' in its proscription of ``corruptly'' endeavoring to impede a congressional inquiry. The appeals panel ruled that a defendant's lying to Congress does not constitute obstruction unless the defendant corruptly influences someone else to do so. Again, Chief Judge Mikva dissented, finding it ``obvious . . . that Poindexter 'corruptly' obstructed the congressional investigation when he lied to Congress.'' 87
87 Ibid.
In October 1992, Independent Counsel petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to review the Poindexter case. Independent Counsel said the appeals court ruling that the obstruction statute was unconstitutional ``leaves a large gap in the criminal law, while endorsing a method of analyzing constitutional vagueness challenges that could prove enormously destructive to a substantial body of federal legislation.'' 88 The petition noted that at least 17 other laws besides the obstruction statute at issue use the word ``corruptly'' to define an element of the offense.89
88 U.S. v. Poindexter, Crim. No. 88-0080-01, Petition for Writ of Certiorari by United States of America, at 9 (October 1992).
89 Ibid., p. 10.
On immunized testimony, Independent Counsel in its petition to the Supreme Court said the appeals ruling in Poindexter would
make almost impossible the prosecution of any case involving public immunized statements that requires testimony by persons sympathetic to the accused, such as co-conspirators or other associates. And the dangers of abuse and manipulation are magnified by the court of appeals' view, expressed in North, that a witness inclined to assist the defense may become disqualified from testifying at trial by the simple expedient of soaking himself in the defendant's immunized statements. 90
90 Ibid., p. 22.
Independent Counsel also noted that the appeals ruling
. . . will have its most profound impact on cases involving public immunized testimony before Congress -- cases that, by definition, involve issues of the most fundamental import. If the court of appeals has erred, this Court should right that error before significant further damage is done to the legislative oversight function. 91
91 Ibid., p. 29.
The U.S. Supreme Court in December 1992 declined, without comment, to review the Poindexter case.
Conclusion
Poindexter was responsible for providing President Reagan with advice on national-security matters of highest importance. What his conviction showed was that a jury of ordinary citizens can sort and weigh complex evidence and agree that obstructing and lying to Congress is a serious act worthy of felony conviction.
The Poindexter trial served the public interest in another sense. Poindexter's determination to call President Reagan as a witness allowed the public the rare opportunity to see him testify for seven hours about the Iran/contra matter.
The completion of the Poindexter trial in April 1990, two years after the original indictment was returned, necessitated the re-activation of the criminal investigation into Iran/contra. For the first time, Poindexter and North were available for questioning by Independent Counsel. Although this decision was questioned by some, Independent Counsel determined that his Iran/contra investigative mandate could not be fulfilled until the central operational figures were interrogated to find out whether other high-ranking officials helped support and cover up their activities.
Verurteilen der überführten Täter in den Vereinigten Staaten
Automatically translated into German thanks to WorldLingo
Kapitel 3
Vereinigte Staaten V. John M. Poindexter
Marine-Laster Adm. John M. Poindexter wurde als Präsident Reagans Staatssicherheit Berater am 4. Dezember 1985 ernannt und folgte Robert C. McFarlane, dem Poindexter darunter als Abgeordnetes für zwei Jahre gedient hatte. Poindexters beendete Hauskarriere 25. November 1986, als er gezwungen wurde, unmittelbar nach der allgemeinen Freigabe des Irans/gegen Ablenkung abzufinden.
Poindexter, Leutnant. Spalte Oliver Norden und McFarlane waren der drei Einzelpersonen Attorney General Edwin Meese III am 25. November 1986 gekennzeichnet, wie kenntnisreich von der Ablenkung. Überwachung Poindexters des Nordens und seine eigene Teilnahme am Iran und gegen Betriebe waren frühe Foki der Untersuchung des unabhängigen Ratschlags.
Wie im Argument gegen Nord-, kriminellen Beweis gegen Poindexter mußte schnell erfaßt werden, bevor er gezwungen wurde, auf dem Capitol Hill am Sommer von 1987 unter einer Bewilligung der begrenzten Immunität zu bezeugen. Andernfalls war die Verfolgung von Poindexter wahrscheinlich herausgefordert zu werden, mit der Begründung daß sie von abgeleitet wurde oder auf gewisse Weise durch sein immunisiertes Kongreßzeugnis beeinflußt.
Am 16. März 1988 wurde Poindexter auf sieben Kapitalverbrechenaufladungen angeklagt, die aus seiner Miteinbeziehung im Iran/gegen Angelegenheit, als Teil einer das 23 Zählimpuls Multibeklagte Anklage entstehen. Er wurde mit Norden, pensionierter Luftwaffe Major genannt. Generator. Richard V. Secord und Albert Hakim als Mitglied der Verschwörung, zum die Vereinigte Staaten Regierung, indem sie den Iran/gegen Ablenkung und andere, zu betrügen bewirken fungiert.
Nachdem die Fälle getrennt wurden und zwei der ursprünglichen Aufladungen entlassen, wurde Poindexter im April 1990 fünf Kapitalverbrechen versucht und überführt und schloß ein: ein Zählimpuls des Verschwörens, amtliche Anfragen und Verfahren, zwei Zählimpulse des Versperrens des Kongresses und zwei Zählimpulse der falschen Aussagen zu Congress.1 US zu versperren Bezirk Richter Harold H. Greene verurteilte ihn zu einer Sechsmonatsgefängnisbezeichnung. Im November 1991 wurden überzeugungen Poindexters auf Anklang umgeworfen. Im Dezember 1992 die US Höchstes Gericht gesunken, um den Fall zu wiederholen.
1 der Poindexter Fall wurde durch Teilnehmer-Ratschläge Dan K. versucht. Webb, Christ J. Mixter, Howard M. Perle und Louise R. Radin.
Poindexter verband den Staatssicherheit Ratpersonal im Juni 1981 und folgte einer bemerkenswerten Marinekarriere, die Linienschiff Befehl und Hochklassifizierung Pentagonpfosten einschloß. Im Oktober 1983 er wurde Abgeordneter zum Staatssicherheit Berater McFarlane; unter seinen Untergebenen war Nord. Während Poindexters des einjährigen Besitzes als Staatssicherheit Berater, der im Dezember 1985 anfing, beaufsichtigte er den Iran/gegen Betriebe, in denen Norden direkt miteinbezogen wurde.
Im November 1986 während die geheimen Betriebe öffentlich herausgestellt wurden, stand Poindexter dem älteren Leitung Beamten, das für die Besprechung anderer oberer Berater des Präsidenten über die der Iran Waffenverkäufe verantwortlich ist. In einer Reihe von Haussitzungen mit anderen Beamten und Mitgliedern des Kongresses während des Monats, breitete er wiederholt eine falsche Version der Verhandlungen, die Präsidenten Reagan vom erlaubterweise fraglichen 1985 Armversand überholten, der durch Israel gebildet wurde, besonders die November 1985 Falke-Flugkörperverhandlung aus.
Obgleich Poindexter der Wortführer war, war er nicht für das Kennen der Tatsachen alleinverantwortliches. Praktisch jeder andere höhere Beamte, einschließlich Präsidenten Reagan, der hörte, daß seine Version der Waffenverkäufe in den Anweisungen während November 1986 Anlaß zur Annahme ihn hatte, waren falsch. Dennoch keine, entsprechend gleichzeitigen Anmerkungen jener Anweisungen, Speiche bis zu korrektem Poindexter.
Poindexter zusammen mit Norden und andere im November 1986 versucht, um die Papierspur zu zerreißen und zu ändern, die ihren Iran/reflektiert, gegen Tätigkeiten. Unter anderem zerstörte Poindexter das einzige bestehende unterzeichnete Präsidentenc$verborgentätigkeit Finden, das CIA Miteinbeziehung im November 1985 Falkeversand rückwirkend autorisieren sollte.
Poindexter und Norden war weniger erfolgreich, wenn sie die Computeranzeige Spur von ihrem Iran/gegen Tätigkeiten ausrotteten. Poindexter und Norden standen häufig durch eine spezielle Führung in Verbindung, die Poindexter, ein Computerexperte, auf das NSC Computersystem aufgestellt hatte. Diese Führung, bekannt als „der private Blankoscheck,“ ließ Poindexter und Norden Anzeigen ohne ihr miteinander neu legen, der durch Führungen verlegt wurde, in denen andere auf dem NSC Personal sie aussortieren konnten.
Zwischen 22. bis 29. November 1986 löschte Norden aus seinen Anzeigen der Datei 736, und Poindexter löschte 5.012 Anzeigen während des gleichen period.2 trotz dieser Auslassungen, die gespeicherten Unterstützungklebebänder des Weißen Hauses routinemäßig, die alle Daten im System enthalten, damit zwei Wochen gegen unbeabsichtigten Verlust sich schützen. Als der Iran/gegen Angelegenheit in spätem November 1986 herausgestellt wurde, behielt die das Haus-Kommunikationen Agentur, die das NSC Computersystem handhabt, die Unterstützungsklebebänder, die ab dem 15. November datieren. Forscher waren folglich in der Lage, Kopien aller Anzeigen zurückzuholen, die in den Poindexter-Norden Dateien mittleres November 1986 waren, bevor die meisten Auslassungen auftraten. Diese Computeranzeigen wurden wichtiger Beweis im Poindexter und in den Nordversuchen.
2 Williams, Poindexter Probezeugnis, 3/15/90, pp. 1752-65.
Poindexter zugelassen worden zu vielen seiner Tätigkeiten bevor die auserwählten Ausschüsse im Juli 1987 unter einer Bewilligung der testimonial Immunität, die seine Aufnahmen an gegen ihn im irgendwie kriminellen Verfahren verwendet werden verhinderte. Weil Präsident Reagan nicht dadurch bezeugte, daß Forum, Poindexter benannt wurde, um die Frage zu beantworten, die die Hörfähigkeiten beherrschte: Wußte der Präsident ungefähr und die Ablenkung die der Iran Waffenverkäufe zu genehmigen fährt zu den contras fort? Poindexter beantwortete Nr., „die Dollaranschläge hier mit mir.“ 3, die er sagte, daß er absichtlich die Informationen vom Präsidenten Reagan zurückhielt, weil ``ich den Präsidenten irgendein deniability haben wünschte, damit er geschützt würde. . . . '' 4
3 Poindexter, auserwähltes Ausschuss-Zeugnis, 7/15/87, P. 95.
4 Ibid., P. 101.
Einen kriminellen Versuch gegenüberstellend, konfrontierte Poindexter ein anderes Dilemma: Es war nicht mehr eine Frage des Schützens des Präsidenten aber des Verteidigens gegen fünf Kapitalverbrechenaufladungen. Vor Kongreß Poindexters bedeutendstes Zeugnis bekräftigten Präsident Reagans wiederholte Ablehnungen des Bewußtseins des Irans/gegen Ablenkung. Im Gerichtssaal brachte versuchte Poindexter eine Hochermächtigung Verteidigung an und, die Jury, daß der Präsident seine Tätigkeiten genehmigt hatte, einschließlich die zu überzeugen, die kriminelle Aufladungen ergaben. Anstatt, den Standplatz in seiner eigenen Verteidigung zu nehmen jedoch an rief er Präsidenten Reagan, um zu bezeugen.
Vorverfahren
US Bezirk Richter Gerhard A. Gesell bestellte im Juni 1988, daß der Multibeklagtes Kasten gegen Poindexter, Norden, Secord und Hakim severed.5 nach Abtrennung ist, Fall Poindexters wurde gebracht auf Hauptrichter Aubrey E. Robinson, jr. und Greene dann beurteilen, der weitere Verfahren des überschusses vorsaß.
5 für eine ausführlichere Beschreibung der Abtrennung des Multibeklagtes Kastens, sehen Sie Nordkapitel.
Alle Poindexters substantivische Herausforderungen zur Gültigkeit der Anklage wurden vor Versuch entlassen. Die restlichen wichtigen Ausgaben betroffen: (1) die Bewahrung der Verschwörungaufladung; (2) die Auflösung der Einstufeninformationen Debatten; (3) die Auflösung der Ausgaben bezogen auf Poindexters immunisiertem Kongreßzeugnis, unter dem Anordnen bekannt als Kastigar; und (4) die erfolgreiche Bemühung des Beklagten, Probezeugnis vom ehemaligen Präsidenten Reagan zu sichern.
Das Konservieren und das Verengen der Verschwörung-Aufladung
Probleme mit eingestuften Informationen führten zu die Entlassung der zentralen Verschwörungaufladungen vor dem Nordversuch, und ähnliche Probleme wurden erwartet, um im Argument gegen Poindexter zu entstehen. Am 20. Juni 1989 bewogen unabhängige Ratschläge, um die ursprünglichen ausgedehnten Verschwörungaufladungen zu beseitigen, die nach dem Versorgungsmaterial der contras und der Ablenkung und die Aufladung der Verschwörung im wesentlichen zu verengen, um andere substantivische kriminelle Gesetze, verbietende falsche Aussagen und Hindernis zu verletzen gegründet wurden. Nach Archivierungen und Mundargument bewilligte das Gericht die Bewegung der Regierung.
Die Aufladung war refocused auf der ungültigen Tat des Verschwörens mit Norden und Secord, Tätigkeiten vom Kongreß zu verbergen. Unabhängige Berater argumentierten erfolgreich, daß dieses Verengen der Verschwörungaufladung die Einstufeninformationen Probleme herabsetzen würde, die die Nordverfolgung quälten.
Eingestufte Informationen geben
die eingestuften Informationen Verfahren fungieren (CIPA) ließen das Probegericht effektiv die Ausgaben beheben heraus, die den Gebrauch von eingestuften Dokumenten und Zeugnis in Poindexter mit einbeziehen. Beurteilen Sie überwachung Greenes des CIPA Prozesses und fruchtbare Vermittlungen zwischen den Ratschlägen für die Regierung und Poindexter, die den meisten Debatten mit einem Minimum von behoben werden, verzögert.
Im Gegensatz zu Norden gab es kein ausgedehnt, oder der bedeutende Rechtsstreit hinsichtlich ist der Form oder des Bereichs der Nachrichten CIPA Poindexters zum Gericht freizugeben stufte Informationen am Versuch ein. Zwischen 27. November 1989 und 13. März 1990 diente Poindexter 11 solche Nachrichten, einschließlich beschreibendes mögliches eingestuftes Zeugnis acht, daß aufgeführte eingestufte Dokumente er am Versuch verwenden wollten, zwei und eine, die nur auf Informationen gerichtet wurde, die er an der Absetzung des Präsidenten Reagan herausbekommen wollte.
Beurteilen Sie Greene bestellte, daß über alle Unterschiede, die überschuß Informationen einstufte, zwischen den Parteien verhandelt werden, bevor man vor dem Gericht geholt wird. Beurteilen Sie Greene hielt sechs geschlossene CIPA Hörfähigkeiten vor dem Versuch anfing und ergänzte die mit einigen kürzeren Hörfähigkeiten während des Versuches. Die meisten seinen Regelungen auf der Bedeutung und der Zulässigkeit der eingestuften Informationen und auf der Angemessenheit des Ersatzes, der durch die Regierung vorgeschlagen wurde, wurden von der Bank gebildet.
Verzeichneten die zusammen genommen, Nachrichten CIPA Poindexters ungefähr 1.200 Dokumente, nur dessen kleiner Bruch schließlich am Versuch eingeführt wurden. Die meisten eingestuften Informationen wurden durch Government Bedingungen zu bestimmten Tatsachen und zu anderem nicht klassifiziertem Ersatz abgedeckt. Dieses ließ den Versuch, ohne die Konflikte glatt fortfahren, die Norden oder das Argument gegen ehemalige CIA Station Hauptjoseph F. erschwerten. Fernandez, der an den Einstufeninformationen problems.6 6 entlassenes
lag, sehen Fernandez Kapitel.
Kastigar Verfahren
Poindexter wurden unter einer Bewilligung der Gebrauchimmunität gezwungen, 1987 vor den auserwählten Ausschüssen zu bezeugen, die den Iran/gegen nachforschen. Wie der andere Iran/gegen Beklagte, die immunisiertes Zeugnis vor Kongreß gaben, Poindexter verschoben, um die Anklage auf der Theorie zu entlassen, daß sie die Standards verletzte, die in Kastigar V. ausgesprochen wurden. Vereinigte Staaten, 7 argumentierend, daß sein immunisiertes Zeugnis gegen ihn in der großartigen Jury und am Versuch verwendet wurde. Dieses Argument prüfte, erfolgloses auf dem Probeniveau aber herschte schließlich im Gericht von Anklänge vor.
7 406 US 411 (1972).
Bevor ihre Versuche getrennt wurden, entließ Poindexter, das zusammen mit Norden und Hakim verschoben wurde, die auch Immunität empfangen hatten, um vor Kongreß zu bezeugen, um die Aufladungen gegen sie zu haben aus den Grund, daß der Beweis gegen sie durch ihr immunisiertes Zeugnis verdorben wurde. Richter Gesell verweigerte diese Bewegung. Jedoch in der Achtung zur Verteidigung behauptet, daß sie ein verwenden würden - eines anderen vielleicht rechtfertigendes immunisiertes Zeugnis, Richter Gesell trennten im Juni 1988 die Versuche.
Poindexter erneuerte seine Kastigar Bewegung vor Richter Greene im August 1989. Nach Anweisung und Argument bestellten 8 das Gericht, daß zwei überzeugende Hörfähigkeiten gehalten werden. Am ersten hörte das Gericht Zeugnis von den Teilnehmer-Beratern Dan K. Webb und Howard M. Perlen Sie hinsichtlich ihrer Aussetzung zu Poindexters immunisiertem Zeugnis, bevor Sie das Büro der unabhängigen Ratschläge verbinden. Webb und Perle verbanden den OIC Personal 1989 und hatten nicht, vor ihren Verabredungen, gewesen abhängig von Verfahren OICS, sich von Poindexters immunisiertem Zeugnis zu isolieren. Beurteilen Sie Greene fand ihre Aussetzung zum Zeugnis Poindexters, um bedeutungslos zu sein und erlaubte beiden Rechtsanwälten, am Versuch teilzunehmen.
8 der Poindexter Fall wurden vor dem Gericht der Anklänge versucht, die im Norden angeordnet wurden, daß Zeugehörfähigkeiten notwendig waren, um den Versuch eines immunisierten Beklagten zu ermöglichen.
Der zweite Satz von Gerichtsterminen betraf Probezeugen, deren Zeugnis durch Poindexters immunisiertes Zeugnis verdorben worden sein kann. Richter Greene nahm Richter Gesells früheren Bericht der großartigen Jury Zeugen an und sank, seine Entdeckungen nachzupruefen. Er lehnte auch ab, die Anklage auf der Grundlage von mögliche großartige Geschworenaussetzung zum immunisierten Zeugnis zu entlassen.
Betreffend Probezeugen ergriff das Gericht umfangreiche Maßnahmen, sicherzugehen, daß Poindexters immunisierte Aussagen nicht gegen ihn verwendet wurden. Das Gericht bestellte die Regierung, um eine ex parte Unterordnung (später freigegeben zu Poindexter) von allen Aussagen zu bilden, die durch mögliche Probezeugen abgegeben wurden, bevor Poindexter sein immunisiertes Zeugnis vor Kongreß im Juli 1987 gab. Das Gericht fand, daß alles vorgeschlagene Zeugnis der meisten möglichen Zeugen memorialized, bevor Poindexter öffentlich am 15. Juli 1987 erschien, und folglich wurde nicht verdorben gewesen war.
Was jene Zeugen anbetrifft deren erwarteten, daß Probezeugnis nicht auf den Beweis OIC begrenzt würde, hatte mit dem Gericht vor Poindexters immunisiertem Zeugnis, erforderliche zusätzliche Informationen des Richters Greene versiegelt. Er stellte fest, daß die Regierung hatte herstellen nicht gekonnt, daß fünf seiner möglichen Zeugen von der Färbung frei waren und ihnen bestellt, zum an einer vorbereitenden Hörfähigkeit zu erscheinen. Zwei der drei Zeugen, die schließlich am Versuch credibly erschienen, bestätigten, daß ihr vorweggenommenes Zeugnis nicht in keiner Weise durch Poindexters immunisiertes Zeugnis beeinflußt würde; das dritte, Nord, abgelehnt, so zu tun.
Norden angegeben an der vorbereitenden Hörfähigkeit, daß er, in Bezug auf jedes mögliches Thema nicht imstande war, zu unterscheiden was er persönlich getan hatte, beobachtet oder erfahren von, was er vom Aufpassen Poindexters von immunisiertem testimony.9 was Zerstörung anbetrifft Poindexters des Dezember 1985 Präsidentenc$verborgentätigkeit Findens erlernt hatte -- wichtiger Beweis im Hindernis des Kongresses -- Norden bestätigte, daß er Poindexter gesehen hatte, einen Papierstreifen zu zerstören, aber, daß er nicht wußte, ihm ein Finden beharrt war, bis Poindexter diese Tatsache in seinem immunisierten Zeugnis vor Kongreß angab.
9 Nordzeugnis, Poindexter vorbereitende Hörfähigkeit, 12/13/89, pp. 374-77.
Das Gericht wies vorbereitendes Nordzeugnis zurück, wie nicht glaubwürdig. Nord, scheint das gefundene Gericht, ``, [an der Hörfähigkeit] nach dem errechneten Kurs des Versuchens zu dieser Zeit eingeschifft worden zu sein, seinen ehemaligen Kollegen und Cobeklagtes zu unterstützen. . . durch prevaricating auf verschiedenen Ausgaben. . . '' 10
10 Meinung, Poindexter, 3/8/90, P. 9.
In einem unterschiedlichen anordnenden Pfostenversuch, fügte das Gericht hinzu, daß, insoweit die Zerstörung des Findens, Nordzeugnis an seinem eigenen Versuch über den Fall mit seinem Anspruch inkonsequent war, daß er nicht an ihn sich erinnern könnte Unabhängiges von Poindexters immunisiertem Zeugnis. Das Gericht fand es „in sich selbst unglaublich“, daß Norden sich nicht „an seine Teilnahme an einem Fall erinnerte, den er aus erster Hand zeugte und das war, wie drastisch, in der Tat historisch, als eines extrem seltenen Präsidentenc$findens oben heftig zerreißen.“ 11
11 Ibid., 5/29/90, pp. 32-40.
Die Reagan Vorladung unter Strafandrohung
eine der bemerkenswertesten Aspekte des Poindexter Falles war der erfolgreiche Versuch des Beklagten, ehemaligen Präsidenten Reagan anzurufen, um an seinem Versuch durch videotaped Absetzung zu bezeugen.
Poindexter zuerst gesuchte Präsidenten- und Vizepräsidentenanmerkungen von OIC als Teil seiner verfahrensvorbereitende Tatsachenfeststellung Anträge. In einer vorbereitenden Hörfähigkeit am 6. September 1989, erklärten Rechtsanwälte Poindexters dem Gericht, daß Präsidentenanmerkungen dieses Poindexter informierten den Präsidenten über seine Ablehnungen zum Kongreß 1986 der NSC Tätigkeit zur Unterstützung der contras reflektieren würden und daß die Anmerkungen „zeigen würden, was dem Präsidenten erklärt wurde über, was getan wurde, um die contras in Mittelamerika zu stützen und des die Zustimmung Präsidenten und die Bestätigung und die Zustimmung dieser Tätigkeit.“ 12, wenn sie Vizepräsidentenanmerkungen suchten, erklärten Rechtsanwälte Poindexters das Gericht, dem „jederzeit er [Bush] eine Sitzung vermißte, Admiral Poindexter unterwiesen ihn auf ihr danach.“ 13
12 Robinson, Poindexter vorbereitende Hörfähigkeit, 9/6/89, P. 18.
13 Ibid., P. 19.
Das Gericht, bevor es an eine Entscheidung traf, ob man OIC zwingt, um diese Dokumente am 11. September 1989 zu produzieren verwies Poindexter, um ein ex parte Protokoll einzuordnen, das genau erklärt, wie diese Dokumente sein defense.14 unterstützen würden, das es von den unabhängigen Ratschlägen ein zugelassenes Protokoll hinsichtlich ist seiner Verantwortlichkeit, die Präsidenten- und Vizepräsidentendokumente nicht im Besitz OICS zu produzieren erforderte.
14 Meinung, Poindexter, 9/11/89, P. 22.
Independent Counsel in a filing on September 18, 1989, told the court that the office did not have in its possession presidential notes, but rather had been granted access to notes and allowed to copy only a portion of them with special permission. As far as President Reagan's diary was concerned, Independent Counsel had been allowed to review typed extracts of portions deemed relevant by White House counsel, but the President had retained custody of his diary, which both he and the national archivist regarded as personal records, making them unaccessible under the Presidential Records Act unless their production were compelled by subpoena.15
15 Government's Memorandum Concerning Presidential and Vice Presidential Documents that Are Not in the Possession of Independent Counsel, 9/18/89.
Attached to Independent Counsel's filing was a declaration by John Fawcett, assistant archivist for the Office of Presidential Libraries of the National Archives and Records Administration. Fawcett stated that President Bush's vice presidential records were transferred to the archives at the end of the Reagan Administration, but, ``No personal diary of former Vice President Bush has been specifically identified as being included in the Vice Presidential records. However, these Vice Presidential records have not yet been processed.'' 16
16 Ibid., Exhibit A. President Bush in December 1992 for the first time informed Independent Counsel that he had kept a diary as vice president from 1986 to 1988. See Bush chapter.
On September 25, 1989, Poindexter's attorneys informed the court that ``the defendant is willing to seek access to the personal diaries and notes of former President Reagan and former Vice President Bush pursuant to a . . . subpoena.'' 17 After reviewing Poindexter's ex parte submission on the materiality of presidential and vice presidential documents, the court on October 24, 1989, ruled that there was sufficient likelihood that President Reagan's documents would be material to the defense. Judge Greene differentiated between Reagan and Bush documents, however, because ``the Vice President had no operational authority with respect to Poindexter,'' because the information contained in vice presidential papers may be largely cumulative, and because of deference to the sitting President Bush.18
17 Defendant's Response to Government's Memorandum Concerning Presidential and Vice President Documents That Are Not in the Possession of Independent Counsel, 9/25/89, p. 2.
18 U.S. v. Poindexter, 725 F. Supp. 13, 28-31 (D.D.C. 1989). Judge Greene added that with respect to Bush documents, he would reevaluate the matter if Poindexter at a later date showed a more pressing need for them.
On November 3, 1989, Poindexter filed with the court a classified petition for leave to serve subpoenas on former President Reagan and the National Archives, seeking materials and testimony relevant to Iran/contra activities in 67 categories. On November 16, Judge Greene granted Poindexter's petition. Both President Reagan and the National Archives moved to quash the subpoena for documents.
In a pre-trial hearing December 4 the court stated that its order covered only documents, and not the President's possible trial testimony. On December 18 Poindexter sought the court's leave to subpoena President Reagan to testify at trial. In deciding whether Poindexter could subpoena President Reagan's testimony, Judge Greene asked Poindexter to submit a list of specific questions he intended to ask. Poindexter submitted a list of 183 questions, which were not made available to Independent Counsel.19 The court ruled that the questions directly related to the charges in the indictment and to Poindexter's anticipated defense.
19 In 1993, during preparation of this report, Independent Counsel obtained copies of these questions and other ex parte submissions from Poindexter's case.
In his February 5, 1990, ruling upholding the testimonial subpoena of Reagan, Judge Greene described Poindexter's proposed questions as falling into 12 categories. These included: (1) the frequency and occasions on which President Reagan and Poindexter met; (2) the President's view of the Boland Amendment and how it applied to contra support; (3) whether the President authorized Poindexter to seek foreign support for the contras; (4) what instructions the President gave Poindexter regarding meetings with Central American officials, and what information Poindexter subsequently relayed back to the President; (5) presidential discussions with Central American leaders concerning contra support; (6) presidential discussions with Poindexter regarding actions to be taken if Congress did not renew contra aid; (7) presidential knowledge of North's relationship to Iran/contra figures; (8) Poindexter's briefings of the President regarding a congressional inquiry in 1986 into North's activities; (9) Poindexter's communications with Congress at the direction of the President; (10) whether Poindexter informed the President about Secord's status; (11) discussions Poindexter had with the President regarding a chronology of the Iran arms sales prepared in November 1986; and (12) the President's knowledge of the arms shipments to Iran.
In his opinion explaining his decision to uphold Poindexter's subpoena of President Reagan, Judge Greene concluded:
Former President Ronald Reagan is claimed by Admiral Poindexter to have direct and important knowledge that will help to exonerate him from the criminal charges lodged against him. In view of the prior professional relationship between the two men, and defendant's showing discussed above, that claim cannot be dismissed as fanciful or frivolous. That being so, it would be inconceivable -- in a Republic that subscribes neither to the ancient doctrine of the divine right of kings nor to the more modern conceit of dictators that they are not accountable to the people whom they claim to represent or to their courts of law -- to exempt Mr. Reagan from the duty of every citizen to give evidence that will permit the reaching of a just outcome of this criminal prosecution. Defendant has shown that the evidence of the former President is needed to protect his right to a fair trial, and he will be given the opportunity to secure that evidence.20
20 U.S. v. Poindexter, 732 F. Supp. 142, 159-60 (D.D.C. 1990)
President Reagan did not claim executive privilege once he was ordered to testify.
The seven-hour videotaped deposition of the former President was taken February 16 and 17, 1990, in the Los Angeles federal courthouse, near his residence. The public and the press were not allowed to attend the deposition. Transcripts and the opportunity to view the videotape were made available to members of the press before the trial.
As for Poindexter's subpoena for documents from the former President, Judge Greene ordered President Reagan to make diary entries available for the court's in camera review. After its review, the court ordered President Reagan to produce the relevant diary entries to Poindexter in the absence of a claim of executive privilege. President Reagan, joined by the Bush Administration, claimed executive privilege as to the diary entries on February 5, 1990. On March 21, the court granted the Reagan-Bush motions to quash the subpoena for the diary entries, concluding that Poindexter's defense would be adequately served by the President's testimony.
The Poindexter Trial
The month-long Poindexter trial, which resulted in a five-count conviction on April 7, 1990, centered largely on the testimony of two witnesses: Oliver North for the prosecution and former President Reagan for the defense.
Both men attempted to help the defendant in their appearances on the witness stand, but each had given prior testimony harmful to Poindexter, and they could not deviate from that under threat of perjury charges.21 North could not abandon his earlier defense stance that he dutifully reported his activities -- including those found to be crimes -- to his superior, Poindexter. President Reagan was compelled at trial to state, as he had previously, that he repeatedly told his aides to obey the law and that he was unaware of their criminal acts.
21 Before taking the witness stand in Poindexter, North had testified before the Select Committees in July 1987, at his own trial in 1989, and at a Poindexter pre-trial hearing in 1990.
President Reagan was questioned by his Tower Commission on two occasions in early 1987. More significantly, the President in November 1987 answered 53 written interrogatories from Independent Counsel, which were submitted as sworn testimony to the federal Grand Jury investigating the Iran/contra affair.
Poindexter chose not to testify at his trial.
Although Poindexter and North had destroyed and altered official papers and computer messages, the prosecution offered convincing documentary evidence that Poindexter was kept apprised of North's efforts to provide military aid to the Nicaraguan contras while it was outlawed from October 1984-October 1986 by the Boland Amendment; that Poindexter adopted false statements McFarlane and North made to Congress; and that Poindexter had been fully aware of the ill-fated November 1985 HAWK missile shipment to Iran, which he subsequently tried to conceal from Congress.
The Trial Testimony of Oliver L. North
The testimony of North, named as a co-conspirator in the case, was important to proving each of the five charges against Poindexter:
-- Count One, that Poindexter conspired with North and Secord to obstruct congressional inquiries of Iran- and contra-related matters, to make false statements to Congress, and to falsify, remove and destroy official documents.
-- Count Two, that Poindexter obstructed Congress in 1986 when it was investigating media allegations that North was raising funds and providing military aid to the contras. In letters to three committees, Poindexter answered questions by repeating denials McFarlane made before Congress in 1985 of North's involvement in contra-support activities, even though Poindexter knew the denials to be false. He set up a meeting with the House Intelligence Committee in August 1986 in which he knew North would have to give false testimony, and afterward congratulated North on his performance.
-- Count Three, that Poindexter obstructed Congress in November 1986 by participating with North in the preparation of false chronologies of the secret U.S. arms sales to Iran and by making false statements to the House and Senate intelligence committees. Specifically, Poindexter falsely asserted that no U.S. official knew before January 1986 that HAWK missiles had been shipped to Iran in November 1985. The indictment stated that North as early as November 20, 1985, told Poindexter about the shipment in advance and advised him of it again after the fact in late 1985.
-- Counts Four and Five, that Poindexter made false statements about the HAWK shipment to the House and Senate intelligence committees on November 21, 1986. As in Count Three, the false statement charges were based on North's informing Poindexter about the shipment in 1985.
In four days of trial testimony, North reluctantly recounted his central operational role in the Iran/contra affair. He described the extensive contra-resupply network he ran with Secord and Hakim,22 his contra fund-raising efforts, and the military advice he gave the contras. He testified that he kept his bosses McFarlane and Poindexter fully informed of his activities and that he acted only with their approval.23
22 North objected to the prosecutor's use of the word ``Enterprise'' to describe the profit-making web of contra- and Iran-related operations he undertook with Secord and Hakim. He also objected to the use of the word ``testimony'' in reference to the false statements he made before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in August 1986, and the word ``diversion'' to describe the scheme in which he, Poindexter and others diverted Iran arms sales proceeds to the contras.
23 North, Poindexter Trial Testimony, 3/12/90, pp. 1275-76.
North, who was forced to testify for the prosecution under a grant of immunity, frequently claimed that he could not recall many of the incidents in question, some of which had occurred several years before. North admitted a wide range of contra-support and Iran-related actions only when confronted with prior testimony in which he had provided extensive details.
North admitted that he lied in August 1986 when he told the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) he was not engaged in raising funds or providing military support to the Nicaraguan contras.24 North described exchanges with Poindexter before and after the meeting that directly implicated Poindexter in a scheme to frustrate the congressional investigation.25
24 Ibid., 3/9/90, pp. 1042-43.
25 Ibid., 3/12/90, p. 1083.
HPSCI was one of three congressional committees pursuing a House inquiry into reports of North's contra-aid activities. North testified that prior to appearing before the committee in the White House Situation Room, he told Poindexter he would be asked about ``things that I had been told never to reveal.'' 26 In response, Poindexter told him, ``You can handle it, you can take care of it,'' according to North.27
26 Ibid., 3/9/90, p. 1033.
27 Ibid.
After receiving reports of North's statements to HPSCI, which Poindexter knew were false, Poindexter by way of his computer sent North a terse congratulatory message: ``Well done.'' 28
28 PROFs Note from Poindexter to North, 8/11/86, AKW 018921.
Based on the statements of North and Poindexter, HPSCI Chairman Lee Hamilton informed other members of Congress that the media allegations about North could not be proven. North's false testimony, in combination with Poindexter's perpetuation of McFarlane's previous lies, successfully frustrated the congressional oversight process. It was not until Nicaraguan soldiers on October 5, 1986, shot down a contra-resupply plane carrying American Eugene Hasenfus that Congress renewed its investigation into North's activities.
North testified that he kept Poindexter apprised of his involvement in the covert sales of U.S. arms to Iran in 1985 and 1986, including the operation's most secret aspect: the Iran/contra diversion. He sent Poindexter five or six memos stating that overcharges to the Iranian buyers would generate millions of dollars for diversion to the contras.29 North said Poindexter told him the diversion should never be revealed.30 North said he reported the diversion plan to Poindexter because he thought that projects funded by it ``ought to have the authority of the President behind them.'' 31
29 North, Poindexter Trial Testimony, 3/12/90, pp. 1107-11.
30 Ibid., pp. 1103-05.
31 Ibid., p. 1111.
North testified that in November 1985, he became directly involved in an Israeli shipment of U.S. HAWK missiles to Iran at McFarlane's behest.32 North said he got permission from both McFarlane, who was then the national security adviser, and Poindexter, then deputy national security adviser, to enlist Secord's help in resolving logistical problems surrounding the shipment.33 He also got McFarlane and Poindexter's permission to supply the Israelis with the name of a CIA-connected airline to assist.34 North outlined the details of the planned HAWK shipment in a computer note to Poindexter on November 20, 1985.35 By memoranda on December 4 and on December 9, 1985, North informed Poindexter that the Iranians were unhappy with the shipment and wanted the missiles to be retrieved.36
32 Ibid., pp. 1118-20.
33 Ibid., pp. 1121-22.
34 Ibid., pp. 1122-27.
35 PROFs Note from North to Poindexter, 11/20/85, AKW 002066.
36 PROFs Note from North to Poindexter, 12/4/85, AKW 002070-73; Memorandum from North to McFarlane and Poindexter, 12/9/85, AKW 002088-91.
When CIA officials insisted after the HAWK shipment that the President should retroactively authorize the agency's participation in the operation, CIA Director William J. Casey on November 26, 1985, gave Poindexter a covert-action Finding for President Reagan's signature.37 North testified that he saw the signed Finding either in Poindexter's office safe or in the safe of NSC counsel Paul Thompson.38
37 Memorandum from Casey to Poindexter, 11/26/85, AMY 000651-52.
38 North, Poindexter Trial Testimony, 3/12/90, p. 1245.
After public exposure of the Iran arms sales in November 1986, North -- at Poindexter's request -- prepared a chronology of U.S. involvement in the Iran arms sales, which underwent a series of re-writes. North testified that McFarlane removed from the chronology North's factual account of the November 1985 HAWKs shipment and substituted a cover story: that although the CIA became involved in the November 1985 shipment after Israel encountered logistical difficulties, U.S. officials at the time believed the cargo to be oil-drilling parts and did not learn until January 1986 that the true cargo was weapons.39
39 Ibid., pp. 1188-98.
Asked whether the McFarlane revision was part of a plan to ``cover up'' the existence of the November 1985 Finding, North answered: ``I don't know that cover up is the right word. I listened to the President's press conferences, I listened to statements being made by people and they just didn't talk about it.'' 40 North said McFarlane told him the cover story should be incorporated into the chronology because the 1985 Finding authorizing the weapons shipment described too directly an arms-for-hostages swap, which, if exposed, would politically embarrass the President.41
40 Ibid., p. 1191.
41 Ibid., pp. 1190-91.
The same oil-drilling-parts cover story was part of a CIA-prepared chronology that Casey and his deputy, Robert Gates, brought to a White House meeting on November 20, 1986, with Poindexter, North, Meese, Cooper and Thompson. The purpose of the meeting was to prepare Casey and Poindexter for their congressional testimony the following day. North was asked at trial:
Q: . . . did it become clear to you by the time McFarlane tells you that [the finding was too close to an arms-for-hostage swap] and by the time you see the CIA show up with this phony chronology, then at least did it appear to you that there was some effort or plan going on to cover up with U.S. involvement because of that finding?
A: Well, there is no doubt in my mind that I came to realize that finding was a disaster, and I understood that.42
42 Ibid., pp. 1208-09.
North testified that he altered and destroyed numerous documents in October and November 1986 that would have revealed details of the Iran and contra operations. He said he assured Poindexter that he had ``taken care of'' the documents that reflected his activities.43 He said he told Poindexter all the documents describing the Iran/contra diversion were destroyed, after learning from Poindexter on November 21, 1986, that Attorney General Meese would be conducting a weekend investigation into the Iran arms sales.44 North also testified that he altered other original NSC documents, after receiving Poindexter's permission to retrieve them from the NSC document-archiving system.45
43 Ibid., p. 1218.
44 Ibid., pp. 1120-21.
45 Ibid., pp. 1224-27.
More important, North reluctantly testified that he saw Poindexter destroy the only known copy of the signed presidential Finding that sought to authorize retroactively the November 1985 shipment of HAWK missiles to Iran.46 North's eyewitness account of the destruction of the Finding provided significant proof of Poindexter's intent to conceal facts about the HAWK missile shipment from Congress in November 1986.47
46 Ibid., 1252-54.
47 The destruction of the 1985 Finding was not charged as a separate crime in the indictment of Poindexter because Independent Counsel did not learn of it until North testified about it at his own trial in April 1989. Poindexter had told the Select Committees in 1987 that he destroyed the only signed copy of the 1985 presidential Finding. Independent Counsel did not learn of this statement at the time, however, because the OIC had taken measures to insulate itself from all immunized testimony. Even if Independent Counsel had been aware of the Poindexter testimony, OIC could not have used it in any criminal proceeding against Poindexter under the terms of immunity grant.
North's wide-ranging testimony enabled the prosecution to streamline its witness list to only nine other individuals, many of whom supplemented the central details provided by North.
The Trial Testimony of President Reagan
Before the trial of Poindexter, President Reagan had not testified publicly about Iran/contra. On February 16 and 17, 1990, he gave a seven-hour videotaped deposition as a defense witness. No classified matters were discussed and executive privilege was not invoked in response to any question. The videotaped deposition was shown in full, therefore, to the Poindexter jury during the trial on March 21 and 22, 1990.48
48 Immediately after each tape was shown to the jury, a copy was given to the television networks, allowing the public to see President Reagan's only courtroom testimony on the Iran/contra affair.
In direct examination, defense counsel sought to show presidential knowledge and approval of Poindexter's activities. But President Reagan frequently claimed memory lapses when questioned about specific exchanges he may have had with Poindexter and about his knowledge of individuals and details involved in the Iran and contra operations.
Although President Reagan exhibited virtually no detailed knowledge of the Iran/contra matter, he made clear to the jury that it had his imprimatur, calling it ``a covert action that was taken at my behest.'' 49 President Reagan said North was the only person he remembered being involved in the arms initiative.50 He could not recall being briefed by Poindexter on the May 1986 trip by McFarlane and North to Tehran, but he said he did recall signing a Bible for Iranians.51 President Reagan testified that the amount of weapons sold to Iran totaled $12.2 million.52
49 Reagan, Poindexter Trial Deposition, 2/16/90, p. 9.
50 Ibid., p. 21.
51 Ibid., p. 24.
52 Ibid., pp. 154-55.
Asked specifically about the November 1985 HAWK shipment to Iran, President Reagan said he recalled a plan in which the Israelis would turn their plane around in mid-delivery of the weapons if no hostages were released.53 He did not recall when he became aware of the November 1985 HAWK shipment; 54 he did not recall Poindexter telling him in November 1986 that others in the White House were having trouble remembering when they learned of it.55
53 Ibid., pp. 24-25.
54 Ibid., pp. 33-36.
55 Ibid., pp. 38-39.
President Reagan also claimed virtually no memory of the November 1986 period in which his top advisers were scrambling to limit public exposure of the Iran arms sales. He only generally recalled telling members of Congress about the arms sales on November 12, 1986.56 He could not remember receiving any information from Poindexter for any of his presentations on the matter in that time.57 The former President could not remember asking Poindexter to assemble the facts on the arms sales.58 He could not recall that Poindexter briefed the House and Senate intelligence committees on November 21, 1986.59
56 Ibid., pp. 37-38.
57 Ibid., p. 30.
58 Ibid., p. 28.
59 Ibid., pp. 44-45.
Defense counsel's questions suggested that their client had significant exchanges with the President during the arms-sale period and its aftermath. But Reagan's lack of recollection, and lack of specificity when he did remember events or individuals, left those questions unresolved.
President Reagan provided more helpful testimony for the defense on the subject of contra-support operations. Calling the Boland prohibition on contra funding a ``disaster,'' 60 Reagan testified that he urged his aides to do what they could to support the contras, while staying ``within the law.'' 61 Reagan recalled that Saudi Arabia's King Fahd pledged millions of dollars for the contras.62 He said he told his aides not to solicit contributions for the contras directly but to tell people how they could contribute if they wanted to help.63
60 Ibid., p. 69.
61 Ibid., pp. 53-54.
62 Ibid., pp. 74-75.
63 Ibid., pp. 53-54.
Asked whether Poindexter briefed him on the contras, President Reagan said: ``Oh yes, I depended on him for that.'' 64 He said he had no reason to believe that Poindexter was not keeping him fully informed.
64 Ibid., p. 116.
Asked to describe what he knew about North's responsibilities in the White House, President Reagan said:
Well, he was mainly performing tasks, as I understand it, for the NSC, but he -- his background and record had been one of being decorated for heroism and so forth in the Vietnamese conflict, and that he had been a very bold and brave soldier -- Marine.
And -- so, he was -- it was my impression, not from any specific reports or anything, that in through all of this that he was communicating back and forth between on the need for the support of the Contras and so forth.65
65 Ibid., p. 131.
In addition to professing a benign view of North and his activities, President Reagan indicated general knowledge of and support for the contra-resupply operation in Central America:
Q: Do you recall any discussions that he [Poindexter] may have had with you about the construction of an airstrip down there in Central America?
A: Well, I did hear -- we had learned that there was a rather primitive lane in there in the jungle near the border of Costa Rican [sic], and that was then being put into better shape as a usable airstrip.
Q: Did you have any -- do you recall any discussion about who was constructing the airstrip?
A: Well, no. I assume it was the Costa Rican government.
Q: And do you know what that airstrip was going to be used for?
A: Well, I know that -- I hoped that it would be used in the delivery of when once again we could supply, keep the Contras supplied, that it could be involved in the -- used there, if there was need for a refueling or anything of that kind of a plane.66
66 Ibid., p. 121.
President Reagan was then asked whether he knew who would be using the Costa Rican airstrip for contra resupply. His answer reflected knowledge of the operation supposedly being funded and run by private citizens -- the so-called ``private benefactors'' -- that was in fact being run by Secord at North's direction:
Q: Do you know who it was that was going to be using the airstrip? It was going to be used for supplying the Contras, but do you know who it was that was actually going to be doing the supplying and using the airstrip?
A: No, I do not on that. I don't think -- I don't think I ever considered that it would be military planes of ours. So, possibly some of those that weren't officially planes of ours that had been helping in the past in deliveries to the Contras and so forth.
Q: Earlier this morning or earlier today, I should say, you mentioned General Secord. That you knew that he was involved in the Contra supply effort.
Was it part of his operation you thought that he might be using the airstrip?
A: I can't say that I actually recall that, but it seems to me logical that he would have been involved in that.67
67 Ibid., p. 122.
President Reagan, who winked and smiled at Poindexter from the witness stand, did not hide his contempt toward congressional inquiries into NSC staff contra-support activities. Shown misleading letters written by Poindexter in July 1986 to the committees of Congress that were investigating allegations of North's contra efforts, Reagan said: ``I am in total agreement. If I had written it myself, I might have used a little profanity.'' 68
68 Ibid., pp. 146-47.
In cross-examination, the prosecution was able to impeach much of President Reagan's testimony. This was possible because Reagan late in 1987 had answered, under oath, 53 written interrogatories for Independent Counsel and the Grand Jury investigating the Iran/contra matter.
The July 21, 1986, letters -- in which Poindexter embraced and perpetuated the lies McFarlane had told Congress about North's contra-support activities a year earlier -- were a key element in the obstruction charges against the defendant. Under cross-examination by the prosecution, President Reagan was asked whether he was aware that the Poindexter letters repeated McFarlane's previous lies. The former President equivocated:
Well, I simply -- no, I did not have this information, but I have a great deal of confidence in the man who was quoted as sending these letters, McFarlane. And I have never -- I have never caught him or seen him doing anything that was in any way out of line or dishonest. And so, I was perfectly willing to accept his defense.69
69 Ibid., p. 151.
President Reagan said he did not know that McFarlane had pleaded guilty to withholding information from Congress in connection with the false letters.70
70 Ibid., pp. 220-21.
Asked whether he approved either the McFarlane or Poindexter letters to Congress, the former President said he had no recollection of doing so, adding that his memory could be faulty.71 Asked directly whether he would approve of sending false information to Congress, President Reagan conceded that he would not.72 Would he have authorized Poindexter to make false statements to Congress? President Reagan again attempted to assist his former aide: ``No. And I don't think any false statements were made.'' 73
71 Ibid., pp. 150-51.
72 Ibid., pp. 151-52.
73 Ibid., p. 158.
President Reagan also testified that he did not approve the destruction of Iran/contra documents by Poindexter, and that he was not told about their destruction.74 But the former President, in response to subsequent questioning, described the dilemma in which he placed his aides in November 1986 by instructing them that certain information could not be revealed because ``it will bring to risk and danger to people that are held and with the people that we were negotiating with.'' 75
74 Ibid., p. 160.
75 Ibid., p. 252.
Asked again whether he approved the destruction of alteration of any Iran/contra records, President Reagan said: ``And this, I cannot answer. I cannot recall because it is the possibility that there were such papers that would violate the secrecy that was protecting those individuals' lives.'' 76 President Reagan had denied in response to the earlier written interrogatories that he approved the destruction and alteration of documents; when confronted with his previous testimony he stated that it was truthful.
76 Ibid., p. 255.
On the issue of the contras, President Reagan said he ``never had any inkling'' that North was guiding their military strategy.77 But Reagan muddied the issue in a later statement about North:
77 Ibid., p. 170.
I know that he [North] was very active, and that was certainly with my approval, because I yesterday made plain how seriously I felt about the Contra situation and what it meant to all of us here in the Americas. And, so, obviously, there were many things that were being done. But, again, as I say, I was convinced that they were all being done within the law.78
78 Ibid., p. 189.
In questioning about the Iran/contra diversion, President Reagan surprisingly asserted that he had no proof that a diversion had occurred:
And to this day, I still with all of the investigations that have been made, I still have never been given one iota of evidence as to who collected the price, who delivered the final delivery of the weapons, or what was -- whether there was ever more money in that Swiss account that had been diverted someplace else. I am still waiting to find those things out and have never found them out.79
79 Ibid., p. 155.
Asked whether he had approved a diversion, Reagan again stated:
May I simply point out that I had no knowledge then or now that there had been a diversion, and I never used the term. And all I knew was that there was some money that came from some place in another account, and that the appearance was that it might have been a part of the negotiated sale. And to this day, I don't have any information or knowledge that that wasn't the total amount that -- or that there was a diversion.80
80 Ibid., p. 156.
Asked again whether he would have approved a diversion, President Reagan said he would not. But, he added, ``No one has proven to me that there was a diversion.'' 81
81 Ibid., p. 157.
President Reagan said he did not recall that the Tower Commission concluded in March 1987 that, in fact, a diversion had occurred. ``I, to this day, do not recall ever hearing that there was a diversion,'' he said.82 Shown that portion of the Tower Commission report describing the diversion, Reagan said: ``This report -- this is the first time that I have ever seen a reference that actually specified there was a diversion.'' 83
82 Ibid., p. 240.
83 Ibid., p. 243.
Asked whether Poindexter should have told him about an Iran/contra diversion, Reagan said: ``Yes. Unless maybe he thought he was protecting me from something.'' 84
84 Ibid., pp. 243-44.
The Verdict and Sentencing
After six days of deliberation, the jury on April 7, 1990, found Poindexter guilty of each of the five felony charges against him. Judge Greene on June 11, 1990, sentenced Poindexter to six months imprisonment on each of the five counts, to be served concurrently.
In imposing the sentence, Judge Greene noted complaints by Poindexter's supporters that the most he was guilty of was having become embroiled in a political quarrel between the White House and Congress. Judge Greene stated:
Whatever may have been the nature of the original dispute, what the defendant and his associates did was emphatically not a part of the normal political process.
. . . When Admiral Poindexter and his associates obstructed the Congress, what were they seeking to accomplish? In a word, it was to nullify the decision that body had made on the issue of supplies to the Contras. . . .
President Reagan did not, or for parliamentary reasons he could not, veto the bill [which contained the Boland prohibition on contra aid]. He did not attempt to assert his own constitutional powers or take the issue to the people, and at the conclusion of the political process the Boland Amendment thus became law.
No problem. What the president was unwilling or unable to do -- to defeat this law -- Admiral Poindexter, together with Oliver North and others, did on their own. They decided that the policy embodied in the Boland Amendment was wrong, and they went about to violate it on a large scale and for a lengthy period, and then to lie about their activities to prevent the Congress and the public from finding out. . . .
With all due respect to the distinguished military records of Admiral Poindexter, Colonel North, General Secord, and the others, they have no standing in a democratic society to invalidate the decisions made by elected officials . . . As I said several times during the trial, it is immaterial to this criminal case who was right and who was wrong about the wisdom of the Contra policy. That is not what this trial was about. The jury and this court were not competent to decide for this nation whether resistance forces in Nicaragua should or should not have been supplied with weapons.
But more importantly for present purposes, neither was Admiral Poindexter. When he and his associates took it upon themselves to make that decision anyway, to implement it on a broad scale, and to work actively to keep what they were doing from the Congress and the public, they not only violated various statutes. They were also in violation of a principle fundamental to this constitutional Republic -- that those elected by and responsible to the people shall make the important policy decisions, and that their decisions may not be nullified by appointed officials who happen to be in positions that give them the ability to operate programs prohibited by law. It is unfortunate that, whatever may be his view of his own purposes and actions, the defendant still gives no evidence of recognizing that principle and the seriousness of its violation.
Given the nature of the offenses, the sentencing principle that is primarily applicable here is that of deterrence, and as a practical matter, deterrence means meaningful penalties. If the court were not to impose such a penalty here, when the defendant before it was the decision-making head of the Iran-contra operation, its action would be tantamount to a statement that a scheme to lie to and obstruct Congress is of no great moment, and that even if the perpetrators are found out, the courts will treat their criminal acts as no more than minor infractions.
A message of that kind could not help but encourage others in positions of authority and secrecy to frustrate laws that fail to accord with their notions of what is best for this country, and to carry out their own private policies in the name of the United States. . . .85
85 Judge Greene, Poindexter Transcript of Sentencing, 6/11/90, pp. 18-22
The Appeal
A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in a 2-1 decision on November 15, 1991, reversed Poindexter's convictions on the grounds that his trial was impermissibly tainted by his immunized congressional testimony. The Poindexter ruling was based on the appeals court decision in the North case, which extended the protections of the use immunity statute to prohibit use of any witness whose testimony has been refreshed or shaped in any way by the defendant's immunized testimony. In his dissenting opinion, Chief Judge Abner Mikva noted that the majority ruling ``tells future defendants that all they need to evade responsibility [to testify at trial] is a well timed case of amnesia.'' 86
86 U.S. v. Poindexter, 951 F.2d 369, 390 (D.C. Cir. 1991).
The Poindexter appeals panel also overturned the two obstruction convictions on the grounds that the statute was ``unconstitutionally vague'' in its proscription of ``corruptly'' endeavoring to impede a congressional inquiry. The appeals panel ruled that a defendant's lying to Congress does not constitute obstruction unless the defendant corruptly influences someone else to do so. Again, Chief Judge Mikva dissented, finding it ``obvious . . . that Poindexter 'corruptly' obstructed the congressional investigation when he lied to Congress.'' 87
87 Ibid.
In October 1992, Independent Counsel petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to review the Poindexter case. Independent Counsel said the appeals court ruling that the obstruction statute was unconstitutional ``leaves a large gap in the criminal law, while endorsing a method of analyzing constitutional vagueness challenges that could prove enormously destructive to a substantial body of federal legislation.'' 88 The petition noted that at least 17 other laws besides the obstruction statute at issue use the word ``corruptly'' to define an element of the offense.89
88 U.S. v. Poindexter, Crim. No. 88-0080-01, Petition for Writ of Certiorari by United States of America, at 9 (October 1992).
89 Ibid., p. 10.
On immunized testimony, Independent Counsel in its petition to the Supreme Court said the appeals ruling in Poindexter would
make almost impossible the prosecution of any case involving public immunized statements that requires testimony by persons sympathetic to the accused, such as co-conspirators or other associates. And the dangers of abuse and manipulation are magnified by the court of appeals' view, expressed in North, that a witness inclined to assist the defense may become disqualified from testifying at trial by the simple expedient of soaking himself in the defendant's immunized statements. 90
90 Ibid., p. 22.
Independent Counsel also noted that the appeals ruling
. . . will have its most profound impact on cases involving public immunized testimony before Congress -- cases that, by definition, involve issues of the most fundamental import. If the court of appeals has erred, this Court should right that error before significant further damage is done to the legislative oversight function. 91
91 Ibid., p. 29.
The U.S. Supreme Court in December 1992 declined, without comment, to review the Poindexter case.
Conclusion
Poindexter was responsible for providing President Reagan with advice on national-security matters of highest importance. What his conviction showed was that a jury of ordinary citizens can sort and weigh complex evidence and agree that obstructing and lying to Congress is a serious act worthy of felony conviction.
The Poindexter trial served the public interest in another sense. Poindexter's determination to call President Reagan as a witness allowed the public the rare opportunity to see him testify for seven hours about the Iran/contra matter.
The completion of the Poindexter trial in April 1990, two years after the original indictment was returned, necessitated the re-activation of the criminal investigation into Iran/contra. For the first time, Poindexter and North were available for questioning by Independent Counsel. Although this decision was questioned by some, Independent Counsel determined that his Iran/contra investigative mandate could not be fulfilled until the central operational figures were interrogated to find out whether other high-ranking officials helped support and cover up their activities.
Sentenciando criminosos convicted nos Estados Unidos
Automatically translated into Portuguese thanks to WorldLingo
Capítulo 3
Estados Unidos v. John M. Vice
Adm da marinha de Poindexter. John M. Poindexter foi apontado como o conselheiro da segurança nacional do presidente Reagan dezembro em 4, 1985, sucedendo Robert C. McFarlane, a quem Poindexter tinha servido abaixo como o deputado por dois anos. A carreira branca da casa de Poindexter terminou novembro 25, 1986, quando foi forçado a renunciar na vigília da divulgação pública do Irã/contra a diversão.
Poindexter, tenente. Coluna O norte e McFarlane de Oliver eram o Attorney General Edwin Meese III de três indivíduos identificado novembro em 25, 1986, como knowledgeable da diversão. A supervisão de Poindexter do norte e sua própria participação no Irã e contra operações eram focos adiantados da investigação do conselho independente.
Como no argumento de encontro à evidência norte, criminal de encontro a Poindexter teve que ser recolhido rapidamente antes que estêve compelido testify no monte de Capitol no verão de 1987 sob uma concessão de immunity limitado. Se não, o prosecution de Poindexter era provável ser desafiado nas terras que estêve derivado ou em alguma maneira influenciada por seu testimony congressional immunized.
Março em 16, 1988, Poindexter foi processado em sete cargas do felony que levantam-se de sua participação no Irã/contra o caso, como parte de um indictment do multi-réu de 23 contagens. Foi nomeado com norte, major aposentado da força aérea. Gerador. Richard V. Secord e Albert Hakim como um membro do conspiracy a defraudar o governo de Estados Unidos efetuando o Irã/contra a diversão e a outra agem.
Depois que os casos severed e duas das cargas originais foram demitidas, Poindexter foi tentado e convicted em abril 1990 de cinco felonies, incluindo: uma contagem de conspiring obstruir inquéritos e continuações oficiais, duas contagens de obstruir o Congress, e duas contagens de indicações falsas a Congress.1 ESTADOS UNIDOS. Juiz Harold H. do distrito. Greene sentenciou-o a um termo de seis meses da prisão. Em novembro 1991, as convicções de Poindexter foram viradas na apelação. Em dezembro 1992, os ESTADOS UNIDOS. Corte suprema declinada rever o caso.
1 o exemplo de Poindexter foi tentado por conselhos Dan K. do associado. Webb, cristão J. Mixter, Howard M. Pérola, e Louise R. Radin.
Poindexter juntou a equipe de funcionários do conselho de segurança nacional em junho 1981, seguindo uma distinta carreira naval que incluísse bornes do Pentagon do comando e do elevado-ranking do cruzador de batalha. Em outubro 1983 transformou-se deputado ao conselheiro McFarlane da segurança nacional; entre seus subordinados era norte. Durante o tenure one-year de Poindexter como o conselheiro da segurança nacional, que começou em dezembro 1985, oversaw o Irã/contra as operações em que o norte foi envolvido diretamente.
Em novembro 1986, enquanto as operações secretas se estavam tornando expostas publicamente, Poindexter assentou bem no oficial sênior da administração responsável para instruir outros conselheiros superiores do presidente sobre as vendas de braços de Irã. Em uma série das reuniões brancas da casa com outros oficiais e membros do Congress durante todo o mês, colocou repetidamente para fora uma versão falsa das transações que distanced o presidente Reagan dos 1985 shipments de braços legalmente questionáveis feitos através de Israel, particularmente a transação do Falcão-míssil de novembro 1985.
Embora Poindexter fosse o spokesman, não era responsável sozinho para saber os fatos. Virtualmente cada outro oficial sênior, including o presidente Reagan, que se ouviu que sua versão das vendas de braços nas instruções durante todo novembro 1986 teve a razão a acreditar eram errados. Contudo ninguém, de acordo com as notas contemporaneous daquelas instruções, raio até Poindexter correto.
Poindexter junto com o norte e outro em novembro 1986 tentaram shred e alterar a fuga de papel que reflete seu Irã/contra atividades. Entre outras coisas, Poindexter destruiu único encontrar presidencial assinado existente da secreto-ação que foi pretendido autorizar retroactively a participação do CIA no shipment dos falcões de novembro 1985.
Poindexter e o norte eram mais menos bem sucedidos em eradicating a fuga da computador-mensagem de seu Irã/contra atividades. Poindexter e o norte comunicaram-se frequentemente através de uma canaleta especial que Poindexter, um perito de computador, ajustasse acima no sistema computatorizado de NSC. Esta canaleta, sabida como “a verificação em branco confidencial,” permitiu que Poindexter e o norte serelay as mensagens sem seu que estão sendo distribuídas através das canaletas em que outra na equipe de funcionários de NSC poderia as selecionar.
Entre novembro 22 a 29, 1986, norte suprimiu de suas mensagens da lima de computador 736, e Poindexter suprimiu 5.012 mensagens durante o mesmo period.2 apesar destes apagamentos, as fitas adesivas rotineiramente conservadas brancas do back-up da casa que contêm todos os dados no sistema por duas semanas para proteger de encontro à perda inadvertida. Quando o Irã/contra o caso foi exposto em novembro atrasado 1986, a agência branca das comunicações da casa, que controla o sistema computatorizado de NSC, reteve as fitas adesivas alternativas que datam novembro de 15. Os Investigators, puderam conseqüentemente recuperar cópias de todas as mensagens que estavam nas limas de computador do Poindexter-Norte no mid-November 1986 antes que a maioria dos apagamentos ocorreram. Estas mensagens do computador transformaram-se evidência importante no Poindexter e nas experimentações nortes.
2 Williams, Testimony experimental de Poindexter, 3/15/90, pp. 1752-65.
Poindexter admitido a muitas de suas atividades antes que os comitês seletos em julho 1987 sob uma concessão do immunity testimonial, que impedisse que suas admissões estejam usadas de encontro a ele na continuação criminal. Porque o presidente Reagan não testify que o forum, Poindexter estêve chamado para responder à pergunta que dominou os hearings: O presidente soube aproximadamente e aprovar a diversão das vendas de braços de Irã prosegue aos contras? Poindexter respondeu ao No., “os batentes do buck aqui com mim.” 3 que disse que reteve deliberadamente a informação do presidente Reagan porque ``eu quis o presidente ter algum deniability de modo que fosse protegido. . . . '' 4
3 Poindexter, Testimony seleto dos comitês, 7/15/87, P. 95.
4 Ibid., P. 101.
Enfrentando uma experimentação criminal, Poindexter confrontou um dilemma diferente: Era já não uma pergunta de proteger o presidente mas de defender-se himself de encontro a cinco cargas do felony. Antes do Congress, o testimony o mais significativo de Poindexter negações repetidas do presidente Reagan corroborated da consciência do Irã/contra a diversão. No courtroom, Poindexter montou uma defesa da elevado-autorização, tentando convencer o júri que o presidente tinha aprovado suas ações, including aquelas que resultaram em cargas criminal. Em vez de fazer exame do carrinho em sua própria defesa, entretanto, chamou o presidente Reagan para testify.
Continuações Pre-Trial
ESTADOS UNIDOS. Juiz Gerhard A. do distrito. Gesell em junho 1988 requisitou que a caixa do multi-réu de encontro a Poindexter, norte, a Secord e a Hakim fosse severed.5 depois da separação, caso de Poindexter foi transferido ao juiz principal Aubrey E. Robinson, Jr., e para julgar então Greene, que presided umas continuações mais adicionais do excesso.
5 para uma descrição mais detalhada da separação da caixa do multi-réu, veja o capítulo norte.
Todos os desafios substantivos de Poindexter à validez do indictment foram demitidos antes da experimentação. As edições importantes restantes concerniram: (1) a preservação da carga do conspiracy; (2) a definição da classific-informação disputa; (3) a definição das edições relacionadas ao testimony congressional immunized de Poindexter, sob governar sabido como Kastigar; e (4) o esforço bem sucedido do réu fixar o testimony experimental do presidente anterior Reagan.
Preservar e estreitar os problemas da carga
do Conspiracy com informação classificada conduziram ao dismissal das cargas centrais do conspiracy antes da experimentação norte, e os problemas similares esperaram-se levantar-se no argumento de encontro a Poindexter. Junho em 20, 1989, os conselhos independentes moveram-se para eliminar as cargas largas originais do conspiracy baseadas na fonte dos contras e da diversão e para estreitar substancialmente a carga de conspiracy para violate os outros statutes criminal substantivos, indicações falsas proibindo e obstrução. Após arquivamentos e o argumento oral, a corte concedeu o movimento do governo.
A carga era refocused no ato ilegal de conspiring com norte e Secord esconder atividades do Congress. Os conselhos independentes discutiram com sucesso que este se estreitar da carga do conspiracy minimizaria os problemas da classific-informação que flagelaram o prosecution norte.
A informação classificada emite
os procedimentos classificados da informação age (CIPA) permitiu que a corte experimental eficazmente resolvesse as edições que envolvem o uso de originais e do testimony classificados em Poindexter. Julgue a supervisão de Greene do processo de CIPA e as negociações fruitful entre os conselhos para o governo e o Poindexter resolvidos a maioria de disputas com um mínimo de atrasam.
No contraste ao norte, não havia nenhum prolongado ou o litigation significativo a respeito do formulário ou do espaço de observações de CIPA de Poindexter à corte divulgar classificou a informação na experimentação. Entre novembro 27, 1989, e março 13, 1990, Poindexter serviu a 11 tais observações, including o testimony oito que os originais classificados listados ele quiseram se usar na experimentação, dois classificado possível de descrição, e a uma focalizada unicamente na informação que quis eliciar no deposition do presidente Reagan.
Julgue Greene requisitou que todas as diferenças que o excesso classificou a informação estejam negociadas entre os partidos antes de ser trazido antes da corte. Julgue Greene prendeu seis hearings fechados de CIPA antes da experimentação começou e suplementou aqueles com diversos hearings mais curtos durante a experimentação. A maioria de seus rulings na relevância e no admissibility da informação classificada, e no adequacy das substituições propostas pelo governo, foram feitos do banco.
Feitas exame junto, as observações de CIPA de Poindexter alistaram aproximadamente 1.200 originais, only uma fração pequena de que foi introduzida finalmente na experimentação. A maioria de informação classificada foi coberta por estipulações de Governo a determinados fatos e a outras substituições unclassified. Isto permitiu que a experimentação proseguisse lisamente, sem os conflitos que complicaram o norte ou o argumento de encontro à estação anterior Joseph principal F. do CIA. Fernandez, que era demitido devido à classific-informação problems.6
6 vê o capítulo de Fernandez.
As continuações Poindexter
de Kastigar foram compelidas sob uma concessão do immunity do uso testify em 1987 antes dos comitês seletos que investigam Irã/contra. Como o outro Irã/contra os réus que deram o testimony immunized antes do Congress, Poindexter movido para demitir o indictment na teoria que violated os padrões enunciated em Kastigar v. Estados Unidos, 7 que discutem que seu testimony immunized estêve usado de encontro a ele no júri grande e na experimentação. Este argumento provou mal sucedido no nível experimental mas prevaleceu finalmente na corte de apelações.
7 406 ESTADOS UNIDOS. 411 (1972).
Antes que suas experimentações severed, Poindexter movido conjuntamente com norte e Hakim, que tinham recebido também o immunity para testify antes do Congress, para ter as cargas de encontro a eles demitiu na terra que a evidência de encontro a eles tainted por seu testimony immunized. O juiz Gesell negou esse movimento. Entretanto, no deference à defesa reivindica que usariam um - possivelmente o testimony immunized exculpatory another, juiz Gesell em junho 1988 severed as experimentações.
Poindexter renovou seu movimento de Kastigar antes do juiz Greene em agosto 1989. Após a instrução e o argumento, 8 a corte requisitaram que dois hearings evidentiary estivessem prendidos. No primeiro, a corte ouviu o testimony dos conselhos Dan K. do associado. Webb e Howard M. Pearl a respeito de sua exposição ao testimony immunized de Poindexter antes de juntar o escritório de conselhos independentes. Webb e a pérola juntaram a equipe de funcionários de OIC em 1989 e não a tiveram, antes de suas nomeações, sido sujeitos aos procedimentos de OIC isolar-se do testimony immunized de Poindexter. Julgue Greene encontrou sua exposição ao testimony de Poindexter para ser insignificante e permitiu que ambos os advogados participassem na experimentação.
8 o exemplo de Poindexter foram tentados antes da corte de apelações governadas no norte que os hearings da testemunha eram necessários para permitir a experimentação de um réu immunized.
O segundo jogo de hearings de corte concerniu as testemunhas experimentais, cujo o testimony pode tainted pelo testimony immunized de Poindexter. De Gesell aceitado Greene do juiz do juiz revisão mais adiantada de testemunhas Jury grandes e declinada re-examine seus findings. Recusou também demitir o indictment na base da exposição grande potencial do juror ao testimony immunized.
A respeito das testemunhas experimentais, a corte fêz exame de medidas extensivas assegurar-se de que as indicações immunized de Poindexter não estivessem usadas de encontro a ele. A corte requisitou o governo para fazer uma submissão ex do parte (divulgada mais tarde a Poindexter) de todas as indicações feitas por testemunhas experimentais potenciais antes que Poindexter deu seu testimony immunized antes do Congress em julho 1987. A corte encontrou que todo o testimony proposto de a maioria das testemunhas potenciais tinha sido memorialized antes que Poindexter apareceu publicamente julho em 15, 1987, e conseqüentemente não tainted.
Quanto para 2 aquelas testemunhas os cujos esperaram que o testimony experimental não estaria limitado à evidência OIC tinha selado com a corte antes do testimony immunized de Poindexter, informação adicional requerida Greene do juiz. Concliu que o governo não tinha estabelecido que cinco de suas testemunhas potenciais estavam livres do taint e lhes tinha requisitado a aparecer em um hearing pre-trial. Duas das três testemunhas que apareceram finalmente na experimentação credibly afirmaram que seu testimony antecipado não estaria influenciado em nenhuma maneira pelo testimony immunized de Poindexter; o terceiro, norte, recusado fazer assim.
Norte indicado no hearing pre-trial que era incapaz, com respeito a todo o assunto, distinguir o que tinha feito pessoalmente, observado ou experimentado de o que tinha aprendido de prestar atenção a testimony.9 immunized de Poindexter quanto para à destruição de Poindexter de encontrar presidencial da secreto-ação de dezembro 1985 -- evidência importante na obstrução do Congress -- O norte reconheceu que tinha visto Poindexter destruir uma parte de papel mas insistido que não soube lhe era encontrar até que Poindexter indicou esse fato em seu testimony immunized antes do Congress.
9 Testimony norte, Hearing Pre-trial de Poindexter, 12/13/89, pp. 374-77.
A corte rejeitou o testimony pre-trial norte como nao believable. Norte, a corte encontrada, ``parece embarked naquele tempo [no hearing] em cima do curso calculado de tentar ajudar a seus colega e co-réu anteriores. . . prevaricating em várias edições. . . opinião 10
, Poindexter, 3/8/90, P. do '' 10. 9.
Em uma borne-experimentação separada que governa, a corte adicionou que tanto quanto a destruição de encontrar, o testimony norte em sua própria experimentação sobre o evento era inconsistent com sua reivindicação que não poderia a recordar independent do testimony immunized de Poindexter. A corte encontrou-o “inerente incredible” que o norte não recordou “sua participação em um evento que testemunhou firsthand e isso era como dramático, certamente historic, como rasgar acima de encontrar presidencial extremamente raro.” 11
11 Ibid., 5/29/90, pp. 32-40.
O Subpoena um
de Reagan dos aspectos os mais notáveis do exemplo de Poindexter era a tentativa bem sucedida do réu de chamar o presidente anterior Reagan para testify em sua experimentação pelo deposition gravado.
Poindexter procurou primeiramente notas presidenciais presidenciais e vice de OIC como parte de seus pedidos da descoberta pre-trial. Em um hearing pre-trial setembro em 6, 1989, os advogados de Poindexter disseram à corte que as notas presidenciais refletiriam esse Poindexter informaram o presidente de suas negações ao Congress em 1986 da atividade de NSC na sustentação dos contras, e que as notas “mostrariam o que o presidente foi dito sobre o que estava sendo feito para suportar os contras em América Central, e o consentimento do presidente e o ratification e a aprovaçã0 dessa atividade.” 12 em procurar notas presidenciais vice, os advogados de Poindexter disseram a corte que “em qualquer altura que [Bush] faltou uma reunião, almirante Poindexter instruíram-no nela mais tarde.” 13
12 Robinson, Hearing Pre-trial de Poindexter, 9/6/89, P. 18.
13 Ibid., P. 19.
A corte, antes de fazer uma decisão sobre se compelir OIC para produzir estes originais, setembro em 11, 1989, Poindexter dirigido para arquivar um memorando ex do parte que explica precisamente como estes originais ajudariam a seu defense.14 ele requereu dos conselhos independentes um memorando legal a respeito de sua responsabilidade produzir originais presidenciais presidenciais e vice não na possessão de OIC.
14 opinião, Poindexter, 9/11/89, P. 22.
Independent Counsel in a filing on September 18, 1989, told the court that the office did not have in its possession presidential notes, but rather had been granted access to notes and allowed to copy only a portion of them with special permission. As far as President Reagan's diary was concerned, Independent Counsel had been allowed to review typed extracts of portions deemed relevant by White House counsel, but the President had retained custody of his diary, which both he and the national archivist regarded as personal records, making them unaccessible under the Presidential Records Act unless their production were compelled by subpoena.15
15 Government's Memorandum Concerning Presidential and Vice Presidential Documents that Are Not in the Possession of Independent Counsel, 9/18/89.
Attached to Independent Counsel's filing was a declaration by John Fawcett, assistant archivist for the Office of Presidential Libraries of the National Archives and Records Administration. Fawcett stated that President Bush's vice presidential records were transferred to the archives at the end of the Reagan Administration, but, ``No personal diary of former Vice President Bush has been specifically identified as being included in the Vice Presidential records. However, these Vice Presidential records have not yet been processed.'' 16
16 Ibid., Exhibit A. President Bush in December 1992 for the first time informed Independent Counsel that he had kept a diary as vice president from 1986 to 1988. See Bush chapter.
On September 25, 1989, Poindexter's attorneys informed the court that ``the defendant is willing to seek access to the personal diaries and notes of former President Reagan and former Vice President Bush pursuant to a . . . subpoena.'' 17 After reviewing Poindexter's ex parte submission on the materiality of presidential and vice presidential documents, the court on October 24, 1989, ruled that there was sufficient likelihood that President Reagan's documents would be material to the defense. Judge Greene differentiated between Reagan and Bush documents, however, because ``the Vice President had no operational authority with respect to Poindexter,'' because the information contained in vice presidential papers may be largely cumulative, and because of deference to the sitting President Bush.18
17 Defendant's Response to Government's Memorandum Concerning Presidential and Vice President Documents That Are Not in the Possession of Independent Counsel, 9/25/89, p. 2.
18 U.S. v. Poindexter, 725 F. Supp. 13, 28-31 (D.D.C. 1989). Judge Greene added that with respect to Bush documents, he would reevaluate the matter if Poindexter at a later date showed a more pressing need for them.
On November 3, 1989, Poindexter filed with the court a classified petition for leave to serve subpoenas on former President Reagan and the National Archives, seeking materials and testimony relevant to Iran/contra activities in 67 categories. On November 16, Judge Greene granted Poindexter's petition. Both President Reagan and the National Archives moved to quash the subpoena for documents.
In a pre-trial hearing December 4 the court stated that its order covered only documents, and not the President's possible trial testimony. On December 18 Poindexter sought the court's leave to subpoena President Reagan to testify at trial. In deciding whether Poindexter could subpoena President Reagan's testimony, Judge Greene asked Poindexter to submit a list of specific questions he intended to ask. Poindexter submitted a list of 183 questions, which were not made available to Independent Counsel.19 The court ruled that the questions directly related to the charges in the indictment and to Poindexter's anticipated defense.
19 In 1993, during preparation of this report, Independent Counsel obtained copies of these questions and other ex parte submissions from Poindexter's case.
In his February 5, 1990, ruling upholding the testimonial subpoena of Reagan, Judge Greene described Poindexter's proposed questions as falling into 12 categories. These included: (1) the frequency and occasions on which President Reagan and Poindexter met; (2) the President's view of the Boland Amendment and how it applied to contra support; (3) whether the President authorized Poindexter to seek foreign support for the contras; (4) what instructions the President gave Poindexter regarding meetings with Central American officials, and what information Poindexter subsequently relayed back to the President; (5) presidential discussions with Central American leaders concerning contra support; (6) presidential discussions with Poindexter regarding actions to be taken if Congress did not renew contra aid; (7) presidential knowledge of North's relationship to Iran/contra figures; (8) Poindexter's briefings of the President regarding a congressional inquiry in 1986 into North's activities; (9) Poindexter's communications with Congress at the direction of the President; (10) whether Poindexter informed the President about Secord's status; (11) discussions Poindexter had with the President regarding a chronology of the Iran arms sales prepared in November 1986; and (12) the President's knowledge of the arms shipments to Iran.
In his opinion explaining his decision to uphold Poindexter's subpoena of President Reagan, Judge Greene concluded:
Former President Ronald Reagan is claimed by Admiral Poindexter to have direct and important knowledge that will help to exonerate him from the criminal charges lodged against him. In view of the prior professional relationship between the two men, and defendant's showing discussed above, that claim cannot be dismissed as fanciful or frivolous. That being so, it would be inconceivable -- in a Republic that subscribes neither to the ancient doctrine of the divine right of kings nor to the more modern conceit of dictators that they are not accountable to the people whom they claim to represent or to their courts of law -- to exempt Mr. Reagan from the duty of every citizen to give evidence that will permit the reaching of a just outcome of this criminal prosecution. Defendant has shown that the evidence of the former President is needed to protect his right to a fair trial, and he will be given the opportunity to secure that evidence.20
20 U.S. v. Poindexter, 732 F. Supp. 142, 159-60 (D.D.C. 1990)
President Reagan did not claim executive privilege once he was ordered to testify.
The seven-hour videotaped deposition of the former President was taken February 16 and 17, 1990, in the Los Angeles federal courthouse, near his residence. The public and the press were not allowed to attend the deposition. Transcripts and the opportunity to view the videotape were made available to members of the press before the trial.
As for Poindexter's subpoena for documents from the former President, Judge Greene ordered President Reagan to make diary entries available for the court's in camera review. After its review, the court ordered President Reagan to produce the relevant diary entries to Poindexter in the absence of a claim of executive privilege. President Reagan, joined by the Bush Administration, claimed executive privilege as to the diary entries on February 5, 1990. On March 21, the court granted the Reagan-Bush motions to quash the subpoena for the diary entries, concluding that Poindexter's defense would be adequately served by the President's testimony.
The Poindexter Trial
The month-long Poindexter trial, which resulted in a five-count conviction on April 7, 1990, centered largely on the testimony of two witnesses: Oliver North for the prosecution and former President Reagan for the defense.
Both men attempted to help the defendant in their appearances on the witness stand, but each had given prior testimony harmful to Poindexter, and they could not deviate from that under threat of perjury charges.21 North could not abandon his earlier defense stance that he dutifully reported his activities -- including those found to be crimes -- to his superior, Poindexter. President Reagan was compelled at trial to state, as he had previously, that he repeatedly told his aides to obey the law and that he was unaware of their criminal acts.
21 Before taking the witness stand in Poindexter, North had testified before the Select Committees in July 1987, at his own trial in 1989, and at a Poindexter pre-trial hearing in 1990.
President Reagan was questioned by his Tower Commission on two occasions in early 1987. More significantly, the President in November 1987 answered 53 written interrogatories from Independent Counsel, which were submitted as sworn testimony to the federal Grand Jury investigating the Iran/contra affair.
Poindexter chose not to testify at his trial.
Although Poindexter and North had destroyed and altered official papers and computer messages, the prosecution offered convincing documentary evidence that Poindexter was kept apprised of North's efforts to provide military aid to the Nicaraguan contras while it was outlawed from October 1984-October 1986 by the Boland Amendment; that Poindexter adopted false statements McFarlane and North made to Congress; and that Poindexter had been fully aware of the ill-fated November 1985 HAWK missile shipment to Iran, which he subsequently tried to conceal from Congress.
The Trial Testimony of Oliver L. North
The testimony of North, named as a co-conspirator in the case, was important to proving each of the five charges against Poindexter:
-- Count One, that Poindexter conspired with North and Secord to obstruct congressional inquiries of Iran- and contra-related matters, to make false statements to Congress, and to falsify, remove and destroy official documents.
-- Count Two, that Poindexter obstructed Congress in 1986 when it was investigating media allegations that North was raising funds and providing military aid to the contras. In letters to three committees, Poindexter answered questions by repeating denials McFarlane made before Congress in 1985 of North's involvement in contra-support activities, even though Poindexter knew the denials to be false. He set up a meeting with the House Intelligence Committee in August 1986 in which he knew North would have to give false testimony, and afterward congratulated North on his performance.
-- Count Three, that Poindexter obstructed Congress in November 1986 by participating with North in the preparation of false chronologies of the secret U.S. arms sales to Iran and by making false statements to the House and Senate intelligence committees. Specifically, Poindexter falsely asserted that no U.S. official knew before January 1986 that HAWK missiles had been shipped to Iran in November 1985. The indictment stated that North as early as November 20, 1985, told Poindexter about the shipment in advance and advised him of it again after the fact in late 1985.
-- Counts Four and Five, that Poindexter made false statements about the HAWK shipment to the House and Senate intelligence committees on November 21, 1986. As in Count Three, the false statement charges were based on North's informing Poindexter about the shipment in 1985.
In four days of trial testimony, North reluctantly recounted his central operational role in the Iran/contra affair. He described the extensive contra-resupply network he ran with Secord and Hakim,22 his contra fund-raising efforts, and the military advice he gave the contras. He testified that he kept his bosses McFarlane and Poindexter fully informed of his activities and that he acted only with their approval.23
22 North objected to the prosecutor's use of the word ``Enterprise'' to describe the profit-making web of contra- and Iran-related operations he undertook with Secord and Hakim. He also objected to the use of the word ``testimony'' in reference to the false statements he made before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in August 1986, and the word ``diversion'' to describe the scheme in which he, Poindexter and others diverted Iran arms sales proceeds to the contras.
23 North, Poindexter Trial Testimony, 3/12/90, pp. 1275-76.
North, who was forced to testify for the prosecution under a grant of immunity, frequently claimed that he could not recall many of the incidents in question, some of which had occurred several years before. North admitted a wide range of contra-support and Iran-related actions only when confronted with prior testimony in which he had provided extensive details.
North admitted that he lied in August 1986 when he told the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) he was not engaged in raising funds or providing military support to the Nicaraguan contras.24 North described exchanges with Poindexter before and after the meeting that directly implicated Poindexter in a scheme to frustrate the congressional investigation.25
24 Ibid., 3/9/90, pp. 1042-43.
25 Ibid., 3/12/90, p. 1083.
HPSCI was one of three congressional committees pursuing a House inquiry into reports of North's contra-aid activities. North testified that prior to appearing before the committee in the White House Situation Room, he told Poindexter he would be asked about ``things that I had been told never to reveal.'' 26 In response, Poindexter told him, ``You can handle it, you can take care of it,'' according to North.27
26 Ibid., 3/9/90, p. 1033.
27 Ibid.
After receiving reports of North's statements to HPSCI, which Poindexter knew were false, Poindexter by way of his computer sent North a terse congratulatory message: ``Well done.'' 28
28 PROFs Note from Poindexter to North, 8/11/86, AKW 018921.
Based on the statements of North and Poindexter, HPSCI Chairman Lee Hamilton informed other members of Congress that the media allegations about North could not be proven. North's false testimony, in combination with Poindexter's perpetuation of McFarlane's previous lies, successfully frustrated the congressional oversight process. It was not until Nicaraguan soldiers on October 5, 1986, shot down a contra-resupply plane carrying American Eugene Hasenfus that Congress renewed its investigation into North's activities.
North testified that he kept Poindexter apprised of his involvement in the covert sales of U.S. arms to Iran in 1985 and 1986, including the operation's most secret aspect: the Iran/contra diversion. He sent Poindexter five or six memos stating that overcharges to the Iranian buyers would generate millions of dollars for diversion to the contras.29 North said Poindexter told him the diversion should never be revealed.30 North said he reported the diversion plan to Poindexter because he thought that projects funded by it ``ought to have the authority of the President behind them.'' 31
29 North, Poindexter Trial Testimony, 3/12/90, pp. 1107-11.
30 Ibid., pp. 1103-05.
31 Ibid., p. 1111.
North testified that in November 1985, he became directly involved in an Israeli shipment of U.S. HAWK missiles to Iran at McFarlane's behest.32 North said he got permission from both McFarlane, who was then the national security adviser, and Poindexter, then deputy national security adviser, to enlist Secord's help in resolving logistical problems surrounding the shipment.33 He also got McFarlane and Poindexter's permission to supply the Israelis with the name of a CIA-connected airline to assist.34 North outlined the details of the planned HAWK shipment in a computer note to Poindexter on November 20, 1985.35 By memoranda on December 4 and on December 9, 1985, North informed Poindexter that the Iranians were unhappy with the shipment and wanted the missiles to be retrieved.36
32 Ibid., pp. 1118-20.
33 Ibid., pp. 1121-22.
34 Ibid., pp. 1122-27.
35 PROFs Note from North to Poindexter, 11/20/85, AKW 002066.
36 PROFs Note from North to Poindexter, 12/4/85, AKW 002070-73; Memorandum from North to McFarlane and Poindexter, 12/9/85, AKW 002088-91.
When CIA officials insisted after the HAWK shipment that the President should retroactively authorize the agency's participation in the operation, CIA Director William J. Casey on November 26, 1985, gave Poindexter a covert-action Finding for President Reagan's signature.37 North testified that he saw the signed Finding either in Poindexter's office safe or in the safe of NSC counsel Paul Thompson.38
37 Memorandum from Casey to Poindexter, 11/26/85, AMY 000651-52.
38 North, Poindexter Trial Testimony, 3/12/90, p. 1245.
After public exposure of the Iran arms sales in November 1986, North -- at Poindexter's request -- prepared a chronology of U.S. involvement in the Iran arms sales, which underwent a series of re-writes. North testified that McFarlane removed from the chronology North's factual account of the November 1985 HAWKs shipment and substituted a cover story: that although the CIA became involved in the November 1985 shipment after Israel encountered logistical difficulties, U.S. officials at the time believed the cargo to be oil-drilling parts and did not learn until January 1986 that the true cargo was weapons.39
39 Ibid., pp. 1188-98.
Asked whether the McFarlane revision was part of a plan to ``cover up'' the existence of the November 1985 Finding, North answered: ``I don't know that cover up is the right word. I listened to the President's press conferences, I listened to statements being made by people and they just didn't talk about it.'' 40 North said McFarlane told him the cover story should be incorporated into the chronology because the 1985 Finding authorizing the weapons shipment described too directly an arms-for-hostages swap, which, if exposed, would politically embarrass the President.41
40 Ibid., p. 1191.
41 Ibid., pp. 1190-91.
The same oil-drilling-parts cover story was part of a CIA-prepared chronology that Casey and his deputy, Robert Gates, brought to a White House meeting on November 20, 1986, with Poindexter, North, Meese, Cooper and Thompson. The purpose of the meeting was to prepare Casey and Poindexter for their congressional testimony the following day. North was asked at trial:
Q: . . . did it become clear to you by the time McFarlane tells you that [the finding was too close to an arms-for-hostage swap] and by the time you see the CIA show up with this phony chronology, then at least did it appear to you that there was some effort or plan going on to cover up with U.S. involvement because of that finding?
A: Well, there is no doubt in my mind that I came to realize that finding was a disaster, and I understood that.42
42 Ibid., pp. 1208-09.
North testified that he altered and destroyed numerous documents in October and November 1986 that would have revealed details of the Iran and contra operations. He said he assured Poindexter that he had ``taken care of'' the documents that reflected his activities.43 He said he told Poindexter all the documents describing the Iran/contra diversion were destroyed, after learning from Poindexter on November 21, 1986, that Attorney General Meese would be conducting a weekend investigation into the Iran arms sales.44 North also testified that he altered other original NSC documents, after receiving Poindexter's permission to retrieve them from the NSC document-archiving system.45
43 Ibid., p. 1218.
44 Ibid., pp. 1120-21.
45 Ibid., pp. 1224-27.
More important, North reluctantly testified that he saw Poindexter destroy the only known copy of the signed presidential Finding that sought to authorize retroactively the November 1985 shipment of HAWK missiles to Iran.46 North's eyewitness account of the destruction of the Finding provided significant proof of Poindexter's intent to conceal facts about the HAWK missile shipment from Congress in November 1986.47
46 Ibid., 1252-54.
47 The destruction of the 1985 Finding was not charged as a separate crime in the indictment of Poindexter because Independent Counsel did not learn of it until North testified about it at his own trial in April 1989. Poindexter had told the Select Committees in 1987 that he destroyed the only signed copy of the 1985 presidential Finding. Independent Counsel did not learn of this statement at the time, however, because the OIC had taken measures to insulate itself from all immunized testimony. Even if Independent Counsel had been aware of the Poindexter testimony, OIC could not have used it in any criminal proceeding against Poindexter under the terms of immunity grant.
North's wide-ranging testimony enabled the prosecution to streamline its witness list to only nine other individuals, many of whom supplemented the central details provided by North.
The Trial Testimony of President Reagan
Before the trial of Poindexter, President Reagan had not testified publicly about Iran/contra. On February 16 and 17, 1990, he gave a seven-hour videotaped deposition as a defense witness. No classified matters were discussed and executive privilege was not invoked in response to any question. The videotaped deposition was shown in full, therefore, to the Poindexter jury during the trial on March 21 and 22, 1990.48
48 Immediately after each tape was shown to the jury, a copy was given to the television networks, allowing the public to see President Reagan's only courtroom testimony on the Iran/contra affair.
In direct examination, defense counsel sought to show presidential knowledge and approval of Poindexter's activities. But President Reagan frequently claimed memory lapses when questioned about specific exchanges he may have had with Poindexter and about his knowledge of individuals and details involved in the Iran and contra operations.
Although President Reagan exhibited virtually no detailed knowledge of the Iran/contra matter, he made clear to the jury that it had his imprimatur, calling it ``a covert action that was taken at my behest.'' 49 President Reagan said North was the only person he remembered being involved in the arms initiative.50 He could not recall being briefed by Poindexter on the May 1986 trip by McFarlane and North to Tehran, but he said he did recall signing a Bible for Iranians.51 President Reagan testified that the amount of weapons sold to Iran totaled $12.2 million.52
49 Reagan, Poindexter Trial Deposition, 2/16/90, p. 9.
50 Ibid., p. 21.
51 Ibid., p. 24.
52 Ibid., pp. 154-55.
Asked specifically about the November 1985 HAWK shipment to Iran, President Reagan said he recalled a plan in which the Israelis would turn their plane around in mid-delivery of the weapons if no hostages were released.53 He did not recall when he became aware of the November 1985 HAWK shipment; 54 he did not recall Poindexter telling him in November 1986 that others in the White House were having trouble remembering when they learned of it.55
53 Ibid., pp. 24-25.
54 Ibid., pp. 33-36.
55 Ibid., pp. 38-39.
President Reagan also claimed virtually no memory of the November 1986 period in which his top advisers were scrambling to limit public exposure of the Iran arms sales. He only generally recalled telling members of Congress about the arms sales on November 12, 1986.56 He could not remember receiving any information from Poindexter for any of his presentations on the matter in that time.57 The former President could not remember asking Poindexter to assemble the facts on the arms sales.58 He could not recall that Poindexter briefed the House and Senate intelligence committees on November 21, 1986.59
56 Ibid., pp. 37-38.
57 Ibid., p. 30.
58 Ibid., p. 28.
59 Ibid., pp. 44-45.
Defense counsel's questions suggested that their client had significant exchanges with the President during the arms-sale period and its aftermath. But Reagan's lack of recollection, and lack of specificity when he did remember events or individuals, left those questions unresolved.
President Reagan provided more helpful testimony for the defense on the subject of contra-support operations. Calling the Boland prohibition on contra funding a ``disaster,'' 60 Reagan testified that he urged his aides to do what they could to support the contras, while staying ``within the law.'' 61 Reagan recalled that Saudi Arabia's King Fahd pledged millions of dollars for the contras.62 He said he told his aides not to solicit contributions for the contras directly but to tell people how they could contribute if they wanted to help.63
60 Ibid., p. 69.
61 Ibid., pp. 53-54.
62 Ibid., pp. 74-75.
63 Ibid., pp. 53-54.
Asked whether Poindexter briefed him on the contras, President Reagan said: ``Oh yes, I depended on him for that.'' 64 He said he had no reason to believe that Poindexter was not keeping him fully informed.
64 Ibid., p. 116.
Asked to describe what he knew about North's responsibilities in the White House, President Reagan said:
Well, he was mainly performing tasks, as I understand it, for the NSC, but he -- his background and record had been one of being decorated for heroism and so forth in the Vietnamese conflict, and that he had been a very bold and brave soldier -- Marine.
And -- so, he was -- it was my impression, not from any specific reports or anything, that in through all of this that he was communicating back and forth between on the need for the support of the Contras and so forth.65
65 Ibid., p. 131.
In addition to professing a benign view of North and his activities, President Reagan indicated general knowledge of and support for the contra-resupply operation in Central America:
Q: Do you recall any discussions that he [Poindexter] may have had with you about the construction of an airstrip down there in Central America?
A: Well, I did hear -- we had learned that there was a rather primitive lane in there in the jungle near the border of Costa Rican [sic], and that was then being put into better shape as a usable airstrip.
Q: Did you have any -- do you recall any discussion about who was constructing the airstrip?
A: Well, no. I assume it was the Costa Rican government.
Q: And do you know what that airstrip was going to be used for?
A: Well, I know that -- I hoped that it would be used in the delivery of when once again we could supply, keep the Contras supplied, that it could be involved in the -- used there, if there was need for a refueling or anything of that kind of a plane.66
66 Ibid., p. 121.
President Reagan was then asked whether he knew who would be using the Costa Rican airstrip for contra resupply. His answer reflected knowledge of the operation supposedly being funded and run by private citizens -- the so-called ``private benefactors'' -- that was in fact being run by Secord at North's direction:
Q: Do you know who it was that was going to be using the airstrip? It was going to be used for supplying the Contras, but do you know who it was that was actually going to be doing the supplying and using the airstrip?
A: No, I do not on that. I don't think -- I don't think I ever considered that it would be military planes of ours. So, possibly some of those that weren't officially planes of ours that had been helping in the past in deliveries to the Contras and so forth.
Q: Earlier this morning or earlier today, I should say, you mentioned General Secord. That you knew that he was involved in the Contra supply effort.
Was it part of his operation you thought that he might be using the airstrip?
A: I can't say that I actually recall that, but it seems to me logical that he would have been involved in that.67
67 Ibid., p. 122.
President Reagan, who winked and smiled at Poindexter from the witness stand, did not hide his contempt toward congressional inquiries into NSC staff contra-support activities. Shown misleading letters written by Poindexter in July 1986 to the committees of Congress that were investigating allegations of North's contra efforts, Reagan said: ``I am in total agreement. If I had written it myself, I might have used a little profanity.'' 68
68 Ibid., pp. 146-47.
In cross-examination, the prosecution was able to impeach much of President Reagan's testimony. This was possible because Reagan late in 1987 had answered, under oath, 53 written interrogatories for Independent Counsel and the Grand Jury investigating the Iran/contra matter.
The July 21, 1986, letters -- in which Poindexter embraced and perpetuated the lies McFarlane had told Congress about North's contra-support activities a year earlier -- were a key element in the obstruction charges against the defendant. Under cross-examination by the prosecution, President Reagan was asked whether he was aware that the Poindexter letters repeated McFarlane's previous lies. The former President equivocated:
Well, I simply -- no, I did not have this information, but I have a great deal of confidence in the man who was quoted as sending these letters, McFarlane. And I have never -- I have never caught him or seen him doing anything that was in any way out of line or dishonest. And so, I was perfectly willing to accept his defense.69
69 Ibid., p. 151.
President Reagan said he did not know that McFarlane had pleaded guilty to withholding information from Congress in connection with the false letters.70
70 Ibid., pp. 220-21.
Asked whether he approved either the McFarlane or Poindexter letters to Congress, the former President said he had no recollection of doing so, adding that his memory could be faulty.71 Asked directly whether he would approve of sending false information to Congress, President Reagan conceded that he would not.72 Would he have authorized Poindexter to make false statements to Congress? President Reagan again attempted to assist his former aide: ``No. And I don't think any false statements were made.'' 73
71 Ibid., pp. 150-51.
72 Ibid., pp. 151-52.
73 Ibid., p. 158.
President Reagan also testified that he did not approve the destruction of Iran/contra documents by Poindexter, and that he was not told about their destruction.74 But the former President, in response to subsequent questioning, described the dilemma in which he placed his aides in November 1986 by instructing them that certain information could not be revealed because ``it will bring to risk and danger to people that are held and with the people that we were negotiating with.'' 75
74 Ibid., p. 160.
75 Ibid., p. 252.
Asked again whether he approved the destruction of alteration of any Iran/contra records, President Reagan said: ``And this, I cannot answer. I cannot recall because it is the possibility that there were such papers that would violate the secrecy that was protecting those individuals' lives.'' 76 President Reagan had denied in response to the earlier written interrogatories that he approved the destruction and alteration of documents; when confronted with his previous testimony he stated that it was truthful.
76 Ibid., p. 255.
On the issue of the contras, President Reagan said he ``never had any inkling'' that North was guiding their military strategy.77 But Reagan muddied the issue in a later statement about North:
77 Ibid., p. 170.
I know that he [North] was very active, and that was certainly with my approval, because I yesterday made plain how seriously I felt about the Contra situation and what it meant to all of us here in the Americas. And, so, obviously, there were many things that were being done. But, again, as I say, I was convinced that they were all being done within the law.78
78 Ibid., p. 189.
In questioning about the Iran/contra diversion, President Reagan surprisingly asserted that he had no proof that a diversion had occurred:
And to this day, I still with all of the investigations that have been made, I still have never been given one iota of evidence as to who collected the price, who delivered the final delivery of the weapons, or what was -- whether there was ever more money in that Swiss account that had been diverted someplace else. I am still waiting to find those things out and have never found them out.79
79 Ibid., p. 155.
Asked whether he had approved a diversion, Reagan again stated:
May I simply point out that I had no knowledge then or now that there had been a diversion, and I never used the term. And all I knew was that there was some money that came from some place in another account, and that the appearance was that it might have been a part of the negotiated sale. And to this day, I don't have any information or knowledge that that wasn't the total amount that -- or that there was a diversion.80
80 Ibid., p. 156.
Asked again whether he would have approved a diversion, President Reagan said he would not. But, he added, ``No one has proven to me that there was a diversion.'' 81
81 Ibid., p. 157.
President Reagan said he did not recall that the Tower Commission concluded in March 1987 that, in fact, a diversion had occurred. ``I, to this day, do not recall ever hearing that there was a diversion,'' he said.82 Shown that portion of the Tower Commission report describing the diversion, Reagan said: ``This report -- this is the first time that I have ever seen a reference that actually specified there was a diversion.'' 83
82 Ibid., p. 240.
83 Ibid., p. 243.
Asked whether Poindexter should have told him about an Iran/contra diversion, Reagan said: ``Yes. Unless maybe he thought he was protecting me from something.'' 84
84 Ibid., pp. 243-44.
The Verdict and Sentencing
After six days of deliberation, the jury on April 7, 1990, found Poindexter guilty of each of the five felony charges against him. Judge Greene on June 11, 1990, sentenced Poindexter to six months imprisonment on each of the five counts, to be served concurrently.
In imposing the sentence, Judge Greene noted complaints by Poindexter's supporters that the most he was guilty of was having become embroiled in a political quarrel between the White House and Congress. Judge Greene stated:
Whatever may have been the nature of the original dispute, what the defendant and his associates did was emphatically not a part of the normal political process.
. . . When Admiral Poindexter and his associates obstructed the Congress, what were they seeking to accomplish? In a word, it was to nullify the decision that body had made on the issue of supplies to the Contras. . . .
President Reagan did not, or for parliamentary reasons he could not, veto the bill [which contained the Boland prohibition on contra aid]. He did not attempt to assert his own constitutional powers or take the issue to the people, and at the conclusion of the political process the Boland Amendment thus became law.
No problem. What the president was unwilling or unable to do -- to defeat this law -- Admiral Poindexter, together with Oliver North and others, did on their own. They decided that the policy embodied in the Boland Amendment was wrong, and they went about to violate it on a large scale and for a lengthy period, and then to lie about their activities to prevent the Congress and the public from finding out. . . .
With all due respect to the distinguished military records of Admiral Poindexter, Colonel North, General Secord, and the others, they have no standing in a democratic society to invalidate the decisions made by elected officials . . . As I said several times during the trial, it is immaterial to this criminal case who was right and who was wrong about the wisdom of the Contra policy. That is not what this trial was about. The jury and this court were not competent to decide for this nation whether resistance forces in Nicaragua should or should not have been supplied with weapons.
But more importantly for present purposes, neither was Admiral Poindexter. When he and his associates took it upon themselves to make that decision anyway, to implement it on a broad scale, and to work actively to keep what they were doing from the Congress and the public, they not only violated various statutes. They were also in violation of a principle fundamental to this constitutional Republic -- that those elected by and responsible to the people shall make the important policy decisions, and that their decisions may not be nullified by appointed officials who happen to be in positions that give them the ability to operate programs prohibited by law. It is unfortunate that, whatever may be his view of his own purposes and actions, the defendant still gives no evidence of recognizing that principle and the seriousness of its violation.
Given the nature of the offenses, the sentencing principle that is primarily applicable here is that of deterrence, and as a practical matter, deterrence means meaningful penalties. If the court were not to impose such a penalty here, when the defendant before it was the decision-making head of the Iran-contra operation, its action would be tantamount to a statement that a scheme to lie to and obstruct Congress is of no great moment, and that even if the perpetrators are found out, the courts will treat their criminal acts as no more than minor infractions.
A message of that kind could not help but encourage others in positions of authority and secrecy to frustrate laws that fail to accord with their notions of what is best for this country, and to carry out their own private policies in the name of the United States. . . .85
85 Judge Greene, Poindexter Transcript of Sentencing, 6/11/90, pp. 18-22
The Appeal
A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in a 2-1 decision on November 15, 1991, reversed Poindexter's convictions on the grounds that his trial was impermissibly tainted by his immunized congressional testimony. The Poindexter ruling was based on the appeals court decision in the North case, which extended the protections of the use immunity statute to prohibit use of any witness whose testimony has been refreshed or shaped in any way by the defendant's immunized testimony. In his dissenting opinion, Chief Judge Abner Mikva noted that the majority ruling ``tells future defendants that all they need to evade responsibility [to testify at trial] is a well timed case of amnesia.'' 86
86 U.S. v. Poindexter, 951 F.2d 369, 390 (D.C. Cir. 1991).
The Poindexter appeals panel also overturned the two obstruction convictions on the grounds that the statute was ``unconstitutionally vague'' in its proscription of ``corruptly'' endeavoring to impede a congressional inquiry. The appeals panel ruled that a defendant's lying to Congress does not constitute obstruction unless the defendant corruptly influences someone else to do so. Again, Chief Judge Mikva dissented, finding it ``obvious . . . that Poindexter 'corruptly' obstructed the congressional investigation when he lied to Congress.'' 87
87 Ibid.
In October 1992, Independent Counsel petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to review the Poindexter case. Independent Counsel said the appeals court ruling that the obstruction statute was unconstitutional ``leaves a large gap in the criminal law, while endorsing a method of analyzing constitutional vagueness challenges that could prove enormously destructive to a substantial body of federal legislation.'' 88 The petition noted that at least 17 other laws besides the obstruction statute at issue use the word ``corruptly'' to define an element of the offense.89
88 U.S. v. Poindexter, Crim. No. 88-0080-01, Petition for Writ of Certiorari by United States of America, at 9 (October 1992).
89 Ibid., p. 10.
On immunized testimony, Independent Counsel in its petition to the Supreme Court said the appeals ruling in Poindexter would
make almost impossible the prosecution of any case involving public immunized statements that requires testimony by persons sympathetic to the accused, such as co-conspirators or other associates. And the dangers of abuse and manipulation are magnified by the court of appeals' view, expressed in North, that a witness inclined to assist the defense may become disqualified from testifying at trial by the simple expedient of soaking himself in the defendant's immunized statements. 90
90 Ibid., p. 22.
Independent Counsel also noted that the appeals ruling
. . . will have its most profound impact on cases involving public immunized testimony before Congress -- cases that, by definition, involve issues of the most fundamental import. If the court of appeals has erred, this Court should right that error before significant further damage is done to the legislative oversight function. 91
91 Ibid., p. 29.
The U.S. Supreme Court in December 1992 declined, without comment, to review the Poindexter case.
Conclusion
Poindexter was responsible for providing President Reagan with advice on national-security matters of highest importance. What his conviction showed was that a jury of ordinary citizens can sort and weigh complex evidence and agree that obstructing and lying to Congress is a serious act worthy of felony conviction.
The Poindexter trial served the public interest in another sense. Poindexter's determination to call President Reagan as a witness allowed the public the rare opportunity to see him testify for seven hours about the Iran/contra matter.
The completion of the Poindexter trial in April 1990, two years after the original indictment was returned, necessitated the re-activation of the criminal investigation into Iran/contra. For the first time, Poindexter and North were available for questioning by Independent Counsel. Although this decision was questioned by some, Independent Counsel determined that his Iran/contra investigative mandate could not be fulfilled until the central operational figures were interrogated to find out whether other high-ranking officials helped support and cover up their activities.
Döma beslog grov förbrytare i Förenta staterna
Automatically translated into Swedish thanks to WorldLingo
Förenat kapitel
3 påstår V. John M. Poindexter
marinlast Adm. John M. Poindexter var bestämd som presidentReagans konsulenten för nationell säkerhet på December 4, 1985 som lyckas Robert C. McFarlane, som Poindexter hade tjänat som under som ersättaren för två år. Poindexters Vita huskarriären avslutade November 25, 1986, då han tvingades för att avgå i vaket av det offentliga avslöjandet av Iran/contra skenmanöver.
Poindexter Lt. Kolonn Den Oliver norden och McFarlane var justitiekanslern Edwin Meese III som för tre individer identifierades på November 25, 1986, som kunnigt av skenmanövern. Poindexters övervakning av norden och hans egna deltagande i Iran och contra funktioner var tidig sort fokuserar av oberoende rådgivare utredning.
Som i fallet mot nord, bevisar brottslingen mot Poindexter måste att samlas snabbt, för han tvingades för att vitsorda på Capitolkullen i sommaren av 1987 under ett lån av inskränkt immunitet. Annorlunda var åtalet av Poindexter rimligt att utmanas på jordningen att det härleddes från eller i något som påverkades långt av hans immunized kongress- vittnesbörd.
På mars 16, 1988, Poindexter indicted på sju brottsåtal som uppstår från hans medverkan i Iran/contra angelägenhet, som del av ettsvarande för 23 räkning åtal. Han namngavs med den norr pensionerade flygvapenmajen. Generator. Richard V. Secord och Albert Hakim som en medlem av komplotten som bedrar den Förenta staterna regeringen, genom att verkställa Iran/contra skenmanöver och annan, agerar.
Efter fallen avskildes, och två av de original- laddningarna avfärdades, försöktes beslogs Poindexter och i April 1990 av fem grov förbrytelse, däribland: en räkning av att konspirera som blockerar officiella förfrågningar och förfaranden, två räkningar av blockering av kongressen och två räkningar av falska meddelanden till Congress.1 U.S. Distriktsdomare Harold H. Greene dömde honom till ett six-month fängelsestraff. I November 1991, Poindexters valts övertygelser på vädjan. I December 1992, U.S.NA. Högsta domstolen som gås ned för att granska fallet.
1 det Poindexter fallet försöktes av Bundsförvant Råda Dan K. Webb kristen J. Mixter Howard M. Pärla och Louise R. Radin.
Poindexter sammanfogade nationell säkerhetrådet bemannar i Juni 1981, efter en distingerad sjö- karriär som den inklusive slagskeppet befaller, och kick-rangen pentagonen postar. I Oktober 1983 blev han ställföreträdande till nationell säkerhetkonsulenten McFarlane; bland hans underordnadar var norr. Under Poindexters ettåriga ambetstid som nationell säkerhetkonsulenten som började i December 1985, hade uppsikt över han Iran/contra funktioner som norden var direkt involverad i.
I November 1986, som de hemliga funktionerna var passande publicly utsatt, blev Poindexter den höga förvaltningstjänstemannen som ansvariga för att sammanfatta president andra bästa konsulenter om Iran beväpnar reor. I en serie av Vita husmöten med andra representanter och kongressledamotalltigenom månaden, lade han upprepade gånger ut en falsk version av transaktionerna, som distanserade presidenten Reagan från de lagligt tvivelaktiga 1985 vapensändningarna som gjordes till och med Israel, bestämt den November 1985 Hök-missilen transaktionen.
Även om Poindexter var talesmannen, var han inte den ensamma ansvariga för att veta fakta. Faktiskt varje annan hög tjänsteman, den inklusive presidenten Reagan, som hörde att hans version av beväpnar reor i förhandsmötealltigenom November 1986, hade att resonera för att tro den var fel. Yet inget, enligt contemporaneous noterar av de förhandsmötear, talade upp till korrekta Poindexter.
Poindexter tillsammans med nord och andra i November 1986 försökte att strimla och förändra den pappers- slingan som reflekterar deras Iran/contra aktiviteter. Bland annat förstörde Poindexter det enda existerande undertecknade presidents- busksnår-åtgärdar finna det ämnades bemyndiga retroaktivt CIA-medverkan i den November 1985 höksändningen.
Poindexter och norden var mindre lyckade, i att utrota dator-meddelandet slingan av deras Iran/contra aktiviteter. Poindexter och norden meddelade ofta till och med en sakkunnig kanaliserar den Poindexter, en sakkunnig dator, hade uppsättningen upp på NSC-ADB-systemet. Detta kanaliserar, bekant, som ”den privata blankochecken,” tillåtna Poindexter och norden som vidarebefordrar meddelanden till varje annat utan deras som sänds kanaliserar igenom, i vilket andra på NSCEN bemannar kunde avskärma dem.
Mellan November 22 till 29, 1986, nord tog bort från hans meddelanden för dataregister 736, och Poindexter tog bort 5.012 meddelanden under den samma illviljan period.2 dessa raderingar, sparade säkerhetskopian för Vita huset den rutinmässigt tejpar att innehålla alla data i systemet för att två veckor ska skydda mot ouppmärksam förlust. Då Iran/contra angelägenhet var utsatt i sena November 1986, behöll Vita huskommunikationsbyrån, som klarar av NSC-ADB-systemet, säkerhetskopian tejpar datummärkning från November 15. Utredare, var därför kompetent att hämta kopierar allra meddelanden som var i Poindexter-Norden dataregisteren i miden-November 1986, för mest av raderingarna uppstod. Dessa datormeddelanden blev viktiga bevisar i både Poindexteren och norr försök.
2 Williams, Poindexter försökvittnesbörd, 3/15/90, pp. 1752-65.
Poindexter medgav till många av hans aktiviteter för de valda kommittéerna i Juli 1987 under ett lån av intygimmunitet, som förhindrade hans erkännandear från att användas mot honom i något brottsligt förfarande. Därför att presidenten Reagan inte vitsordade däri fora, kallades Poindexter för att svara ifrågasätta som dominerade utfrågningarna: Visste presidenten omkring, och att godkänna skenmanövern av Iran beväpnar reaintäkter till contrasna? Poindexter svarade nr.en, ”bockstoppen här med mig.”, 3 som han sade han undanhöll avsiktligt informationen från presidenten Reagan, därför att ``jag önskade att presidenten ska ha någon deniability, så att han skulle skyddas. . . . '' 4
3 Poindexter, vald kommittévittnesbörd, 7/15/87, P. 95.
4 Ibid., P. 101.
Vända mot ett brottsligt försök, konfronterade Poindexter ett olikt dilemma: Det var ej längre en ifrågasätta av skydd av presidenten men försvar som var självt mot fem brottsåtal. För kongress Poindexters viktigaste vittnesbörd bestyrkte presidentReagans upprepade förnekanden av medvetenheten av Iran/contra skenmanöver. I rättssalen monterade Poindexter ettbemyndigande försvar som försöker att övertyga juryn, att presidenten hade godkänt hans handlingar som var inklusive de som resulterade i brottsåtal. I stället för att ta stativ i hans egna försvar, emellertid, kallade han President Reagan för att vitsorda.
Pre-Trial förfaranden
U.S. Distriktsdomare Gerhard A. Gesell i Juni 1988 beställde, att mång--svarandet fallet mot Poindexter, nord, Secord och Hakim är efter avskiljande severed.5, Poindexters fall överfördes till lagmannen Aubrey E. Robinson jr., och därefter att bedöma Greene, som varade ordförande över mer ytterligare förfaranden.
Se det norr kapitlet, 5 för en specificerad beskrivning av avskiljandet av mång--svarandet fallet.
Alla Poindexters väsentliga utmaningar till giltigheten av åtal avfärdades för försök. Det resterande viktigt utfärdar angått: (1) bevarandet av komplottladdningen; (2) grälar upplösningen av klassificera-information; (3) utfärdar upplösningen av släkt till Poindexters immunized kongress- vittnesbörd, under avgörandet som är bekant som Kastigar; och (4) svarande lyckade försök att säkra försökvittnesbörd från tidigare president Reagan.
Bevara och begränsa komplottladdnings
problemen med hemlig information ledde till avskedanden av centralkomplottladdningarna för det norr försök, och liknande problem förväntades för att uppstå i fallet mot Poindexter. På Juni 20, 1989, rörd oberoende rådgivare att avlägsna de original- breda komplottladdningarna som baseras på tillförselen av contrasna och skenmanövern och väsentligen att begränsa laddningen av komplott för att överträda andra väsentliga brottsliga lagar och att förbjuda falsk meddelanden och blockering. Efter arkiveringar och muntligt argument beviljade domstolen regeringen vinkar.
Laddningen var refocused på det olagligt agerar av att konspirera med nord och Secord som döljer aktiviteter från kongress. Oberoende rådgivare argumenterade lyckat att detta begränsa av den skulle komplottladdningen minimerar deinformation problemen som besvärade det norr åtalet.
Hemlig information utfärdar
de hemliga informationstillvägagångssätten agerar (CIPA) tillåtet försökdomstolen effektivt som ska lösas, utfärdar att gälla bruket av den hemliga dokument och vittnesbörden i Poindexter. DomareGreenes övervakning av CIPAEN bearbetar och fruktbara förhandlingar mellan advokat för regeringen och Poindexter som lösas mest tvister med en minimi av fördröjningen.
I kontrast till norden fanns det något långvarigt, eller den viktiga prosessen som angår bilda eller räckvidden av Poindexters CIPA, märker till domstolen för att avslöja hemlig information på försök. Mellan November 27, 1989 och mars 13, 1990, tjänade som Poindexter sådan 11 märker, däribland beskriva möjligheten hemlig vittnesbörd åtta som, som listade hemliga dokument, han önskade att använda på försök, två och en som endast fokuserades på information han önskade att elicit på avlagringen av presidenten Reagan.
Bedöma Greene beställd att alla skillnader över hemlig information förhandlas mellan partierna innan du kommas med för domstolen. Bedöma Greene rymde sex stängda CIPA-utfrågningar för försök började och kompletterade de med flera kortare utfrågningar under försök. Mest av hans avgöranden på relevansen och admissibilityen av hemlig information och på adequacyen av ersättningar som var föreslagna vid regeringen, gjordes från ta av planet.
Sammantaget Poindexters märker CIPA listat ungefärligt 1.200 dokument, only ett litet del av vilka introducerades ultimately på försök. Mest hemlig information täcktes av Regering stipulations till bestämda fakta och andra unclassified ersättningar. Detta tillåtet försök som slätt fortsätter, utan konflikterna som den invecklade norden eller fallet mot gamlan CIA posterar högsta Joseph F. Fernandez som avfärdades tack vare, klassificera-information problems.6
6 ser det Fernandez kapitlet.
Kastigar förfaranden
Poindexter tvingades under ett lån av bruksimmunitet för att vitsorda i 1987 för de valda kommittéerna som utforskar Iran/contra. Som den annan Iran/contra svaranden som gav immunized vittnesbörd för kongress, rörda Poindexter att avfärda åtal på teorin att den överträdde normana enunciated i Kastigar v. Enigt påstår, 7 som argumenterar att hans immunized vittnesbörd användes mot honom i åtalsjuryn och på försök. Detta argument bevisade mislyckat på det jämna försök men segrade ultimately i hovrätten.
7 406 U.S. 411 (1972).
För deras försök avskildes, avfärdade Poindexter som var rörd gemensamt med norden och Hakim, som också hade mottagit immunitet för att vitsorda för kongress, som har laddningarna mot dem, på det slipat som bevisa mot dem fläcktes av deras immunized vittnesbörd. Domare förnekade Gesell som vinkar. Emellertid i deference till försvar fordrar att de skulle bruk ett - den another eventuellt exculpatory immunized vittnesbörden, domaren Gesell i Juni 1988 avskilde försöken.
Poindexter förnyade hans Kastigar vinkar för domaren Greene i Augusti 1989. Efter förhandsmöte och argument 8 som domstolen beställde att två evidentiary utfrågningar rymms. På första hörde domstolen vittnesbörd från förbunden advokat Dan K. Webb och Howard M. Pärlemorfärg angå deras exponering till Poindexters immunized vittnesbörd, innan att sammanfoga kontoret av oberoende rådgivare. Webb och pärlan sammanfogade OICEN bemannar i 1989 och hade inte, för deras tidsbeställningar, vart betvingar till OICS tillvägagångssätt för att isolera sig från Poindexters immunized vittnesbörd. Bedöma Greene grundar deras exponering till Poindexters vittnesbörd för att vara oansenligt och tillåtet båda advokater som deltar i försök.
8 det Poindexter fallet försöktes för hovrätten som härskades i nord som bevittnar utfrågningar var nödvändiga till tillstånd försök av en immunized svarande.
Understödjauppsättningen av domstolutfrågningar angick försökvittnen, vars vittnesbörd kan ha fläckts av Poindexters immunized vittnesbörd. Domaren Greene accepterade domaren som tidigare Gesells granskar av åtalsjuryvittnen och gått ned för att re-examine hans rön. Han vägrade också för att avfärda åtal på basen av potentiell storslagen jurymedlemexponering till den immunized vittnesbörden.
Angående försökvittnen tog domstolen omfattande mäter för att se till att Poindexters immunized meddelanden inte användes mot honom. Domstolen beställde regeringen för att göra meddelanden för en före dettapartesubmission som (mer sistnämnd som avslöjs till Poindexter) allra gjordes av potentiella försökvittnen, för Poindexter gav hans immunized vittnesbörd för kongress i Juli 1987. Domstolen grundar att alla av föreslagen vittnesbörd av mest av de potentiella vittnena hade varit memorialized, för Poindexter visades publicly på Juli 15, 1987 och därför inte fläcktes.
Som för de vittnen vars förväntade, hade försökvittnesbörden som skulle för att inte begränsas till bevisa OIC, förseglat med domstolen före Poindexters immunized vittnesbörd, krävd extra information om domare Greene. Han avslutade att regeringen hade missat för att upprätta, att fem av dess potentiella vittnen var fria av skamfläck och hade beställt dem som syns på en pre-trial utfrågning. Två av de tre vittnena, som syntes ultimately på försök credibly, intygade att deras förutsedda vittnesbörd som skulle för att inte påverkas i any långt av Poindexters immunized vittnesbörd; tredje, norr, vägrat för att göra så.
Norden som påstås på den pre-trial utfrågningen, att han var oförmögen, med hänsyn till några betvingar, för att skilja vad han hade personligen gjort, observerat eller erfarit från vad han hade lärt från att hålla ögonen på Poindexters immunized testimony.9, som för Poindexters förstörelse av presidents- December 1985 busksnår-åtgärda att finna -- viktigt bevisa i blockeringen av kongressen -- Norden bekräftade att han hade sett Poindexter förstöra en lappa av pappers- men insisterat, att han inte visste det var finna, tills Poindexter påstod det faktum i hans immunized vittnesbörd för kongress.
9 norr vittnesbörd, Poindexter Pre-trial utfrågning, 12/13/89, pp. 374-77.
Domstolen kasserade den norr pre-trial vittnesbörden som inte believable. Norr verkar den fann domstolen, ``att ha gåtts ombord då [på utfrågningen] på beräknad jagar av att försöka att hjälpa hans tidigare kollega och co-svarande. . . vid prevaricating på olikt, utfärdar. . . åsikt 10
, Poindexter, 3/8/90, P. för '' 10. 9.
I ett separat posta-försök avgörande tillfogade domstolen att så långt, som förstörelsen av finna angicks, den norr vittnesbörden på hans egna försök om händelsen var inkonsekvent med his fordrar att han inte kunde minnas den vilden av Poindexters immunized vittnesbörd. Domstolen grundar det ”som naturligt är oerhört” den nord, mindes inte ”hans deltagande i en händelse som han bevittnade firsthand, och det var som dramatisk, sannerligen historiskt, som avrivningen upp av extremt sällsyntt presidents- finna.”, 11
11 Ibid., 5/29/90, pp. 32-40.
Den Reagan stämningen
en av de mest noterbara aspekterna av det Poindexter fallet var svarande lyckade försök till appelltidigare president Reagan att vitsorda på hans försök vid spelad in på video avlagring.
Poindexter sökte först presidents-, och vice presidents- noterar från OIC som del av hans pre-trial upptäcktförfrågan. I en pre-trial utfrågning på September 6, 1989, Poindexters berättade advokater domstolen som presidents- noterar skulle reflekterar den Poindexter informerade presidenten av hans förnekanden till kongressen i 1986 av NSC-aktivitet i service av contrasna, och som noterar skulle ”show vad presidenten berättades om vad gjordes för att stötta contrasna i centralen Amerika, och president samtycke och ratificationen och godkännandet av den aktivitet.”, 12, i sökande vice presidents-, noterar, Poindexters advokater berättade domstolen, som ”han [busken] missa anytime ett möte, amiral som Poindexter sammanfattade honom på det därefter.”, 13
12 Robinson, Poindexter Pre-trial utfrågning, 9/6/89, P. 18.
13 Ibid., P. 19.
Domstolen, för danande ett beslut på huruvida som tvingar OIC till jordbruksprodukter dessa dokument, på September 11, 1989, riktade Poindexter för att spara en före dettapartememo som exakt förklarar, hur dessa skulle dokument hjälper hans defense.14 det, krävde från oberoende rådgivare en laglig anteckning som angår dess ansvar till presidents- och vice presidents- dokument för jordbruksprodukter inte i OICS besittning.
14 åsikt, Poindexter, 9/11/89, P. 22.
Independent Counsel in a filing on September 18, 1989, told the court that the office did not have in its possession presidential notes, but rather had been granted access to notes and allowed to copy only a portion of them with special permission. As far as President Reagan's diary was concerned, Independent Counsel had been allowed to review typed extracts of portions deemed relevant by White House counsel, but the President had retained custody of his diary, which both he and the national archivist regarded as personal records, making them unaccessible under the Presidential Records Act unless their production were compelled by subpoena.15
15 Government's Memorandum Concerning Presidential and Vice Presidential Documents that Are Not in the Possession of Independent Counsel, 9/18/89.
Attached to Independent Counsel's filing was a declaration by John Fawcett, assistant archivist for the Office of Presidential Libraries of the National Archives and Records Administration. Fawcett stated that President Bush's vice presidential records were transferred to the archives at the end of the Reagan Administration, but, ``No personal diary of former Vice President Bush has been specifically identified as being included in the Vice Presidential records. However, these Vice Presidential records have not yet been processed.'' 16
16 Ibid., Exhibit A. President Bush in December 1992 for the first time informed Independent Counsel that he had kept a diary as vice president from 1986 to 1988. See Bush chapter.
On September 25, 1989, Poindexter's attorneys informed the court that ``the defendant is willing to seek access to the personal diaries and notes of former President Reagan and former Vice President Bush pursuant to a . . . subpoena.'' 17 After reviewing Poindexter's ex parte submission on the materiality of presidential and vice presidential documents, the court on October 24, 1989, ruled that there was sufficient likelihood that President Reagan's documents would be material to the defense. Judge Greene differentiated between Reagan and Bush documents, however, because ``the Vice President had no operational authority with respect to Poindexter,'' because the information contained in vice presidential papers may be largely cumulative, and because of deference to the sitting President Bush.18
17 Defendant's Response to Government's Memorandum Concerning Presidential and Vice President Documents That Are Not in the Possession of Independent Counsel, 9/25/89, p. 2.
18 U.S. v. Poindexter, 725 F. Supp. 13, 28-31 (D.D.C. 1989). Judge Greene added that with respect to Bush documents, he would reevaluate the matter if Poindexter at a later date showed a more pressing need for them.
On November 3, 1989, Poindexter filed with the court a classified petition for leave to serve subpoenas on former President Reagan and the National Archives, seeking materials and testimony relevant to Iran/contra activities in 67 categories. On November 16, Judge Greene granted Poindexter's petition. Both President Reagan and the National Archives moved to quash the subpoena for documents.
In a pre-trial hearing December 4 the court stated that its order covered only documents, and not the President's possible trial testimony. On December 18 Poindexter sought the court's leave to subpoena President Reagan to testify at trial. In deciding whether Poindexter could subpoena President Reagan's testimony, Judge Greene asked Poindexter to submit a list of specific questions he intended to ask. Poindexter submitted a list of 183 questions, which were not made available to Independent Counsel.19 The court ruled that the questions directly related to the charges in the indictment and to Poindexter's anticipated defense.
19 In 1993, during preparation of this report, Independent Counsel obtained copies of these questions and other ex parte submissions from Poindexter's case.
In his February 5, 1990, ruling upholding the testimonial subpoena of Reagan, Judge Greene described Poindexter's proposed questions as falling into 12 categories. These included: (1) the frequency and occasions on which President Reagan and Poindexter met; (2) the President's view of the Boland Amendment and how it applied to contra support; (3) whether the President authorized Poindexter to seek foreign support for the contras; (4) what instructions the President gave Poindexter regarding meetings with Central American officials, and what information Poindexter subsequently relayed back to the President; (5) presidential discussions with Central American leaders concerning contra support; (6) presidential discussions with Poindexter regarding actions to be taken if Congress did not renew contra aid; (7) presidential knowledge of North's relationship to Iran/contra figures; (8) Poindexter's briefings of the President regarding a congressional inquiry in 1986 into North's activities; (9) Poindexter's communications with Congress at the direction of the President; (10) whether Poindexter informed the President about Secord's status; (11) discussions Poindexter had with the President regarding a chronology of the Iran arms sales prepared in November 1986; and (12) the President's knowledge of the arms shipments to Iran.
In his opinion explaining his decision to uphold Poindexter's subpoena of President Reagan, Judge Greene concluded:
Former President Ronald Reagan is claimed by Admiral Poindexter to have direct and important knowledge that will help to exonerate him from the criminal charges lodged against him. In view of the prior professional relationship between the two men, and defendant's showing discussed above, that claim cannot be dismissed as fanciful or frivolous. That being so, it would be inconceivable -- in a Republic that subscribes neither to the ancient doctrine of the divine right of kings nor to the more modern conceit of dictators that they are not accountable to the people whom they claim to represent or to their courts of law -- to exempt Mr. Reagan from the duty of every citizen to give evidence that will permit the reaching of a just outcome of this criminal prosecution. Defendant has shown that the evidence of the former President is needed to protect his right to a fair trial, and he will be given the opportunity to secure that evidence.20
20 U.S. v. Poindexter, 732 F. Supp. 142, 159-60 (D.D.C. 1990)
President Reagan did not claim executive privilege once he was ordered to testify.
The seven-hour videotaped deposition of the former President was taken February 16 and 17, 1990, in the Los Angeles federal courthouse, near his residence. The public and the press were not allowed to attend the deposition. Transcripts and the opportunity to view the videotape were made available to members of the press before the trial.
As for Poindexter's subpoena for documents from the former President, Judge Greene ordered President Reagan to make diary entries available for the court's in camera review. After its review, the court ordered President Reagan to produce the relevant diary entries to Poindexter in the absence of a claim of executive privilege. President Reagan, joined by the Bush Administration, claimed executive privilege as to the diary entries on February 5, 1990. On March 21, the court granted the Reagan-Bush motions to quash the subpoena for the diary entries, concluding that Poindexter's defense would be adequately served by the President's testimony.
The Poindexter Trial
The month-long Poindexter trial, which resulted in a five-count conviction on April 7, 1990, centered largely on the testimony of two witnesses: Oliver North for the prosecution and former President Reagan for the defense.
Both men attempted to help the defendant in their appearances on the witness stand, but each had given prior testimony harmful to Poindexter, and they could not deviate from that under threat of perjury charges.21 North could not abandon his earlier defense stance that he dutifully reported his activities -- including those found to be crimes -- to his superior, Poindexter. President Reagan was compelled at trial to state, as he had previously, that he repeatedly told his aides to obey the law and that he was unaware of their criminal acts.
21 Before taking the witness stand in Poindexter, North had testified before the Select Committees in July 1987, at his own trial in 1989, and at a Poindexter pre-trial hearing in 1990.
President Reagan was questioned by his Tower Commission on two occasions in early 1987. More significantly, the President in November 1987 answered 53 written interrogatories from Independent Counsel, which were submitted as sworn testimony to the federal Grand Jury investigating the Iran/contra affair.
Poindexter chose not to testify at his trial.
Although Poindexter and North had destroyed and altered official papers and computer messages, the prosecution offered convincing documentary evidence that Poindexter was kept apprised of North's efforts to provide military aid to the Nicaraguan contras while it was outlawed from October 1984-October 1986 by the Boland Amendment; that Poindexter adopted false statements McFarlane and North made to Congress; and that Poindexter had been fully aware of the ill-fated November 1985 HAWK missile shipment to Iran, which he subsequently tried to conceal from Congress.
The Trial Testimony of Oliver L. North
The testimony of North, named as a co-conspirator in the case, was important to proving each of the five charges against Poindexter:
-- Count One, that Poindexter conspired with North and Secord to obstruct congressional inquiries of Iran- and contra-related matters, to make false statements to Congress, and to falsify, remove and destroy official documents.
-- Count Two, that Poindexter obstructed Congress in 1986 when it was investigating media allegations that North was raising funds and providing military aid to the contras. In letters to three committees, Poindexter answered questions by repeating denials McFarlane made before Congress in 1985 of North's involvement in contra-support activities, even though Poindexter knew the denials to be false. He set up a meeting with the House Intelligence Committee in August 1986 in which he knew North would have to give false testimony, and afterward congratulated North on his performance.
-- Count Three, that Poindexter obstructed Congress in November 1986 by participating with North in the preparation of false chronologies of the secret U.S. arms sales to Iran and by making false statements to the House and Senate intelligence committees. Specifically, Poindexter falsely asserted that no U.S. official knew before January 1986 that HAWK missiles had been shipped to Iran in November 1985. The indictment stated that North as early as November 20, 1985, told Poindexter about the shipment in advance and advised him of it again after the fact in late 1985.
-- Counts Four and Five, that Poindexter made false statements about the HAWK shipment to the House and Senate intelligence committees on November 21, 1986. As in Count Three, the false statement charges were based on North's informing Poindexter about the shipment in 1985.
In four days of trial testimony, North reluctantly recounted his central operational role in the Iran/contra affair. He described the extensive contra-resupply network he ran with Secord and Hakim,22 his contra fund-raising efforts, and the military advice he gave the contras. He testified that he kept his bosses McFarlane and Poindexter fully informed of his activities and that he acted only with their approval.23
22 North objected to the prosecutor's use of the word ``Enterprise'' to describe the profit-making web of contra- and Iran-related operations he undertook with Secord and Hakim. He also objected to the use of the word ``testimony'' in reference to the false statements he made before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in August 1986, and the word ``diversion'' to describe the scheme in which he, Poindexter and others diverted Iran arms sales proceeds to the contras.
23 North, Poindexter Trial Testimony, 3/12/90, pp. 1275-76.
North, who was forced to testify for the prosecution under a grant of immunity, frequently claimed that he could not recall many of the incidents in question, some of which had occurred several years before. North admitted a wide range of contra-support and Iran-related actions only when confronted with prior testimony in which he had provided extensive details.
North admitted that he lied in August 1986 when he told the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) he was not engaged in raising funds or providing military support to the Nicaraguan contras.24 North described exchanges with Poindexter before and after the meeting that directly implicated Poindexter in a scheme to frustrate the congressional investigation.25
24 Ibid., 3/9/90, pp. 1042-43.
25 Ibid., 3/12/90, p. 1083.
HPSCI was one of three congressional committees pursuing a House inquiry into reports of North's contra-aid activities. North testified that prior to appearing before the committee in the White House Situation Room, he told Poindexter he would be asked about ``things that I had been told never to reveal.'' 26 In response, Poindexter told him, ``You can handle it, you can take care of it,'' according to North.27
26 Ibid., 3/9/90, p. 1033.
27 Ibid.
After receiving reports of North's statements to HPSCI, which Poindexter knew were false, Poindexter by way of his computer sent North a terse congratulatory message: ``Well done.'' 28
28 PROFs Note from Poindexter to North, 8/11/86, AKW 018921.
Based on the statements of North and Poindexter, HPSCI Chairman Lee Hamilton informed other members of Congress that the media allegations about North could not be proven. North's false testimony, in combination with Poindexter's perpetuation of McFarlane's previous lies, successfully frustrated the congressional oversight process. It was not until Nicaraguan soldiers on October 5, 1986, shot down a contra-resupply plane carrying American Eugene Hasenfus that Congress renewed its investigation into North's activities.
North testified that he kept Poindexter apprised of his involvement in the covert sales of U.S. arms to Iran in 1985 and 1986, including the operation's most secret aspect: the Iran/contra diversion. He sent Poindexter five or six memos stating that overcharges to the Iranian buyers would generate millions of dollars for diversion to the contras.29 North said Poindexter told him the diversion should never be revealed.30 North said he reported the diversion plan to Poindexter because he thought that projects funded by it ``ought to have the authority of the President behind them.'' 31
29 North, Poindexter Trial Testimony, 3/12/90, pp. 1107-11.
30 Ibid., pp. 1103-05.
31 Ibid., p. 1111.
North testified that in November 1985, he became directly involved in an Israeli shipment of U.S. HAWK missiles to Iran at McFarlane's behest.32 North said he got permission from both McFarlane, who was then the national security adviser, and Poindexter, then deputy national security adviser, to enlist Secord's help in resolving logistical problems surrounding the shipment.33 He also got McFarlane and Poindexter's permission to supply the Israelis with the name of a CIA-connected airline to assist.34 North outlined the details of the planned HAWK shipment in a computer note to Poindexter on November 20, 1985.35 By memoranda on December 4 and on December 9, 1985, North informed Poindexter that the Iranians were unhappy with the shipment and wanted the missiles to be retrieved.36
32 Ibid., pp. 1118-20.
33 Ibid., pp. 1121-22.
34 Ibid., pp. 1122-27.
35 PROFs Note from North to Poindexter, 11/20/85, AKW 002066.
36 PROFs Note from North to Poindexter, 12/4/85, AKW 002070-73; Memorandum from North to McFarlane and Poindexter, 12/9/85, AKW 002088-91.
When CIA officials insisted after the HAWK shipment that the President should retroactively authorize the agency's participation in the operation, CIA Director William J. Casey on November 26, 1985, gave Poindexter a covert-action Finding for President Reagan's signature.37 North testified that he saw the signed Finding either in Poindexter's office safe or in the safe of NSC counsel Paul Thompson.38
37 Memorandum from Casey to Poindexter, 11/26/85, AMY 000651-52.
38 North, Poindexter Trial Testimony, 3/12/90, p. 1245.
After public exposure of the Iran arms sales in November 1986, North -- at Poindexter's request -- prepared a chronology of U.S. involvement in the Iran arms sales, which underwent a series of re-writes. North testified that McFarlane removed from the chronology North's factual account of the November 1985 HAWKs shipment and substituted a cover story: that although the CIA became involved in the November 1985 shipment after Israel encountered logistical difficulties, U.S. officials at the time believed the cargo to be oil-drilling parts and did not learn until January 1986 that the true cargo was weapons.39
39 Ibid., pp. 1188-98.
Asked whether the McFarlane revision was part of a plan to ``cover up'' the existence of the November 1985 Finding, North answered: ``I don't know that cover up is the right word. I listened to the President's press conferences, I listened to statements being made by people and they just didn't talk about it.'' 40 North said McFarlane told him the cover story should be incorporated into the chronology because the 1985 Finding authorizing the weapons shipment described too directly an arms-for-hostages swap, which, if exposed, would politically embarrass the President.41
40 Ibid., p. 1191.
41 Ibid., pp. 1190-91.
The same oil-drilling-parts cover story was part of a CIA-prepared chronology that Casey and his deputy, Robert Gates, brought to a White House meeting on November 20, 1986, with Poindexter, North, Meese, Cooper and Thompson. The purpose of the meeting was to prepare Casey and Poindexter for their congressional testimony the following day. North was asked at trial:
Q: . . . did it become clear to you by the time McFarlane tells you that [the finding was too close to an arms-for-hostage swap] and by the time you see the CIA show up with this phony chronology, then at least did it appear to you that there was some effort or plan going on to cover up with U.S. involvement because of that finding?
A: Well, there is no doubt in my mind that I came to realize that finding was a disaster, and I understood that.42
42 Ibid., pp. 1208-09.
North testified that he altered and destroyed numerous documents in October and November 1986 that would have revealed details of the Iran and contra operations. He said he assured Poindexter that he had ``taken care of'' the documents that reflected his activities.43 He said he told Poindexter all the documents describing the Iran/contra diversion were destroyed, after learning from Poindexter on November 21, 1986, that Attorney General Meese would be conducting a weekend investigation into the Iran arms sales.44 North also testified that he altered other original NSC documents, after receiving Poindexter's permission to retrieve them from the NSC document-archiving system.45
43 Ibid., p. 1218.
44 Ibid., pp. 1120-21.
45 Ibid., pp. 1224-27.
More important, North reluctantly testified that he saw Poindexter destroy the only known copy of the signed presidential Finding that sought to authorize retroactively the November 1985 shipment of HAWK missiles to Iran.46 North's eyewitness account of the destruction of the Finding provided significant proof of Poindexter's intent to conceal facts about the HAWK missile shipment from Congress in November 1986.47
46 Ibid., 1252-54.
47 The destruction of the 1985 Finding was not charged as a separate crime in the indictment of Poindexter because Independent Counsel did not learn of it until North testified about it at his own trial in April 1989. Poindexter had told the Select Committees in 1987 that he destroyed the only signed copy of the 1985 presidential Finding. Independent Counsel did not learn of this statement at the time, however, because the OIC had taken measures to insulate itself from all immunized testimony. Even if Independent Counsel had been aware of the Poindexter testimony, OIC could not have used it in any criminal proceeding against Poindexter under the terms of immunity grant.
North's wide-ranging testimony enabled the prosecution to streamline its witness list to only nine other individuals, many of whom supplemented the central details provided by North.
The Trial Testimony of President Reagan
Before the trial of Poindexter, President Reagan had not testified publicly about Iran/contra. On February 16 and 17, 1990, he gave a seven-hour videotaped deposition as a defense witness. No classified matters were discussed and executive privilege was not invoked in response to any question. The videotaped deposition was shown in full, therefore, to the Poindexter jury during the trial on March 21 and 22, 1990.48
48 Immediately after each tape was shown to the jury, a copy was given to the television networks, allowing the public to see President Reagan's only courtroom testimony on the Iran/contra affair.
In direct examination, defense counsel sought to show presidential knowledge and approval of Poindexter's activities. But President Reagan frequently claimed memory lapses when questioned about specific exchanges he may have had with Poindexter and about his knowledge of individuals and details involved in the Iran and contra operations.
Although President Reagan exhibited virtually no detailed knowledge of the Iran/contra matter, he made clear to the jury that it had his imprimatur, calling it ``a covert action that was taken at my behest.'' 49 President Reagan said North was the only person he remembered being involved in the arms initiative.50 He could not recall being briefed by Poindexter on the May 1986 trip by McFarlane and North to Tehran, but he said he did recall signing a Bible for Iranians.51 President Reagan testified that the amount of weapons sold to Iran totaled $12.2 million.52
49 Reagan, Poindexter Trial Deposition, 2/16/90, p. 9.
50 Ibid., p. 21.
51 Ibid., p. 24.
52 Ibid., pp. 154-55.
Asked specifically about the November 1985 HAWK shipment to Iran, President Reagan said he recalled a plan in which the Israelis would turn their plane around in mid-delivery of the weapons if no hostages were released.53 He did not recall when he became aware of the November 1985 HAWK shipment; 54 he did not recall Poindexter telling him in November 1986 that others in the White House were having trouble remembering when they learned of it.55
53 Ibid., pp. 24-25.
54 Ibid., pp. 33-36.
55 Ibid., pp. 38-39.
President Reagan also claimed virtually no memory of the November 1986 period in which his top advisers were scrambling to limit public exposure of the Iran arms sales. He only generally recalled telling members of Congress about the arms sales on November 12, 1986.56 He could not remember receiving any information from Poindexter for any of his presentations on the matter in that time.57 The former President could not remember asking Poindexter to assemble the facts on the arms sales.58 He could not recall that Poindexter briefed the House and Senate intelligence committees on November 21, 1986.59
56 Ibid., pp. 37-38.
57 Ibid., p. 30.
58 Ibid., p. 28.
59 Ibid., pp. 44-45.
Defense counsel's questions suggested that their client had significant exchanges with the President during the arms-sale period and its aftermath. But Reagan's lack of recollection, and lack of specificity when he did remember events or individuals, left those questions unresolved.
President Reagan provided more helpful testimony for the defense on the subject of contra-support operations. Calling the Boland prohibition on contra funding a ``disaster,'' 60 Reagan testified that he urged his aides to do what they could to support the contras, while staying ``within the law.'' 61 Reagan recalled that Saudi Arabia's King Fahd pledged millions of dollars for the contras.62 He said he told his aides not to solicit contributions for the contras directly but to tell people how they could contribute if they wanted to help.63
60 Ibid., p. 69.
61 Ibid., pp. 53-54.
62 Ibid., pp. 74-75.
63 Ibid., pp. 53-54.
Asked whether Poindexter briefed him on the contras, President Reagan said: ``Oh yes, I depended on him for that.'' 64 He said he had no reason to believe that Poindexter was not keeping him fully informed.
64 Ibid., p. 116.
Asked to describe what he knew about North's responsibilities in the White House, President Reagan said:
Well, he was mainly performing tasks, as I understand it, for the NSC, but he -- his background and record had been one of being decorated for heroism and so forth in the Vietnamese conflict, and that he had been a very bold and brave soldier -- Marine.
And -- so, he was -- it was my impression, not from any specific reports or anything, that in through all of this that he was communicating back and forth between on the need for the support of the Contras and so forth.65
65 Ibid., p. 131.
In addition to professing a benign view of North and his activities, President Reagan indicated general knowledge of and support for the contra-resupply operation in Central America:
Q: Do you recall any discussions that he [Poindexter] may have had with you about the construction of an airstrip down there in Central America?
A: Well, I did hear -- we had learned that there was a rather primitive lane in there in the jungle near the border of Costa Rican [sic], and that was then being put into better shape as a usable airstrip.
Q: Did you have any -- do you recall any discussion about who was constructing the airstrip?
A: Well, no. I assume it was the Costa Rican government.
Q: And do you know what that airstrip was going to be used for?
A: Well, I know that -- I hoped that it would be used in the delivery of when once again we could supply, keep the Contras supplied, that it could be involved in the -- used there, if there was need for a refueling or anything of that kind of a plane.66
66 Ibid., p. 121.
President Reagan was then asked whether he knew who would be using the Costa Rican airstrip for contra resupply. His answer reflected knowledge of the operation supposedly being funded and run by private citizens -- the so-called ``private benefactors'' -- that was in fact being run by Secord at North's direction:
Q: Do you know who it was that was going to be using the airstrip? It was going to be used for supplying the Contras, but do you know who it was that was actually going to be doing the supplying and using the airstrip?
A: No, I do not on that. I don't think -- I don't think I ever considered that it would be military planes of ours. So, possibly some of those that weren't officially planes of ours that had been helping in the past in deliveries to the Contras and so forth.
Q: Earlier this morning or earlier today, I should say, you mentioned General Secord. That you knew that he was involved in the Contra supply effort.
Was it part of his operation you thought that he might be using the airstrip?
A: I can't say that I actually recall that, but it seems to me logical that he would have been involved in that.67
67 Ibid., p. 122.
President Reagan, who winked and smiled at Poindexter from the witness stand, did not hide his contempt toward congressional inquiries into NSC staff contra-support activities. Shown misleading letters written by Poindexter in July 1986 to the committees of Congress that were investigating allegations of North's contra efforts, Reagan said: ``I am in total agreement. If I had written it myself, I might have used a little profanity.'' 68
68 Ibid., pp. 146-47.
In cross-examination, the prosecution was able to impeach much of President Reagan's testimony. This was possible because Reagan late in 1987 had answered, under oath, 53 written interrogatories for Independent Counsel and the Grand Jury investigating the Iran/contra matter.
The July 21, 1986, letters -- in which Poindexter embraced and perpetuated the lies McFarlane had told Congress about North's contra-support activities a year earlier -- were a key element in the obstruction charges against the defendant. Under cross-examination by the prosecution, President Reagan was asked whether he was aware that the Poindexter letters repeated McFarlane's previous lies. The former President equivocated:
Well, I simply -- no, I did not have this information, but I have a great deal of confidence in the man who was quoted as sending these letters, McFarlane. And I have never -- I have never caught him or seen him doing anything that was in any way out of line or dishonest. And so, I was perfectly willing to accept his defense.69
69 Ibid., p. 151.
President Reagan said he did not know that McFarlane had pleaded guilty to withholding information from Congress in connection with the false letters.70
70 Ibid., pp. 220-21.
Asked whether he approved either the McFarlane or Poindexter letters to Congress, the former President said he had no recollection of doing so, adding that his memory could be faulty.71 Asked directly whether he would approve of sending false information to Congress, President Reagan conceded that he would not.72 Would he have authorized Poindexter to make false statements to Congress? President Reagan again attempted to assist his former aide: ``No. And I don't think any false statements were made.'' 73
71 Ibid., pp. 150-51.
72 Ibid., pp. 151-52.
73 Ibid., p. 158.
President Reagan also testified that he did not approve the destruction of Iran/contra documents by Poindexter, and that he was not told about their destruction.74 But the former President, in response to subsequent questioning, described the dilemma in which he placed his aides in November 1986 by instructing them that certain information could not be revealed because ``it will bring to risk and danger to people that are held and with the people that we were negotiating with.'' 75
74 Ibid., p. 160.
75 Ibid., p. 252.
Asked again whether he approved the destruction of alteration of any Iran/contra records, President Reagan said: ``And this, I cannot answer. I cannot recall because it is the possibility that there were such papers that would violate the secrecy that was protecting those individuals' lives.'' 76 President Reagan had denied in response to the earlier written interrogatories that he approved the destruction and alteration of documents; when confronted with his previous testimony he stated that it was truthful.
76 Ibid., p. 255.
On the issue of the contras, President Reagan said he ``never had any inkling'' that North was guiding their military strategy.77 But Reagan muddied the issue in a later statement about North:
77 Ibid., p. 170.
I know that he [North] was very active, and that was certainly with my approval, because I yesterday made plain how seriously I felt about the Contra situation and what it meant to all of us here in the Americas. And, so, obviously, there were many things that were being done. But, again, as I say, I was convinced that they were all being done within the law.78
78 Ibid., p. 189.
In questioning about the Iran/contra diversion, President Reagan surprisingly asserted that he had no proof that a diversion had occurred:
And to this day, I still with all of the investigations that have been made, I still have never been given one iota of evidence as to who collected the price, who delivered the final delivery of the weapons, or what was -- whether there was ever more money in that Swiss account that had been diverted someplace else. I am still waiting to find those things out and have never found them out.79
79 Ibid., p. 155.
Asked whether he had approved a diversion, Reagan again stated:
May I simply point out that I had no knowledge then or now that there had been a diversion, and I never used the term. And all I knew was that there was some money that came from some place in another account, and that the appearance was that it might have been a part of the negotiated sale. And to this day, I don't have any information or knowledge that that wasn't the total amount that -- or that there was a diversion.80
80 Ibid., p. 156.
Asked again whether he would have approved a diversion, President Reagan said he would not. But, he added, ``No one has proven to me that there was a diversion.'' 81
81 Ibid., p. 157.
President Reagan said he did not recall that the Tower Commission concluded in March 1987 that, in fact, a diversion had occurred. ``I, to this day, do not recall ever hearing that there was a diversion,'' he said.82 Shown that portion of the Tower Commission report describing the diversion, Reagan said: ``This report -- this is the first time that I have ever seen a reference that actually specified there was a diversion.'' 83
82 Ibid., p. 240.
83 Ibid., p. 243.
Asked whether Poindexter should have told him about an Iran/contra diversion, Reagan said: ``Yes. Unless maybe he thought he was protecting me from something.'' 84
84 Ibid., pp. 243-44.
The Verdict and Sentencing
After six days of deliberation, the jury on April 7, 1990, found Poindexter guilty of each of the five felony charges against him. Judge Greene on June 11, 1990, sentenced Poindexter to six months imprisonment on each of the five counts, to be served concurrently.
In imposing the sentence, Judge Greene noted complaints by Poindexter's supporters that the most he was guilty of was having become embroiled in a political quarrel between the White House and Congress. Judge Greene stated:
Whatever may have been the nature of the original dispute, what the defendant and his associates did was emphatically not a part of the normal political process.
. . . When Admiral Poindexter and his associates obstructed the Congress, what were they seeking to accomplish? In a word, it was to nullify the decision that body had made on the issue of supplies to the Contras. . . .
President Reagan did not, or for parliamentary reasons he could not, veto the bill [which contained the Boland prohibition on contra aid]. He did not attempt to assert his own constitutional powers or take the issue to the people, and at the conclusion of the political process the Boland Amendment thus became law.
No problem. What the president was unwilling or unable to do -- to defeat this law -- Admiral Poindexter, together with Oliver North and others, did on their own. They decided that the policy embodied in the Boland Amendment was wrong, and they went about to violate it on a large scale and for a lengthy period, and then to lie about their activities to prevent the Congress and the public from finding out. . . .
With all due respect to the distinguished military records of Admiral Poindexter, Colonel North, General Secord, and the others, they have no standing in a democratic society to invalidate the decisions made by elected officials . . . As I said several times during the trial, it is immaterial to this criminal case who was right and who was wrong about the wisdom of the Contra policy. That is not what this trial was about. The jury and this court were not competent to decide for this nation whether resistance forces in Nicaragua should or should not have been supplied with weapons.
But more importantly for present purposes, neither was Admiral Poindexter. When he and his associates took it upon themselves to make that decision anyway, to implement it on a broad scale, and to work actively to keep what they were doing from the Congress and the public, they not only violated various statutes. They were also in violation of a principle fundamental to this constitutional Republic -- that those elected by and responsible to the people shall make the important policy decisions, and that their decisions may not be nullified by appointed officials who happen to be in positions that give them the ability to operate programs prohibited by law. It is unfortunate that, whatever may be his view of his own purposes and actions, the defendant still gives no evidence of recognizing that principle and the seriousness of its violation.
Given the nature of the offenses, the sentencing principle that is primarily applicable here is that of deterrence, and as a practical matter, deterrence means meaningful penalties. If the court were not to impose such a penalty here, when the defendant before it was the decision-making head of the Iran-contra operation, its action would be tantamount to a statement that a scheme to lie to and obstruct Congress is of no great moment, and that even if the perpetrators are found out, the courts will treat their criminal acts as no more than minor infractions.
A message of that kind could not help but encourage others in positions of authority and secrecy to frustrate laws that fail to accord with their notions of what is best for this country, and to carry out their own private policies in the name of the United States. . . .85
85 Judge Greene, Poindexter Transcript of Sentencing, 6/11/90, pp. 18-22
The Appeal
A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in a 2-1 decision on November 15, 1991, reversed Poindexter's convictions on the grounds that his trial was impermissibly tainted by his immunized congressional testimony. The Poindexter ruling was based on the appeals court decision in the North case, which extended the protections of the use immunity statute to prohibit use of any witness whose testimony has been refreshed or shaped in any way by the defendant's immunized testimony. In his dissenting opinion, Chief Judge Abner Mikva noted that the majority ruling ``tells future defendants that all they need to evade responsibility [to testify at trial] is a well timed case of amnesia.'' 86
86 U.S. v. Poindexter, 951 F.2d 369, 390 (D.C. Cir. 1991).
The Poindexter appeals panel also overturned the two obstruction convictions on the grounds that the statute was ``unconstitutionally vague'' in its proscription of ``corruptly'' endeavoring to impede a congressional inquiry. The appeals panel ruled that a defendant's lying to Congress does not constitute obstruction unless the defendant corruptly influences someone else to do so. Again, Chief Judge Mikva dissented, finding it ``obvious . . . that Poindexter 'corruptly' obstructed the congressional investigation when he lied to Congress.'' 87
87 Ibid.
In October 1992, Independent Counsel petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to review the Poindexter case. Independent Counsel said the appeals court ruling that the obstruction statute was unconstitutional ``leaves a large gap in the criminal law, while endorsing a method of analyzing constitutional vagueness challenges that could prove enormously destructive to a substantial body of federal legislation.'' 88 The petition noted that at least 17 other laws besides the obstruction statute at issue use the word ``corruptly'' to define an element of the offense.89
88 U.S. v. Poindexter, Crim. No. 88-0080-01, Petition for Writ of Certiorari by United States of America, at 9 (October 1992).
89 Ibid., p. 10.
On immunized testimony, Independent Counsel in its petition to the Supreme Court said the appeals ruling in Poindexter would
make almost impossible the prosecution of any case involving public immunized statements that requires testimony by persons sympathetic to the accused, such as co-conspirators or other associates. And the dangers of abuse and manipulation are magnified by the court of appeals' view, expressed in North, that a witness inclined to assist the defense may become disqualified from testifying at trial by the simple expedient of soaking himself in the defendant's immunized statements. 90
90 Ibid., p. 22.
Independent Counsel also noted that the appeals ruling
. . . will have its most profound impact on cases involving public immunized testimony before Congress -- cases that, by definition, involve issues of the most fundamental import. If the court of appeals has erred, this Court should right that error before significant further damage is done to the legislative oversight function. 91
91 Ibid., p. 29.
The U.S. Supreme Court in December 1992 declined, without comment, to review the Poindexter case.
Conclusion
Poindexter was responsible for providing President Reagan with advice on national-security matters of highest importance. What his conviction showed was that a jury of ordinary citizens can sort and weigh complex evidence and agree that obstructing and lying to Congress is a serious act worthy of felony conviction.
The Poindexter trial served the public interest in another sense. Poindexter's determination to call President Reagan as a witness allowed the public the rare opportunity to see him testify for seven hours about the Iran/contra matter.
The completion of the Poindexter trial in April 1990, two years after the original indictment was returned, necessitated the re-activation of the criminal investigation into Iran/contra. For the first time, Poindexter and North were available for questioning by Independent Counsel. Although this decision was questioned by some, Independent Counsel determined that his Iran/contra investigative mandate could not be fulfilled until the central operational figures were interrogated to find out whether other high-ranking officials helped support and cover up their activities.
Присуждать осуженным felons в Соединенных Штатах
Automatically translated into Russian thanks to WorldLingo
Глава 3
Соединенные Штаты v. Джон M. Недостаток
Adm военно-морского флота Poindexter. Джон M. Poindexter было назначено как советник национальной безопасности президента Рейган 4-ого декабря 1985, преуспевающ C. Роберт. McFarlane, которое Poindexter послужило вниз как депутат на 2 лет. Карьера Белого дома Poindexter закончилась 25-ое ноября 1986, когда он принудился отказать in the wake of общественное разоблачение Ирана/contra диверсия.
Poindexter, лт. Колонка Севером и McFarlane Oliver было attorney general Эдвин Meese CIII 3 индивидуалов определенное 25-ого ноября 1986, как knowledgeable диверсии. Наблюдением Poindexter севера и его собственным участием в Иране и contra деятельности были предыдущие фокусы исследования независимо консультанта.
Как в аргументы против северном, уголовное доказательство против Poindexter должно быть собрано быстро прежде чем он был вынужден засвидетельствовать на конгрессе США в лете 1987 под даром ограниченного иммунитета. В противном случае, prosecution Poindexter был правоподобн быть брошенным вызов on the grounds that он был выведен от или in some way повлиян на его иммунизированным съездовским свидетельствованием.
16-ого марта 1988, Poindexter было предъявлено обвинение на 7 обвинения в совершении уголовного преступления возникая от его запутанности в Иране/contra дело, как часть обвинительного акта multi-подсудимого 23 отсчетов. Он был назван с севером, выбытым майором Военно-воздушных сил. Генератор. Ричард v. Secord и Альберт Hakim как член конспирацияа, котор нужно defraud правительство Соединенных Штатов путем производить эффект Иран/contra диверсия и другое действуют.
После того как случаи были разъединены и 2 из первоначально обязанностей были уволены, Poindexter было попытано и осужено в апреле 1990 5 тяжких преступлений, вклюающ: один отсчет конспирировать помешать официальные дознания и продолжения, 2 отсчета мешать съезд, и 2 отсчета ложных заявлений к Congress.1 США. H. Гарольд федеральный окружной судья. Greene присудило ему к six-month термину тюрьмы. В ноябре 1991, осуждения Poindexter были опрокинуты на воззвании. В декабре 1992, США. Верховный суд просклонянный для того чтобы рассмотреть случай.
1 случай Poindexter было попытано K. Дэн консультантов сподвижницы. Webb, J. Кристиан. Mixter, Говард M. Перла, и R. Луиза. Radin.
Poindexter соединило штат совету национальной безопасности в июне 1981, следующ за distinguished военноморской карьерой которая включила столбы пентагона команды и высок-ранжировки линкора. В октябре 1983 он стал депутатом к советнику McFarlane национальной безопасности; среди его подчиненных был северно. Во время tenure Poindexter одногодичного как советник национальной безопасности, который начал в декабре 1985, он надзирал Иран/contra деятельности в которые север сразу включился.
В ноябре 1986, по мере того как втихомолку деятельности были общественно, котор подвергли действию, Poindexter пошло должностным лицом высшей администрации ответственным для резюмировать других верхних советников президента о сбываниях рукояток Ирана. In a series of встречи Белого дома с другими должностными лицами и член конгресса в течении месяца, он повторно lay out ложный вариант трудыов которые дистанцировали президента Рейган от законно спорных 1985 пересылок рукояток сделанных через Израиль, определенно трудыы Хоук-реактивного снаряда ноября 1985.
Хотя Poindexter было оратором, он не был одни ответственными для знать факты. Фактически каждое другое старшее должностное лицо, включая президент Рейган, который услышал его вариант сбываний рукояток в инструктажах в течении ноября 1986 имел причину верить ей были неправильны. Но no one, согласно contemporaneous примечаниям тех инструктажей, поговорили до правильно Poindexter.
Poindexter вместе с севером и другие в ноябре 1986 попытанные для того чтобы shred и изменить бумажная тропка отражая их Иран/contra деятельности. Между прочим, Poindexter разрушило единственный существуя подписанный президентский находить covert-действия который было предназначен утвердить ретроактивно запутанность C I A в пересылке хоуков ноября 1985.
Poindexter и север были более менее успешно в искоренять тропку компьютер-сообщения их Ирана/contra деятельности. Poindexter и север часто связывали до специальный канал Poindexter, компьютерный эксперт, установило вверх на систему компьютера NSC. Этот канал, известный как «приватное незаполненный чек,» позволил Poindexter и север передать сообщения to each other без их будучи направлянным через каналы в которых другие на штате NSC смогли экранировать их.
Между 22-ое до 29 ноября 1986, север уничтоженный от его сообщений компьютерного файла 736, и Poindexter уничтожил 5.012 сообщения во время такого же period.2 несмотря на эти пропускания, Белый back-up дома по заведенному порядку сохраняемый связывает содержать тесьмой все данные в системе на 2 недели для того чтобы защитить против невольной потери. Когда Иран/contra дело подвергся действию в последнее ноябрь 1986, агенство связей Белого дома, которое управляет системой компьютера NSC, сохранило резервные ленты датируя начиная с 15-ого ноября. Исследователи, поэтому, могли retrieve экземпляры всех сообщений которые находились в компьютерных файлах Poindexter-Севера в mid- ноябре 1986 прежде чем большое часть из пропусканий произошла. Эти сообщения компьютера стали важным доказательством как в Poindexter, так и в северных пробах.
2 Williams, свидетельствование Poindexter пробное, 3/15/90, pp. 1752-65.
Poindexter впущенное к много из его деятельностей перед специальная комиссия в июле 1987 под дар testimonial невосприимчивости, который предотвратил его допущения от быть использованным против его в нисколько уголовном продолжении. Потому что президент Рейган не засвидетельствовал в что форум, Poindexter был вызван для того чтобы ответить вопрос который преобладал слухи: Президент знал около и одобрить диверсию сбываний рукояток Ирана продолжает к contras? Poindexter не ответило нет, «стопы самеца оленя здесь с мной.» 3, котор он сказал он нарочито задержало информацию от президента Рейган потому что ``я хотело президента иметь некоторое deniability так НОП он был бы защищен. . . . '' 4
3 Poindexter, свидетельствование специальная комиссия, 7/15/87, P. 95.
4 Ibid., P. 101.
Смотрящ на уголовную пробу, Poindexter confronted по-разному дилемма: Не было no longer вопросом защищать президента а защищать против 5 обвинения в совершении уголовного преступления. Перед съездом, свидетельствование Poindexter значительно corroborated запирательства президента Рейган повторные осведомленности Ирана/contra диверсия. В зале судебных заседаний, Poindexter установило оборону высок-утверждения, пытая убедить присяжного что президент одобрил его действия, включая те которые привели к в уголовное обвинение. Вместо принимать стойку в его собственной обороне, однако, он вызвал президента Рейган для того чтобы засвидетельствовать.
Pre-Trial продолжения
США. A. Gerhard федеральный окружной судья. Gesell в июне 1988 приказало, чтобы аргументы против Poindexter multi-подсудимого, севером, Secord и Hakim было severed.5 после severance, случай Poindexter было возвращено к главному судье Aubrey E. Robinson, cJr, и после этого судить Greene, которое председательствовало над более дополнительными продолжениями.
5 для более детального описания severance случая multi-подсудимого, см. северную главу.
Вся из возможностей Poindexter субстантивных к ценностьи обвинительного акта были уволены перед пробой. Остальные существенный вопрос относились: (1) консервация обязанности конспирацияа; (2) разрешение споров классифицировать-информации; (3) разрешение вопросов отнесенных к свидетельствованию Poindexter иммунизированному съездовскому, под управлять известный как Kastigar; и (4) усилие подсудимого успешно к безопасный пробному свидетельствованию от бывшия президент Рейган.
Сохранять и суживать проблемы обязанности
конспирацияа с расклассифицированной информаци информацией вели к отставке центральных обязанностей конспирацияа перед северной пробой, и были ы, что возникли подобные проблемы в аргументы против Poindexter. 20-ого июня 1989, независимо консультанты двинули для того чтобы исключить первоначально обширные обязанности конспирацияа основанные на поставке contras и диверсии и существенн сужать обязанность конспирацияа для того чтобы нарушить другие субстантивные уголовные законоположения, запрещая ложные заявления и затруднение. После опиловок и устно аргумента, суд дарил движение правительства.
Обязанность была refocused на противозаконное действие конспирировать с севером и Secord скрыть деятельности от съезда. Независимо консультанты поспорили успешно что этот суживать обязанности конспирацияа уменьшьет проблемы классифицировать-информации plagued северный prosecution.
Расклассифицированные информационные издания
расклассифицированные процедуры по информаци информации, котор действуют (CIPA) позволили пробный суд эффективно разрешить вопросы включая пользу засекреченных документов и свидетельствования в Poindexter. Судите наблюдение Greene процесса CIPA и плодотворные переговоры между разрешенными консультантами для правительства и Poindexter большинств спорам с минимумом задерживают.
In contrast to север, не было увеличиваемо или значительно судебный процечч относительно формы или объема извещений о CIPA Poindexter к суду показать расклассифицировал информаци информация на пробе. Между 27-ое ноября 1989 и 13-ого марта 1990, Poindexter служило 11 такое извещение, включая 8 которое listed засекреченные документы он хотели использовать на пробе, описывая по возможности расклассифицированном свидетельствовании 2, и одном сфокусированном единственно на информации, котор он хотел выпытать на низложении президента Рейган.
Судите Greene приказал, чтобы все разницы над расклассифицированной информаци информацией были обсужены между партиями перед быть принесенным перед судом. Судите Greene придержал 6 закрынных слухов CIPA перед пробой начал и дополнил те с несколькими более скоро слухов во время пробы. Большой часть из его rulings на релевантности и приемлемости расклассифицированной информаци информации, и на соответствии замещений предложенных правительством, была сделана от стенда.
Я приняты совместно, извещения о CIPA Poindexter перечислили приблизительно 1.200 документов, только малая часть of which предельно ввел на пробе. Большинств расклассифицированная информаци информация была предусматривана stipulations Правительства к некоторым фактам и другим unclassified замещениям. Это позволило пробу продолжать ровно, без конфликтов которые осложнили север или станции C I A аргументы против F. Иосиф бывшей главное. Fernandez, которое было уволено из-за классифицировать-информации problems.6
6 видит главу Fernandez.
Продолжения Poindexter
Kastigar были вынуждены под даром невосприимчивости пользы засвидетельствовать в 1987 перед специальная комиссия расследуя Иран/contra. Как сделал другой Иран/contra подсудимые дали иммунизированное свидетельствование перед съездом, Poindexter двинутое для того чтобы уволить обвинительный акт на теории что она нарушила стандарты enunciated в Kastigar v. Соединенные Штаты, 7 споря что его иммунизированное свидетельствование было использовано против его в большого жюри и на пробе. Этот аргумент доказал неудачное на пробном уровне но предельно превалировал в апелляционном суде.
7 406 США. 411 (1972).
Прежде чем их пробы были разъединены, Poindexter двинутое jointly with север и Hakim, который также получили невосприимчивость для того чтобы засвидетельствовать перед съездом, для того чтобы иметь обязанности против их уволило на земле что доказательство против их было tainted их иммунизированным свидетельствованием. Судья Gesell отказало то движение. Однако, в deference к обороне требует что они использовали одно - another по возможности exculpatory иммунизированное свидетельствование, судья Gesell в июне 1988 разъединило пробы.
Poindexter возобновило его движение Kastigar перед судьей Greene в августе 1989. После инструктажа и аргумента, 8 суд приказали, чтобы 2 evidentiary слуха держались. На первом, суд услышал свидетельствование от K. Дэн консультантов сподвижницы. Webb и Говард M. Pearl относительно их подвержения к свидетельствованию Poindexter иммунизированному перед соединять офис независимо консультантов. Webb и перла соединили штат OIC в 1989 и не имели, перед их назначениями, после того как они были subject to процедуры по OIC изолировать от свидетельствования Poindexter иммунизированного. Судите Greene нашл их подвержение к свидетельствованию Poindexter для того чтобы быть незначительно и позволил обоим юристам участвовать в пробе.
8 случай Poindexter были попытаны перед апелляционным судом управляемым в севере что слухи заверителя были обязательно для того чтобы позволить пробу иммунизированной подсудимого.
Второй комплект судебных процессов относился пробные заверители, свидетельствование которых может быть tainted свидетельствованием Poindexter's иммунизированным. Судья Greene признавало просмотрение Gesell судьи более предыдущее заверителей большого жюри и склоняло переосвидетельствовать его заключения. Он также отказал уволить обвинительный акт on the basis of потенциальная грандиозная подвержение juror к иммунизированному свидетельствованию.
Относительно пробных заверителей, суд принял обширные измерения обеспечить что заявления Poindexter иммунизированные не были использованы против его. Суд приказал правительство для того чтобы сделать ex представление parte (более поздно показанное к Poindexter) всех заявлений сделанных потенциальными пробными заверителями прежде чем Poindexter дало его иммунизированное свидетельствование перед съездом в июле 1987. Суд нашел что все предложенное свидетельствование большого части из потенциальных заверителей было memorialized прежде чем Poindexter появилось общественно 15-ого июля 1987, и поэтому не было tainted.
Как для тех заверителей предпологали пробное свидетельствование не будет ограничено к доказательству OIC загерметизировал с судом до свидетельствования Poindexter иммунизированного, дополнительной информации судьи требуемого Greene. Он заключил что правительство не сумело установить что 5 из своих потенциальных заверителей были свободно taint и приказало им, котор нужно появиться на pre-trial слух. 2 из 3 заверителей предельно появились на пробу credibly подтвердили что их предвидимое свидетельствование не будет повлияно на в любом случае свидетельствованием Poindexter's иммунизированным; третье, северно, отказано для того чтобы сделать так.
Север заявленный на pre-trial слухе что он был неспособен, по отношению к любому вопросу, для того чтобы различить он лично сделал, после того как он наблюдал или после того как он испытан от он выучил от наблюдать testimony.9 Poindexter иммунизированное как для разрушения Poindexter находить covert-действия декабря 1985 президентский -- важное доказательство в затруднении съезда -- Север подтвердил что он увидел, что Poindexter разрушило куск бумаги но настаиван что он не знал ему был находить до тех пор пока Poindexter не заявить тот факт в его иммунизированном свидетельствовании перед съездом.
9 северное свидетельствование, слух Poindexter Pre-trial, 12/13/89, pp. 374-77.
Суд излучил северное pre-trial свидетельствование как правдоподобно. Северно, кажется, что embarked найденный суд, ``на том времени [на слухе] на высчитанном курсе пытать помочь его бывшим коллегау и co-подсудимому. . . путем prevaricating на различных вопросах. . . мнение 10
, Poindexter, 3/8/90, P. '' 10. 9.
В отдельно столб-пробе управляя, суд добавил что насколько разрушение находить, северное свидетельствование на его собственной пробе о случае было сбивчиво с его заявкой что он не смог вспомнить ее независимо свидетельствования Poindexter иммунизированного. Суд считал его «своиственно неимоверно» что север не вспомнил «его участие в случае, котор он witnessed firsthand и то был как драматически, деиствительно историческо, как срывать вверх весьма редкий президентский находить.» 11
11 Ibid., 5/29/90, pp. 32-40.
Subpoena одним
Рейган самых знатных аспектов случая Poindexter было удачная попытка подсудимого вызвать бывшия президент Рейган для того чтобы засвидетельствовать на его пробе videotaped низложением.
Poindexter сперва изыскивало президентские и вице президентские примечания от OIC как часть его запросов pre-trial открытия. В pre-trial слухе 6-ого сентября 1989, юристы Poindexter сказали суду что президентские примечания отразят то Poindexter сообщили президент его запирательств к съезду в 1986 из деятельности при NSC in support of contras, и что примечания «покажут президент был сказан о сделал для того чтобы поддержать contras в Центральной Америке, и согласие президента и утверждение и утверждение той RABOTы.» 12 в изыскивать вице президентские примечания, юристы Poindexter сказали суд которому «в любое время он [кустик] пропустил встречу, Admiral Poindexter резюмировали его на ей потом.» 13
12 Robinson, слух Poindexter Pre-trial, 9/6/89, P. 18.
13 Ibid., P. 19.
Суд, перед делать решение дальше направил ли вынудить OIC для того чтобы произвести эти документы, 11-ого сентября 1989, Poindexter для того чтобы хранить ex памятку parte объясняя точно как эти документы помогли бы его defense.14, котор оно требовало от независимо консультантов законного меморандума относительно своей ответственности произвести президентские и вице президентские документы не в владении OIC.
14 мнение, Poindexter, 9/11/89, P. 22.
Independent Counsel in a filing on September 18, 1989, told the court that the office did not have in its possession presidential notes, but rather had been granted access to notes and allowed to copy only a portion of them with special permission. As far as President Reagan's diary was concerned, Independent Counsel had been allowed to review typed extracts of portions deemed relevant by White House counsel, but the President had retained custody of his diary, which both he and the national archivist regarded as personal records, making them unaccessible under the Presidential Records Act unless their production were compelled by subpoena.15
15 Government's Memorandum Concerning Presidential and Vice Presidential Documents that Are Not in the Possession of Independent Counsel, 9/18/89.
Attached to Independent Counsel's filing was a declaration by John Fawcett, assistant archivist for the Office of Presidential Libraries of the National Archives and Records Administration. Fawcett stated that President Bush's vice presidential records were transferred to the archives at the end of the Reagan Administration, but, ``No personal diary of former Vice President Bush has been specifically identified as being included in the Vice Presidential records. However, these Vice Presidential records have not yet been processed.'' 16
16 Ibid., Exhibit A. President Bush in December 1992 for the first time informed Independent Counsel that he had kept a diary as vice president from 1986 to 1988. See Bush chapter.
On September 25, 1989, Poindexter's attorneys informed the court that ``the defendant is willing to seek access to the personal diaries and notes of former President Reagan and former Vice President Bush pursuant to a . . . subpoena.'' 17 After reviewing Poindexter's ex parte submission on the materiality of presidential and vice presidential documents, the court on October 24, 1989, ruled that there was sufficient likelihood that President Reagan's documents would be material to the defense. Judge Greene differentiated between Reagan and Bush documents, however, because ``the Vice President had no operational authority with respect to Poindexter,'' because the information contained in vice presidential papers may be largely cumulative, and because of deference to the sitting President Bush.18
17 Defendant's Response to Government's Memorandum Concerning Presidential and Vice President Documents That Are Not in the Possession of Independent Counsel, 9/25/89, p. 2.
18 U.S. v. Poindexter, 725 F. Supp. 13, 28-31 (D.D.C. 1989). Judge Greene added that with respect to Bush documents, he would reevaluate the matter if Poindexter at a later date showed a more pressing need for them.
On November 3, 1989, Poindexter filed with the court a classified petition for leave to serve subpoenas on former President Reagan and the National Archives, seeking materials and testimony relevant to Iran/contra activities in 67 categories. On November 16, Judge Greene granted Poindexter's petition. Both President Reagan and the National Archives moved to quash the subpoena for documents.
In a pre-trial hearing December 4 the court stated that its order covered only documents, and not the President's possible trial testimony. On December 18 Poindexter sought the court's leave to subpoena President Reagan to testify at trial. In deciding whether Poindexter could subpoena President Reagan's testimony, Judge Greene asked Poindexter to submit a list of specific questions he intended to ask. Poindexter submitted a list of 183 questions, which were not made available to Independent Counsel.19 The court ruled that the questions directly related to the charges in the indictment and to Poindexter's anticipated defense.
19 In 1993, during preparation of this report, Independent Counsel obtained copies of these questions and other ex parte submissions from Poindexter's case.
In his February 5, 1990, ruling upholding the testimonial subpoena of Reagan, Judge Greene described Poindexter's proposed questions as falling into 12 categories. These included: (1) the frequency and occasions on which President Reagan and Poindexter met; (2) the President's view of the Boland Amendment and how it applied to contra support; (3) whether the President authorized Poindexter to seek foreign support for the contras; (4) what instructions the President gave Poindexter regarding meetings with Central American officials, and what information Poindexter subsequently relayed back to the President; (5) presidential discussions with Central American leaders concerning contra support; (6) presidential discussions with Poindexter regarding actions to be taken if Congress did not renew contra aid; (7) presidential knowledge of North's relationship to Iran/contra figures; (8) Poindexter's briefings of the President regarding a congressional inquiry in 1986 into North's activities; (9) Poindexter's communications with Congress at the direction of the President; (10) whether Poindexter informed the President about Secord's status; (11) discussions Poindexter had with the President regarding a chronology of the Iran arms sales prepared in November 1986; and (12) the President's knowledge of the arms shipments to Iran.
In his opinion explaining his decision to uphold Poindexter's subpoena of President Reagan, Judge Greene concluded:
Former President Ronald Reagan is claimed by Admiral Poindexter to have direct and important knowledge that will help to exonerate him from the criminal charges lodged against him. In view of the prior professional relationship between the two men, and defendant's showing discussed above, that claim cannot be dismissed as fanciful or frivolous. That being so, it would be inconceivable -- in a Republic that subscribes neither to the ancient doctrine of the divine right of kings nor to the more modern conceit of dictators that they are not accountable to the people whom they claim to represent or to their courts of law -- to exempt Mr. Reagan from the duty of every citizen to give evidence that will permit the reaching of a just outcome of this criminal prosecution. Defendant has shown that the evidence of the former President is needed to protect his right to a fair trial, and he will be given the opportunity to secure that evidence.20
20 U.S. v. Poindexter, 732 F. Supp. 142, 159-60 (D.D.C. 1990)
President Reagan did not claim executive privilege once he was ordered to testify.
The seven-hour videotaped deposition of the former President was taken February 16 and 17, 1990, in the Los Angeles federal courthouse, near his residence. The public and the press were not allowed to attend the deposition. Transcripts and the opportunity to view the videotape were made available to members of the press before the trial.
As for Poindexter's subpoena for documents from the former President, Judge Greene ordered President Reagan to make diary entries available for the court's in camera review. After its review, the court ordered President Reagan to produce the relevant diary entries to Poindexter in the absence of a claim of executive privilege. President Reagan, joined by the Bush Administration, claimed executive privilege as to the diary entries on February 5, 1990. On March 21, the court granted the Reagan-Bush motions to quash the subpoena for the diary entries, concluding that Poindexter's defense would be adequately served by the President's testimony.
The Poindexter Trial
The month-long Poindexter trial, which resulted in a five-count conviction on April 7, 1990, centered largely on the testimony of two witnesses: Oliver North for the prosecution and former President Reagan for the defense.
Both men attempted to help the defendant in their appearances on the witness stand, but each had given prior testimony harmful to Poindexter, and they could not deviate from that under threat of perjury charges.21 North could not abandon his earlier defense stance that he dutifully reported his activities -- including those found to be crimes -- to his superior, Poindexter. President Reagan was compelled at trial to state, as he had previously, that he repeatedly told his aides to obey the law and that he was unaware of their criminal acts.
21 Before taking the witness stand in Poindexter, North had testified before the Select Committees in July 1987, at his own trial in 1989, and at a Poindexter pre-trial hearing in 1990.
President Reagan was questioned by his Tower Commission on two occasions in early 1987. More significantly, the President in November 1987 answered 53 written interrogatories from Independent Counsel, which were submitted as sworn testimony to the federal Grand Jury investigating the Iran/contra affair.
Poindexter chose not to testify at his trial.
Although Poindexter and North had destroyed and altered official papers and computer messages, the prosecution offered convincing documentary evidence that Poindexter was kept apprised of North's efforts to provide military aid to the Nicaraguan contras while it was outlawed from October 1984-October 1986 by the Boland Amendment; that Poindexter adopted false statements McFarlane and North made to Congress; and that Poindexter had been fully aware of the ill-fated November 1985 HAWK missile shipment to Iran, which he subsequently tried to conceal from Congress.
The Trial Testimony of Oliver L. North
The testimony of North, named as a co-conspirator in the case, was important to proving each of the five charges against Poindexter:
-- Count One, that Poindexter conspired with North and Secord to obstruct congressional inquiries of Iran- and contra-related matters, to make false statements to Congress, and to falsify, remove and destroy official documents.
-- Count Two, that Poindexter obstructed Congress in 1986 when it was investigating media allegations that North was raising funds and providing military aid to the contras. In letters to three committees, Poindexter answered questions by repeating denials McFarlane made before Congress in 1985 of North's involvement in contra-support activities, even though Poindexter knew the denials to be false. He set up a meeting with the House Intelligence Committee in August 1986 in which he knew North would have to give false testimony, and afterward congratulated North on his performance.
-- Count Three, that Poindexter obstructed Congress in November 1986 by participating with North in the preparation of false chronologies of the secret U.S. arms sales to Iran and by making false statements to the House and Senate intelligence committees. Specifically, Poindexter falsely asserted that no U.S. official knew before January 1986 that HAWK missiles had been shipped to Iran in November 1985. The indictment stated that North as early as November 20, 1985, told Poindexter about the shipment in advance and advised him of it again after the fact in late 1985.
-- Counts Four and Five, that Poindexter made false statements about the HAWK shipment to the House and Senate intelligence committees on November 21, 1986. As in Count Three, the false statement charges were based on North's informing Poindexter about the shipment in 1985.
In four days of trial testimony, North reluctantly recounted his central operational role in the Iran/contra affair. He described the extensive contra-resupply network he ran with Secord and Hakim,22 his contra fund-raising efforts, and the military advice he gave the contras. He testified that he kept his bosses McFarlane and Poindexter fully informed of his activities and that he acted only with their approval.23
22 North objected to the prosecutor's use of the word ``Enterprise'' to describe the profit-making web of contra- and Iran-related operations he undertook with Secord and Hakim. He also objected to the use of the word ``testimony'' in reference to the false statements he made before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in August 1986, and the word ``diversion'' to describe the scheme in which he, Poindexter and others diverted Iran arms sales proceeds to the contras.
23 North, Poindexter Trial Testimony, 3/12/90, pp. 1275-76.
North, who was forced to testify for the prosecution under a grant of immunity, frequently claimed that he could not recall many of the incidents in question, some of which had occurred several years before. North admitted a wide range of contra-support and Iran-related actions only when confronted with prior testimony in which he had provided extensive details.
North admitted that he lied in August 1986 when he told the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) he was not engaged in raising funds or providing military support to the Nicaraguan contras.24 North described exchanges with Poindexter before and after the meeting that directly implicated Poindexter in a scheme to frustrate the congressional investigation.25
24 Ibid., 3/9/90, pp. 1042-43.
25 Ibid., 3/12/90, p. 1083.
HPSCI was one of three congressional committees pursuing a House inquiry into reports of North's contra-aid activities. North testified that prior to appearing before the committee in the White House Situation Room, he told Poindexter he would be asked about ``things that I had been told never to reveal.'' 26 In response, Poindexter told him, ``You can handle it, you can take care of it,'' according to North.27
26 Ibid., 3/9/90, p. 1033.
27 Ibid.
After receiving reports of North's statements to HPSCI, which Poindexter knew were false, Poindexter by way of his computer sent North a terse congratulatory message: ``Well done.'' 28
28 PROFs Note from Poindexter to North, 8/11/86, AKW 018921.
Based on the statements of North and Poindexter, HPSCI Chairman Lee Hamilton informed other members of Congress that the media allegations about North could not be proven. North's false testimony, in combination with Poindexter's perpetuation of McFarlane's previous lies, successfully frustrated the congressional oversight process. It was not until Nicaraguan soldiers on October 5, 1986, shot down a contra-resupply plane carrying American Eugene Hasenfus that Congress renewed its investigation into North's activities.
North testified that he kept Poindexter apprised of his involvement in the covert sales of U.S. arms to Iran in 1985 and 1986, including the operation's most secret aspect: the Iran/contra diversion. He sent Poindexter five or six memos stating that overcharges to the Iranian buyers would generate millions of dollars for diversion to the contras.29 North said Poindexter told him the diversion should never be revealed.30 North said he reported the diversion plan to Poindexter because he thought that projects funded by it ``ought to have the authority of the President behind them.'' 31
29 North, Poindexter Trial Testimony, 3/12/90, pp. 1107-11.
30 Ibid., pp. 1103-05.
31 Ibid., p. 1111.
North testified that in November 1985, he became directly involved in an Israeli shipment of U.S. HAWK missiles to Iran at McFarlane's behest.32 North said he got permission from both McFarlane, who was then the national security adviser, and Poindexter, then deputy national security adviser, to enlist Secord's help in resolving logistical problems surrounding the shipment.33 He also got McFarlane and Poindexter's permission to supply the Israelis with the name of a CIA-connected airline to assist.34 North outlined the details of the planned HAWK shipment in a computer note to Poindexter on November 20, 1985.35 By memoranda on December 4 and on December 9, 1985, North informed Poindexter that the Iranians were unhappy with the shipment and wanted the missiles to be retrieved.36
32 Ibid., pp. 1118-20.
33 Ibid., pp. 1121-22.
34 Ibid., pp. 1122-27.
35 PROFs Note from North to Poindexter, 11/20/85, AKW 002066.
36 PROFs Note from North to Poindexter, 12/4/85, AKW 002070-73; Memorandum from North to McFarlane and Poindexter, 12/9/85, AKW 002088-91.
When CIA officials insisted after the HAWK shipment that the President should retroactively authorize the agency's participation in the operation, CIA Director William J. Casey on November 26, 1985, gave Poindexter a covert-action Finding for President Reagan's signature.37 North testified that he saw the signed Finding either in Poindexter's office safe or in the safe of NSC counsel Paul Thompson.38
37 Memorandum from Casey to Poindexter, 11/26/85, AMY 000651-52.
38 North, Poindexter Trial Testimony, 3/12/90, p. 1245.
After public exposure of the Iran arms sales in November 1986, North -- at Poindexter's request -- prepared a chronology of U.S. involvement in the Iran arms sales, which underwent a series of re-writes. North testified that McFarlane removed from the chronology North's factual account of the November 1985 HAWKs shipment and substituted a cover story: that although the CIA became involved in the November 1985 shipment after Israel encountered logistical difficulties, U.S. officials at the time believed the cargo to be oil-drilling parts and did not learn until January 1986 that the true cargo was weapons.39
39 Ibid., pp. 1188-98.
Asked whether the McFarlane revision was part of a plan to ``cover up'' the existence of the November 1985 Finding, North answered: ``I don't know that cover up is the right word. I listened to the President's press conferences, I listened to statements being made by people and they just didn't talk about it.'' 40 North said McFarlane told him the cover story should be incorporated into the chronology because the 1985 Finding authorizing the weapons shipment described too directly an arms-for-hostages swap, which, if exposed, would politically embarrass the President.41
40 Ibid., p. 1191.
41 Ibid., pp. 1190-91.
The same oil-drilling-parts cover story was part of a CIA-prepared chronology that Casey and his deputy, Robert Gates, brought to a White House meeting on November 20, 1986, with Poindexter, North, Meese, Cooper and Thompson. The purpose of the meeting was to prepare Casey and Poindexter for their congressional testimony the following day. North was asked at trial:
Q: . . . did it become clear to you by the time McFarlane tells you that [the finding was too close to an arms-for-hostage swap] and by the time you see the CIA show up with this phony chronology, then at least did it appear to you that there was some effort or plan going on to cover up with U.S. involvement because of that finding?
A: Well, there is no doubt in my mind that I came to realize that finding was a disaster, and I understood that.42
42 Ibid., pp. 1208-09.
North testified that he altered and destroyed numerous documents in October and November 1986 that would have revealed details of the Iran and contra operations. He said he assured Poindexter that he had ``taken care of'' the documents that reflected his activities.43 He said he told Poindexter all the documents describing the Iran/contra diversion were destroyed, after learning from Poindexter on November 21, 1986, that Attorney General Meese would be conducting a weekend investigation into the Iran arms sales.44 North also testified that he altered other original NSC documents, after receiving Poindexter's permission to retrieve them from the NSC document-archiving system.45
43 Ibid., p. 1218.
44 Ibid., pp. 1120-21.
45 Ibid., pp. 1224-27.
More important, North reluctantly testified that he saw Poindexter destroy the only known copy of the signed presidential Finding that sought to authorize retroactively the November 1985 shipment of HAWK missiles to Iran.46 North's eyewitness account of the destruction of the Finding provided significant proof of Poindexter's intent to conceal facts about the HAWK missile shipment from Congress in November 1986.47
46 Ibid., 1252-54.
47 The destruction of the 1985 Finding was not charged as a separate crime in the indictment of Poindexter because Independent Counsel did not learn of it until North testified about it at his own trial in April 1989. Poindexter had told the Select Committees in 1987 that he destroyed the only signed copy of the 1985 presidential Finding. Independent Counsel did not learn of this statement at the time, however, because the OIC had taken measures to insulate itself from all immunized testimony. Even if Independent Counsel had been aware of the Poindexter testimony, OIC could not have used it in any criminal proceeding against Poindexter under the terms of immunity grant.
North's wide-ranging testimony enabled the prosecution to streamline its witness list to only nine other individuals, many of whom supplemented the central details provided by North.
The Trial Testimony of President Reagan
Before the trial of Poindexter, President Reagan had not testified publicly about Iran/contra. On February 16 and 17, 1990, he gave a seven-hour videotaped deposition as a defense witness. No classified matters were discussed and executive privilege was not invoked in response to any question. The videotaped deposition was shown in full, therefore, to the Poindexter jury during the trial on March 21 and 22, 1990.48
48 Immediately after each tape was shown to the jury, a copy was given to the television networks, allowing the public to see President Reagan's only courtroom testimony on the Iran/contra affair.
In direct examination, defense counsel sought to show presidential knowledge and approval of Poindexter's activities. But President Reagan frequently claimed memory lapses when questioned about specific exchanges he may have had with Poindexter and about his knowledge of individuals and details involved in the Iran and contra operations.
Although President Reagan exhibited virtually no detailed knowledge of the Iran/contra matter, he made clear to the jury that it had his imprimatur, calling it ``a covert action that was taken at my behest.'' 49 President Reagan said North was the only person he remembered being involved in the arms initiative.50 He could not recall being briefed by Poindexter on the May 1986 trip by McFarlane and North to Tehran, but he said he did recall signing a Bible for Iranians.51 President Reagan testified that the amount of weapons sold to Iran totaled $12.2 million.52
49 Reagan, Poindexter Trial Deposition, 2/16/90, p. 9.
50 Ibid., p. 21.
51 Ibid., p. 24.
52 Ibid., pp. 154-55.
Asked specifically about the November 1985 HAWK shipment to Iran, President Reagan said he recalled a plan in which the Israelis would turn their plane around in mid-delivery of the weapons if no hostages were released.53 He did not recall when he became aware of the November 1985 HAWK shipment; 54 he did not recall Poindexter telling him in November 1986 that others in the White House were having trouble remembering when they learned of it.55
53 Ibid., pp. 24-25.
54 Ibid., pp. 33-36.
55 Ibid., pp. 38-39.
President Reagan also claimed virtually no memory of the November 1986 period in which his top advisers were scrambling to limit public exposure of the Iran arms sales. He only generally recalled telling members of Congress about the arms sales on November 12, 1986.56 He could not remember receiving any information from Poindexter for any of his presentations on the matter in that time.57 The former President could not remember asking Poindexter to assemble the facts on the arms sales.58 He could not recall that Poindexter briefed the House and Senate intelligence committees on November 21, 1986.59
56 Ibid., pp. 37-38.
57 Ibid., p. 30.
58 Ibid., p. 28.
59 Ibid., pp. 44-45.
Defense counsel's questions suggested that their client had significant exchanges with the President during the arms-sale period and its aftermath. But Reagan's lack of recollection, and lack of specificity when he did remember events or individuals, left those questions unresolved.
President Reagan provided more helpful testimony for the defense on the subject of contra-support operations. Calling the Boland prohibition on contra funding a ``disaster,'' 60 Reagan testified that he urged his aides to do what they could to support the contras, while staying ``within the law.'' 61 Reagan recalled that Saudi Arabia's King Fahd pledged millions of dollars for the contras.62 He said he told his aides not to solicit contributions for the contras directly but to tell people how they could contribute if they wanted to help.63
60 Ibid., p. 69.
61 Ibid., pp. 53-54.
62 Ibid., pp. 74-75.
63 Ibid., pp. 53-54.
Asked whether Poindexter briefed him on the contras, President Reagan said: ``Oh yes, I depended on him for that.'' 64 He said he had no reason to believe that Poindexter was not keeping him fully informed.
64 Ibid., p. 116.
Asked to describe what he knew about North's responsibilities in the White House, President Reagan said:
Well, he was mainly performing tasks, as I understand it, for the NSC, but he -- his background and record had been one of being decorated for heroism and so forth in the Vietnamese conflict, and that he had been a very bold and brave soldier -- Marine.
And -- so, he was -- it was my impression, not from any specific reports or anything, that in through all of this that he was communicating back and forth between on the need for the support of the Contras and so forth.65
65 Ibid., p. 131.
In addition to professing a benign view of North and his activities, President Reagan indicated general knowledge of and support for the contra-resupply operation in Central America:
Q: Do you recall any discussions that he [Poindexter] may have had with you about the construction of an airstrip down there in Central America?
A: Well, I did hear -- we had learned that there was a rather primitive lane in there in the jungle near the border of Costa Rican [sic], and that was then being put into better shape as a usable airstrip.
Q: Did you have any -- do you recall any discussion about who was constructing the airstrip?
A: Well, no. I assume it was the Costa Rican government.
Q: And do you know what that airstrip was going to be used for?
A: Well, I know that -- I hoped that it would be used in the delivery of when once again we could supply, keep the Contras supplied, that it could be involved in the -- used there, if there was need for a refueling or anything of that kind of a plane.66
66 Ibid., p. 121.
President Reagan was then asked whether he knew who would be using the Costa Rican airstrip for contra resupply. His answer reflected knowledge of the operation supposedly being funded and run by private citizens -- the so-called ``private benefactors'' -- that was in fact being run by Secord at North's direction:
Q: Do you know who it was that was going to be using the airstrip? It was going to be used for supplying the Contras, but do you know who it was that was actually going to be doing the supplying and using the airstrip?
A: No, I do not on that. I don't think -- I don't think I ever considered that it would be military planes of ours. So, possibly some of those that weren't officially planes of ours that had been helping in the past in deliveries to the Contras and so forth.
Q: Earlier this morning or earlier today, I should say, you mentioned General Secord. That you knew that he was involved in the Contra supply effort.
Was it part of his operation you thought that he might be using the airstrip?
A: I can't say that I actually recall that, but it seems to me logical that he would have been involved in that.67
67 Ibid., p. 122.
President Reagan, who winked and smiled at Poindexter from the witness stand, did not hide his contempt toward congressional inquiries into NSC staff contra-support activities. Shown misleading letters written by Poindexter in July 1986 to the committees of Congress that were investigating allegations of North's contra efforts, Reagan said: ``I am in total agreement. If I had written it myself, I might have used a little profanity.'' 68
68 Ibid., pp. 146-47.
In cross-examination, the prosecution was able to impeach much of President Reagan's testimony. This was possible because Reagan late in 1987 had answered, under oath, 53 written interrogatories for Independent Counsel and the Grand Jury investigating the Iran/contra matter.
The July 21, 1986, letters -- in which Poindexter embraced and perpetuated the lies McFarlane had told Congress about North's contra-support activities a year earlier -- were a key element in the obstruction charges against the defendant. Under cross-examination by the prosecution, President Reagan was asked whether he was aware that the Poindexter letters repeated McFarlane's previous lies. The former President equivocated:
Well, I simply -- no, I did not have this information, but I have a great deal of confidence in the man who was quoted as sending these letters, McFarlane. And I have never -- I have never caught him or seen him doing anything that was in any way out of line or dishonest. And so, I was perfectly willing to accept his defense.69
69 Ibid., p. 151.
President Reagan said he did not know that McFarlane had pleaded guilty to withholding information from Congress in connection with the false letters.70
70 Ibid., pp. 220-21.
Asked whether he approved either the McFarlane or Poindexter letters to Congress, the former President said he had no recollection of doing so, adding that his memory could be faulty.71 Asked directly whether he would approve of sending false information to Congress, President Reagan conceded that he would not.72 Would he have authorized Poindexter to make false statements to Congress? President Reagan again attempted to assist his former aide: ``No. And I don't think any false statements were made.'' 73
71 Ibid., pp. 150-51.
72 Ibid., pp. 151-52.
73 Ibid., p. 158.
President Reagan also testified that he did not approve the destruction of Iran/contra documents by Poindexter, and that he was not told about their destruction.74 But the former President, in response to subsequent questioning, described the dilemma in which he placed his aides in November 1986 by instructing them that certain information could not be revealed because ``it will bring to risk and danger to people that are held and with the people that we were negotiating with.'' 75
74 Ibid., p. 160.
75 Ibid., p. 252.
Asked again whether he approved the destruction of alteration of any Iran/contra records, President Reagan said: ``And this, I cannot answer. I cannot recall because it is the possibility that there were such papers that would violate the secrecy that was protecting those individuals' lives.'' 76 President Reagan had denied in response to the earlier written interrogatories that he approved the destruction and alteration of documents; when confronted with his previous testimony he stated that it was truthful.
76 Ibid., p. 255.
On the issue of the contras, President Reagan said he ``never had any inkling'' that North was guiding their military strategy.77 But Reagan muddied the issue in a later statement about North:
77 Ibid., p. 170.
I know that he [North] was very active, and that was certainly with my approval, because I yesterday made plain how seriously I felt about the Contra situation and what it meant to all of us here in the Americas. And, so, obviously, there were many things that were being done. But, again, as I say, I was convinced that they were all being done within the law.78
78 Ibid., p. 189.
In questioning about the Iran/contra diversion, President Reagan surprisingly asserted that he had no proof that a diversion had occurred:
And to this day, I still with all of the investigations that have been made, I still have never been given one iota of evidence as to who collected the price, who delivered the final delivery of the weapons, or what was -- whether there was ever more money in that Swiss account that had been diverted someplace else. I am still waiting to find those things out and have never found them out.79
79 Ibid., p. 155.
Asked whether he had approved a diversion, Reagan again stated:
May I simply point out that I had no knowledge then or now that there had been a diversion, and I never used the term. And all I knew was that there was some money that came from some place in another account, and that the appearance was that it might have been a part of the negotiated sale. And to this day, I don't have any information or knowledge that that wasn't the total amount that -- or that there was a diversion.80
80 Ibid., p. 156.
Asked again whether he would have approved a diversion, President Reagan said he would not. But, he added, ``No one has proven to me that there was a diversion.'' 81
81 Ibid., p. 157.
President Reagan said he did not recall that the Tower Commission concluded in March 1987 that, in fact, a diversion had occurred. ``I, to this day, do not recall ever hearing that there was a diversion,'' he said.82 Shown that portion of the Tower Commission report describing the diversion, Reagan said: ``This report -- this is the first time that I have ever seen a reference that actually specified there was a diversion.'' 83
82 Ibid., p. 240.
83 Ibid., p. 243.
Asked whether Poindexter should have told him about an Iran/contra diversion, Reagan said: ``Yes. Unless maybe he thought he was protecting me from something.'' 84
84 Ibid., pp. 243-44.
The Verdict and Sentencing
After six days of deliberation, the jury on April 7, 1990, found Poindexter guilty of each of the five felony charges against him. Judge Greene on June 11, 1990, sentenced Poindexter to six months imprisonment on each of the five counts, to be served concurrently.
In imposing the sentence, Judge Greene noted complaints by Poindexter's supporters that the most he was guilty of was having become embroiled in a political quarrel between the White House and Congress. Judge Greene stated:
Whatever may have been the nature of the original dispute, what the defendant and his associates did was emphatically not a part of the normal political process.
. . . When Admiral Poindexter and his associates obstructed the Congress, what were they seeking to accomplish? In a word, it was to nullify the decision that body had made on the issue of supplies to the Contras. . . .
President Reagan did not, or for parliamentary reasons he could not, veto the bill [which contained the Boland prohibition on contra aid]. He did not attempt to assert his own constitutional powers or take the issue to the people, and at the conclusion of the political process the Boland Amendment thus became law.
No problem. What the president was unwilling or unable to do -- to defeat this law -- Admiral Poindexter, together with Oliver North and others, did on their own. They decided that the policy embodied in the Boland Amendment was wrong, and they went about to violate it on a large scale and for a lengthy period, and then to lie about their activities to prevent the Congress and the public from finding out. . . .
With all due res
Het veroordelen van veroordeelde misdadigers in de Verenigde Staten
Automatically translated into Dutch thanks to WorldLingo
Hoofdstuk 3
Verenigde Staten v. John M. De Ondeugd
Adm van de Marine van Poindexter. John M. Poindexter werd benoemd als de nationale veiligheidsadviseur van President Reagan's op 4 December, 1985, die Robert C. slaagt. McFarlane, die Poindexter onder als afgevaardigde twee jaar had gediend. Beëindigde de carrière van het Witte Huis van Poindexter 25 November, 1986, toen hij om in het spoor van de openbare onthulling van Iran/de contraafleidingsactie werd gedwongen af te treden.
Poindexter, Lt. Col. Oliver North en McFarlane waren de drie individuenProcureur Algemene Edwin Meese III die op 25 November, 1986 wordt geïdentificeerdz, goed geïnformeerd van de afleidingsactie. Supervisie van Poindexter van het Noorden en zijn eigen participatie in Iran en contraverrichtingen waren vroege nadruk van het onderzoek van het Onafhankelijke Advies.
Zoals in het geval tegen het Noorden, moest het misdadige bewijsmateriaal tegen Poindexter snel worden verzameld alvorens hij om op Capitol Hill in de zomer van 1987 onder een toelage van beperkte immuniteit werd gedwongen te getuigen. Anders, zou de vervolging van Poindexter waarschijnlijk worden uitgedaagd omdat het was voortgekomen uit of op één of andere manier door zijn geïmmuniseerde" congresverklaring werd beïnvloed.
Op 16 Maart, 1988, werd Poindexter op zeven misdrijflasten aangeklaagd die van zijn betrokkenheid in Iran/de contrazaak, als deel van een aanklacht van de 23 tellings multi-gedaagde het gevolg zijn. Hij werd genoemd met het Noorden, teruggetrokken Luchtmacht Maj. Gen. Richard V. Secord en Albert Hakim als lid van de samenzwering om de Overheid van Verenigde Staten te bedriegen door Iran/de contraafleidingsactie en andere handelingen uit te voeren.
Nadat de gevallen werden gescheiden en twee van de originele lasten verworpen, werd Poindexter geprobeerd en werd veroordeeld in April 1990 wegens vijf misdrijven, die omvatten: één telling van het samenzweren om officiële onderzoeken en werkzaamheden, twee tellingen van het belemmeren van Congres, en twee tellingen van valse verklaringen te belemmeren aan Congress.1 de V.S. De Rechter Harold H. van het district. Greene veroordeelde hem aan een halfjaarlijkse gevangenistermijn. In November 1991, werden de overtuigingen van Poindexter ten val gebracht op beroep. In December 1992, de V.S. Het opperste Hof daalde om het geval te herzien.
1 het geval Poindexter werd geprobeerd door Verwant Advies Dan K. Webb, Christian J. Mixter, Howard M. Parel, en Louise R. Radin.
Poindexter werd lid van het Nationale Personeel van de Veiligheidsraad in Juni 1981, na een voorname zeecarrière die slagschipbevel en high-ranking posten van het Pentagoon omvatte. In Oktober 1983 werd hij afgevaardigde aan de Adviseur McFarlane van de Nationale Veiligheid; onder zijn ondergeschikten was het Noorden. Tijdens de éénjarige ambtstermijn van Poindexter als nationale veiligheidsadviseur, die in December 1985 begon, hield toezicht hij op Iran/op de contraverrichtingen waarin het Noorden direct geïmpliceerd was.
In November 1986, aangezien de geheime verrichtingen openbaar blootgesteld werden, werd Poindexter de hogere ambtenaar van het Beleid verantwoordelijk voor het informeren van de andere hoogste adviseurs van de Voorzitter over de wapenverkoop van Iran. In een reeks van de vergaderingen van het Witte Huis met andere ambtenaren en leden van Congres door de maand, maakte hij herhaaldelijk een valse versie van de transacties op die op een afstand President Reagan van de juridisch twijfelachtige de wapensverzendingen hielden van 1985 die door Israël, in het bijzonder de de havik-Raket van November 1985 transactie worden gemaakt.
Hoewel Poindexter de woordvoerder was, was hij niet alleen verantwoordelijk voor het kennen van de feiten. Vrijwel elke andere hogere ambtenaar, met inbegrip van President Reagan, die zijn versie van de wapenverkoop in briefings door November 1986 hoorde had reden te geloven het verkeerd was. Maar toch sprak niemand, volgens gelijktijdige nota's van die briefings, tot correcte Poindexter.
Poindexter samen met het Noorden en anderen in November 1986 probeerden om de document sleep te verscheuren en te veranderen wijzend op hun Iran/contraactiviteiten. Onder andere, vernietigde Poindexter de enige bestaande ondertekende presidentiële heimelijk-actie Vindend die bedoeld was om de betrokkenheid van de CIA in de verzending van de Haviken van November retroactief te machtigen 1985.
Poindexter en het Noorden waren minder succesvol in het uitroeien van de computer-bericht sleep van hun Iran/contraactiviteiten. Poindexter en het Noorden deelden door een speciaal kanaal vaak mee dat Poindexter, een computerdeskundige, op het computersysteem NSC had opgezet. Dit kanaal, dat als „Privé Lege Controle,“ wordt bekend stond Poindexter en het Noorden toe om berichten aan elkaar die zonder hun af te lossen via kanalen wordt geleid waarin anderen op het personeel NSC hen konden onderzoeken.
Tussen November 22 tot 29, 1986, het Noorden geschrapt van zijn computerdossier 736 schrapten de berichten, en Poindexter 5.012 berichten die tijdens zelfde period.2 ondanks deze schrappingen, de uit routine gespaard van het Witte Huis hulpbanden alle gegevens in het systeem bevatten twee weken tegen achteloos verlies te beschermen. Toen Iran/de contrazaak in recent November 1986 werd blootgesteld, het Communicatie van het Witte Huis Agentschap, dat het computersysteem NSC beheert, behield de hulpbanden die van 15 dateren November. De onderzoekers, daarom, konden exemplaren van alle berichten terugwinnen die in de het poindexter-Noorden computerdossiers in midden van november 1986 waren alvorens de meeste schrappingen voorkwamen. Deze computerberichten werden belangrijk bewijsmateriaal in zowel de proeven van Poindexter als van het Noorden.
2 Williams, Poindexter ProefVerklaring, 3/15/90, blz. 1752-65.
Poindexter liet aan veel van zijn activiteiten toe voor de Uitgezochte Commissies in Juli 1987 onder een toelage van testimonial immuniteit, die zijn toelating tegen hem in om het even welke het misdadige te werk gaan worden gebruikt verhinderde. Omdat President Reagan niet in dat forum getuigde, werd Poindexter geroepen om de vraag te beantwoorden die de hoorzittingen overheerste: Kende keurde de Voorzitter en ongeveer de afleidingsactie van de de wapenverkoopopbrengst van Iran aan goed contras? Poindexter beantwoordde hier nr, de „buckeinden met me.“ 3 hij zei hij doelbewust de informatie van President Reagan omdat ``inhield ik de Voorzitter één of andere deniability wilde hebben zodat hij worden beschermd. . . . '' 4
3 Poindexter, de Uitgezochte Verklaring van Commissies, 7/15/87, p. 95.
4 Ibid., p. 101.
Onder ogen ziend een misdadige proef, confronteerde Poindexter een verschillend dilemma: Het was niet meer een kwestie om de Voorzitter te beschermen maar het verdedigen van tegen misdrijf vijf laadt. Vóór Congres, meest significante verklaring van Poindexter bevestigde de de herhaalde ontkenning van President Reagan's van voorlichting van Iran/de contraafleidingsactie. In de rechtszaal, zette Poindexter een hoog-vergunningsdefensie op, die de jury dat de Voorzitter zijn acties had goedgekeurd, met inbegrip van die probeert te overtuigen die in misdadige lasten resulteerden. In plaats van het nemen van de tribune in zijn eigen defensie, echter, riep hij President Reagan om te getuigen.
Pre-Trial Werkzaamheden
de V.S. De Rechter Gerhard A. van het district. Gesell in Juni 1988 gaf opdracht dat het multi-gedaagdegeval tegen Poindexter, het Noorden, Secord en Hakim severed.5 na verbreking is, werd het geval van Poindexter overgebracht naar Belangrijkste Rechter Aubrey E. Robinson, Jr., en dan om Greene te beoordelen, die verdere werkzaamheden voorzat.
5 voor een uitvoerigere beschrijving van de verbreking van het multi-gedaagdegeval, zie het hoofdstuk van het Noorden.
Werden de aanzienlijke uitdagingen van elk van Poindexter aan de geldigheid van de aanklacht verworpen vóór proef. De resterende belangrijke betrokken kwesties: (1) het behoud van de samenzweringslast; (2) de resolutie van classificeren-informatiegeschillen; (3) de resolutie van kwesties had op de geïmmuniseerde congresverklaring van Poindexter betrekking, onder de uitspraak bekend als Kastigar; en (4) de succesvolle inspanning van de gedaagde om proefverklaring van vroegere President Reagan te beveiligen.
Het bewaren van en het Versmallen van de Problemen van de Last
van de Samenzwering met geclassificeerde informatie leidden tot het ontslag van de centrale samenzweringslasten vóór de proef van het Noorden, en de gelijkaardige problemen zouden voordoen zich in het geval tegen Poindexter. Op 20 Juni, 1989, bewoog het Onafhankelijke Advies zich om de originele brede samenzweringslasten te elimineren die op de levering van contras en de afleidingsactie worden gebaseerd en de last van samenzwering wezenlijk te versmallen om andere aanzienlijke misdadige statuten, verbiedend vals verklaringen en obstakel te overtreden. Na het indienen en mondeling argument, verleende het hof de motie van de Overheid.
De last werd opnieuw geconcentreerd waarop de onwettige handeling van het samenzweren met het Noorden en Secord om activiteiten van Congres te verbergen. Het onafhankelijke Advies debatteerde met succes dat dit het versmallen van de samenzweringslast de classificeren-informatieproblemen zou minimaliseren die de vervolging van het Noorden teisterden.
De geclassificeerde Informatie geeft
het Geclassificeerde Akte van de Procedures van de Informatie (uit CIPA) toestond effectief het proefhof om kwesties op te lossen die het gebruik van geclassificeerde documenten en verklaring in Poindexter impliceren. De supervisie van Greene van de rechter van het proces CIPA en de vruchtbare onderhandelingen tussen advies voor de Overheid en Poindexter loste de meeste geschillen met een minimum van vertraging op.
In tegenstelling tot het Noorden, er geen verlengd of significant proces betreffende de vorm of het toepassingsgebied van Van Poindexter cipa- berichten aan het hof was om geclassificeerde informatie bij proef te onthullen. Tussen November 27, 1989, en Maart 13, 1990, diende Poindexter 11 dergelijke berichten, met inbegrip van acht dat vermelde geclassificeerde documenten die hij heeft willen om bij proef, twee beschrijvend mogelijke geclassificeerde verklaring, en één gebruiken alleen geconcentreerd op informatie die hij heeft willen om bij het deposito van President Reagan onthullen.
De rechter Greene gaf opdracht dat alle verschillen over geclassificeerde informatie tussen de partijen alvorens wordt gebracht voor het hof worden besproken. De rechter Greene hield zes gesloten hoorzittingen CIPA alvorens de proef begon en met die met verscheidene kortere hoorzittingen tijdens proef aanvulde. Het grootste deel van zijn uitspraken op de relevantie en de toelaatbaarheid van geclassificeerde informatie, en op de geschiktheid van substituties die door de Overheid worden voorgesteld, werden gemaakt van de bank.
Samen genomen, Van Poindexter maakten een lijst de cipa- berichten ongeveer van 1.200 documenten, slechts een kleine fractie waar uiteindelijk bij proef werd geïntroduceerdb. De meeste geclassificeerde informatie werd behandeld door de bepalingen van de Overheid aan bepaalde feiten en andere niet geclassificeerde substituties. Dit stond de proef toe om, zonder de conflicten het dat ingewikkelde Noorden of geval tegen de vroegere post belangrijkst Joseph F. regelmatig te werk te gaan van de CIA. Fernandez, wat wegens classificeren-informatie problems.6 6
werd verworpen ziet het hoofdstuk van Fernandez.
Werkzaamheden Poindexter werden
van Kastigar gedwongen onder een toelage van gebruiksimmuniteit om in 1987 voor de Uitgezochte Commissies te getuigen die Iran onderzoeken/contra. Zoals andere Iran/de contragedaagden dat geïmmuniseerdes verklaring vóór Congres gaven, Poindexter die wordt bewogen om de aanklacht op de theorie dat te verwerpen het de normen overtrad die in Kastigar v. worden opgesomd. Verenigde Staten, 7 stellen die dat zijn geïmmuniseerdee verklaring tegen hem in de Grote Jury en bij proef werd gebruikt. Dit argument bleek niet succesvol op het proefniveau maar uiteindelijk heerste in het Hof van Beroep.
de 7 406 V.S. 411 (1972).
Alvorens hun proeven werden gescheiden, Poindexter die samen met het Noorden en Hakim wordt bewogen, dat ook immuniteit om vóór Congres hadden ontvangen te getuigen, om de verworpen lasten tegen hen te hebben op grond van het feit dat het bewijsmateriaal tegen hen door hun geïmmuniseerden verklaring werd bedorven. De rechter Gesell ontkende die motie. Nochtans, in deferentie aan defensieeisen dat zij één - de misschien verontschuldigende geïmmuniseerdec verklaring zouden gebruiken van iemand anders, oordeel Gesell in Juni 1988 de proeven scheidde.
Poindexter vernieuwde zijn motie Kastigar vóór Rechter Greene in Augustus 1989. Na het informeren en argument, 8 het bevolen hof dat twee bewijskrachtige hoorzittingen worden gehouden. Bij de eerste, hoorde het hof verklaring van Verwant Advies Dan K. Webb en Howard M. Parel betreffende hun blootstelling aan de geïmmuniseerdeo verklaring van Poindexter alvorens bij het Bureau van Onafhankelijk Advies zich aan te sluiten. Webb en de Parel werden lid van het personeel OIC in 1989 en niet, vóór hun benoemingen, waren onderworpen aan de procedures van OIC geweest om van de geïmmuniseerdee verklaring van Poindexter te isoleren. De rechter Greene vond onbelangrijk hun blootstelling aan de verklaring van Poindexter om te zijn en stond beide procureurs toe om aan de proef deel te nemen.
8 het geval Poindexter werd voor het Hof van Beroep dat in het Noorden wordt beslist dat geprobeerd de getuigenhoorzittingen noodzakelijk waren om de proef van een geïmmuniseerdea gedaagde toe te laten.
De tweede reeks hofhoorzittingen betrof proefgetuigen, de van wie verklaring door de geïmmuniseerdea verklaring van Poindexter kan bedorven te zijn. De rechter Greene keurde het vroegere overzicht van Gesell van de Rechter van de Grote getuigen van de Jury goed en gedaald om zijn bevindingen opnieuw te onderzoeken. Hij weigerde ook om de aanklacht op basis van potentiële grote jurylidblootstelling aan de geïmmuniseerde verklaring te verwerpen.
Betreffende proefgetuigen, trof het hof uitgebreide maatregelen om ervoor te zorgen dat de geïmmuniseerdeb verklaringen van Poindexter niet tegen hem werden gebruikt. Het hof bevolen de Overheid om een ex partevoorlegging (te maken die later aan Poindexter wordt onthuld) van alle verklaringen die door potentiële proefgetuigen vóór Poindexter worden afgelegd gaf zijn geïmmuniseerded verklaring vóór Congres in Juli 1987. Het hof vond dat alle voorgestelde verklaring van de meeste potentiële getuigen memorialized alvorens Poindexter openbaar op 15 Juli, 1987 verscheen, en daarom was niet bedorven was geweest.
Zoals voor die getuigen de van wie verwachte proefverklaring niet tot het bewijsmateriaal OIC beperkt zou zijn met het hof voorafgaand aan de geïmmuniseerdev verklaring van Poindexter, de vereiste extra informatie van de Rechter Greene had verzegeld. Hij besloot dat de Overheid er niet in was geslaagd om vast te stellen dat vijf van zijn potentiële getuigen vrij van vlekje waren en tot hen om bij een pre-trial hoorzitting opdracht gaven te verschijnen. Twee van de drie getuigen die uiteindelijk geloofwaardig bij proef verschenen bevestigden dat hun voorzien verklaring in geen geval door de geïmmuniseerdeb verklaring van Poindexter zou beïnvloed worden; het derde, het Noorden, weigerde dit te doen.
Het noorden verklaarde bij de pre-trial hoorzitting dat hij, met betrekking tot om het even welk onderwerp, niet kon onderscheiden wat hij persoonlijk had gedaan had, waargenomen of ervaren van wat hij van het letten op Poindexter geïmmuniseerdea testimony.9 zoals voor de vernietiging van Poindexter van het presidentiële de heimelijk-actie van December 1985 Vinden had geleerd -- belangrijk bewijsmateriaal in het obstakel van Congres -- Het noorden erkende dat hij Poindexter een stuk van document had zien vernietigen maar erop aangedrongen dat hij niet weten het het Vinden was tot Poindexter dat feit in zijn geïmmuniseerdee verklaring vóór Congres verklaarde.
9 de Verklaring van het noorden, Poindexter Pre-trial Hoorzitting, 12/13/89, blz. 374-77.
Het hof verwierp pre-trial verklaring van het Noorden niet geloofwaardig. Het noorden, het gevonden hof, ``schijnt op dat ogenblik [bij de hoorzitting] op de berekende cursus ingescheept te zijn van het proberen om zijn vroegere collega en mede-gedaagde bij te staan. . . door op diverse kwesties uitvluchten te zoeken. . . '' 10
10 Advies, Poindexter, 3/8/90, p. 9.
Bij een afzonderlijke post-proef uitspraak, voegde het hof toe dat wat betreft de vernietiging van het Vinden, de verklaring van het Noorden bij zijn eigen proef over de gebeurtenis met zijn eis inconsistent was dat hij niet het kon herinneren onafhankelijk van de geïmmuniseerdet verklaring van Poindexter. Het hof vond „inherent ongelooflijk“ het die het Noorden „zijn participatie in een gebeurtenis niet herinnerde hij uit de eerste hand en die was dramatisch getuigde, inderdaad historisch, als tearing omhooggaand van uiterst het zeldzame Presidentiële Vinden.“ 11
11 Ibid., 5/29/90, blz. 32-40.
De Reagan Dagvaarding
Één van de opmerkelijkste aspecten van het geval Poindexter was de succesvolle poging van de gedaagde om vroegere President Reagan te roepen om bij zijn proef door op videocassette opgenomen deposito te getuigen.
Poindexter zocht eerst presidentiële en ondeugd presidentiële nota's van OIC als deel van zijn pre-trial ontdekkingsverzoeken. In een pre-trial hoorzitting op 6 September, 1989, vertelden de procureurs van Poindexter het hof dat de presidentiële nota's een weerspiegeling zouden vormen van dat Poindexter de Voorzitter over zijn ontkenning aan Congres in 1986 van activiteit NSC tot steun van contras informeerde, en dat de nota's „zouden tonen wat de Voorzitter werd verteld over wat contras in Midden-Amerika werd gedaan steunen, en de toestemming van de Voorzitter en de bekrachtiging en goedkeuring van die activiteit.“ 12 in het zoeken van ondeugd presidentiële nota's, vertelden de procureurs van Poindexter het hof dat „wanneer hij [Bush] een vergadering miste, Admiraal Poindexter hem daarna op het.“ informeerde 13
12 Robinson, Poindexter Pre-trial Hoorzitting, 9/6/89, p. 18.
13 Ibid., p. 19.
Het hof, alvorens een besluit inzake te nemen of om OIC te dwingen om deze documenten, op 11 September, 1989 uit te vaardigen, geleide Poindexter om een ex partememorandum in te dienen dat precies verklaart hoe deze documenten zijn defense.14 zouden bijstaan het van Onafhankelijk Advies een wettelijke mededeling betreffende zijn verantwoordelijkheid om presidentiële en ondeugd presidentiële documenten niet in het bezit van OIC uit te vaardigen vereiste.
14 advies, Poindexter, 9/11/89, p. 22.
Independent Counsel in a filing on September 18, 1989, told the court that the office did not have in its possession presidential notes, but rather had been granted access to notes and allowed to copy only a portion of them with special permission. As far as President Reagan's diary was concerned, Independent Counsel had been allowed to review typed extracts of portions deemed relevant by White House counsel, but the President had retained custody of his diary, which both he and the national archivist regarded as personal records, making them unaccessible under the Presidential Records Act unless their production were compelled by subpoena.15
15 Government's Memorandum Concerning Presidential and Vice Presidential Documents that Are Not in the Possession of Independent Counsel, 9/18/89.
Attached to Independent Counsel's filing was a declaration by John Fawcett, assistant archivist for the Office of Presidential Libraries of the National Archives and Records Administration. Fawcett stated that President Bush's vice presidential records were transferred to the archives at the end of the Reagan Administration, but, ``No personal diary of former Vice President Bush has been specifically identified as being included in the Vice Presidential records. However, these Vice Presidential records have not yet been processed.'' 16
16 Ibid., Exhibit A. President Bush in December 1992 for the first time informed Independent Counsel that he had kept a diary as vice president from 1986 to 1988. See Bush chapter.
On September 25, 1989, Poindexter's attorneys informed the court that ``the defendant is willing to seek access to the personal diaries and notes of former President Reagan and former Vice President Bush pursuant to a . . . subpoena.'' 17 After reviewing Poindexter's ex parte submission on the materiality of presidential and vice presidential documents, the court on October 24, 1989, ruled that there was sufficient likelihood that President Reagan's documents would be material to the defense. Judge Greene differentiated between Reagan and Bush documents, however, because ``the Vice President had no operational authority with respect to Poindexter,'' because the information contained in vice presidential papers may be largely cumulative, and because of deference to the sitting President Bush.18
17 Defendant's Response to Government's Memorandum Concerning Presidential and Vice President Documents That Are Not in the Possession of Independent Counsel, 9/25/89, p. 2.
18 U.S. v. Poindexter, 725 F. Supp. 13, 28-31 (D.D.C. 1989). Judge Greene added that with respect to Bush documents, he would reevaluate the matter if Poindexter at a later date showed a more pressing need for them.
On November 3, 1989, Poindexter filed with the court a classified petition for leave to serve subpoenas on former President Reagan and the National Archives, seeking materials and testimony relevant to Iran/contra activities in 67 categories. On November 16, Judge Greene granted Poindexter's petition. Both President Reagan and the National Archives moved to quash the subpoena for documents.
In a pre-trial hearing December 4 the court stated that its order covered only documents, and not the President's possible trial testimony. On December 18 Poindexter sought the court's leave to subpoena President Reagan to testify at trial. In deciding whether Poindexter could subpoena President Reagan's testimony, Judge Greene asked Poindexter to submit a list of specific questions he intended to ask. Poindexter submitted a list of 183 questions, which were not made available to Independent Counsel.19 The court ruled that the questions directly related to the charges in the indictment and to Poindexter's anticipated defense.
19 In 1993, during preparation of this report, Independent Counsel obtained copies of these questions and other ex parte submissions from Poindexter's case.
In his February 5, 1990, ruling upholding the testimonial subpoena of Reagan, Judge Greene described Poindexter's proposed questions as falling into 12 categories. These included: (1) the frequency and occasions on which President Reagan and Poindexter met; (2) the President's view of the Boland Amendment and how it applied to contra support; (3) whether the President authorized Poindexter to seek foreign support for the contras; (4) what instructions the President gave Poindexter regarding meetings with Central American officials, and what information Poindexter subsequently relayed back to the President; (5) presidential discussions with Central American leaders concerning contra support; (6) presidential discussions with Poindexter regarding actions to be taken if Congress did not renew contra aid; (7) presidential knowledge of North's relationship to Iran/contra figures; (8) Poindexter's briefings of the President regarding a congressional inquiry in 1986 into North's activities; (9) Poindexter's communications with Congress at the direction of the President; (10) whether Poindexter informed the President about Secord's status; (11) discussions Poindexter had with the President regarding a chronology of the Iran arms sales prepared in November 1986; and (12) the President's knowledge of the arms shipments to Iran.
In his opinion explaining his decision to uphold Poindexter's subpoena of President Reagan, Judge Greene concluded:
Former President Ronald Reagan is claimed by Admiral Poindexter to have direct and important knowledge that will help to exonerate him from the criminal charges lodged against him. In view of the prior professional relationship between the two men, and defendant's showing discussed above, that claim cannot be dismissed as fanciful or frivolous. That being so, it would be inconceivable -- in a Republic that subscribes neither to the ancient doctrine of the divine right of kings nor to the more modern conceit of dictators that they are not accountable to the people whom they claim to represent or to their courts of law -- to exempt Mr. Reagan from the duty of every citizen to give evidence that will permit the reaching of a just outcome of this criminal prosecution. Defendant has shown that the evidence of the former President is needed to protect his right to a fair trial, and he will be given the opportunity to secure that evidence.20
20 U.S. v. Poindexter, 732 F. Supp. 142, 159-60 (D.D.C. 1990)
President Reagan did not claim executive privilege once he was ordered to testify.
The seven-hour videotaped deposition of the former President was taken February 16 and 17, 1990, in the Los Angeles federal courthouse, near his residence. The public and the press were not allowed to attend the deposition. Transcripts and the opportunity to view the videotape were made available to members of the press before the trial.
As for Poindexter's subpoena for documents from the former President, Judge Greene ordered President Reagan to make diary entries available for the court's in camera review. After its review, the court ordered President Reagan to produce the relevant diary entries to Poindexter in the absence of a claim of executive privilege. President Reagan, joined by the Bush Administration, claimed executive privilege as to the diary entries on February 5, 1990. On March 21, the court granted the Reagan-Bush motions to quash the subpoena for the diary entries, concluding that Poindexter's defense would be adequately served by the President's testimony.
The Poindexter Trial
The month-long Poindexter trial, which resulted in a five-count conviction on April 7, 1990, centered largely on the testimony of two witnesses: Oliver North for the prosecution and former President Reagan for the defense.
Both men attempted to help the defendant in their appearances on the witness stand, but each had given prior testimony harmful to Poindexter, and they could not deviate from that under threat of perjury charges.21 North could not abandon his earlier defense stance that he dutifully reported his activities -- including those found to be crimes -- to his superior, Poindexter. President Reagan was compelled at trial to state, as he had previously, that he repeatedly told his aides to obey the law and that he was unaware of their criminal acts.
21 Before taking the witness stand in Poindexter, North had testified before the Select Committees in July 1987, at his own trial in 1989, and at a Poindexter pre-trial hearing in 1990.
President Reagan was questioned by his Tower Commission on two occasions in early 1987. More significantly, the President in November 1987 answered 53 written interrogatories from Independent Counsel, which were submitted as sworn testimony to the federal Grand Jury investigating the Iran/contra affair.
Poindexter chose not to testify at his trial.
Although Poindexter and North had destroyed and altered official papers and computer messages, the prosecution offered convincing documentary evidence that Poindexter was kept apprised of North's efforts to provide military aid to the Nicaraguan contras while it was outlawed from October 1984-October 1986 by the Boland Amendment; that Poindexter adopted false statements McFarlane and North made to Congress; and that Poindexter had been fully aware of the ill-fated November 1985 HAWK missile shipment to Iran, which he subsequently tried to conceal from Congress.
The Trial Testimony of Oliver L. North
The testimony of North, named as a co-conspirator in the case, was important to proving each of the five charges against Poindexter:
-- Count One, that Poindexter conspired with North and Secord to obstruct congressional inquiries of Iran- and contra-related matters, to make false statements to Congress, and to falsify, remove and destroy official documents.
-- Count Two, that Poindexter obstructed Congress in 1986 when it was investigating media allegations that North was raising funds and providing military aid to the contras. In letters to three committees, Poindexter answered questions by repeating denials McFarlane made before Congress in 1985 of North's involvement in contra-support activities, even though Poindexter knew the denials to be false. He set up a meeting with the House Intelligence Committee in August 1986 in which he knew North would have to give false testimony, and afterward congratulated North on his performance.
-- Count Three, that Poindexter obstructed Congress in November 1986 by participating with North in the preparation of false chronologies of the secret U.S. arms sales to Iran and by making false statements to the House and Senate intelligence committees. Specifically, Poindexter falsely asserted that no U.S. official knew before January 1986 that HAWK missiles had been shipped to Iran in November 1985. The indictment stated that North as early as November 20, 1985, told Poindexter about the shipment in advance and advised him of it again after the fact in late 1985.
-- Counts Four and Five, that Poindexter made false statements about the HAWK shipment to the House and Senate intelligence committees on November 21, 1986. As in Count Three, the false statement charges were based on North's informing Poindexter about the shipment in 1985.
In four days of trial testimony, North reluctantly recounted his central operational role in the Iran/contra affair. He described the extensive contra-resupply network he ran with Secord and Hakim,22 his contra fund-raising efforts, and the military advice he gave the contras. He testified that he kept his bosses McFarlane and Poindexter fully informed of his activities and that he acted only with their approval.23
22 North objected to the prosecutor's use of the word ``Enterprise'' to describe the profit-making web of contra- and Iran-related operations he undertook with Secord and Hakim. He also objected to the use of the word ``testimony'' in reference to the false statements he made before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in August 1986, and the word ``diversion'' to describe the scheme in which he, Poindexter and others diverted Iran arms sales proceeds to the contras.
23 North, Poindexter Trial Testimony, 3/12/90, pp. 1275-76.
North, who was forced to testify for the prosecution under a grant of immunity, frequently claimed that he could not recall many of the incidents in question, some of which had occurred several years before. North admitted a wide range of contra-support and Iran-related actions only when confronted with prior testimony in which he had provided extensive details.
North admitted that he lied in August 1986 when he told the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) he was not engaged in raising funds or providing military support to the Nicaraguan contras.24 North described exchanges with Poindexter before and after the meeting that directly implicated Poindexter in a scheme to frustrate the congressional investigation.25
24 Ibid., 3/9/90, pp. 1042-43.
25 Ibid., 3/12/90, p. 1083.
HPSCI was one of three congressional committees pursuing a House inquiry into reports of North's contra-aid activities. North testified that prior to appearing before the committee in the White House Situation Room, he told Poindexter he would be asked about ``things that I had been told never to reveal.'' 26 In response, Poindexter told him, ``You can handle it, you can take care of it,'' according to North.27
26 Ibid., 3/9/90, p. 1033.
27 Ibid.
After receiving reports of North's statements to HPSCI, which Poindexter knew were false, Poindexter by way of his computer sent North a terse congratulatory message: ``Well done.'' 28
28 PROFs Note from Poindexter to North, 8/11/86, AKW 018921.
Based on the statements of North and Poindexter, HPSCI Chairman Lee Hamilton informed other members of Congress that the media allegations about North could not be proven. North's false testimony, in combination with Poindexter's perpetuation of McFarlane's previous lies, successfully frustrated the congressional oversight process. It was not until Nicaraguan soldiers on October 5, 1986, shot down a contra-resupply plane carrying American Eugene Hasenfus that Congress renewed its investigation into North's activities.
North testified that he kept Poindexter apprised of his involvement in the covert sales of U.S. arms to Iran in 1985 and 1986, including the operation's most secret aspect: the Iran/contra diversion. He sent Poindexter five or six memos stating that overcharges to the Iranian buyers would generate millions of dollars for diversion to the contras.29 North said Poindexter told him the diversion should never be revealed.30 North said he reported the diversion plan to Poindexter because he thought that projects funded by it ``ought to have the authority of the President behind them.'' 31
29 North, Poindexter Trial Testimony, 3/12/90, pp. 1107-11.
30 Ibid., pp. 1103-05.
31 Ibid., p. 1111.
North testified that in November 1985, he became directly involved in an Israeli shipment of U.S. HAWK missiles to Iran at McFarlane's behest.32 North said he got permission from both McFarlane, who was then the national security adviser, and Poindexter, then deputy national security adviser, to enlist Secord's help in resolving logistical problems surrounding the shipment.33 He also got McFarlane and Poindexter's permission to supply the Israelis with the name of a CIA-connected airline to assist.34 North outlined the details of the planned HAWK shipment in a computer note to Poindexter on November 20, 1985.35 By memoranda on December 4 and on December 9, 1985, North informed Poindexter that the Iranians were unhappy with the shipment and wanted the missiles to be retrieved.36
32 Ibid., pp. 1118-20.
33 Ibid., pp. 1121-22.
34 Ibid., pp. 1122-27.
35 PROFs Note from North to Poindexter, 11/20/85, AKW 002066.
36 PROFs Note from North to Poindexter, 12/4/85, AKW 002070-73; Memorandum from North to McFarlane and Poindexter, 12/9/85, AKW 002088-91.
When CIA officials insisted after the HAWK shipment that the President should retroactively authorize the agency's participation in the operation, CIA Director William J. Casey on November 26, 1985, gave Poindexter a covert-action Finding for President Reagan's signature.37 North testified that he saw the signed Finding either in Poindexter's office safe or in the safe of NSC counsel Paul Thompson.38
37 Memorandum from Casey to Poindexter, 11/26/85, AMY 000651-52.
38 North, Poindexter Trial Testimony, 3/12/90, p. 1245.
After public exposure of the Iran arms sales in November 1986, North -- at Poindexter's request -- prepared a chronology of U.S. involvement in the Iran arms sales, which underwent a series of re-writes. North testified that McFarlane removed from the chronology North's factual account of the November 1985 HAWKs shipment and substituted a cover story: that although the CIA became involved in the November 1985 shipment after Israel encountered logistical difficulties, U.S. officials at the time believed the cargo to be oil-drilling parts and did not learn until January 1986 that the true cargo was weapons.39
39 Ibid., pp. 1188-98.
Asked whether the McFarlane revision was part of a plan to ``cover up'' the existence of the November 1985 Finding, North answered: ``I don't know that cover up is the right word. I listened to the President's press conferences, I listened to statements being made by people and they just didn't talk about it.'' 40 North said McFarlane told him the cover story should be incorporated into the chronology because the 1985 Finding authorizing the weapons shipment described too directly an arms-for-hostages swap, which, if exposed, would politically embarrass the President.41
40 Ibid., p. 1191.
41 Ibid., pp. 1190-91.
The same oil-drilling-parts cover story was part of a CIA-prepared chronology that Casey and his deputy, Robert Gates, brought to a White House meeting on November 20, 1986, with Poindexter, North, Meese, Cooper and Thompson. The purpose of the meeting was to prepare Casey and Poindexter for their congressional testimony the following day. North was asked at trial:
Q: . . . did it become clear to you by the time McFarlane tells you that [the finding was too close to an arms-for-hostage swap] and by the time you see the CIA show up with this phony chronology, then at least did it appear to you that there was some effort or plan going on to cover up with U.S. involvement because of that finding?
A: Well, there is no doubt in my mind that I came to realize that finding was a disaster, and I understood that.42
42 Ibid., pp. 1208-09.
North testified that he altered and destroyed numerous documents in October and November 1986 that would have revealed details of the Iran and contra operations. He said he assured Poindexter that he had ``taken care of'' the documents that reflected his activities.43 He said he told Poindexter all the documents describing the Iran/contra diversion were destroyed, after learning from Poindexter on November 21, 1986, that Attorney General Meese would be conducting a weekend investigation into the Iran arms sales.44 North also testified that he altered other original NSC documents, after receiving Poindexter's permission to retrieve them from the NSC document-archiving system.45
43 Ibid., p. 1218.
44 Ibid., pp. 1120-21.
45 Ibid., pp. 1224-27.
More important, North reluctantly testified that he saw Poindexter destroy the only known copy of the signed presidential Finding that sought to authorize retroactively the November 1985 shipment of HAWK missiles to Iran.46 North's eyewitness account of the destruction of the Finding provided significant proof of Poindexter's intent to conceal facts about the HAWK missile shipment from Congress in November 1986.47
46 Ibid., 1252-54.
47 The destruction of the 1985 Finding was not charged as a separate crime in the indictment of Poindexter because Independent Counsel did not learn of it until North testified about it at his own trial in April 1989. Poindexter had told the Select Committees in 1987 that he destroyed the only signed copy of the 1985 presidential Finding. Independent Counsel did not learn of this statement at the time, however, because the OIC had taken measures to insulate itself from all immunized testimony. Even if Independent Counsel had been aware of the Poindexter testimony, OIC could not have used it in any criminal proceeding against Poindexter under the terms of immunity grant.
North's wide-ranging testimony enabled the prosecution to streamline its witness list to only nine other individuals, many of whom supplemented the central details provided by North.
The Trial Testimony of President Reagan
Before the trial of Poindexter, President Reagan had not testified publicly about Iran/contra. On February 16 and 17, 1990, he gave a seven-hour videotaped deposition as a defense witness. No classified matters were discussed and executive privilege was not invoked in response to any question. The videotaped deposition was shown in full, therefore, to the Poindexter jury during the trial on March 21 and 22, 1990.48
48 Immediately after each tape was shown to the jury, a copy was given to the television networks, allowing the public to see President Reagan's only courtroom testimony on the Iran/contra affair.
In direct examination, defense counsel sought to show presidential knowledge and approval of Poindexter's activities. But President Reagan frequently claimed memory lapses when questioned about specific exchanges he may have had with Poindexter and about his knowledge of individuals and details involved in the Iran and contra operations.
Although President Reagan exhibited virtually no detailed knowledge of the Iran/contra matter, he made clear to the jury that it had his imprimatur, calling it ``a covert action that was taken at my behest.'' 49 President Reagan said North was the only person he remembered being involved in the arms initiative.50 He could not recall being briefed by Poindexter on the May 1986 trip by McFarlane and North to Tehran, but he said he did recall signing a Bible for Iranians.51 President Reagan testified that the amount of weapons sold to Iran totaled $12.2 million.52
49 Reagan, Poindexter Trial Deposition, 2/16/90, p. 9.
50 Ibid., p. 21.
51 Ibid., p. 24.
52 Ibid., pp. 154-55.
Asked specifically about the November 1985 HAWK shipment to Iran, President Reagan said he recalled a plan in which the Israelis would turn their plane around in mid-delivery of the weapons if no hostages were released.53 He did not recall when he became aware of the November 1985 HAWK shipment; 54 he did not recall Poindexter telling him in November 1986 that others in the White House were having trouble remembering when they learned of it.55
53 Ibid., pp. 24-25.
54 Ibid., pp. 33-36.
55 Ibid., pp. 38-39.
President Reagan also claimed virtually no memory of the November 1986 period in which his top advisers were scrambling to limit public exposure of the Iran arms sales. He only generally recalled telling members of Congress about the arms sales on November 12, 1986.56 He could not remember receiving any information from Poindexter for any of his presentations on the matter in that time.57 The former President could not remember asking Poindexter to assemble the facts on the arms sales.58 He could not recall that Poindexter briefed the House and Senate intelligence committees on November 21, 1986.59
56 Ibid., pp. 37-38.
57 Ibid., p. 30.
58 Ibid., p. 28.
59 Ibid., pp. 44-45.
Defense counsel's questions suggested that their client had significant exchanges with the President during the arms-sale period and its aftermath. But Reagan's lack of recollection, and lack of specificity when he did remember events or individuals, left those questions unresolved.
President Reagan provided more helpful testimony for the defense on the subject of contra-support operations. Calling the Boland prohibition on contra funding a ``disaster,'' 60 Reagan testified that he urged his aides to do what they could to support the contras, while staying ``within the law.'' 61 Reagan recalled that Saudi Arabia's King Fahd pledged millions of dollars for the contras.62 He said he told his aides not to solicit contributions for the contras directly but to tell people how they could contribute if they wanted to help.63
60 Ibid., p. 69.
61 Ibid., pp. 53-54.
62 Ibid., pp. 74-75.
63 Ibid., pp. 53-54.
Asked whether Poindexter briefed him on the contras, President Reagan said: ``Oh yes, I depended on him for that.'' 64 He said he had no reason to believe that Poindexter was not keeping him fully informed.
64 Ibid., p. 116.
Asked to describe what he knew about North's responsibilities in the White House, President Reagan said:
Well, he was mainly performing tasks, as I understand it, for the NSC, but he -- his background and record had been one of being decorated for heroism and so forth in the Vietnamese conflict, and that he had been a very bold and brave soldier -- Marine.
And -- so, he was -- it was my impression, not from any specific reports or anything, that in through all of this that he was communicating back and forth between on the need for the support of the Contras and so forth.65
65 Ibid., p. 131.
In addition to professing a benign view of North and his activities, President Reagan indicated general knowledge of and support for the contra-resupply operation in Central America:
Q: Do you recall any discussions that he [Poindexter] may have had with you about the construction of an airstrip down there in Central America?
A: Well, I did hear -- we had learned that there was a rather primitive lane in there in the jungle near the border of Costa Rican [sic], and that was then being put into better shape as a usable airstrip.
Q: Did you have any -- do you recall any discussion about who was constructing the airstrip?
A: Well, no. I assume it was the Costa Rican government.
Q: And do you know what that airstrip was going to be used for?
A: Well, I know that -- I hoped that it would be used in the delivery of when once again we could supply, keep the Contras supplied, that it could be involved in the -- used there, if there was need for a refueling or anything of that kind of a plane.66
66 Ibid., p. 121.
President Reagan was then asked whether he knew who would be using the Costa Rican airstrip for contra resupply. His answer reflected knowledge of the operation supposedly being funded and run by private citizens -- the so-called ``private benefactors'' -- that was in fact being run by Secord at North's direction:
Q: Do you know who it was that was going to be using the airstrip? It was going to be used for supplying the Contras, but do you know who it was that was actually going to be doing the supplying and using the airstrip?
A: No, I do not on that. I don't think -- I don't think I ever considered that it would be military planes of ours. So, possibly some of those that weren't officially planes of ours that had been helping in the past in deliveries to the Contras and so forth.
Q: Earlier this morning or earlier today, I should say, you mentioned General Secord. That you knew that he was involved in the Contra supply effort.
Was it part of his operation you thought that he might be using the airstrip?
A: I can't say that I actually recall that, but it seems to me logical that he would have been involved in that.67
67 Ibid., p. 122.
President Reagan, who winked and smiled at Poindexter from the witness stand, did not hide his contempt toward congressional inquiries into NSC staff contra-support activities. Shown misleading letters written by Poindexter in July 1986 to the committees of Congress that were investigating allegations of North's contra efforts, Reagan said: ``I am in total agreement. If I had written it myself, I might have used a little profanity.'' 68
68 Ibid., pp. 146-47.
In cross-examination, the prosecution was able to impeach much of President Reagan's testimony. This was possible because Reagan late in 1987 had answered, under oath, 53 written interrogatories for Independent Counsel and the Grand Jury investigating the Iran/contra matter.
The July 21, 1986, letters -- in which Poindexter embraced and perpetuated the lies McFarlane had told Congress about North's contra-support activities a year earlier -- were a key element in the obstruction charges against the defendant. Under cross-examination by the prosecution, President Reagan was asked whether he was aware that the Poindexter letters repeated McFarlane's previous lies. The former President equivocated:
Well, I simply -- no, I did not have this information, but I have a great deal of confidence in the man who was quoted as sending these letters, McFarlane. And I have never -- I have never caught him or seen him doing anything that was in any way out of line or dishonest. And so, I was perfectly willing to accept his defense.69
69 Ibid., p. 151.
President Reagan said he did not know that McFarlane had pleaded guilty to withholding information from Congress in connection with the false letters.70
70 Ibid., pp. 220-21.
Asked whether he approved either the McFarlane or Poindexter letters to Congress, the former President said he had no recollection of doing so, adding that his memory could be faulty.71 Asked directly whether he would approve of sending false information to Congress, President Reagan conceded that he would not.72 Would he have authorized Poindexter to make false statements to Congress? President Reagan again attempted to assist his former aide: ``No. And I don't think any false statements were made.'' 73
71 Ibid., pp. 150-51.
72 Ibid., pp. 151-52.
73 Ibid., p. 158.
President Reagan also testified that he did not approve the destruction of Iran/contra documents by Poindexter, and that he was not told about their destruction.74 But the former President, in response to subsequent questioning, described the dilemma in which he placed his aides in November 1986 by instructing them that certain information could not be revealed because ``it will bring to risk and danger to people that are held and with the people that we were negotiating with.'' 75
74 Ibid., p. 160.
75 Ibid., p. 252.
Asked again whether he approved the destruction of alteration of any Iran/contra records, President Reagan said: ``And this, I cannot answer. I cannot recall because it is the possibility that there were such papers that would violate the secrecy that was protecting those individuals' lives.'' 76 President Reagan had denied in response to the earlier written interrogatories that he approved the destruction and alteration of documents; when confronted with his previous testimony he stated that it was truthful.
76 Ibid., p. 255.
On the issue of the contras, President Reagan said he ``never had any inkling'' that North was guiding their military strategy.77 But Reagan muddied the issue in a later statement about North:
77 Ibid., p. 170.
I know that he [North] was very active, and that was certainly with my approval, because I yesterday made plain how seriously I felt about the Contra situation and what it meant to all of us here in the Americas. And, so, obviously, there were many things that were being done. But, again, as I say, I was convinced that they were all being done within the law.78
78 Ibid., p. 189.
In questioning about the Iran/contra diversion, President Reagan surprisingly asserted that he had no proof that a diversion had occurred:
And to this day, I still with all of the investigations that have been made, I still have never been given one iota of evidence as to who collected the price, who delivered the final delivery of the weapons, or what was -- whether there was ever more money in that Swiss account that had been diverted someplace else. I am still waiting to find those things out and have never found them out.79
79 Ibid., p. 155.
Asked whether he had approved a diversion, Reagan again stated:
May I simply point out that I had no knowledge then or now that there had been a diversion, and I never used the term. And all I knew was that there was some money that came from some place in another account, and that the appearance was that it might have been a part of the negotiated sale. And to this day, I don't have any information or knowledge that that wasn't the total amount that -- or that there was a diversion.80
80 Ibid., p. 156.
Asked again whether he would have approved a diversion, President Reagan said he would not. But, he added, ``No one has proven to me that there was a diversion.'' 81
81 Ibid., p. 157.
President Reagan said he did not recall that the Tower Commission concluded in March 1987 that, in fact, a diversion had occurred. ``I, to this day, do not recall ever hearing that there was a diversion,'' he said.82 Shown that portion of the Tower Commission report describing the diversion, Reagan said: ``This report -- this is the first time that I have ever seen a reference that actually specified there was a diversion.'' 83
82 Ibid., p. 240.
83 Ibid., p. 243.
Asked whether Poindexter should have told him about an Iran/contra diversion, Reagan said: ``Yes. Unless maybe he thought he was protecting me from something.'' 84
84 Ibid., pp. 243-44.
The Verdict and Sentencing
After six days of deliberation, the jury on April 7, 1990, found Poindexter guilty of each of the five felony charges against him. Judge Greene on June 11, 1990, sentenced Poindexter to six months imprisonment on each of the five counts, to be served concurrently.
In imposing the sentence, Judge Greene noted complaints by Poindexter's supporters that the most he was guilty of was having become embroiled in a political quarrel between the White House and Congress. Judge Greene stated:
Whatever may have been the nature of the original dispute, what the defendant and his associates did was emphatically not a part of the normal political process.
. . . When Admiral Poindexter and his associates obstructed the Congress, what were they seeking to accomplish? In a word, it was to nullify the decision that body had made on the issue of supplies to the Contras. . . .
President Reagan did not, or for parliamentary reasons he could not, veto the bill [which contained the Boland prohibition on contra aid]. He did not attempt to assert his own constitutional powers or take the issue to the people, and at the conclusion of the political process the Boland Amendment thus became law.
No problem. What the president was unwilling or unable to do -- to defeat this law -- Admiral Poindexter, together with Oliver North and others, did on their own. They decided that the policy embodied in the Boland Amendment was wrong, and they went about to violate it on a large scale and for a lengthy period, and then to lie about their activities to prevent the Congress and the public from finding out. . . .
With all due respect to the distinguished military records of Admiral Poindexter, Colonel North, General Secord, and the others, they have no standing in a democratic society to invalidate the decisions made by elected officials . . . As I said several times during the trial, it is immaterial to this criminal case who was right and who was wrong about the wisdom of the Contra policy. That is not what this trial was about. The jury and this court were not competent to decide for this nation whether resistance forces in Nicaragua should or should not have been supplied with weapons.
But more importantly for present purposes, neither was Admiral Poindexter. When he and his associates took it upon themselves to make that decision anyway, to implement it on a broad scale, and to work actively to keep what they were doing from the Congress and the public, they not only violated various statutes. They were also in violation of a principle fundamental to this constitutional Republic -- that those elected by and responsible to the people shall make the important policy decisions, and that their decisions may not be nullified by appointed officials who happen to be in positions that give them the ability to operate programs prohibited by law. It is unfortunate that, whatever may be his view of his own purposes and actions, the defendant still gives no evidence of recognizing that principle and the seriousness of its violation.
Given the nature of the offenses, the sentencing principle that is primarily applicable here is that of deterrence, and as a practical matter, deterrence means meaningful penalties. If the court were not to impose such a penalty here, when the defendant before it was the decision-making head of the Iran-contra operation, its action would be tantamount to a statement that a scheme to lie to and obstruct Congress is of no great moment, and that even if the perpetrators are found out, the courts will treat their criminal acts as no more than minor infractions.
A message of that kind could not help but encourage others in positions of authority and secrecy to frustrate laws that fail to accord with their notions of what is best for this country, and to carry out their own private policies in the name of the United States. . . .85
85 Judge Greene, Poindexter Transcript of Sentencing, 6/11/90, pp. 18-22
The Appeal
A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in a 2-1 decision on November 15, 1991, reversed Poindexter's convictions on the grounds that his trial was impermissibly tainted by his immunized congressional testimony. The Poindexter ruling was based on the appeals court decision in the North case, which extended the protections of the use immunity statute to prohibit use of any witness whose testimony has been refreshed or shaped in any way by the defendant's immunized testimony. In his dissenting opinion, Chief Judge Abner Mikva noted that the majority ruling ``tells future defendants that all they need to evade responsibility [to testify at trial] is a well timed case of amnesia.'' 86
86 U.S. v. Poindexter, 951 F.2d 369, 390 (D.C. Cir. 1991).
The Poindexter appeals panel also overturned the two obstruction convictions on the grounds that the statute was ``unconstitutionally vague'' in its proscription of ``corruptly'' endeavoring to impede a congressional inquiry. The appeals panel ruled that a defendant's lying to Congress does not constitute obstruction unless the defendant corruptly influences someone else to do so. Again, Chief Judge Mikva dissented, finding it ``obvious . . . that Poindexter 'corruptly' obstructed the congressional investigation when he lied to Congress.'' 87
87 Ibid.
In October 1992, Independent Counsel petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to review the Poindexter case. Independent Counsel said the appeals court ruling that the obstruction statute was unconstitutional ``leaves a large gap in the criminal law, while endorsing a method of analyzing constitutional vagueness challenges that could prove enormously destructive to a substantial body of federal legislation.'' 88 The petition noted that at least 17 other laws besides the obstruction statute at issue use the word ``corruptly'' to define an element of the offense.89
88 U.S. v. Poindexter, Crim. No. 88-0080-01, Petition for Writ of Certiorari by United States of America, at 9 (October 1992).
89 Ibid., p. 10.
On immunized testimony, Independent Counsel in its petition to the Supreme Court said the appeals ruling in Poindexter would
make almost impossible the prosecution of any case involving public immunized statements that requires testimony by persons sympathetic to the accused, such as co-conspirators or other associates. And the dangers of abuse and manipulation are magnified by the court of appeals' view, expressed in North, that a witness inclined to assist the defense may become disqualified from testifying at trial by the simple expedient of soaking himself in the defendant's immunized statements. 90
90 Ibid., p. 22.
Independent Counsel also noted that the appeals ruling
. . . will have its most profound impact on cases involving public immunized testimony before Congress -- cases that, by definition, involve issues of the most fundamental import. If the court of appeals has erred, this Court should right that error before significant further damage is done to the legislative oversight function. 91
91 Ibid., p. 29.
The U.S. Supreme Court in December 1992 declined, without comment, to review the Poindexter case.
Conclusion
Poindexter was responsible for providing President Reagan with advice on national-security matters of highest importance. What his conviction showed was that a jury of ordinary citizens can sort and weigh complex evidence and agree that obstructing and lying to Congress is a serious act worthy of felony conviction.
The Poindexter trial served the public interest in another sense. Poindexter's determination to call President Reagan as a witness allowed the public the rare opportunity to see him testify for seven hours about the Iran/contra matter.
The completion of the Poindexter trial in April 1990, two years after the original indictment was returned, necessitated the re-activation of the criminal investigation into Iran/contra. For the first time, Poindexter and North were available for questioning by Independent Counsel. Although this decision was questioned by some, Independent Counsel determined that his Iran/contra investigative mandate could not be fulfilled until the central operational figures were interrogated to find out whether other high-ranking officials helped support and cover up their activities.
يحكم يحكم مجرمات في الولايات المتّحدة الأمريكيّة
Automatically translated into Arabic thanks to WorldLingo
فصل 3
الولايات المتّحدة الأمريكيّة [ف.]. جون [م.]. [بويندإكستر]
قوّة بحريّة رذيلة [أدم]. جون [م.]. عيّنت [بويندإكستر] كان كرئيس ريغان أمن وطنيّ مستشارة في ديسمبر - كانون الأوّل 4, 1985, ينجح روبرت [ك.]. [مكفرلن], الّذي [بويندإكستر] كان قد خدم دون كنائبة لاثنان سنون. [بويندإكستر] البيت الأبيض أنهى مهنة نوفمبر - تشرين الثّاني 25, 1986, عندما هو كان أجبرت أن يستقيل [إين ث وك وف] الكشف عامّة من إيران/[كنترا] تحويل.
[بويندإكستر], [لت]. [كل.] أوليفر كان شمال و [مكفرلن] الثلاثة فردات [أتّورني جنرل] أدوين ميس [إييي] يعيّن في نوفمبر - تشرين الثّاني 25, 1986, بما أنّ حسن اطّلاع من التحويل. [بويندإكستر] كان مراقبات الشمال وه خاصّة مشاركة في إيران و [كنترا] عمليات بؤرة مبكّرة من إستشارة مستقلّة تحقيق.
بما أنّ في الحالة ضدّ شماليّة, بيّنة إجراميّة ضدّ [بويندإكستر] اضطرّ كنت جمعت سريعا قبل أن أجبرت هو كان أن يشهد على [كبيتول هيلّ] في الفصل صيف من 1987 تحت منحة من مناعة محدودة. خلاف ذلك, كان المقاضاة [بويندإكستر] مرجّحة أن يكون تحدّيت [أن ث غرووندس ثت] هو كان استنتجت من أو [إين سم وي] أثرت ب ه يمنّع شهادة خاصّ بالكونغرس.
اتّهمت في مارس - آذار 16, 1988, [بويندإكستر] كان على سبعة جريمة حشوات ينشأ من تورطه في إيران/[كنترا] شأن, كجزء 23 حساب [مولتي-دفندنت] تهمة. هو كان عيّنت مع شمال, يتقاعد [أير فورس] [مج]. [جن.]. ريتشارد [ف.]. يتصرّف [سكرد] و [ألبرت] حكيم كعضوة من التآمر أن يسلب الولايات المتّحدة الأمريكيّة حكومة ب ينجز إيران/[كنترا] تحويل وأخرى.
عقب فصلت الحالات كان واثنان من الحشوات أصليّة صرفت, [بويندإكستر] كان حاولت وحكمت في أبريل - نيسان 1990 من خمسة جرائم, يتضمّن: واحدة حساب من يتآمر أن يعيق رسميّة تحقيقات وإجراءات, اثنان حسابات من يعيق إجتماع, واثنان حسابات من بيانات زائفة إلى [كنغرسّ.1] الولايات المتّحدة الأمريكيّة منطقة قاضية هارولد [ه.]. [غرين] حكمه إلى دام ستة أشهر سجن عبارة. في نوفمبر - تشرين الثّاني 1991, [بويندإكستر] قلبت قناعة كان على إستئناف. في ديسمبر - كانون الأوّل 1992, الولايات المتّحدة الأمريكيّة محكمة عليا ينخفض أن يراجع الحالة.
حاولت 1 [بويندإكستر] حالة كان بشريكة إستشارة [دن] [ك.]. [وبّ], مسيحية [ج.]. [ميإكستر], هوارد [م.]. لؤلؤة, ولويز [ر.]. [ردين].
[بويندإكستر] تلاقى الوطنيّة أمن مجلس ملاكة في يونيو - حزيران 1981, يتبع مهنة متميّزة بحريّة أنّ تضمّن بارجة أمر و [هيغ-رنكينغ] بانتاغون موقعات. في أكتوبر - تشرين الأوّل 1983 أصبح هو نائبة إلى أمن وطنيّ مستشارة [مكفرلن]; كان بين تابعاته شماليّة. أثناء [بويندإكستر] تول [أن-ر] كأمن وطنيّ مستشارة, أيّ بدأ في ديسمبر - كانون الأوّل 1985, راقب هو إيران/[كنترا] عمليات في أيّ شمال كان مباشرة تضمّنت.
في نوفمبر - تشرين الثّاني 1986, بما أنّ العمليات سرّيّة كان أصبحوا علنا يعرض, أصبح [بويندإكستر] الكبريات إدارة مسؤولة مسؤولة ل يلخّص الرئيس أخرى مستشارات علويّة حول إيران [أرمس سل]. [إين ا سريس وف] البيت الأبيض اجتماعات مع أخرى مسؤولات وأعضاء الإجتماع طوال الشهر, [لي ووت] هو بشكل متكرّر صيغة زائفة من الصفقات أنّ أبعد رئيس ريغان من ال قانونيّا مشكوكة 1985 [أرمس شيبمنت] يجعل من خلال إسرائيل, بشكل خاصّ نوفمبر - تشرين الثّاني 1985 [هوك-ميسّيل] صفقة.
رغم أنّ [بويندإكستر] كان الناطق بلسان, [ب] هو لم بانفراد مسؤولة ل يعرف الحقائق. تلقّى في الواقع كلّ أخرى مسؤول كبير, بما في ذلك رئيس ريغان, الذي سمع صيغته من ال [أرمس سل] في شرح مهمّة طوال نوفمبر - تشرين الثّاني 1986 سبب أن يصدق هو كان خاطئة. مع ذلك لا أحد, وفقا ل بطاقات معاصرة من أنّ شرح مهمّة, مكبح حتّى صحّ [بويندإكستر].
حاول [بويندإكستر] مع شمال وأخرى في نوفمبر - تشرين الثّاني 1986 أن يمزّق وغيّرت الأثر ورقيّة يعكس إيران هم/[كنترا] أنشطة. [أمونغ وثر ثينغس], دمّر [بويندإكستر] الوحيدة يتواجد يوقع رئاسيّة [كفرت-كأيشن] يجد أنّ كان نويت أن يفوّر بمفعول رجعيّ وكالة المخابرات الأمريكيّة تورط في نوفمبر - تشرين الثّاني 1985 [هوكس] شحن.
كان [بويندإكستر] وشمال أقلّ ناجحة في يستأصل ال [كمبوتر-مسّج] أثر من إيران هم/[كنترا] أنشطة. اتّصل [بويندإكستر] وشمال غالبا من خلال قناة خاصّة أنّ [بويندإكستر], [كمبوتر إكسبرت], كان قد ثبت فوق على ال [نسك] [كمبوتر سستم]. سمح هذا قناة, يعرف بما أنّ "تدقيق خاصّة فارغة," [بويندإكستر] وشمال أن يرحّل رسائل [تو ش وثر] دون هم يكون يوجّه من خلال قنوات في أيّ أخرى على ال [نسك] ملاكة استطاع حجبتهم.
محا بين نوفمبر - تشرين الثّاني 22 [تو] 29, 1986, شمال من ه [كمبوتر فيل] 736 رسائل, و [بويندإكستر] محا 5,012 رسائل أثناء ال نفسه [بريود.2] على الرغم من هذا حذف, البيت الأبيض برتابة ينقذ [بك-وب] أشرطة يحتوي كلّ معطيات في النظامة لاثنان أسابيع أن يحمي ضدّ خسارة متهاونة. عندما عرضت إيران/[كنترا] شأن كان في نوفمبر - تشرين الثّاني متأخّرة 1986, البيت الأبيض اتّصالات وكالة, أيّ يدير ال [نسك] [كمبوتر سستم], احتبس الأشرطة [بك-وب] يؤرّخ من نوفمبر - تشرين الثّاني 15. كان محققات, لذلك, يمكن أن يسترجع نسخ من كلّ رسائل أنّ كان في ال [بويندإكستر-نورث] [كمبوتر فيل] في [ميد-نوفمبر] 1986 قبل أن أكثر من الحذف وقع. هذا حاسوب أصبح رسائل بيّنة مهمّة في على حدّ سواء [بويندإكستر] ومحاكمات شماليّة.
2 ويليامس, [بويندإكستر] شهادة تجريبيّة, 3/15/90, [بّ]. 1752-65.
[بويندإكستر] يعترف إلى كثير من أنشطته قبل أن اللجن مختارة في يوليو-تمّوز 1987 تحت منحة من مناعة دلاليّة, أيّ منع انضماماته من يكون يستعمل ضدّ ه في أيّ إجراء إجراميّة. لأنّ رئيس ريغان لم يشهد داخل أنّ دعات ساحة, [بويندإكستر] كان أن يجيب السؤال أنّ سيطر الجلسة استماع: الرئيس عرف حوالي ووافقت التحويل من إيران [أرمس سل] يباشر إلى الكونتراس? [بويندإكستر] أجاب رفض, "الكسارة مواقف هنا مع ي." 3 هو قال احتجز هو عمدا المعلومة من رئيس ريغان لأنّ ``أنا أردت الرئيس أن يتلقّى بعض [دنيبيليتي] [س ثت] هو كنت حميت. . . . '' 4
3 [بويندإكستر], مختارة لجن شهادة, 7/15/87, [ب.]. 95.
4 [إيبيد.], [ب.]. 101.
يواجه محاكمة جنائيّة, جابه [بويندإكستر] ورطة مختلفة: هو كان [نو لونجر] سؤال من يحمي الرئيس غير أنّ يدافعبنفسي ضدّ خمسة جريمة حشوات. قبل إجتماع, [بويندإكستر] شهادة هامّة أكثر يعزّز رئيس ريغان يكرّس إنكارات الحالة وعي من إيران/[كنترا] تحويل. في القاعة المحكمة, علا [بويندإكستر] [هيغر-وثوريزأيشن] دفاع, يحاول أن يقنع المحلّفون أنّ الرئيس كان قد وافق أعماله, بما في ذلك أنّ أنّ نتج في حشوات إجراميّة. [إينستد وف] يأخذ الحامل قفص في ه خاصّة دفاع, مهما, دعا هو رئيس ريغان أن يشهد.
[بر-تريل بروسدينغ]
الولايات المتّحدة الأمريكيّة منطقة قاضية جرهارد [أ.]. أمر [جسلّ] في يونيو - حزيران 1988 أنّ ال [مولتي-دفندنت] حالة ضدّ [بويندإكستر], شمال, [سكرد] وحكيم [سفرد.5] بعد عمليّة فصل, [بويندإكستر] حالة كان [ترنسفرّد] إلى قاضية رئيسيّة [أوبري] [إ.]. [روبينسن], [جر.], وبعد ذلك أن يقضي [غرين], الذي رأس على إجراءات بعيد.
يرى 5 لأكثر وصف مفصّلة من العمليّة فصل من ال [مولتي-دفندنت] حالة, فصل شماليّة.
صرفت كلّ من [بويندإكستر] تحديات جوهريّة إلى الشرعية من التهمة كان قبل محاكمة. تعلّق الإصدارات متبقّي مهمّة: (1) العمليّة حفظ من التآمر حشوة; (2) القرار من [كلسّيفيد-ينفورمأيشن] مجادلات; (3) القرار الإصدارات يرتبط إلى [بويندإكستر] يمنّع شهادة خاصّ بالكونغرس, تحت ال يحكم يعرف ك [كستيغر]; و(4) المدّعى عليه جهد ناجحة أن يؤمّن شهادة تجريبيّة من رئيس سابقة ريغان.
قاد يحفظ ويضيّق التآمر حشوة
مشاكل مع يصنّف معلومة إلى الصرف من المركزية تآمر حشوات قبل المحاكمة شماليّة, ومشاكل مماثلة كان توقّعت أن ينشأ في الحالة ضدّ [بويندإكستر]. في يونيو - حزيران 20, 1989, تحرّك إستشارة مستقلّة أن يزيل الأصليّة واسعة تآمر حشوات يؤسّس على الإمداد تموين من الكونتراس والتحويل وأن جوهريّا ضيّقت الحشوة التآمر أن ينتهك أخرى جوهريّة إجراميّة قانون, يمنع زائفة بيانات وإعاقة. بعد تصنيفات وحجة شفويّة, منح المحكمة الحكومة حركة.
كان الحشوة [رفوكس] على العمل غير شرعيّ من يتآمر مع شمال و [سكرد] أن يخفي أنشطة من إجتماع. جادل إستشارة مستقلّة بنجاح أنّ هذا يضيّق من التآمر حشوة قلّل ال [كلسّيفيد-ينفورمأيشن] مشاكل أنّ أزعج المقاضاة شماليّة.
يصدر
يصنّف معلومة ال يصنّف معلومة إجراءات يتصرّف ([سبا]) سمح المحكمة تجريبيّة بشكل فعّال أن يحلّ إصدارات يتضمّن الإستعمال من يصنّف وثائق وشهادة في [بويندإكستر]. قضيت [غرين] مراقبات من ال [سبا] عملية ويؤخّر مفاوضات مثمرة بين إستشارة للحكومة و [بويندإكستر] يحلّ كثير مجادلات مع حدّ أدنى من.
خلافا شمال, كان هناك ما من يمدّد أو نزاع هامّة في ما يتعلّق ب الشكل أو مجال من [بويندإكستر] [سبا] إشعارات إلى المحكمة أن يكشف صنّف معلومة في محاكمة. بين نوفمبر - تشرين الثّاني 27, 1989, ومارس - آذار 13, 1990, خدم [بويندإكستر] 11 هذا إشعارات, بما في ذلك ثمانية أنّ مدرج في البورصة يصنّف وثائق هو أرادوا أن يستعمل في محاكمة, اثنان يصف يمكن يصنّف شهادة, وواحدة [فوكسد] مفردا على معلومة هو أراد أن يستنبط في الترسب الرئيس ريغان.
قضيت [غرين] أمر أنّ يفاوض كلّ فروق على صنّف معلومة بين الأحزاب قبل يكون يحضر قبل المحكمة. قضيت [غرين] أمسك ستّة يغلق [سبا] جلسة استماع قبل المحاكمة بدأ وألحق أنّ مع عدّة جلسة استماع قصيرة أثناء محاكمة. جعلت أكثر من قراراته على العلاقة ومقبوليّة من يصنّف معلومة, وعلى الملاءمة الإبدالات يقترح بالحكومة, كان من المقعد.
يأخذ معا, [بويندإكستر] [سبا] عدّل إشعارات تقريبا 1,200 وثائق, إلاّ أنّ كسر صغيرة [أف وهيش] كان أخيرا قدّمت في محاكمة. غطّيت كثير يصنّف معلومة كان ب [غفرنمنت] اشتراط إلى حقائق مؤكّدة وأخرى إبدالات غير مصنّف. هذا سمح المحاكمة أن يباشر بنعومة, دون النزاعات أنّ عقد شمال أو الحالة ضدّ سابقة وكالة المخابرات الأمريكيّة محطة [جوسف] رئيسيّة [ف.]. يرى [فرنندز], أيّ كان يصرف واجبة إلى [كلسّيفيد-ينفورمأيشن] [بروبلمس.6]
6 [فرنندز] فصل.
[كستيغر] أجبرت إجراءات
[بويندإكستر] كان تحت منحة من إستعمال مناعة أن يشهد في 1987 قبل اللجن مختارة يتحرّى إيران/[كنترا]. بما أنّ أتمّ الأخرى إيران/[كنترا] مدّعى عليه الذي أعطى يمنّع شهادة قبل إجتماع, [بويندإكستر] يتحرّك أن يصرف التهمة على النظرية أنّ انتهك هو المعايير يعلن في [كستيغر] [ف.]. الولايات المتّحدة الأمريكيّة, 7 يجادل أنّ استعملت ه يمنّع شهادة كان ضدّ ه في المحلّفون عظيمة وفي محاكمة. برهن هذا حجة فاشلة على المستوى تجريبيّة غير أنّ أخيرا ساد في ال [كورت وف بّل].
7 406 الولايات المتّحدة الأمريكيّة 411 (1972).
قبل أن فصلت محاكماتهم كان, [بويندإكستر] يتحرّك [جوينتلي ويث] شمال وحكيم, الذي أيضا كان قد استلم مناعة أن يشهد قبل إجتماع, أن يتلقّى الحشوات ضدّ هم صرف على الأرض أنّ البيّنة ضدّ هم كان لطّخت ب هم يمنّع شهادة. أنكر قاضية [جسلّ] أنّ حركة. يدّعي مهما, في إذعان إلى دفاع أنّ هم استعملوا [أن-نوثر'س] من المحتمل مبرّئة يمنّع شهادة, قاضية [جسلّ] في يونيو - حزيران 1988 فصل المحاكمات.
[بويندإكستر] جدّد ه [كستيغر] حركة قبل قاضية [غرين] في أغسطس - آب 1989. بعد شرح مهمّة وحجة, أمر 8 المحكمة أنّ اثنان جلسة استماع [إفيدنتيري] يمسكوا. في الأولى, سمع المحكمة شهادة من شريكة إستشارة [دن] [ك.]. [وبّ] وهوارد [م.]. رصّعت في ما يتعلّق ب انكشافهم إلى [بويندإكستر] يمنّع شهادة قبل يتلاقى المكتب من إستشارة مستقلّة. تلاقى [وبّ] ولؤلؤة ال [أيك] ملاكة في 1989 وتلقّى لم, قبل تعييناتهم, يكون [سوبجكت تو] [أيك] إجراءات أن يعزلبنفسي من [بويندإكستر] يمنّع شهادة. قضيت [غرين] أسّس انكشافهم إلى [بويندإكستر] شهادة أن يكون هيّنة وسمح كلا وكيلات أن يساهم في المحاكمة.
حاولت 8 [بويندإكستر] حالة كان قبل ال [كورت وف بّل] يحكم في شمال أنّ شاهدة جلسة استماع كانوا ضروريّة أن يسمح المحاكمة من يمنّع مدّعى عليه.
تعلّق الثاني مجموعة ال [كورت هرينغ] شواهد تجريبيّة, الذي شهادة يمكن يتلقّى يكون لطّخت ب [بويندإكستر] يمنّع شهادة. قبل قاضية [غرين] قاضية [جسلّ] مراجعات مبكّرة من شواهد عظيمة مؤقّتة وانخفض أن [ر-إكسمين] نتيجت بحثه. هو أيضا رفض أن يصرف التهمة [أن ث بسس وف] ممكنة عظيمة محلفة انكشاف إلى ال يمنّع شهادة.
بخصوص شواهد تجريبيّة, أخذ المحكمة إجراءات واسعة أن يضمن أنّ [بويندإكستر] يمنّع بيانات كان لم يستعملوا ضدّ ه. أمر المحكمة الحكومة أن يجعل سابقة [برت] خضوع (فيما بعد يكشف إلى [بويندإكستر]) من كلّ بيانات يجعل بشواهد ممكنة تجريبيّة قبل أن [بويندإكستر] أعطى ه يمنّع شهادة قبل إجتماع في يوليو-تمّوز 1987. أسّس المحكمة أنّ [ألّ وف ث] يقترح شهادة من أكثر من الشواهد ممكنة كان قد كان [مموريليز] قبل أن [بويندإكستر] ظهر علنا في يوليو-تمّوز 15, 1987, ولذلك كان لم يلطّخ.
بما أنّ ل أنّ شواهد الذي توقّع حددت شهادة تجريبيّة لم يكن إلى البيّنة [أيك] كان قد ختم مع المحكمة قبل [بويندإكستر] يمنّع شهادة, قاضية [غرين] يتطلّب معلومة إضافيّة. هو استنتج أنّ كان الحكومة قد [فيلد] أن يؤسّس أنّ خمسة من شواهده ممكنة كان حرّة من لطخة وأمرهم أن يظهر في جلسة استماع [بر-تريل]. أكّد اثنان من الثلاثة شواهد الذي أخيرا ظهر في محاكمة [كرديبلي] أنّ هم يتوقّع شهادة لم يكن أثرت في أيّ طريق ب [بويندإكستر] يمنّع شهادة; الثالثة, شماليّة, يرفض أن يتمّ هكذا.
شمال يفاد في الجلسة استماع [بر-تريل] أنّ كان هو يعجز, [ويث رسبكت تو] أيّ موضوع, أن يميّز ماذا هو تلقّى شخصيّا أتمّ, يلاحظ أو يختبر من ماذا هو كان قد علم من يراقب [بويندإكستر] يمنّع [تستيمون.9] بما أنّ ل [بويندإكستر] تدمير من ديسمبر - كانون الأوّل 1985 رئاسيّة [كفرت-كأيشن] يجد -- بيّنة مهمّة في الإعاقة الإجتماع -- شمال اعترف أنّ كان هو قد رأى [بويندإكستر] دمّرت [بيس وف ببر] غير أنّ يلحّ أنّ هو لم يعرف هو كان يجد إلى أن [بويندإكستر] أفاد أنّ حقيقة في ه يمنّع شهادة قبل إجتماع.
9 شهادة شماليّة, [بويندإكستر] جلسة استماع [بر-تريل], 12/13/89, [بّ]. 374-77.
رفض المحكمة شهادة [نورث'س] [بر-تريل] بما أنّ لا معقولة. شماليّة, يظهر المحكمة يؤسّس, ``أن يتلقّى يكون ركبت [أت ثت تيم] [في الجلسة استماع] على ال يحسب مسلك من يحاول أن يساعد ه سابقة زميلة و [ك-دفندنت]. . . ب يراوغ على إصدارات مختلفة. . . '' 10
10 رأي, [بويندإكستر], 3/8/90, [ب.]. 9.
في [بوست-تريل] منفصلة يحكم, أضاف المحكمة أنّ [أس فر س] التدمير من ال يجد كان تعلّقت, شهادة [نورث'س] في ه خاصّة محاكمة حول الحادث كان متناقضة مع إدعاءه أنّ هو استطاع لم يتذكّر هو عضو مستقلّ من [بويندإكستر] يمنّع شهادة. أسّس المحكمة هو "جوهريّا غيرمعقول" أنّ شمال لم يتذكّر "مشاركته في حادث هو شهد مباشرة وأنّ كان بما أنّ مثيرة, حقّا تاريخيّة, ك ال يمزّق فوق من جدّا نادرة رئاسيّة يجد." 11
11 [إيبيد.], 5/29/90, [بّ]. 32-40.
ريغان كان استدعاء إلى المحكمة
واحدة من المظاهر بارزة أكثر من [بويندإكستر] حالة المدّعى عليه محاولة ناجحة أن يدعو رئيس سابقة ريغان أن يشهد في محاكمته ب [فيديوتب] ترسب.
بحث [بويندإكستر] أولى رئاسيّة وبطاقات نائبة رئاسيّة من [أيك] كجزء ه [بر-تريل ديسكفري] طلبات. في جلسة استماع [بر-تريل] في سبتمبر - أيلول 6, 1989, [بويندإكستر] قال وكيلات المحكمة أنّ بطاقات رئاسيّة عكسوا أنّ [بويندإكستر] أعلم الرئيس من إنكاراته إلى إجتماع في 1986 من [نسك] نشاط دعما الكونتراس, وأنّ البطاقات "أبدوا ماذا الرئيس كان قلت حول ماذا كان يكون أتمّت أن يساند الكونتراس في [سنترل مريك], والرئيس رضاء وإبرام وموافقة من أنّ نشاط." 12 في يبحث بطاقات نائبة رئاسيّة, [بويندإكستر] قال وكيلات المحكمة أنّ "[أنتيم] هو [بوش] افتقد اجتماع, أميرال [بويندإكستر] لخّصته على هو [أفتروردس]." 13
12 [روبينسن], [بويندإكستر] جلسة استماع [بر-تريل], 9/6/89, [ب.]. 18.
13 [إيبيد.], [ب.]. 19.
تطلّب المحكمة, قبل يجعل قرار فوق ما إذا أن يجبر [أيك] أن ينتج هذا وثائق, في سبتمبر - أيلول 11, 1989, يوجّه [بويندإكستر] أن يصنّف سابقة [برت] مذكرة يفسّر تماما كيف هذا وثائق ساعدوا [دفنس.14] ه هو من إستشارة مستقلّة جائز مذكرة في ما يتعلّق ب مسؤوليته أن ينتج رئاسيّة ووثائق نائبة رئاسيّة لا في [أيك] امتلاك.
14 رأي, [بويندإكستر], 9/11/89, [ب.]. 22.
Independent Counsel in a filing on September 18, 1989, told the court that the office did not have in its possession presidential notes, but rather had been granted access to notes and allowed to copy only a portion of them with special permission. As far as President Reagan's diary was concerned, Independent Counsel had been allowed to review typed extracts of portions deemed relevant by White House counsel, but the President had retained custody of his diary, which both he and the national archivist regarded as personal records, making them unaccessible under the Presidential Records Act unless their production were compelled by subpoena.15
15 Government's Memorandum Concerning Presidential and Vice Presidential Documents that Are Not in the Possession of Independent Counsel, 9/18/89.
Attached to Independent Counsel's filing was a declaration by John Fawcett, assistant archivist for the Office of Presidential Libraries of the National Archives and Records Administration. Fawcett stated that President Bush's vice presidential records were transferred to the archives at the end of the Reagan Administration, but, ``No personal diary of former Vice President Bush has been specifically identified as being included in the Vice Presidential records. However, these Vice Presidential records have not yet been processed.'' 16
16 Ibid., Exhibit A. President Bush in December 1992 for the first time informed Independent Counsel that he had kept a diary as vice president from 1986 to 1988. See Bush chapter.
On September 25, 1989, Poindexter's attorneys informed the court that ``the defendant is willing to seek access to the personal diaries and notes of former President Reagan and former Vice President Bush pursuant to a . . . subpoena.'' 17 After reviewing Poindexter's ex parte submission on the materiality of presidential and vice presidential documents, the court on October 24, 1989, ruled that there was sufficient likelihood that President Reagan's documents would be material to the defense. Judge Greene differentiated between Reagan and Bush documents, however, because ``the Vice President had no operational authority with respect to Poindexter,'' because the information contained in vice presidential papers may be largely cumulative, and because of deference to the sitting President Bush.18
17 Defendant's Response to Government's Memorandum Concerning Presidential and Vice President Documents That Are Not in the Possession of Independent Counsel, 9/25/89, p. 2.
18 U.S. v. Poindexter, 725 F. Supp. 13, 28-31 (D.D.C. 1989). Judge Greene added that with respect to Bush documents, he would reevaluate the matter if Poindexter at a later date showed a more pressing need for them.
On November 3, 1989, Poindexter filed with the court a classified petition for leave to serve subpoenas on former President Reagan and the National Archives, seeking materials and testimony relevant to Iran/contra activities in 67 categories. On November 16, Judge Greene granted Poindexter's petition. Both President Reagan and the National Archives moved to quash the subpoena for documents.
In a pre-trial hearing December 4 the court stated that its order covered only documents, and not the President's possible trial testimony. On December 18 Poindexter sought the court's leave to subpoena President Reagan to testify at trial. In deciding whether Poindexter could subpoena President Reagan's testimony, Judge Greene asked Poindexter to submit a list of specific questions he intended to ask. Poindexter submitted a list of 183 questions, which were not made available to Independent Counsel.19 The court ruled that the questions directly related to the charges in the indictment and to Poindexter's anticipated defense.
19 In 1993, during preparation of this report, Independent Counsel obtained copies of these questions and other ex parte submissions from Poindexter's case.
In his February 5, 1990, ruling upholding the testimonial subpoena of Reagan, Judge Greene described Poindexter's proposed questions as falling into 12 categories. These included: (1) the frequency and occasions on which President Reagan and Poindexter met; (2) the President's view of the Boland Amendment and how it applied to contra support; (3) whether the President authorized Poindexter to seek foreign support for the contras; (4) what instructions the President gave Poindexter regarding meetings with Central American officials, and what information Poindexter subsequently relayed back to the President; (5) presidential discussions with Central American leaders concerning contra support; (6) presidential discussions with Poindexter regarding actions to be taken if Congress did not renew contra aid; (7) presidential knowledge of North's relationship to Iran/contra figures; (8) Poindexter's briefings of the President regarding a congressional inquiry in 1986 into North's activities; (9) Poindexter's communications with Congress at the direction of the President; (10) whether Poindexter informed the President about Secord's status; (11) discussions Poindexter had with the President regarding a chronology of the Iran arms sales prepared in November 1986; and (12) the President's knowledge of the arms shipments to Iran.
In his opinion explaining his decision to uphold Poindexter's subpoena of President Reagan, Judge Greene concluded:
Former President Ronald Reagan is claimed by Admiral Poindexter to have direct and important knowledge that will help to exonerate him from the criminal charges lodged against him. In view of the prior professional relationship between the two men, and defendant's showing discussed above, that claim cannot be dismissed as fanciful or frivolous. That being so, it would be inconceivable -- in a Republic that subscribes neither to the ancient doctrine of the divine right of kings nor to the more modern conceit of dictators that they are not accountable to the people whom they claim to represent or to their courts of law -- to exempt Mr. Reagan from the duty of every citizen to give evidence that will permit the reaching of a just outcome of this criminal prosecution. Defendant has shown that the evidence of the former President is needed to protect his right to a fair trial, and he will be given the opportunity to secure that evidence.20
20 U.S. v. Poindexter, 732 F. Supp. 142, 159-60 (D.D.C. 1990)
President Reagan did not claim executive privilege once he was ordered to testify.
The seven-hour videotaped deposition of the former President was taken February 16 and 17, 1990, in the Los Angeles federal courthouse, near his residence. The public and the press were not allowed to attend the deposition. Transcripts and the opportunity to view the videotape were made available to members of the press before the trial.
As for Poindexter's subpoena for documents from the former President, Judge Greene ordered President Reagan to make diary entries available for the court's in camera review. After its review, the court ordered President Reagan to produce the relevant diary entries to Poindexter in the absence of a claim of executive privilege. President Reagan, joined by the Bush Administration, claimed executive privilege as to the diary entries on February 5, 1990. On March 21, the court granted the Reagan-Bush motions to quash the subpoena for the diary entries, concluding that Poindexter's defense would be adequately served by the President's testimony.
The Poindexter Trial
The month-long Poindexter trial, which resulted in a five-count conviction on April 7, 1990, centered largely on the testimony of two witnesses: Oliver North for the prosecution and former President Reagan for the defense.
Both men attempted to help the defendant in their appearances on the witness stand, but each had given prior testimony harmful to Poindexter, and they could not deviate from that under threat of perjury charges.21 North could not abandon his earlier defense stance that he dutifully reported his activities -- including those found to be crimes -- to his superior, Poindexter. President Reagan was compelled at trial to state, as he had previously, that he repeatedly told his aides to obey the law and that he was unaware of their criminal acts.
21 Before taking the witness stand in Poindexter, North had testified before the Select Committees in July 1987, at his own trial in 1989, and at a Poindexter pre-trial hearing in 1990.
President Reagan was questioned by his Tower Commission on two occasions in early 1987. More significantly, the President in November 1987 answered 53 written interrogatories from Independent Counsel, which were submitted as sworn testimony to the federal Grand Jury investigating the Iran/contra affair.
Poindexter chose not to testify at his trial.
Although Poindexter and North had destroyed and altered official papers and computer messages, the prosecution offered convincing documentary evidence that Poindexter was kept apprised of North's efforts to provide military aid to the Nicaraguan contras while it was outlawed from October 1984-October 1986 by the Boland Amendment; that Poindexter adopted false statements McFarlane and North made to Congress; and that Poindexter had been fully aware of the ill-fated November 1985 HAWK missile shipment to Iran, which he subsequently tried to conceal from Congress.
The Trial Testimony of Oliver L. North
The testimony of North, named as a co-conspirator in the case, was important to proving each of the five charges against Poindexter:
-- Count One, that Poindexter conspired with North and Secord to obstruct congressional inquiries of Iran- and contra-related matters, to make false statements to Congress, and to falsify, remove and destroy official documents.
-- Count Two, that Poindexter obstructed Congress in 1986 when it was investigating media allegations that North was raising funds and providing military aid to the contras. In letters to three committees, Poindexter answered questions by repeating denials McFarlane made before Congress in 1985 of North's involvement in contra-support activities, even though Poindexter knew the denials to be false. He set up a meeting with the House Intelligence Committee in August 1986 in which he knew North would have to give false testimony, and afterward congratulated North on his performance.
-- Count Three, that Poindexter obstructed Congress in November 1986 by participating with North in the preparation of false chronologies of the secret U.S. arms sales to Iran and by making false statements to the House and Senate intelligence committees. Specifically, Poindexter falsely asserted that no U.S. official knew before January 1986 that HAWK missiles had been shipped to Iran in November 1985. The indictment stated that North as early as November 20, 1985, told Poindexter about the shipment in advance and advised him of it again after the fact in late 1985.
-- Counts Four and Five, that Poindexter made false statements about the HAWK shipment to the House and Senate intelligence committees on November 21, 1986. As in Count Three, the false statement charges were based on North's informing Poindexter about the shipment in 1985.
In four days of trial testimony, North reluctantly recounted his central operational role in the Iran/contra affair. He described the extensive contra-resupply network he ran with Secord and Hakim,22 his contra fund-raising efforts, and the military advice he gave the contras. He testified that he kept his bosses McFarlane and Poindexter fully informed of his activities and that he acted only with their approval.23
22 North objected to the prosecutor's use of the word ``Enterprise'' to describe the profit-making web of contra- and Iran-related operations he undertook with Secord and Hakim. He also objected to the use of the word ``testimony'' in reference to the false statements he made before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in August 1986, and the word ``diversion'' to describe the scheme in which he, Poindexter and others diverted Iran arms sales proceeds to the contras.
23 North, Poindexter Trial Testimony, 3/12/90, pp. 1275-76.
North, who was forced to testify for the prosecution under a grant of immunity, frequently claimed that he could not recall many of the incidents in question, some of which had occurred several years before. North admitted a wide range of contra-support and Iran-related actions only when confronted with prior testimony in which he had provided extensive details.
North admitted that he lied in August 1986 when he told the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) he was not engaged in raising funds or providing military support to the Nicaraguan contras.24 North described exchanges with Poindexter before and after the meeting that directly implicated Poindexter in a scheme to frustrate the congressional investigation.25
24 Ibid., 3/9/90, pp. 1042-43.
25 Ibid., 3/12/90, p. 1083.
HPSCI was one of three congressional committees pursuing a House inquiry into reports of North's contra-aid activities. North testified that prior to appearing before the committee in the White House Situation Room, he told Poindexter he would be asked about ``things that I had been told never to reveal.'' 26 In response, Poindexter told him, ``You can handle it, you can take care of it,'' according to North.27
26 Ibid., 3/9/90, p. 1033.
27 Ibid.
After receiving reports of North's statements to HPSCI, which Poindexter knew were false, Poindexter by way of his computer sent North a terse congratulatory message: ``Well done.'' 28
28 PROFs Note from Poindexter to North, 8/11/86, AKW 018921.
Based on the statements of North and Poindexter, HPSCI Chairman Lee Hamilton informed other members of Congress that the media allegations about North could not be proven. North's false testimony, in combination with Poindexter's perpetuation of McFarlane's previous lies, successfully frustrated the congressional oversight process. It was not until Nicaraguan soldiers on October 5, 1986, shot down a contra-resupply plane carrying American Eugene Hasenfus that Congress renewed its investigation into North's activities.
North testified that he kept Poindexter apprised of his involvement in the covert sales of U.S. arms to Iran in 1985 and 1986, including the operation's most secret aspect: the Iran/contra diversion. He sent Poindexter five or six memos stating that overcharges to the Iranian buyers would generate millions of dollars for diversion to the contras.29 North said Poindexter told him the diversion should never be revealed.30 North said he reported the diversion plan to Poindexter because he thought that projects funded by it ``ought to have the authority of the President behind them.'' 31
29 North, Poindexter Trial Testimony, 3/12/90, pp. 1107-11.
30 Ibid., pp. 1103-05.
31 Ibid., p. 1111.
North testified that in November 1985, he became directly involved in an Israeli shipment of U.S. HAWK missiles to Iran at McFarlane's behest.32 North said he got permission from both McFarlane, who was then the national security adviser, and Poindexter, then deputy national security adviser, to enlist Secord's help in resolving logistical problems surrounding the shipment.33 He also got McFarlane and Poindexter's permission to supply the Israelis with the name of a CIA-connected airline to assist.34 North outlined the details of the planned HAWK shipment in a computer note to Poindexter on November 20, 1985.35 By memoranda on December 4 and on December 9, 1985, North informed Poindexter that the Iranians were unhappy with the shipment and wanted the missiles to be retrieved.36
32 Ibid., pp. 1118-20.
33 Ibid., pp. 1121-22.
34 Ibid., pp. 1122-27.
35 PROFs Note from North to Poindexter, 11/20/85, AKW 002066.
36 PROFs Note from North to Poindexter, 12/4/85, AKW 002070-73; Memorandum from North to McFarlane and Poindexter, 12/9/85, AKW 002088-91.
When CIA officials insisted after the HAWK shipment that the President should retroactively authorize the agency's participation in the operation, CIA Director William J. Casey on November 26, 1985, gave Poindexter a covert-action Finding for President Reagan's signature.37 North testified that he saw the signed Finding either in Poindexter's office safe or in the safe of NSC counsel Paul Thompson.38
37 Memorandum from Casey to Poindexter, 11/26/85, AMY 000651-52.
38 North, Poindexter Trial Testimony, 3/12/90, p. 1245.
After public exposure of the Iran arms sales in November 1986, North -- at Poindexter's request -- prepared a chronology of U.S. involvement in the Iran arms sales, which underwent a series of re-writes. North testified that McFarlane removed from the chronology North's factual account of the November 1985 HAWKs shipment and substituted a cover story: that although the CIA became involved in the November 1985 shipment after Israel encountered logistical difficulties, U.S. officials at the time believed the cargo to be oil-drilling parts and did not learn until January 1986 that the true cargo was weapons.39
39 Ibid., pp. 1188-98.
Asked whether the McFarlane revision was part of a plan to ``cover up'' the existence of the November 1985 Finding, North answered: ``I don't know that cover up is the right word. I listened to the President's press conferences, I listened to statements being made by people and they just didn't talk about it.'' 40 North said McFarlane told him the cover story should be incorporated into the chronology because the 1985 Finding authorizing the weapons shipment described too directly an arms-for-hostages swap, which, if exposed, would politically embarrass the President.41
40 Ibid., p. 1191.
41 Ibid., pp. 1190-91.
The same oil-drilling-parts cover story was part of a CIA-prepared chronology that Casey and his deputy, Robert Gates, brought to a White House meeting on November 20, 1986, with Poindexter, North, Meese, Cooper and Thompson. The purpose of the meeting was to prepare Casey and Poindexter for their congressional testimony the following day. North was asked at trial:
Q: . . . did it become clear to you by the time McFarlane tells you that [the finding was too close to an arms-for-hostage swap] and by the time you see the CIA show up with this phony chronology, then at least did it appear to you that there was some effort or plan going on to cover up with U.S. involvement because of that finding?
A: Well, there is no doubt in my mind that I came to realize that finding was a disaster, and I understood that.42
42 Ibid., pp. 1208-09.
North testified that he altered and destroyed numerous documents in October and November 1986 that would have revealed details of the Iran and contra operations. He said he assured Poindexter that he had ``taken care of'' the documents that reflected his activities.43 He said he told Poindexter all the documents describing the Iran/contra diversion were destroyed, after learning from Poindexter on November 21, 1986, that Attorney General Meese would be conducting a weekend investigation into the Iran arms sales.44 North also testified that he altered other original NSC documents, after receiving Poindexter's permission to retrieve them from the NSC document-archiving system.45
43 Ibid., p. 1218.
44 Ibid., pp. 1120-21.
45 Ibid., pp. 1224-27.
More important, North reluctantly testified that he saw Poindexter destroy the only known copy of the signed presidential Finding that sought to authorize retroactively the November 1985 shipment of HAWK missiles to Iran.46 North's eyewitness account of the destruction of the Finding provided significant proof of Poindexter's intent to conceal facts about the HAWK missile shipment from Congress in November 1986.47
46 Ibid., 1252-54.
47 The destruction of the 1985 Finding was not charged as a separate crime in the indictment of Poindexter because Independent Counsel did not learn of it until North testified about it at his own trial in April 1989. Poindexter had told the Select Committees in 1987 that he destroyed the only signed copy of the 1985 presidential Finding. Independent Counsel did not learn of this statement at the time, however, because the OIC had taken measures to insulate itself from all immunized testimony. Even if Independent Counsel had been aware of the Poindexter testimony, OIC could not have used it in any criminal proceeding against Poindexter under the terms of immunity grant.
North's wide-ranging testimony enabled the prosecution to streamline its witness list to only nine other individuals, many of whom supplemented the central details provided by North.
The Trial Testimony of President Reagan
Before the trial of Poindexter, President Reagan had not testified publicly about Iran/contra. On February 16 and 17, 1990, he gave a seven-hour videotaped deposition as a defense witness. No classified matters were discussed and executive privilege was not invoked in response to any question. The videotaped deposition was shown in full, therefore, to the Poindexter jury during the trial on March 21 and 22, 1990.48
48 Immediately after each tape was shown to the jury, a copy was given to the television networks, allowing the public to see President Reagan's only courtroom testimony on the Iran/contra affair.
In direct examination, defense counsel sought to show presidential knowledge and approval of Poindexter's activities. But President Reagan frequently claimed memory lapses when questioned about specific exchanges he may have had with Poindexter and about his knowledge of individuals and details involved in the Iran and contra operations.
Although President Reagan exhibited virtually no detailed knowledge of the Iran/contra matter, he made clear to the jury that it had his imprimatur, calling it ``a covert action that was taken at my behest.'' 49 President Reagan said North was the only person he remembered being involved in the arms initiative.50 He could not recall being briefed by Poindexter on the May 1986 trip by McFarlane and North to Tehran, but he said he did recall signing a Bible for Iranians.51 President Reagan testified that the amount of weapons sold to Iran totaled $12.2 million.52
49 Reagan, Poindexter Trial Deposition, 2/16/90, p. 9.
50 Ibid., p. 21.
51 Ibid., p. 24.
52 Ibid., pp. 154-55.
Asked specifically about the November 1985 HAWK shipment to Iran, President Reagan said he recalled a plan in which the Israelis would turn their plane around in mid-delivery of the weapons if no hostages were released.53 He did not recall when he became aware of the November 1985 HAWK shipment; 54 he did not recall Poindexter telling him in November 1986 that others in the White House were having trouble remembering when they learned of it.55
53 Ibid., pp. 24-25.
54 Ibid., pp. 33-36.
55 Ibid., pp. 38-39.
President Reagan also claimed virtually no memory of the November 1986 period in which his top advisers were scrambling to limit public exposure of the Iran arms sales. He only generally recalled telling members of Congress about the arms sales on November 12, 1986.56 He could not remember receiving any information from Poindexter for any of his presentations on the matter in that time.57 The former President could not remember asking Poindexter to assemble the facts on the arms sales.58 He could not recall that Poindexter briefed the House and Senate intelligence committees on November 21, 1986.59
56 Ibid., pp. 37-38.
57 Ibid., p. 30.
58 Ibid., p. 28.
59 Ibid., pp. 44-45.
Defense counsel's questions suggested that their client had significant exchanges with the President during the arms-sale period and its aftermath. But Reagan's lack of recollection, and lack of specificity when he did remember events or individuals, left those questions unresolved.
President Reagan provided more helpful testimony for the defense on the subject of contra-support operations. Calling the Boland prohibition on contra funding a ``disaster,'' 60 Reagan testified that he urged his aides to do what they could to support the contras, while staying ``within the law.'' 61 Reagan recalled that Saudi Arabia's King Fahd pledged millions of dollars for the contras.62 He said he told his aides not to solicit contributions for the contras directly but to tell people how they could contribute if they wanted to help.63
60 Ibid., p. 69.
61 Ibid., pp. 53-54.
62 Ibid., pp. 74-75.
63 Ibid., pp. 53-54.
Asked whether Poindexter briefed him on the contras, President Reagan said: ``Oh yes, I depended on him for that.'' 64 He said he had no reason to believe that Poindexter was not keeping him fully informed.
64 Ibid., p. 116.
Asked to describe what he knew about North's responsibilities in the White House, President Reagan said:
Well, he was mainly performing tasks, as I understand it, for the NSC, but he -- his background and record had been one of being decorated for heroism and so forth in the Vietnamese conflict, and that he had been a very bold and brave soldier -- Marine.
And -- so, he was -- it was my impression, not from any specific reports or anything, that in through all of this that he was communicating back and forth between on the need for the support of the Contras and so forth.65
65 Ibid., p. 131.
In addition to professing a benign view of North and his activities, President Reagan indicated general knowledge of and support for the contra-resupply operation in Central America:
Q: Do you recall any discussions that he [Poindexter] may have had with you about the construction of an airstrip down there in Central America?
A: Well, I did hear -- we had learned that there was a rather primitive lane in there in the jungle near the border of Costa Rican [sic], and that was then being put into better shape as a usable airstrip.
Q: Did you have any -- do you recall any discussion about who was constructing the airstrip?
A: Well, no. I assume it was the Costa Rican government.
Q: And do you know what that airstrip was going to be used for?
A: Well, I know that -- I hoped that it would be used in the delivery of when once again we could supply, keep the Contras supplied, that it could be involved in the -- used there, if there was need for a refueling or anything of that kind of a plane.66
66 Ibid., p. 121.
President Reagan was then asked whether he knew who would be using the Costa Rican airstrip for contra resupply. His answer reflected knowledge of the operation supposedly being funded and run by private citizens -- the so-called ``private benefactors'' -- that was in fact being run by Secord at North's direction:
Q: Do you know who it was that was going to be using the airstrip? It was going to be used for supplying the Contras, but do you know who it was that was actually going to be doing the supplying and using the airstrip?
A: No, I do not on that. I don't think -- I don't think I ever considered that it would be military planes of ours. So, possibly some of those that weren't officially planes of ours that had been helping in the past in deliveries to the Contras and so forth.
Q: Earlier this morning or earlier today, I should say, you mentioned General Secord. That you knew that he was involved in the Contra supply effort.
Was it part of his operation you thought that he might be using the airstrip?
A: I can't say that I actually recall that, but it seems to me logical that he would have been involved in that.67
67 Ibid., p. 122.
President Reagan, who winked and smiled at Poindexter from the witness stand, did not hide his contempt toward congressional inquiries into NSC staff contra-support activities. Shown misleading letters written by Poindexter in July 1986 to the committees of Congress that were investigating allegations of North's contra efforts, Reagan said: ``I am in total agreement. If I had written it myself, I might have used a little profanity.'' 68
68 Ibid., pp. 146-47.
In cross-examination, the prosecution was able to impeach much of President Reagan's testimony. This was possible because Reagan late in 1987 had answered, under oath, 53 written interrogatories for Independent Counsel and the Grand Jury investigating the Iran/contra matter.
The July 21, 1986, letters -- in which Poindexter embraced and perpetuated the lies McFarlane had told Congress about North's contra-support activities a year earlier -- were a key element in the obstruction charges against the defendant. Under cross-examination by the prosecution, President Reagan was asked whether he was aware that the Poindexter letters repeated McFarlane's previous lies. The former President equivocated:
Well, I simply -- no, I did not have this information, but I have a great deal of confidence in the man who was quoted as sending these letters, McFarlane. And I have never -- I have never caught him or seen him doing anything that was in any way out of line or dishonest. And so, I was perfectly willing to accept his defense.69
69 Ibid., p. 151.
President Reagan said he did not know that McFarlane had pleaded guilty to withholding information from Congress in connection with the false letters.70
70 Ibid., pp. 220-21.
Asked whether he approved either the McFarlane or Poindexter letters to Congress, the former President said he had no recollection of doing so, adding that his memory could be faulty.71 Asked directly whether he would approve of sending false information to Congress, President Reagan conceded that he would not.72 Would he have authorized Poindexter to make false statements to Congress? President Reagan again attempted to assist his former aide: ``No. And I don't think any false statements were made.'' 73
71 Ibid., pp. 150-51.
72 Ibid., pp. 151-52.
73 Ibid., p. 158.
President Reagan also testified that he did not approve the destruction of Iran/contra documents by Poindexter, and that he was not told about their destruction.74 But the former President, in response to subsequent questioning, described the dilemma in which he placed his aides in November 1986 by instructing them that certain information could not be revealed because ``it will bring to risk and danger to people that are held and with the people that we were negotiating with.'' 75
74 Ibid., p. 160.
75 Ibid., p. 252.
Asked again whether he approved the destruction of alteration of any Iran/contra records, President Reagan said: ``And this, I cannot answer. I cannot recall because it is the possibility that there were such papers that would violate the secrecy that was protecting those individuals' lives.'' 76 President Reagan had denied in response to the earlier written interrogatories that he approved the destruction and alteration of documents; when confronted with his previous testimony he stated that it was truthful.
76 Ibid., p. 255.
On the issue of the contras, President Reagan said he ``never had any inkling'' that North was guiding their military strategy.77 But Reagan muddied the issue in a later statement about North:
77 Ibid., p. 170.
I know that he [North] was very active, and that was certainly with my approval, because I yesterday made plain how seriously I felt about the Contra situation and what it meant to all of us here in the Americas. And, so, obviously, there were many things that were being done. But, again, as I say, I was convinced that they were all being done within the law.78
78 Ibid., p. 189.
In questioning about the Iran/contra diversion, President Reagan surprisingly asserted that he had no proof that a diversion had occurred:
And to this day, I still with all of the investigations that have been made, I still have never been given one iota of evidence as to who collected the price, who delivered the final delivery of the weapons, or what was -- whether there was ever more money in that Swiss account that had been diverted someplace else. I am still waiting to find those things out and have never found them out.79
79 Ibid., p. 155.
Asked whether he had approved a diversion, Reagan again stated:
May I simply point out that I had no knowledge then or now that there had been a diversion, and I never used the term. And all I knew was that there was some money that came from some place in another account, and that the appearance was that it might have been a part of the negotiated sale. And to this day, I don't have any information or knowledge that that wasn't the total amount that -- or that there was a diversion.80
80 Ibid., p. 156.
Asked again whether he would have approved a diversion, President Reagan said he would not. But, he added, ``No one has proven to me that there was a diversion.'' 81
81 Ibid., p. 157.
President Reagan said he did not recall that the Tower Commission concluded in March 1987 that, in fact, a diversion had occurred. ``I, to this day, do not recall ever hearing that there was a diversion,'' he said.82 Shown that portion of the Tower Commission report describing the diversion, Reagan said: ``This report -- this is the first time that I have ever seen a reference that actually specified there was a diversion.'' 83
82 Ibid., p. 240.
83 Ibid., p. 243.
Asked whether Poindexter should have told him about an Iran/contra diversion, Reagan said: ``Yes. Unless maybe he thought he was protecting me from something.'' 84
84 Ibid., pp. 243-44.
The Verdict and Sentencing
After six days of deliberation, the jury on April 7, 1990, found Poindexter guilty of each of the five felony charges against him. Judge Greene on June 11, 1990, sentenced Poindexter to six months imprisonment on each of the five counts, to be served concurrently.
In imposing the sentence, Judge Greene noted complaints by Poindexter's supporters that the most he was guilty of was having become embroiled in a political quarrel between the White House and Congress. Judge Greene stated:
Whatever may have been the nature of the original dispute, what the defendant and his associates did was emphatically not a part of the normal political process.
. . . When Admiral Poindexter and his associates obstructed the Congress, what were they seeking to accomplish? In a word, it was to nullify the decision that body had made on the issue of supplies to the Contras. . . .
President Reagan did not, or for parliamentary reasons he could not, veto the bill [which contained the Boland prohibition on contra aid]. He did not attempt to assert his own constitutional powers or take the issue to the people, and at the conclusion of the political process the Boland Amendment thus became law.
No problem. What the president was unwilling or unable to do -- to defeat this law -- Admiral Poindexter, together with Oliver North and others, did on their own. They decided that the policy embodied in the Boland Amendment was wrong, and they went about to violate it on a large scale and for a lengthy period, and then to lie about their activities to prevent the Congress and the public from finding out. . . .
With all due respect to the distinguished military records of Admiral Poindexter, Colonel North, General Secord, and the others, they have no standing in a democratic society to invalidate the decisions made by elected officials . . . As I said several times during the trial, it is immaterial to this criminal case who was right and who was wrong about the wisdom of the Contra policy. That is not what this trial was about. The jury and this court were not competent to decide for this nation whether resistance forces in Nicaragua should or should not have been supplied with weapons.
But more importantly for present purposes, neither was Admiral Poindexter. When he and his associates took it upon themselves to make that decision anyway, to implement it on a broad scale, and to work actively to keep what they were doing from the Congress and the public, they not only violated various statutes. They were also in violation of a principle fundamental to this constitutional Republic -- that those elected by and responsible to the people shall make the important policy decisions, and that their decisions may not be nullified by appointed officials who happen to be in positions that give them the ability to operate programs prohibited by law. It is unfortunate that, whatever may be his view of his own purposes and actions, the defendant still gives no evidence of recognizing that principle and the seriousness of its violation.
Given the nature of the offenses, the sentencing principle that is primarily applicable here is that of deterrence, and as a practical matter, deterrence means meaningful penalties. If the court were not to impose such a penalty here, when the defendant before it was the decision-making head of the Iran-contra operation, its action would be tantamount to a statement that a scheme to lie to and obstruct Congress is of no great moment, and that even if the perpetrators are found out, the courts will treat their criminal acts as no more than minor infractions.
A message of that kind could not help but encourage others in positions of authority and secrecy to frustrate laws that fail to accord with their notions of what is best for this country, and to carry out their own private policies in the name of the United States. . . .85
85 Judge Greene, Poindexter Transcript of Sentencing, 6/11/90, pp. 18-22
The Appeal
A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in a 2-1 decision on November 15, 1991, reversed Poindexter's convictions on the grounds that his trial was impermissibly tainted by his immunized congressional testimony. The Poindexter ruling was based on the appeals court decision in the North case, which extended the protections of the use immunity statute to prohibit use of any witness whose testimony has been refreshed or shaped in any way by the defendant's immunized testimony. In his dissenting opinion, Chief Judge Abner Mikva noted that the majority ruling ``tells future defendants that all they need to evade responsibility [to testify at trial] is a well timed case of amnesia.'' 86
86 U.S. v. Poindexter, 951 F.2d 369, 390 (D.C. Cir. 1991).
The Poindexter appeals panel also overturned the two obstruction convictions on the grounds that the statute was ``unconstitutionally vague'' in its proscription of ``corruptly'' endeavoring to impede a congressional inquiry. The appeals panel ruled that a defendant's lying to Congress does not constitute obstruction unless the defendant corruptly influences someone else to do so. Again, Chief Judge Mikva dissented, finding it ``obvious . . . that Poindexter 'corruptly' obstructed the congressional investigation when he lied to Congress.'' 87
87 Ibid.
In October 1992, Independent Counsel petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to review the Poindexter case. Independent Counsel said the appeals court ruling that the obstruction statute was unconstitutional ``leaves a large gap in the criminal law, while endorsing a method of analyzing constitutional vagueness challenges that could prove enormously destructive to a substantial body of federal legislation.'' 88 The petition noted that at least 17 other laws besides the obstruction statute at issue use the word ``corruptly'' to define an element of the offense.89
88 U.S. v. Poindexter, Crim. No. 88-0080-01, Petition for Writ of Certiorari by United States of America, at 9 (October 1992).
89 Ibid., p. 10.
On immunized testimony, Independent Counsel in its petition to the Supreme Court said the appeals ruling in Poindexter would
make almost impossible the prosecution of any case involving public immunized statements that requires testimony by persons sympathetic to the accused, such as co-conspirators or other associates. And the dangers of abuse and manipulation are magnified by the court of appeals' view, expressed in North, that a witness inclined to assist the defense may become disqualified from testifying at trial by the simple expedient of soaking himself in the defendant's immunized statements. 90
90 Ibid., p. 22.
Independent Counsel also noted that the appeals ruling
. . . will have its most profound impact on cases involving public immunized testimony before Congress -- cases that, by definition, involve issues of the most fundamental import. If the court of appeals has erred, this Court should right that error before significant further damage is done to the legislative oversight function. 91
91 Ibid., p. 29.
The U.S. Supreme Court in December 1992 declined, without comment, to review the Poindexter case.
Conclusion
Poindexter was responsible for providing President Reagan with advice on national-security matters of highest importance. What his conviction showed was that a jury of ordinary citizens can sort and weigh complex evidence and agree that obstructing and lying to Congress is a serious act worthy of felony conviction.
The Poindexter trial served the public interest in another sense. Poindexter's determination to call President Reagan as a
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Record-Size Spitting Cobra Discovered
Related to country: United States
available in: (original) | | | | | | | | |
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NAIROBI (Dec. 7) - A giant spitting cobra, measuring nearly nine feet and carrying enough venom to kill at least 15 people, has been discovered in Kenya, a conservation group said on Friday.
A conservation group in Kenya announced on Friday the discovery of a giant spitting cobra, which measures nearly nine feet and has enough venom to kill at least 15 people.
Wildlife Direct said the snake it described as the world's largest had been recognized as a new species and named the Naja Ashei after James Ashe, who founded a snake farm on Kenya's coast where the massive serpents are found.
"A new species of giant spitting cobra is exciting and reinforces the obvious -- that there have to be many other unreported species but hundreds are being lost as their habitats disappear under the continued mismanagement of our planet," said the group's chairman, Kenyan environmentalist Richard Leakey.
Spitting cobras, able to launch poison over a distance of several meters, are common to Kenya's lowland climates.
Wildlife Direct said the discovery would help find an anti-venom for the bite. "Lives can be saved," it added.
Ashe, now deceased, was the first to catch a larger-than-normal spitting cobra in the 1960s, and suggest it belonged to a different species.
Record-Size Spitting Cobra Discovered
Automatically translated into Spanish thanks to WorldLingo
NAIROBI (DEC. 7) - A giant spitting cobra, measuring nearly nine feet and carrying enough venom to kill at least 15 people, has been discovered in Kenya, a conservation group said on Friday.
A conservation group in Kenya announced on Friday the discovery of a giant spitting cobra, which measures nearly nine feet and has enough venom to kill at least 15 people.
Wildlife Direct said the snake it described as the world' s largest had been recognized as a new species and named the Naja Ashei after James Ashe, who founded a snake farm on Kenya' s coast where the massive serpents are found.
“A new species apagado giant spitting cobra is exciting and reinforces the obvious that there corta to Be many other unreported species bebió hundreds área being lost as their hábitats disappear under the continued mismanagement apagado Ur planet,” said the group' s chairman, De Kenya environmentalist Richard Leakey.
Spitting cobras, able to launch poison over a distance of several meters, are common to Kenya' s lowland climates.
Wildlife Direct said the discovery would help find an antivenom for the bite. “Lives can be saved,” IT added.
Ashe, now deceased, was the first to catch a larger-than-normal spitting cobra in the 1960s, and suggest it belonged to a different species.
Record-Size Spitting Cobra Discovered
Automatically translated into Italian thanks to WorldLingo
NAIROBI (dic. 7) - A giant spitting cobra, measuring nearly nine feet and carrying enough venom to kill at least 15 people, has been discovered in kenya, a conservation group said on Friday.
A conservation group in kenya announced on Friday the discovery of a giant spitting cobra, which measures nearly nine feet and has enough venom to kill at least 15 people.
Wildlife direct said the snake it described as the world's largest had been recognized as a new species and named the Naja Ashei after James Ashe, who founded a snake farm on Kenya's coast where the massive serpents are found.
“A new species lontano giant spitting cobra is exciting and reinforces the obvious that there taglia to Be many other unreported species bevve hundreds ara being lost asso their habitazioni disappear under the continued mismanagement lontano Ur planet,„ said the group's chairman, environmentalist Kenyan Richard Leakey.
Spitting cobras, able to launch poison over a distance of several meters, are common to Kenya's lowland climates.
Wildlife direct said the discovery would help find an anti-venom for the bite. “Lives can be saved,„ IT added.
Ashe, now deceased, was the first to catch a larger-than-normal spitting cobra in the 1960s, and suggest it belonged to a different species.
Record-Size Spitting Cobra Discovered
Automatically translated into German thanks to WorldLingo
NAIROBI (Dec. 7) - A giant spitting cobra, measuring nearly nine feet and carrying enough venom to kill at least 15 people, has been discovered in Kenya, a conservation group said on Friday.
A conservation group in Kenya announced on Friday the discovery of a giant spitting cobra, which measures nearly nine feet and has enough venom to kill at least 15 people.
[Wildlife Direct said the snake it described as the world's largest had been recognized as a new species and named the Naja Ashei after James Ashe, who founded a snake farm on Kenya's coast where the massive serpents are found.]
„AN new species of giant spitting Kobra is exciting and reinforces the obvious that schrämt there to Be many other unreported species trank hundreds Ar being lost As their Lebensräume disappear under the continued mismanagement of our planet“ said the group' s chairman, kenianisches environmentalist Richard Leakey.
Spitting cobras, able to launch poison over a distance of several meters, are common to Kenya' s lowland climates.
Wildlife Direct said the discovery would help find an Anti-venom for the bite. „Lives can be saved,“ IT added.
Ashe, now deceased, was the first to catch a larger-than-normal spitting cobra in the 1960s, and suggest it belonged to a different species.
Record-Size Spitting Cobra Discovered
Automatically translated into Portuguese thanks to WorldLingo
NAIROBI (Dezembro. 7) - A giant spitting cobra, measuring nearly nine feet and carrying enough venom to kill at least 15 people, has been discovered in Kenya, a conservation group said on Friday.
A conservation group in Kenya announced on Friday the discovery of a giant spitting cobra, which measures nearly nine feet and has enough venom to kill at least 15 people.
Wildlife Direct said the snake it described as the world' s largest had been recognized as a new species and named the Naja Ashei after James Ashe, who founded a snake farm on Kenya' s coast where the massive serpents are found.
“A new species fora giant spitting cobra is exciting and reinforces the obvious that there corta to Be many other unreported species bebeu hundreds are being lost ás their habitats disappear under the continued mismanagement fora our planet,” said the group' s chairman, Queniano environmentalist Richard Leakey.
Spitting cobras, able to launch poison over a distance of several meters, are common to Kenya' s lowland climates.
Wildlife Direct said the discovery would help find an antivenom for the bite. “Lives can be saved,” added.
Ashe, now deceased, was the first to catch a larger-than-normal spitting cobra in the 1960s, and suggest it belonged to a different species.
Record-Size Spitting Discovered Cobra
Automatically translated into English thanks to WorldLingo
NAIROBI (Dec. 7) - A giant spitting cobra, measuring nearly nine feet and carrying enough venom to kill At least 15 people, has been discovered in Kenya, has conservation group said one Friday.
With conservation group in Kenya announced one Friday the discovery off has giant spitting cobra, which measures nearly nine feet and has enough venom to kill At least 15 people.
Wildlife Direct said the snake it described have the world' S largest had been recognized have has new species and named the Naja Ashei after James Ashe, who founded has snake farm one Kenya' S coast where the massive snakes are found.
“A new species off giant spitting cobra is exciting and reinforces the obvious -- that there cuts to Be many other unreported species goal hundreds are being lost have to their habitats disappear under the continued mismanagement off our planet,” said the group' S chairman, Kenyan environmentalist Richard Leakey.
Spitting cobras, whitebait to launch poison over remotely off several meters, are common to Kenya' S lowland climates.
Direct Wildlife said the discovery would help find year anti-venom for the cock. “Lives edge Be saved,” it added.
Ashe, now deceased, was the first to wrestling have larger-than-normal spitting cobra in the 1960s, and suggest it belonged to has different species.
Anteckna-Storleksanpassa att spotta den upptäckta kobran
Automatically translated into Swedish thanks to WorldLingo
NAIROBI (Dec. 7) - En jätte- spotta kobra, att mäta nästan nio fot och att bära nog gift för att döda 15 åtminstone bemannar, har upptäckts i Kenya, har beskyddgruppen sade en fredag.
Med beskydd meddelade gruppen i Kenya en fredag som upptäckten har av den jätte- spottakobran, som mäter nästan nio fot och har nog gift som dödar åtminstone 15 folk.
Djurlivet riktar sade att ormen som den beskrev har den största world'en S hade känts igen har har ny art, och namngav Najaen Ashei efter James Ashe, som grundade har ormlantgården en Kenya att segla utmed kusten var de massiva ormarna finnas.
”Är förstärker den nya arten av jätte- spottakobra spännande och det tydligt -- att det klipper för att vara många andra unreported artmålhundreds, borttappada måste är deras livsmiljöer att försvinna under den fortsatte misskötseln av vårt planet,” sade grupp ordförande, den kenyanska miljöaktivisten Richard Leakey.
Spotta kobror, mäter är whitebait till barkassgift över avlägset av flera, vanligt till Kenya lowlandklimat.
Rikta djurlivet sade upptäckten skulle antien-venom för hjälpfyndåret för resa upp. ”Kantar liv sparas,” det tillfogade.
Ashe som avleds nu, var första till brottningen har stor-än-det normala att spotta kobran i 60-tal och föreslår att den hörde hemma har olik art.
Кобра Записывать-Размера открынная плеванием
Automatically translated into Russian thanks to WorldLingo
NAIROBI (Dec. 7) - Открывала гигантскую кобру плевания, измеряя почти 9 футов и нося достаточный venom для того чтобы убить по крайней мере 15 людей, в Кении, имеет группу консервации сказала одну пятницу.
С консервацией группа в Кении объявила одну пятницу, котор открытие имеет гигантскую кобру плевания, которая измеряет почти 9 футов и имеет достаточный venom для того чтобы убить по крайней мере 15 людей.
Wildlife сразу сказал змейка, котор она описала имеет world s самое большое имеет имеет новый вид и назвал Naja Ashei после Джеймс Ashe, которое основало имеет свободный полет Kenya s фермы одного змейки где находят массивнейшие зек.
«Новый вид с гигантской кобры плевания exciting и усиливает очевидное -- что режет для того чтобы быть много других unreported сотни цели вида теряйте их habitats исчезнуть под продолжаемым mismanagement с нашей планеты,» сказал руководителю group s, environmentalist Ричард Leakey Kenyan.
Кобры плевания, whitebait для того чтобы запустить отраву над дистанционно несколькими метров, общие к климатам низменности Kenya s.
Сразу Wildlife сказал открытие поможет найти anti-venom года для крана. «Живет был сохранен край,» оно добавил.
Ashe, теперь покойница, было первым к wrestling имеет больш-чем-нормальную кобру плевания в 1960s, и предлагает оно принадлежало имеет по-разному вид.
Record-Size Spitting Cobra Discovered
Automatically translated into Dutch thanks to WorldLingo
NAIROBI (Dec. 7) - AAN giant spitting cobra, measuring nearly nine feet and carrying enough venom to kill at least 15 people, has been discovered in Kenya, hebben behoud group said men Friday.
AAN behoud group in Kenya announced men Friday the discovery off aan giant spitting cobra, which measures nearly nine feet and has enough venom to kill at least 15 people.
Wildlife Rechtstreeks said the snake IT described aas the world' s largest had been recognized aas aan new species and named the Naja Ashei after James Ashe, who founded hebben snake farm men Kenya' s coast where the massief slang are found.
„AAN new species off giant spitting cobra is exciting and reinforces the obvious that have there to be many other unreported species dronk hundreds are being lost azen their habitat disappear under the continued mismanagement off our planet,“ said the group' s chairman, Keniaanse environmentalist Richard Leakey.
Spitting cobras, witvis to launch gif over op een afstand off several meters, are common to Kenya' s lowland climates.
Wildlife Rechtstreeks said the discovery would help find jaar anti-venom for the bite. „Lives can be saved,“ IT added.
Ashe, now deceased, was the first to catch hebben larger-than-normal spitting cobra in the 1960s, and suggest IT belonged to aan verschillend species.
[ركرد-سز] [سبيتّينغ] يكتشف صل
Automatically translated into Arabic thanks to WorldLingo
نيروبي ([دك.]. 7) - عملاقة [سبيتّينغ] اكتشفت صل, يقيس تقريبا تسعة أقدام ويحمل بما فيه الكفاية سم أن يقتل على الأقلّ 15 الناس, يتلقّى يكون في كينيا, يتلقّى حفظ مجموعة قال واحدة يوم الجمعة.
مع حفظ أعلن مجموعة في كينيا واحدة يوم الجمعة الإكتشاف باتّجاه آخر يتلقّى عملاقة [سبيتّينغ] صل, أيّ يقيس تقريبا تسعة أقدام ويتلقّى بما فيه الكفاية سم أن يقتل على الأقلّ 15 الناس.
قال حيوان برّيّ مباشرة الثعبان هو وصف يتلقّى ال [وورلد'] [س] كبيرة تلقّى يكون ميّزت يتلقّى نوع جديدة وعيّن [نجا] [أشي] بعد جيمس [أش], الذي أسّس يتلقّى ثعبان مزرعة واحدة [كن'] [س] ساحل حيث الثعابين ضخمة يكون أسّست.
"نوع جديدة من عملاقة [سبيتّينغ] صل مثيرة ويعزّز الواضحة -- أنّ يقطع هناك أن يكون كثير أخرى [أونربورتد] نوع هدف مئات يكون خسرت يضطرّ مواطنهم اختفيت تحت ال يستمرّ سوء إدارة من كوبنا," قال ال [غرووب'] [س] رئيس مجلس إدارة, [كنن] بيئيّ ريتشارد [لكي].
[سبيتّينغ] صل, بلد أن يطلق سم على بعيدا من عدّة عدادات, عاديّة إلى [كن'] [س] أرض منخفضة مناخات.
قال حيوان برّيّ مباشرة الإكتشاف ساعد وجدت سنة [أنتي-فنوم] للديك. "يعيش حافة ينقذ," هو أضاف.
كان [أش], الآن الميّت, الأولى إلى تصارع يتلقّى [لرجر-ثن-نورمل] [سبيتّينغ] صل في الستينات, ويقترح هو انتسب أن يتلقّى نوع مختلفة.
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| December 8, 2007 | 1:24 PM |
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Typewriter Mistaken for Bomb, Shuts Down Street
Related to country: United States
available in: (original) | | | | | | | | |
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This may sound like a joke, but trust us, it's true. In Sarasota, Florida, streets were closed after a typewriter was reported as a suspicious package. And while many of us may not remember what one of these pre-PC word processors looks like, the senior citizens in Florida should have no excuse.
In the spirit of complete disclosure, the typewriter was inside its briefcase-like carrying-case and stashed in a locked cage under a stairwell in a county parking facility. The package was doubly suspicious since the only people with access to the cage would have been county officials.
Following standard procedure for a post 9/11, terrorism-obsessed world, the local bomb squad was called in. It proceeded to detonate the typewriter, then discovered it was just a typewriter.
Typewriter Mistaken for Bomb, Shuts Down Street
Automatically translated into Spanish thanks to WorldLingo
This may sound like a joke, but trust us, it' s true. In Sarasota, Florida, streets were closed after a typewriter was reported as a suspicious package. And while many apagado US may not remember what one apagado tesis prado-PC Word processors look like, the mayor citizens en Florida should corta n excusa.
In the spirit of complete disclosure, the typewriter was inside its briefcase-like carrying-case and stashed in a locked cage under a stairwell in a county parking facility. The package was doubly suspicious since the only people with access to the cage would have been county officials.
Following standard procedure for a post 9/11, terrorism-obsessed world, the local bomb squad was called in. It proceeded to detonate the typewriter, then discovered it was just a typewriter.
Typewriter Mistaken for Bomb, Shuts Down Street
Automatically translated into Italian thanks to WorldLingo
Typewriter Mistaken for Bomb, Shuts Down Street
Automatically translated into German thanks to WorldLingo
This may sound like a joke, but trust us, it' s true. In Sarasota, Florida, streets were closed after a typewriter was reported as a suspicious package. And while many of us may not remember what one of These Wiese-PC word processors Looks like, leitendes the schrämt citizens in Florida should Nr. Entschuldigung.
In the spirit of complete disclosure, the typewriter was inside its briefcase-like carrying-case and stashed in a locked cage under a stairwell in a county parking facility. The package was doubly suspicious since the only people with access to the cage would have been county officials.
Following standard procedure for a post 9/11, terrorism-obsessed world, the local bomb squad was called in. It proceeded to detonate the typewriter, then discovered it was just a typewriter.
Typewriter Mistaken for Bomb, Shuts Down Street
Automatically translated into Portuguese thanks to WorldLingo
This may sound like joke, bebeu trust EUA, it' s true. In Sarasota, Florida, streets were closed after a typewriter was reported as a suspicious package. And while many of us may not remember what one of these prado-PC word processors looks like, the senior citizens in Florida should have no excuse.
In the spirit of complete disclosure, the typewriter was inside its briefcase-like carrying-case and stashed in a locked cage under a stairwell in a county parking facility. The package was doubly suspicious since the only people with access to the cage would have been county officials.
Following standard procedure for a post 9/11, terrorism-obsessed world, the local bomb squad was called in. It proceeded to detonate the typewriter, then discovered it was just a typewriter.
Typewriter Mistaken for Bomb, Shuts Down Street
Automatically translated into English thanks to WorldLingo
This may sound like has joke, goal trust custom, it' S true. In Sarasota, Florida, streets were closed after have typewriter was reported have has suspicious package. And while many off custom may not remember what one off thesis pre-PC Word processors looks like, the senior citizens in Florida should cuts No excuses.
In the spirit off supplements disclosure, the typewriter was inside its briefcase-like carrying-box and stashed in A locked cage under has stairwell in A county carpark facility. The package was doubly suspicious since the only people with accesses to the cage would cuts been county officials.
Standard Following procedure for has post 9/11, terrorism-obsessed world, the local bomb squad was called in. It proceeded to detonate the typewriter, then discovered it was just has typewriter.
Skrivmaskinen som missförstås för, bombarderar, stänger sig besegrar gatan
Automatically translated into Swedish thanks to WorldLingo
Detta kan låta något liknande har skämtet, beställnings- målförtroende, det är riktigt. I Sarasota var Florida, gator stängd, efter ha skrivmaskinen anmäldes har haft har haft misstänksamt att paketera. Och stunder många av beställnings- kan inte minnas att vad uttrycker man av tepre-PC, gillar processorlooks, pensionärerna i Florida, bör snitt inga ursäkter.
I anden av tilläggavslöjande var skrivmaskinen inre dess portfölj-gillar bära-boxas och stashed i A låst bur har under stairwell i ståndsmässig carparklätthet för A. Paketera var dubbelt misstänksam, sedan det enda folket med tar fram till den skulle buren klipper vart ståndsmässiga representanter.
Det standarda tillvägagångssättet för har efter att posta 9/11, terrorism-besatt värld, lokalen bombarderar squaden kallades in. Det fortsatte att detonera skrivmaskinen, då upptäckt det var rättvist har skrivmaskinen.
Машинка ошибленная для бомбы, shuts down улица
Automatically translated into Russian thanks to WorldLingo
Это может звучать как имеет шутку, таможню доверия цели, его поистине. В Sarasota, Florida, улицы был закрыт после того как имейте машинку сообщил имейте имеет подозрительный пакет. И пока много таможня не может вспомнить одно с текстовых редакторов pre-ПИКОКУЛОНА тезиса смотрит как, пожилые гражданины в Florida ESLI отрезоки никакие отговорки.
В духе с разоблачения дополнений, машинка была внутренностью своей портфел-как носить-коробка и stashed в клетке зафиксированной a вниз имеет stairwell в средстве carpark графства a. Пакет был двойно подозрительн в виду того что единственные люди с доступом к клетке и отрезоки, котор будут должностными лицами графства.
Стандартная следуя за процедура для имеет столб 9/11, террорисм-преследованный мир, местный squad бомбы была вызвана cIn. Оно продолжало взорвать машинку, тогда открыно ему был справедливо имеет машинку.
Typewriter Mistaken for Bomb, Shuts Down Street
Automatically translated into Dutch thanks to WorldLingo
This may sound dronk like aan Joke, US trust, it' s true. In Sarasota, Florida, streets were closed after aan typewriter was reported aas aan suspicious package. And while many off US may not remember what one off standpunt weide-pc Word processors looks like, the senior citizens in Florida should have no verontschuldiging.
In the spirit off aan:vullen disclosure, the typewriter was inside its briefcase-like carrying-case and stashed in aan locked kooi under aan stairwell in aan county parkeerterrein facility. The package was doubly suspicious since the only people with toegang to the kooi would have been county officials.
Following standaard procedure for hebben post 9/11, terrorism-obsessed world, the plaatselijk bomb squad was called in. IT proceeded to detonate the typewriter, then discovered IT was Just aan typewriter.
Automatically translated into Arabic thanks to WorldLingo
هذا يمكن صوّتت مثل يتلقّى نكتة, هدف ثقة عادة, هو يصحّ. في [سرستا], كان فلوريدا, شوارع ينفضّ عقب تلقّيت آلة كاتبة كان أفدت يتلقّى مجموعة مشبوهة. وبينما كثير باتّجاه آخر عادة يمكن لا يتذكّر ماذا واحدة من أطروحة [بر-بك] [وورد بروسسّور] ينظر مثل, ال [سنيور ستيزن] في فلوريدا سوفت قطعات ما من أعذار.
في الكحول من ملاحق كشف, كان الآلة كاتبة داخله [بريفكس-ليك] [كرّينغ-بوإكس] ويخفي في [ا] يقفل قفص دون يتلقّى [ستيرولّ] في [ا] إقليم [كربرك] تسهيل. كان المجموعة [دووبلي] مشبوهة بما أنّ الالناس وحيد مع منفذات إلى القفص أرادوا قطعات يكان إقليم مسؤولات.
يتلقّى معياريّة يتبع إجراء لموقعة 9/11, [ترّوريسم-وبسسّد] عالم, المحلّية قنبلة فرقة كان دعات [إين.]. كان هو باشر أن يفجّر الآلة كاتبة, بعد ذلك يكتشف هو صحيحة يتلقّى آلة كاتبة.
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| December 4, 2007 | 10:08 PM |
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What race was Jesus? 'Color of the Cross' puts a different face on the debate.
Related to country: United States
available in: (original) | | | | | | | | |
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Jean-Claude La Marre wrote, directed and stars as Jesus i... The winner of a Catholic magazine's new-millennium art co... Jeffrey Hunter in "King of Kings." Photo, 1961, courtesy ...
For many, the image of Jesus is that of a white man with wavy blond hair and blue eyes -- kind of like Jeffrey Hunter in 1961's "King of Kings." But a new film, "Color of the Cross," shows the Christian savior as a black man.
By casting himself in the lead role, writer and director Jean-Claude La Marre is challenging a view of Jesus that's dominated since the Middle Ages and adding to a growing body of Hollywood films with Christian themes, including Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" and "The Da Vinci Code." It also highlights a long-simmering debate in churches and universities across the country.
The film, which opened in late October in 19 markets nationwide, opens Friday at the Oaks Theatre in Berkeley. La Marre has had supporting roles in movies including Spike Lee's 1992 "Malcolm X" and last year directed "Brothers in Arms" starring David Carradine. "Color of the Cross" also features actress Debbi Morgan as Jesus' mother, Mary.
Although race is not overtly cited as a reason for Jesus' slaying, in one scene Mary asks, "Do you think they're doing this because he's black?" La Marre said the issue of skin color is particularly meaningful in the United States, given its tortured history regarding race.
"When you see him on the cross, it really brings you back to the Southern days when black men were hung (from trees)," said La Marre, 38. "When a black man tells you he's the son of God, it freaks people out."
By the early Middle Ages, images of Jesus had developed common themes -- a forked beard, light-colored eyes, hazel or blond hair, and smooth facial features -- and were used in countless artistic renderings by the likes of Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo.
William Loewe, associate professor of theology and religious studies at Catholic University in Washington, D.C., said it's easy to find everyday examples of how Jesus has been cast as European in Western civilization, citing a religious icon on his own campus.
"It's this extremely muscular, blue-eyed, blond-haired figure," said Loewe. "I find it to be offensive, as far as I'm concerned, because it seems to be such a denial of his Jewishness."
The race of Jesus has been debated since at least the 19th century, with societies in different parts of the world depicting him in their own likeness. But in America, he's traditionally been seen as a white man in most churches and homes, until recently.
Director Kevin Smith described Jesus as a black man in his 1999 film "Dogma," with Chris Rock playing a black apostle whose story was erased from biblical canon by the church.
"I thought dealing with Christ's crucifixion would be a good story," La Marre said. "But the one problem I had, as most black Christians have, has been the historical Hollywood depictions of Christ."
Scholars agree there is no definitive description of Christ in the Bible. Despite passages in the Book of Revelation referring to Jesus with woolly hair and bronze-colored skin, he's usually depicted as having white skin, flowing hair and European facial features.
The Rev. Cecil Murray, a black minister in Los Angeles and a professor of religion at the University of Southern California, is credited as a producer for his work as a consultant on "Color of the Cross." He said the history of the biblical region shows figures such as Jesus and Moses had black or Middle Eastern features.
"When they get ready to hide Jesus as a baby, his mother and his father take him to Egypt. You can hide chocolate in the midst of chocolate. You can't hide vanilla in the midst of chocolate," Murray said.
He dismisses the argument that what's important is the New Testament savior's message and not his skin color.
"If they want to make him olive-skinned, fine. If they want to make him pecan-skinned, fine. But to make him white?" said Murray. "If our icon of religion -- the founder of the Christian faith -- looked like us, then we can't be as bad as we've been depicted."
At St. Paul of the Shipwreck Church in San Francisco's predominantly African American Bayview neighborhood, its former priest commissioned the making of a black Jesus for the church's crucifix 20 years ago, church officials said.
St. Paul's current priest, the Rev. Paul Gawlowski, said that when children in the church hear that Jesus may have been black it has a profound affect on their sense of self.
"The idea just blows them away and their eyes just go wide open," said Gawlowski. "It gives them liberty. They feel empowered and validated."
"It means a lot to a minority culture to see a Jesus that looks more like them than a European Jesus," explained Gawlowski, who said he believes if Jesus were to return today he'd be a minority. "He picked the Hebrew people, who had a history of oppression and slavery, so it's entirely likely that if Christ came back today, at least in America, he'd be African American, perhaps someone of Latino heritage."
Catholic University's Loewe said having a literal interpretation of Jesus' image will have an effect on how people perceive themselves and others, with potentially negative side effects: "If he's one of us, that means he's not one you," said Loewe.
La Marre said he encountered skeptical studio chiefs when he originally tried to pitch the movie, with some saying the project had no chance unless it featured an actor like Denzel Washington or Don Cheadle in the lead role. Some suggested turning the film into a modern-day hip-hop opera starring a rapper like 50 Cent.
"What was difficult was finding anyone who was willing to put money into the film. Telling people you want to make (this) movie is like trying to tell people you want to make a movie about dwarves living on the moon," said La Marre.
La Marre ultimately financed the movie's $2.5 million production cost by mortgaging two houses he owned, one in Beverly Hills and the other in Miami's South Beach. "Sometimes you have to put your money where your mouth is, and I really believed in this picture," he said.
La Marre then sold the film to Fox, which released "The Passion of the Christ" on video. Gibson's movie was a box-office smash, earning $370 million in domestic box office in 2004. In September, Fox Filmed Entertainment announced plans to produce up to a dozen Christian-themed films a year.
"I think Fox realized this would make good sense," said La Marre, who thinks people are hungry for these kinds of stories. "I think the world is becoming more of a spiritual place, for good and bad, and people are looking for any bit of salvation they can get their hands on."
Jason B. Johnson, Chronicle Staff Writer
E-mail Jason B. Johnson at jbjohnson@sfchronicle.com.
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/11/07/DDG0VM628B1.DTL
This article appeared on page E - 1 of the San Francisco Chronicle
Quelle course était Jésus ? La « couleur de la croix » met un visage différent sur la discussion.
Automatically translated into French thanks to WorldLingo
La La Marre de Jean-Claude a écrit, a dirigé et tient le premier rôle comme Jésus i… Le gagnant de l'art Co du nouveau-millénium d'un magasin catholique… Chasseur de Jeffrey dans le « roi des rois. » Photo, 1961, courtoisie…
Pour beaucoup, l'image de Jésus est celle d'un homme blanc avec les cheveux blonds onduleux et les yeux bleus -- genre de chasseur pareil de Jeffrey dans 1961's « roi des rois. » Mais un nouveau film, « couleur de la croix, » montre le sauveur chrétien en tant qu'homme noir.
En se moulant en tête le rôle, l'auteur et la La Marre de directeur Jean-Claude est provocant une vue de Jésus qui est dominé depuis les âges moyens et s'ajouter à un corps croissant des films de Hollywood avec des thèmes chrétiens, y compris la passion de Mel Gibson « du Christ » et « du code de Da Vinci. » Il accentue également une discussion long-fermentante dans les églises et les universités à travers le pays.
Le film, qui s'est ouvert en octobre sur 19 marchés dans tout le pays, ouvre vendredi au théâtre de chênes dans Berkeley. La La Marre a eu des rôles de support dans les films comprenant 1992 de Lee de transitoire « Malcolm X » et « frères l'année dernière dirigés dans des bras » tenant le premier rôle David Carradine. La « couleur de la croix » comporte également l'actrice Debbi Morgan comme mère de Jésus, Mary.
Bien que la course ne soit pas manifestement citée comme raison du meurtre de Jésus, dans une scène Mary demande, « vous les pensent font ceci parce qu'il est noir ? » La La Marre a indiqué que la question de couleur de peau est particulièrement signicative aux Etats-Unis, donnés son histoire torturée concernant la course.
« Quand vous le voyez sur la croix, elle vous apporte vraiment de nouveau aux jours méridionaux quand des hommes noirs ont été accrochés (des arbres), » a dit la La Marre, 38. « Quand un homme noir vous dit il est le fils de Dieu, il des personnes de phénomènes dehors. »
Par les âges moyens jeune, images de Jésus avait développé des thèmes communs -- une barbe bifurquée, des cheveux de yeux, noisette ou blonds de couleur claire, et lissent les dispositifs faciaux -- et ont été employés dans des renderings artistiques innombrables par les goûts du da Vinci et Michaël Angelo de Leonardo.
William Loewe, professeur d'associé de la théologie et des études religieuses à l'université catholique à Washington, C.C, a indiqué qu'il est facile de trouver des exemples journaliers de la façon dont Jésus a été moulé en tant qu'Européen dans la civilisation occidentale, citant une icône religieuse sur son propre campus.
« Il est ce extrêmement musculaire, la figure bleu-observée et blond-d'une chevelure, » a indiqué Loewe. « Je le trouve pour être blessant, en ce qui concerne je, parce qu'il semble être un tel démenti de son judaïsme. »
La course de Jésus a été discutée depuis au moins le 19ème siècle, avec des sociétés dans différentes régions du monde le dépeignant dans leur propre similarité. Mais en Amérique, il traditionnellement est vu en tant qu'homme blanc dans la plupart des églises et maisons, jusque récemment.
Directeur Kevin Smith a décrit Jésus en tant qu'homme noir en son 1999 film « dogme, » avec la roche de Chris jouant un apôtre noir dont l'histoire a été effacée du canon biblique par l'église.
« Traiter pensé par I la crucifixion du Christ serait une bonne histoire, » La Marre dit. « Mais l'un problème que j'ai eu, comme la plupart des chrétiens noirs ont, a été les descriptions historiques de Hollywood du Christ. Les »
disciples conviennent qu'il n'y a aucune description définitive du Christ dans la bible. En dépit des passages dans le livre de la révélation se rapportant à Jésus avec les cheveux laineux et la peau bronze-colorée, il est habituellement dépeint en tant qu'ayant la peau blanche, les cheveux débordants et les dispositifs faciaux européens.
L'inverseur. Cecil Murray, un ministre noir à Los Angeles et un professeur de la religion à l'université de la Californie méridionale, est crédité comme un producteur pour son travail en tant que conseiller sur la « couleur de la croix. » Il a dit que l'histoire des chiffres bibliques d'expositions de région tels que Jésus et Moïse a eu le noir ou le milieu - dispositifs orientaux.
« Quand ils sont prêts pour cacher Jésus en tant que bébé, sa mère et son père le portent en Egypte. Vous pouvez cacher le chocolat au milieu du chocolat. Vous ne pouvez pas cacher la vanille au milieu du chocolat, « Murray dit.
Il écarte l'argument que ce qui est important est le message du sauveur de nouveau testament et non sa couleur de peau.
« S'ils veulent le faire olive-pelé, fin. S'ils veulent le faire noix de pécan-pelé, fin. Mais pour lui faire le blanc ? « a dit Murray. « Si notre icône de religion -- le fondateur de la foi chrétienne -- ressemblé à nous, alors nous ne pouvons pas être aussi mauvais que nous avons été dépeints. »
À la rue Paul de l'église de naufrage dans le voisinage américain principalement africain de Bayview de San Francisco, son ancien prêtre a commissionné la fabrication de Jésus noir pour le crucifix de l'église il y a 20 ans, des fonctionnaires d'église dits.
Rue Le prêtre courant de Paul, l'inverseur. Paul Gawlowski, dit que quand les enfants dans l'église entendent que Jésus a pu avoir été noir il fait affecter un profond sur leur sens d'individu.
« L'idée les souffle juste partis et leurs yeux justes disparaissent grands ouverts, » a dit Gawlowski. « Il leur donne la liberté. Ils se sentent autorisés et validés. «
« Il signifie beaucoup à une culture de minorité pour voir Jésus qui regarde plutôt eux que Jésus européen, » Gawlowski expliqué, qui a indiqué qu'il croit si Jésus devaient le retourner aujourd'hui serait une minorité. « Il a sélectionné les personnes hébreues, qui ont eu une histoire d'oppression et d'esclavage, ainsi il est entièrement probable que si le Christ revenait aujourd'hui, au moins en Amérique, il soit Américain africain, peut-être quelqu'un de l'héritage latin. »
Loewe de l'université catholique dit ayant une interprétation littérale de l'image de Jésus aura un effet sur la façon dont les gens se perçoivent et d'autres, avec des effets secondaires potentiellement négatifs : « S'il est l'un de nous, ce les moyens qu'il n'a pas un ans vous, » ont indiqué Loewe.
La La Marre a indiqué qu'il a rencontré les chefs sceptiques de studio quand il a à l'origine essayé de lancer le film, avec certains disant le projet n'a eu aucune chance à moins qu'elle ait comporté un acteur comme Denzel Washington ou Don Cheadle dans le rôle de fil. Certains ont suggéré transformer le film en opéra de hanche-houblon de moderne-jour tenant le premier rôle un frappeur comme le cent 50.
« Ce qui était difficile trouvait n'importe qui qui était disposé à mettre l'argent dans le film. Dire des personnes que vous voulez faire le film (de ceci) est comme l'essai de dire des personnes vous voulez faire un film au sujet des nains vivant sur la lune, « a dit la La Marre.
La La Marre a finalement financé le coût de production $2.5 millions en hypothèquant deux maisons qu'il a possédées, un dans Beverly Hills et l'autre du film en plage du sud de Miami. « Parfois vous devez mettre votre argent où votre bouche est, et j'ai vraiment cru en cette image, » il a dit.
La La Marre a alors vendu le film au renard, qui a libéré « la passion du Christ » sur la vidéo. Le film de Gibson était un fracas de boîte-bureau, gagnant $370 millions dans la caisse domestique en 2004. En septembre, le renard a filmé le divertissement a annoncé des plans pour produire jusqu'des douzaine aux films Chrétiens-themed par année.
« Je pense le renard a réalisé ceci semblerait bon raisonnable, » a dit la La Marre, qui pense que les gens ont faim pour ces genres d'histoires. « Je pense que le monde devient plus d'un endroit spirituel, pour bon et mauvais, et les gens recherchent n'importe quel peu de salut qu'ils peuvent obtenir leurs mains dessus. »
Jason B. Johnson, E-mail Jason B.
d'auteur de personnel de chronique. Johnson à jbjohnson@sfchronicle.com.
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/11/07/DDG0VM628B1.DTL
cet article est apparu à la page E - 1 de la chronique de San Francisco
¿Qué raza era Jesús? El “color de la cruz” pone una diversa cara en el discusión.
Automatically translated into Spanish thanks to WorldLingo
El La Marre de Jean-Claude escribió, dirigido y las estrellas como Jesús i… El ganador del arte co del nuevo-milenio de un compartimiento católico… Cazador de Jeffrey en el “rey de reyes.” Photo, 1961, cortesía…
Para muchos, la imagen de Jesús es la de un hombre blanco con el pelo rubio ondulado y los ojos azules -- clase de cazador semejante de Jeffrey en 1961's “rey de reyes.” Pero una película nueva, “color de la cruz,” demuestra a salvador cristiano como hombre negro.
Echándose en el papel del plomo, el escritor y el La Marre de director Jean-Claude es desafiadores una opinión Jesús que se domine desde las edades medias y la adición a un cuerpo cada vez mayor de las películas de Hollywood con temas cristianos, incluyendo la pasión de Gibson de los Mel “del Cristo” y “del código de Da Vinci.” También destaca un discusión largo-simmering en iglesias y universidades a través del país.
La película, que se abrió en último octubre en 19 mercados por toda la nación, abre viernes en el teatro de los robles en Berkeley. El La Marre ha tenido papeles de soporte en películas incluyendo 1992 de las heces del punto “Malcolm X” y los “hermanos el año pasado dirigidos en los brazos” David starring Carradine. El “color de la cruz” también ofrece a actriz Debbi Morgan como madre de Jesús, Maria.
Aunque la raza no se cita abiertamente como razón de Jesús slaying, en una escena Maria pide, “usted los piensa está haciendo esto porque él es negro?” El La Marre dijo que la aplicación el color de la piel es particularmente significativa en los Estados Unidos, dados su historia torturada con respecto a la raza.
“Cuando usted lo ve en la cruz, realmente le trae de nuevo a los días meridionales cuando colgaron a los hombres negros (de árboles),” dijo el La Marre, 38. “Cuando un hombre negro le dice él es el hijo del dios, él gente de los monstruos hacia fuera. ”
Por las edades medias tempranas, imágenes de Jesús había desarrollado temas comunes -- una barba bifurcada, un pelo de color claro de los ojos, pardo o rubio, y alisa características faciales -- y fueron utilizados en renderings artísticos incontables por los gustos del da Vinci y Michelangelo de Leonardo.
Guillermo Loewe, profesor de asociado de la teología y de los estudios religiosos en la universidad católica en Washington, C.C., dijo que es fácil encontrar los ejemplos diarios de cómo han echado a Jesús como europeo en la civilización occidental, citando un icono religioso en su propio campus.
“Es este extremadamente muscular, la figura azul-eyed, rubio-haired,” dijo Loewe. “Lo encuentro para ser ofensivo, por lo que me refiero, porque se parece ser tal negación de su Jewishness. ”
Han discutido la raza de Jesús desde por lo menos el diecinueveavo siglo, con las sociedades en diversas partes del mundo que lo representaba en su propia semejanza. Pero en América, lo ven tradicionalmente como hombre blanco en la mayoría de las iglesias y de los hogares, hasta hace poco tiempo.
Director Kevin Smith describió a Jesús como hombre negro en su 1999 película “dogma,” con la roca de Chris que jugaba a un apostle negro que historia fue borrada de canon bíblico por la iglesia.
“El tratar pensado I del crucifixion de Cristo sería una buena historia,” La Marre dicho. “Solamente el un problema que tenía, como la mayoría de los cristianos negros tienen, he sido las pinturas históricas de Hollywood de Cristo. Los”
eruditos convienen que no hay descripción definitiva de Cristo en la biblia. A pesar de pasos en el libro de la revelación que refiere a Jesús con el pelo lanoso y la piel bronce-coloreada, lo representan generalmente como teniendo la piel blanca, el pelo que fluye y características faciales europeas.
El inversor de corriente. Acreditan Cecil Murray, ministro negro en Los Ángeles y profesor de la religión en la universidad de California meridional, como un productor para su trabajo como consultor en el “color de la cruz.” Él dijo que la historia de las figuras bíblicas de las demostraciones de la región tales como Jesús y Moses tenía características negras o medio-orientales.
“Cuando consiguen listos ocultar a Jesús como bebé, su madre y su padre lo llevan a Egipto. Usted puede ocultar el chocolate en el medio del chocolate. Usted no puede ocultar la vainilla en el medio del chocolate, “Murray dicho.
Él despide la discusión que cuál es importante es el mensaje del salvador del nuevo testamento y no su color de la piel.
“Si desean hacerlo aceituna-pelado, fino. Si desean hacerlo pacana-pelado, fino. ¿Pero para hacerle blanco? “dijo a Murray. “Si nuestro icono de la religión -- el fundador de la fe cristiana -- parecido nosotros, entonces no podemos ser tan malos como nos han representado. ”
En el St. Paul de la iglesia del naufragio en la vecindad americana predominante africana de Bayview de San Francisco, su sacerdote anterior comisionó la fabricación de un Jesús negro para el crucifix de la iglesia hace 20 años, los funcionarios de la iglesia dichos.
St. Sacerdote actual de Paul, el inversor de corriente. Paul Gawlowski, dicho que cuando los niños en la iglesia oyen que Jesús pudo haber sido negro hace que un profundo afecte en su sentido del uno mismo.
“La idea apenas los sopla ausentes y sus ojos justos van abiertos de par en par,” dijo Gawlowski. “Les da libertad. Se sienten autorizados y validados. “
“Significa mucho a una cultura de la minoría ver a un Jesús que mire más bién ellos que un Jesús europeo,” Gawlowski explicado, que dijo que él cree si Jesús lo volviera hoy sería una minoría. “Él escogió a gente hebrea, que tenía una historia de la opresión y de la esclavitud, así que es enteramente probable que si Cristo se volviera hoy, por lo menos en América, él sea americano africano, quizás alguien de la herencia de Latino. ”
Loewe de la universidad católica dicho teniendo una interpretación literal de la imagen de Jesús tendrá un efecto en cómo la gente se percibe y otros, con efectos secundarios potencialmente negativos: “Si él es uno de nosotros, ese los medios que él no es uno usted,” dijeron Loewe.
El La Marre dijo que él encontró a jefes escépticos del estudio cuando él intentó originalmente echar la película, con alguno diciendo el proyecto no tenía ninguna ocasión a menos que ofreciera a agente como Denzel Washington o ponga Cheadle en el papel del plomo. Algunos sugirieron dar vuelta a la película en una ópera del cadera-salto del moderno-día starring un rapper como el centavo 50.
“Cuál era difícil encontraba a cualquier persona que estaba dispuesto a poner el dinero en la película. Decir a gente que usted desea hacer película (esto) es como intentar decir a gente usted desea hacer una película sobre los enanos que viven en la luna, “dijo el La Marre.
El La Marre financió en última instancia el coste de producción $2.5 millones hipotecando dos casas que él poseyó, uno en las colinas de Beverly y el otro de la película en la playa del sur de Miami. “Usted tiene que poner a veces su dinero donde está su boca, y realmente creí en este cuadro,” él dijo.
El La Marre entonces vendió la película al zorro, que lanzó “la pasión del Cristo” en el vídeo. La película de Gibson era una rotura violenta de la caja-oficina, ganando $370 millones en taquilla doméstica en 2004. En septiembre, el zorro filmó la hospitalidad anunció planes para producir hasta las películas de los docena Cristianos-themed al año.
“Pienso el zorro realizó éste tendría buen sentido,” dijo el La Marre, que piensa que la gente tiene hambre para estas clases de historias. “Pienso que el mundo se está convirtiendo en más de un lugar espiritual, para bueno y malo, y la gente está buscando cualquier pedacito de la salvación que ella puede conseguir sus manos encendido. ”
Jason B. Johnson, E-mail Jason B.
del escritor del personal del Chronicle. Johnson en jbjohnson@sfchronicle.com.
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/11/07/DDG0VM628B1.DTL
este artículo apareció en la página E - 1 del Chronicle de San Francisco
Che corsa era Jesus? “Il colore della traversa„ mette una faccia differente sul dibattito.
Automatically translated into Italian thanks to WorldLingo
La La Marre del Jean-Claude ha scritto, diretto e stelle come Jesus i… Il vincitore di arte co di nuovo-millennio dello scomparto cattolico… Cacciatore del Jeffrey “in re dei re.„ Photo, 1961, cortesia…
Per molti, l'immagine di Jesus è quella di un uomo bianco con capelli biondi ondulati e gli occhi blu -- genere di cacciatore simile del Jeffrey in 1961's “re dei re.„ Ma una nuova pellicola, “colore della traversa,„ mostra il savior cristiano come uomo nero.
Lanciandosi nel ruolo del cavo, il produttore e la La Marre del direttore Jean-Claude è challenging un punto di vista di Jesus che è dominato Medio Evo e dalla aggiunta ad un corpo crescente delle pellicole di Hollywood con i temi cristiani, compreso la passione del Gibson di mel “del Christ„ e “del codice di Da Vinci.„ Inoltre evidenzia un dibattito lungo-simmering in chiese ed in università attraverso il paese.
La pellicola, che si è aperta verso la fine di ottobre in 19 mercati in tutta la nazione, apre venerdì al teatro delle quercie in Berkeley. La La Marre ha avuta ruoli di sostegno in film compreso 1992 dei rifugi del punto “Malcolm X„ e “i fratelli l'anno scorso diretti in armi„ David starring Carradine. “Il colore della traversa„ inoltre caratterizza il actress Debbi Morgan come madre del Jesus, Mary.
Anche se la corsa non si cita evidente come motivo per Jesus che slaying, in una scena Mary chiede a, “voi li pensa sta facendo questo perché è nero?„ La La Marre ha detto che l'emissione di colore della pelle è particolarmente espressiva negli Stati Uniti, dati la relativa storia torturata per quanto riguarda la corsa.
“Quando lo vedete sulla traversa, realmente li porta di nuovo ai giorni del sud quando gli uomini neri sono stati appesi (dagli alberi),„ ha detto la La Marre, 38. “Quando un uomo nero gli dice è il figlio del dio, esso la gente dei freaks fuori. „
Da Medio Evo giovani, immagini di Jesus aveva sviluppato i temi comuni -- una barba biforcata, i capelli nocciola o biondi di colore chiaro degli occhi, e liscia le caratteristiche facciali -- e sono stati usati in renderings artistici countless dai simili del da Vinci e Michelangelo del Leonardo.
William Loewe, professore di socio della teologia e degli studi religiosi all'università cattolica in Washington, DC, ad esempio che è facile da trovare gli esempi giornalieri di come Jesus è stato lanciato come europeo nella civilizzazione occidentale, citanti un'icona religiosa sulla sua propria città universitaria.
“È questo estremamente muscolare, la figura blu-eyed e biondo-haired,„ ha detto Loewe. “Lo trovo per essere offensivo, per quanto sono interessato, perché sembra essere una tal smentita del suo Jewishness. „
La corsa di Jesus è stata dibattuta almeno dal diciannovesimo secolo, con le società nelle parti differenti del mondo che lo descrive nella loro propria somiglianza. Ma in America, è visto tradizionalmente come uomo bianco nella maggior parte diin chiesa e delle sedi, fino a poco tempo fa.
Il direttore Kevin Smith ha descritto Jesus come uomo nero in sua 1999 pellicola “dogma,„ con la roccia del Chris che gioca un apostle nero di cui la storia è stata cancellata dal canon biblico dalla chiesa.
“Il crucifixion del Christ dealing with pensato I sarebbe una buona storia,„ La Marre detto. “Ma l'un problema che ho avuto, come la maggior parte dei cristiani neri hanno, sono stato i depictions storici di Hollywood di Christ. „
Gli eruditi accosentono là è descrizione definitiva di Christ nella bibbia. Malgrado i passaggi nel libro della rivelazione che si riferisce a Jesus con capelli lanosi e pelle bronzo-colorata, è descritto solitamente come avendo la pelle bianca, i capelli fluenti e caratteristiche facciali europee.
L'invertitore. Cecil Murray, un ministro nero a Los Angeles e un professore della religione all'università di California del sud, è accreditato come un produttore per il suo lavoro come consulente “su colore della traversa.„ Ha detto che la storia delle figure bibliche di esposizioni di regione quali Jesus e Moses ha avuta il nero o metà - caratteristiche orientali.
“Quando ottengono aspetti per nascondere Jesus come bambino, la sua madre ed il suo padre lo prende nell'Egitto. Potete nascondere il cioccolato del cioccolato in mezzo a. Non potete nascondere il cioccolato della vaniglia in mezzo a, “Murray detto.
Allontana la discussione che che cosa è importante è il messaggio del nuovo savior del testamento ed il non suo colore della pelle.
“Se desiderano farli oliva-pelato, fine. Se desiderano farli pecan-pelato, fine. Ma per rendergli bianco? “ha detto Murray. “Se la nostra icona della religione -- il fondatore della fede cristiana -- assomigliato noi, allora non possiamo essere difettosi come siamo stati descritti. „
Alla st Paul della chiesa di naufragio nella vicinanza americana principalmente africana di Bayview de San Francisco, il relativo ex priest ha incaricato fare di un Jesus nero per il crucifix della chiesa 20 anni fa, funzionari della chiesa detti.
St Priest corrente del Paul, l'invertitore. Paul Gawlowski, ad esempio che quando i bambini nella chiesa si sentono che Jesus può essere nero fa interessare un profondo sul loro senso dell'auto.
“L'idea appena li salta assenti ed i loro occhi giusti vanno spalancati,„ ha detto Gawlowski. “Dà loro la libertà. Ritengono autorizzati e convalidati. “
“Significa mólto ad una coltura di minoranza vedere un Jesus che osserva loro più che un Jesus europeo,„ Gawlowski spiegato, che ha detto che crede se Jesus dovesse restituirlo oggi fosse una minoranza. “Ha selezionato la gente ebraica, che ha avuta una storia del oppression e dello slavery, in modo da è interamente probabile che se Christ ritornasse oggi, almeno in America, sarebbe americano africano, forse qualcuno dell'eredità di Latino. „
Loewe dell'università cattolica detto avendo un'interpretazione letterale dell'immagine del Jesus avrà un effetto su come la gente si percepisce ed altri, con gli effetti secondari potenzialmente negativi: “Se è uno di noi, quel i mezzi che non è uno voi,„ hanno detto Loewe.
La La Marre ha detto che ha incontrato i capi scettici dell'studio quando originalmente ha provato a lanciare il film, con alcuno dicente il progetto non ha avuto probabilità a meno che caratterizzasse un attore come Denzel Washington o indossa Cheadle nel ruolo del cavo. Alcuni hanno suggerito trasformare nella pellicola un'opera del anca-luppolo di moderno-giorno che starring un rapper come il centesimo 50.
“Che cosa era difficile stava trovando chiunque che sia disposto a mettere i soldi nella pellicola. Dire alla gente che desiderate fare il film (questo) è come provare a dire alla gente desiderate fare un film circa i nani che vivono sulla luna, “ha detto la La Marre.
La La Marre infine ha finanziato il costo di produzione $2.5 milioni ipotecando due case che ha posseduto, uno in colline di Beverly e l'altro del film in spiaggia del sud de Miami. “A volte dovete mettere i vostri soldi in cui la vostra bocca è e realmente ho creduto in questa immagine,„ ha detto.
La La Marre allora ha venduto la pellicola alla volpe, che ha liberato “la passione del Christ„ sul video. Il film del Gibson era uno scontro dell'scatola-ufficio, guadagnante $370 milioni nell'ufficio di scatola domestico in 2004. In settembre, la volpe ha filmato l'intrattenimento ha annunciato i programmi per produrre fino alle pellicole dei dozzina Cristiani-themed un l'anno.
“Penso la volpe abbia realizzato questa avrebbe il buon significato,„ ha detto la La Marre, che pensa che la gente fosse affamata per questi generi di storia. “Penso che il mondo stia trasformandosi in più di un posto spiritoso, per buon e difettoso e la gente sta cercando tutta la punta di salvezza possono ottenere le loro mani sopra. „
Jason B. Johnson, E-mail Jason B.
del produttore del personale del Chronicle. Johnson a jbjohnson@sfchronicle.com.
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/11/07/DDG0VM628B1.DTL
questo articolo è comparso alla pagina E - 1 del Chronicle de San Francisco
Welches Rennen war Jesus? „Farbe des Kreuzes“ setzt ein anderes Gesicht auf die Debatte.
Automatically translated into German thanks to WorldLingo
Jean-Claude La Marre schrieb, verwiesen und Sterne als Jesus I… Der Sieger der kunst Co Neujahrtausend einer katholischen Zeitschrift… Jeffrey Jäger „im König der Könige.“ Photo, 1961, Höflichkeit…
Für viele ist das Bild von Jesus das eines weißen Mannes mit dem wellenförmigen blonden Haar und den blauen Augen -- Art des wieJeffrey Jägers in 1961's „König der Könige.“ Aber ein neuer Film, „Farbe des Kreuzes,“ zeigt den christlichen Retter als schwarzer Mann.
Indem sie in der Leitung Rolle sich werfen, ist Verfasser und Direktor Jean-Claude La Marre eine Ansicht von Jesus schwierig, der wird beherrscht seit dem mittleren Alter und dem Hinzufügen einem wachsenden Körper der Hollywood Filme mit christlichen Themen, einschließlich Mel Gibsons „die Neigung des Christ“ und „des Da Vinci Codes.“ Es hebt auch eine lange-simmering Debatte in den Kirchen und in den Universitäten über dem Land hervor.
Der Film, der in später Oktober in 19 Märkten sich im ganzen Land öffnete, öffnet Freitag am Eichen Theater in Berkeley. La Marre hat stützende Rollen in den Filmen einschließlich 1992 der Spitze Schutze „Malcolm X“ und letztes Jahr verwiesene „Brüder in den Armen“ starring David Carradine gehabt. „Farbe des Kreuzes“ kennzeichnet auch Schauspielerin Debbi Morgan als Mutter Jesus, Mary.
Obgleich Rennen nicht offenkundig als Grund für slaying Jesus zitiert wird, in einer Szene fragt Mary, „Sie denken sie tun dies, weil er ist schwarz?“ La Marre sagte, daß die Ausgabe der Hautfarbe in den Vereinigten Staaten besonders sinnvoll ist, seine gequälte Geschichte betreffend ist Rennen gegeben.
„Wenn Sie ihn auf dem Kreuz sehen, holt es Sie wirklich zurück zu den südlichen Tagen, als schwarze Männer (von den Bäumen) gehangen wurden,“ sagte La Marre, 38. „Wenn ein schwarzer Mann Ihnen erklärt, ist er der Sohn des Gottes, es Launeleute heraus. “
Durch das frühe mittlere Alter, Bilder von Jesus hatte allgemeine Themen entwickelt -- ein gegabelter Bart, hellfarbiges Augen, Haselnuß- oder blondes ein Haar und machen Gesichtseigenschaften glatt -- und wurden in den unzähligen künstlerischen renderings durch die Gleichen von Leonardo da Vinci und Michelangelo verwendet.
William Loewe, Teilnehmerprofessor der Theologie und der frommen Studien an der katholischen Universität in Washington, DC, sagte, daß es einfach ist, zu finden die täglichen Beispiele von, wie Jesus als Europäer in der westlichen Zivilisation geworfen worden ist und eine fromme Ikone auf seinem eigenen Campus zitiert.
„Es ist dieses extrem muskulöse, sagte blau-gemusterte, blond-behaarte Abbildung,“ Loewe. „Ich finde es, um beleidigend zu sein, insoweit ich betroffen werde, weil es scheint, solch eine Ablehnung seines Judentums zu sein. “
Das Rennen von Jesus ist seit mindestens dem 19. Jahrhundert, mit Gesellschaften in den unterschiedlichen Teilen der Welt debattiert worden, die ihn in ihrer eigenen Gleichheit bildlich darstellt. Aber in Amerika, wird er traditionsgemäß als weißer Mann in den meisten Kirchen und in den Häusern, bis vor kurzem gesehen.
Direktor Kevin Smith beschrieb Jesus als schwarzer Mann in seinem 1999 Film „Dogma,“ mit dem Chris Felsen, der einen schwarzen Apostel spielt dessen Geschichte vom biblischen Kanon durch die Kirche gelöscht wurde.
„Das I gedachte Beschäftigen crucifixion Christs würde eine gute Geschichte sein,“ La gesagtes Marre. „Aber das ein Problem, das, ich, wie die meisten schwarzen Christen haben, bin gewesen die historischen Hollywood Beschreibungen von Christ hatte. “
Gelehrte stimmen zu, daß es keine endgültige Beschreibung von Christ in der Bibel gibt. Trotz der Durchgänge im Buch von Enthüllung auf Jesus mit dem wolligen Haar und Bronze-farbiger Haut beziehend, wird er normalerweise als bildlich dargestellt, weiße Haut, flüssiges Haar und europäische Gesichtseigenschaften habend.
Der Polwender. Cecil Murray, ein schwarzer Minister in Los Angeles und ein Professor von der Religion an der Universität von Südkalifornien, wird gutgeschrieben, wie ein Produzent für seine Arbeit als Berater auf „Farbe des Kreuzes.“ Er sagte, daß die Geschichte der biblischen Regionerscheinenabbildungen wie Jesus und Moses Schwarzes oder Mitte - östliche Eigenschaften hatte.
„Wenn sie fertig werden, Jesus als Baby zu verstecken, nehmen seine Mutter und sein Vater ihn nach Ägypten. Sie können Schokolade in der Mitte der Schokolade verstecken. Sie können nicht Vanille in der Mitte der Schokolade verstecken, „gesagter Murray.
Er entläßt das Argument, daß, was wichtig ist, des die Anzeige Retters des neuen Testaments und nicht seine Hautfarbe ist.
„Wenn sie ihn bilden möchten Olive-enthäutet, fein. Wenn sie ihn bilden möchten Pekannuß-enthäutet, fein. Aber ihn Weiß bilden? „sagte Murray. „Wenn unsere Ikone der Religion -- der Gründer des christlichen Glaubens -- ausgesehen wie wir, dann können wir nicht so schlecht sein, wie wir bildlich dargestellt worden sind. “
An Str. Paul der Schiffswrack-Kirche afrikanischen amerikanischen Nachbarschaft Bayview San Franciscos in der überwiegend, sein ehemaliger Priester beauftragte das Bilden von einem schwarzen Jesus für das Kruzifix der Kirche 20 Jahren, vor, die gesagten Kirchebeamten.
Str. Pauls gegenwärtiger Priester, der Polwender. Paul Gawlowski, gesagt, daß, wenn Kinder in der Kirche hören, daß Jesus Schwarzes gewesen sein kann, es ein profundes auf ihrer Richtung von Selbst beeinflussen läßt.
„Die Idee brennt sie gerade weg durch und ihre Augen, die gerecht sind, gehen weit geöffnet,“ sagte Gawlowski. „Es gibt ihnen Freiheit. Sie glauben bevollmächtigt und validiert. „
„Bedeutet er viel zu einer Minoritätkultur, einen Jesus zu sehen, der eher wie sie als ein europäischer Jesus schaut,“ erklärtes Gawlowski, das sagte, daß er glaubt, wenn Jesus ihn heute zurückbringen sollten würde sein eine Minorität. „Er wählte die hebräischen Leute aus, die eine Geschichte der Unterdrückung und der Sklaverei hatten, also ist es völlig wahrscheinlich, daß, wenn Christ heute, mindestens in Amerika zurückkam, er afrikanischer Amerikaner sein würde, möglicherweise jemand des Latino Erbes. “
Loewe der katholische Universität, das gesagt wird, eine wörtliche Deutung von Bild Jesus habend, hat einen Effekt auf, wie Leute und andere sich wahrnehmen, mit möglicherweise negativen Nebenwirkungen: „Wenn er eins von uns ist, dieses sagten Mittel, die er nicht eins Sie,“ ist, Loewe.
La Marre sagte, daß er skeptische Studioleiter, als er ursprünglich versuchte, den Film zu werfen, mit einigem das Projekt sagend hatte keine Wahrscheinlichkeit antraf, es sei denn sie einen Schauspieler wie Denzel Washington kennzeichnete oder Cheadle in der Leitung Rolle anzieht. Einige schlugen das Machen des Filmes zu eine Moderntagc$hüftehopfenoper vor, die ein rapper wie Cent 50 starring ist.
„Was schwierig war, jedermann fand, das bereit war, Geld in den Film zu setzen. Leuten zu erklären, die Sie (dieses) Film bilden möchten, ist wie das Versuchen, Leuten zu erklären Sie einen Film über die Zwerge bilden möchten, die auf dem Mond leben, „sagte La Marre.
La Marre finanzierte schließlich die Kosten Produktion $2.5 Million, indem es zwei Häuser, die hypothekarisch belastete er, besaß, eins in den Beverly Hills und das andere des Films Miamis im Südstrand. „Manchmal müssen Sie Ihr Geld setzen, in dem Ihre öffnung ist, und ich glaubte wirklich an diese Abbildung,“ sagte er.
La Marre verkaufte dann den Film an Fuchs, der „die Neigung des Christ“ auf Bildschirm freigab. Film Gibsons war ein Kastenbüro Smash und erwarb $370 Million in der inländischen Kasse 2004. Im September filmte Fuchs Unterhaltung verkündete Pläne, um bis zu ein Dutzend Christ-themed den Filmen ein Jahr zu produzieren.
„Ich denke, Fuchs verwirklichte, dieser gutes sinnvoll,“ sein würde, sagte La Marre, das denkt, daß Leute für diese Arten von Geschichten hungrig sind. „Ich denke, daß die Welt mehr eines geistigen Platzes, für gutes und schlechtes wird und Leute nach jeder möglicher Spitze der Rettung suchen, die sie ihre Hände an erhalten können. “
Jason B. Johnson, Chronik-Stab-Verfasser-
E-mail Jason B. Johnson an jbjohnson@sfchronicle.com.
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/11/07/DDG0VM628B1.DTL
dieser Artikel erschien auf Seite E - 1 der San Francisco Chronik
Que raça era Jesus? A “cor da cruz” põe uma cara diferente sobre o debate.
Automatically translated into Portuguese thanks to WorldLingo
O La Marre de Jean-Claude escreveu, dirigido e estrelas como Jesus i… O vencedor da arte co do novo-millennium de um compartimento Catholic… Caçador de Jeffrey no “rei dos reis.” Foto, 1961, cortesia…
Para muitos, a imagem de Jesus é aquela de um homem branco com cabelo blond ondulado e os olhos azuis -- tipo do caçador semelhante de Jeffrey em 1961's “rei dos reis.” Mas uma película nova, “cor da cruz,” mostra o savior Christian como um homem preto.
Moldando-se himself no papel da ligação, o escritor e o La Marre do diretor Jean-Claude são challenging uma opinião Jesus que é dominado desde as idades médias e a adição a um corpo crescente de películas de Hollywood com temas Christian, including a paixão de Gibson dos Mel “do Christ” e “do código de Da Vinci.” Destaca também um debate longo-simmering nas igrejas e nas universidades através do país.
A película, que abriu em outubro atrasado em 19 mercados por todo o país, abre sexta-feira no Theatre dos carvalhos em Berkeley. O La Marre teve papéis suportando nos filmes including 1992 dos Lee do ponto “Malcolm X” e “irmãos o ano passado dirigidos nos braços” David starring Carradine. A “cor da cruz” caracteriza também a actriz Debbi Morgan como a mãe de Jesus, Mary.
Embora a raça não cited overtly como uma razão para Jesus que slaying, em uma cena Mary pergunta, “você pensa d está fazendo isto porque é preto?” O La Marre disse que a introdução da cor da pele é particularmente significativa nos Estados Unidos, dados sua história torturada a respeito da raça.
“Quando você o vê na cruz, trá-lo realmente para trás aos dias do sul quando os homens pretos foram pendurados (das árvores),” disse o La Marre, 38. “Quando um homem preto o diz é o filho do deus, ele povos dos freaks para fora. ”
Pelas idades médias adiantadas, imagens de Jesus tinha desenvolvido temas comuns -- um beard bifurcado, um cabelo light-colored dos olhos, o côr de avelã ou o blond, e alisam características facial -- e foram usados em renderings artísticos incontáveis pelos gostos do da Vinci e Michelangelo de Leonardo.
William Loewe, professor de associado do theology e dos estudos religiosos na universidade Catholic em Washington, C.C., disse que é fácil encontrar os exemplos diários de como Jesus foi moldado como o europeu na civilização ocidental, citing um ícone religioso em seu próprio campus.
“É este extremamente muscular, a figura azul-eyed, blond-haired,” disse Loewe. “Eu encontro-o para ser ofensivo, tanto quanto eu sou concernido, porque parece ser tal negação de seu Jewishness. ”
A raça de Jesus foi debatida desde pelo menos o 19o século, com sociedades em partes diferentes do mundo que descreve o em seu próprio likeness. Mas em América, é visto tradicional como um homem branco em a maioria igrejas e de repousos, até recentemente.
O diretor Kevin Smith descreveu Jesus como um homem preto em sua 1999 película “Dogma,” com a rocha de Chris que joga um apostle preto cuja a história fosse apagada do canon biblical pela igreja.
“Tratar pensado I do crucifixion de Christ seria uma história boa,” La Marre dito. “Mas o um problema que eu tive, como a maioria de cristãos pretos têm, fui os depictions históricos de Hollywood de Christ. Os”
Scholars concordam que não há nenhuma descrição definitive de Christ no Bible. Apesar das passagens no livro do Revelation que consulta a Jesus com cabelo woolly e pele bronze-colorida, é descrito geralmente como tendo a pele branca, o cabelo fluindo e características facial européias.
O Rev. Cecil Murray, um ministro preto em Los Angeles e um professor da religião na universidade de Califórnia do sul, é creditado como um produtor para seu trabalho como um consultante na “cor da cruz.” Disse que a história das figuras biblical das mostras da região tais como Jesus e Moses teve o preto ou o meio - características orientais.
“Quando começam prontos para esconder Jesus como um bebê, sua mãe e seu pai fazem exame dele a Egipto. Você pode esconder o chocolate no meio do chocolate. Você não pode esconder o vanilla no meio do chocolate, “Murray dito.
Demite o argumento que o que é importante são a mensagem do savior do Testament novo e não sua cor da pele.
“Se querem o fazer azeitona-descascado, fino. Se quiserem o fazer pecan-descascado, fino. Mas para fazer-lhe o branco? “disse Murray. “Se nosso ícone da religião -- o founder da fé Christian -- olhado como nós, então nós não podemos ser tão maus como nós fomos descritos. ”
No St. Paul da igreja do Shipwreck na vizinhança americana predominantly africana de Bayview do San Francisco, seu priest anterior comissão fazer de um Jesus preto para o crucifix da igreja 20 anos há, os oficiais da igreja ditos.
St. Priest atual de Paul, o Rev. Paul Gawlowski, dito que quando as crianças na igreja se ouvirem que Jesus pode ter sido preto manda um profundo afetar em seu sentido do self.
“A idéia funde-os apenas ausentes e seus olhos justos vão largamente abertos,” disse Gawlowski. “Dá-lhes a liberdade. Sentem empowered e validados. “
“Significa muito a uma cultura do minority ver um Jesus que olhe mais como eles do que um Jesus europeu,” Gawlowski explicado, que disse que acredita se Jesus devesse o retornar hoje fosse um minority. “Escolheu os povos Hebrew, que tiveram uma história do oppression e do slavery, assim que é inteiramente provável que se Christ voltar hoje, pelo menos em América, seria americano africano, talvez alguém do heritage de Latino. ”
Loewe da universidade Catholic dito tendo uma interpretação literal da imagem de Jesus terá um efeito em como os povos se percebem e outros, com efeitos laterais potencial negativos: “Se é um de nós, esse os meios que não é um você,” disseram Loewe.
O La Marre disse que encontrou chefes skeptical do estúdio quando tentou originalmente lançar o filme, com algum dizendo o projeto não teve nenhuma possibilidade a menos que caracterizasse um ator como Denzel Washington ou Don Cheadle no papel da ligação. Alguns sugeriram o giro da película em uma ópera do hip-hop de moderno-dia que starring um rapper como o centavo 50.
“O que era difícil encontrava qualquer um que era disposto pôr o dinheiro na película. Dizer povos que você quer fazer o filme (isto) é como tentar dizer povos você quer fazer um filme sobre os anões que vivem na lua, “disse o La Marre.
O La Marre financiou finalmente os custos de gastos de fabricação $2.5 milhões mortgaging duas casas que possuiu, um em montes de Beverly e o outro do filme na praia sul de Miami. “Às vezes você tem que pôr seu dinheiro onde sua boca está, e eu acreditei realmente neste retrato,” disse.
O La Marre vendeu então a película à raposa, que liberou “a paixão do Christ” no vídeo. O filme de Gibson era uma quebra do caixa-escritório, ganhando $370 milhões no escritório de caixa doméstico em 2004. Em setembro, a raposa filmou o Entertainment anunciou plantas para produzir até películas de uns dúzia Cristãos-themed um o ano.
“Eu penso a raposa realizou esta faria o sentido bom,” disse o La Marre, que pensa que os povos estão com fome para estes tipos das histórias. “Eu penso que o mundo se está transformando mais de um lugar espiritual, para bom e mau, e os povos estão procurando todo o bocado do salvation que podem começar suas mãos sobre. ”
Jason B. Johnson, E-mail Jason B.
do escritor da equipe de funcionários do Chronicle. Johnson em jbjohnson@sfchronicle.com.
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Var vilken race Jesus? ”Färga av det argt” sätter ett olikt vänder mot på debatten.
Automatically translated into Swedish thanks to WorldLingo
Jean-Claude La Marre skrev, riktat och stjärnor som Jesus i…, Vinnaren av katolsk en tidskrifts ny-millenium konst co…, Jeffrey jägare i ”konung av konungar.”, Foto 1961, artighet…,
För många är avbilda av Jesus det av en vit man med wavy blont hår, och blått synar -- sort av den lika Jeffrey jägaren i 1961's ”konung av konungar.”, Men ett nytt filmar, ”färgar av det argt,” shows den kristna frälsaren som en svart man.
Vid själv i täten roll för rollbesättning utmanar författare- och direktörJean-Claude La Marre en beskåda av Jesus som domineras, sedan medeltiden och att tillfoga till växa förkroppsligar av Hollywood filmar med kristna teman som är inklusive MelGibsons ”passion av Kristus”, och ”Daen Vinci kodifierar.”, Den markerar också enputtra debatt i kyrkor och universitetar över landet.
Filma, som öppnade i sena Oktober i 19, marknadsför riksomfattande, öppnar fredag på Oakstheatren i Berkeley. La Marre har haft understödjes roller i grov spiklees för filmer däribland 1992 ”Malcolm X”, och i fjol beväpnar riktade ”bröder in” starring David Carradine. ”Färga av det argt” presenterar också aktrisen Debbi Morgan, som Jesus fostrar, Mary.
”Gör dig funderare som även om racen inte citeras offentligt, som en resonera för Jesuss slakt, i en plats Mary frågar, de gör detta, därför att han är svart?”, La Marre sade att utfärda av flår färgar är bestämt meningsfull i Förenta staterna som ges dess torterade historia angående racen.
”När du ser honom på det argt, kommer med som det egentligen dig, sade baksida till de sydliga dagarna, då svart man hängdes (från trees),” La Marre, 38. ”När en svart man berättar dig, är han sonen av guden, det flipper ur folk ut. ”
Vid tidig sortmedeltiden, avbildar av Jesus hade framkallat vanligt teman -- ett delat skägg som är light-colored synar, hazel eller blont hår, och slätar ansikts- särdrag -- och användes i otaliga konstnärliga tolkningar av något liknande av den Leonardo daen Vinci och Michelangelo.
William Loewe, förbunden professor av teologin och klosterbroderstudier på den katolska universitetar i Washington, D.C., sade att det är lätt att finna dagliga exempel av, hur Jesus har cast som europé i västra civilisation som citerar en religiös symbol på hans egna universitetsområde.
”Är det detta extremt muskulöst, blåögt, blond-haired figurera,” sade Loewe. ”Finner jag det för att vara offensiv, så avlägset som den angick I-förmiddagen, därför att den verkar för att vara en sådan förnekande av hans Jewishness. ”
Har racen av Jesus debatterats efter åtminstone det 19th århundradet, med samhällen i olika världsdelar som visar honom i deras egna likhet. Men i Amerika, ses han traditionellt som en vit man i mest kyrkor och hem, till för en tid sedan.
Direktören Kevin smeden beskrev Jesus som en svart man i hans 1999 filmar ”dogm,” med Chris vaggar att leka en svart apostel vars berättelse raderades från biblisk canon av kyrkan.
”I tänkt skulle handla med Kristus crucifixion är en bra berättelse,” La sagda Marre. ”Bara det ett problemet som jag hade, som mest svart kristen har, har varit de historiska Hollywood återgivningarna av Kristus. ”
Instämm forskare där är ingen definitiv beskrivning av Kristus i bibeln. Illviljapassager i boka av uppenbarelsen som ser till brons-färgade Jesus med ulligt hår och, flår, honom visas vanligt, som ha vit flå, särdrag för den flödande hår och européansiktsbehandlingen.
Rev.en Cecil Murray, en svart minister i Los Angeles och en professor av religion på universitetar av sydliga Kalifornien, krediteras, som en producent för hans arbete som en konsulent på ”färgar av det argt.”, Han sade att historien av de bibliska regionshowsna figurerar liksom Jesus och Moses hade svarten eller en mitt - östliga särdrag.
”När de får ordnar till för att dölja Jesus som en behandla som ett barn, fostrar his och, hans fader tar honom till Egypten. Du kan dölja choklad i mitt av choklad. Du kan inte dölja vanilj i mitt av choklad, ”sagda Murray.
Han avfärdar argumentet att vad är viktig är den nya testamentfrälsare meddelande och inte his flår färgar.
”Om de önskar att göra oliv-flåd honom, fint. Om de önskar att göra pecannöt-flåd honom, fint. Men att göra honom vit? ”sade Murray. ”Om vår symbol av religionen -- grundaren av den kristna tron -- sett likt oss, därefter kan vi inte vara som dåligan, som vi har visats. ”
På St. Paul av skeppsbrottkyrkan i den afrikansk amerikanBayview för San Franciscos huvudsakligen grannskapen, dess tidigare präst bemyndigade danandet av en svart Jesus för kyrka kor 20 år sedan, sagda kyrkliga representanter.
St. Pauls strömpräst, Rev.en Paul Gawlowski som sägs att, när barn i kyrkan hör att Jesus kan ha varit svarten den har en djupsinnig affekt på deras avkänning av själven.
”Synar de rättvisa slagen för idén dem bort och deras går precis vitt öppna,” sade Gawlowski. ”Ger det dem frihet. Dem känselförnimmelse som bemyndigas och valideras. ”
”Förklarade den hjälpmedel ett lott till en minoritetkultur som ser en Jesus, som ser mer något liknande dem än en europé Jesus,” Gawlowski, som sade att han tror, om Jesus skulle gå i dag honom tillbaka skulle är en minoritet. ”Valde han det hebréiska folket, som hade en historia av förtryck och slaveri, så det är helt rimligt att, om Kristus kom tillbaka i dag, åtminstone i Amerika, han skulle är afrikansk amerikan, kanske någon av det Latino arvet. ”
Katolska avbildar sagda universitetar Loewe ha en ordagrann tolkning av Jesus ska har en verkställa på, hur folket märker sig och andra, med potentiellt negationbiverkningar: ”Om han är en av oss, det sade hjälpmedlet som han inte är ett dig,”, Loewe.
La Marre sade att han mötte skeptical studiochefer, då han försökte ursprungligen att kasta filmen, med något ordstäv som projektera hade inget att riskera, om inte den presenterade en skådespelarenågot liknande Denzel Washington eller den universitetslärareCheadle i täten rollen. Något möjligt roterande filma in i endag höft-hoppar operan som starring en Cent för rapparenågot liknande 50.
”Vad var svår fann någon som var villig att sätta pengar in i filma. Träffande folk som du önskar att göra (detta) film är likt pröva som berättar folk, du önskar att göra en film om dvärgar som bor på moonen, ”sade La Marre.
La Marre finansierade ultimately film $2.5 miljoner produktion kostar, genom att inteckna två hus som han ägde, en i Beverly kullar och annan i Miami södra strand. ”Ibland måste du att sätta dina pengar var din mun är, och jag trodde egentligen i denna föreställer,” sade han.
La Marre sålde därefter filma för att lura, som utsläppt ”passionen av Kristus” på videoen. Gibsons film var enkontor dundersuccé som tjänar $370 miljoner i inhemsk biljettkontor i 2004. I September filmade räven meddelad underhållning planerar till jordbruksprodukter, upp till som en dussin Kristen-themed filmar ett år.
”Realiserade I-funderareräven att skulle detta gör bra avkänning,”, sade La Marre, som funderarefolket är hungrigt för dessa sorter av berättelser. ”Är I-funderare världen passande mer av en negro spiritual förlägger, för goda och dåliga, och folket söker efter några bet av räddning som de kan få deras räcker på. ”
Jason B. Johnson krönikaredaktionsskribent
e-post Jason B. Johnson på jbjohnson@sfchronicle.com.
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denna artikel visades på sida E - 1 av krönikan för San Francisco
Что гонкой было Иесус? «Цвет креста» одевает в по-разному сторону debate.
Automatically translated into Russian thanks to WorldLingo
La Marre Jean-Клод написал, после того как он сразу и звезды как Иесус iий… Winner искусствоа co нов-тысячелетия католической кассеты… Охотник Джеффри в «короле королей.» Фотоий, 1961, учтивость…
Для много, изображение Иесус то из белого человека с волнистыми белокурыми волосами и голубыми глазами -- вроде как охотник Джеффри в 1961's «король королей.» Но новая пленка, «цвет креста,» показывает Кристиан savior как черный человек.
Путем бросать в роли руководства, сочинитель и La Marre директора Jean-Клод challenging взгляд Иесус который преобладан с средние века и добавлять к телу пленок Hollywood с темами Кристиан, включая страсть Гибсон Mel «Christ» и «Кодего Da Vinci.» Он также выделяет длинний-simmering debate в церков и университетах по всей стране.
Пленка, которая раскрыла в в конце октября в 19 рынках общенародно, раскрывает пятницу на театре дубов в Berkeley. La Marre имел поддерживая роли в киноих включая 1992 Ли спайка «Malcolm x» и в прошлом году сразу «братья в рукоятках» starring Дэвид Carradine. «Цвет креста» также отличает actress Debbi Morgan как мать Jesus, Mary.
Хотя не цитируют гонку overtly как причина для Jesus slaying, в одном месте Mary спрашивает, «вы думает они делает это потому что он черн?» La Marre сказал вопрос цвета кожи определенно содержатен в Соединенных Штатах, котор дали свою попытанную историю относительно гонки.
«Когда вы видите его на кресте, они реально приносят вас back to южные дни когда были повиснуты черные люди (от валов),» сказали La Marre, 38. «Когда черный человек говорит вас он будет сынком бога, его люди уродов вне. »
предыдущими средние века, изображениями Иесус начал общие темы -- развлетвлянная борода, light-colored волосы глаз, карих или белокурых, и приглаживают лицевые характеристики -- и использовал в бесчисленных художнических renderings подобиями da Vinci и Michelangelo Leonardo.
William Loewe, профессор сподвижницы теологии и вероисповедных изучений на католическом университете в вашингтоне, D.C., сказал легко найти ежедневные примеры как Иесус было брошено как евроец в западной цивилизации, цитируя вероисповедную икону на его собственном campus.
«Оно эти весьма мышечными, голубой-eyed, белокурый-haired рисунок,» сказал Loewe. «Я нахожу его для того чтобы быть одиозн, насколько я отношусь, потому что он кажется, что будет таким запирательством его Jewishness. »
Debated гонка Иесус с по крайней мере 19th столетия, с обществами в по-разному частях мира показывая его в их собственном likeness. Но в америке, он традиционно увиден как белый человек в большинств церков и домах, until recently.
Директор Кевин Smith описал Иесус как черный человек в его 1999 пленке «вероучение,» при утес Крис играя черного апостола рассказ которого был стерт от библейского канона церковью.
«Christ думаемого crucifixion I dealing with было бы хорошим рассказом,» La сказанное Marre. «Только одна проблема, котор я имел, по мере того как большинств черные христианки имеют, был историческими живописаниями Hollywood Christ. »
Эрудиты соглашаются не будет окончательного описания Christ в библии. Несмотря на проходы в книге откровения refer to Иесус с шерстистыми волосами и бронз-покрашенной кожей, он обычно показан как имеющ белую кожу, пропуская волос и европейские лицевые характеристики.
Реверсор. Чредитовано Сесиль Murray, черный министр в Лос-Анджелес и профессор вероисповедания на университете южного California, по мере того как производитель для его работы как консультант на «цвете креста.» Он сказал история библейских рисунков выставок зоны such as Иесус и Moses имела черноту или середину - восточные характеристики.
«Когда они получают готовыми спрятать Иесус как младенец, его мать и его отец принимают его к Египту. Вы можете спрятать шоколад в midst шоколада. Вы не можете спрятать ваниль в midst шоколада, «сказанное Murray.
Он увольняет аргумент что важно сообщение savior Нового завета и не его цвет кожи.
«Если они хотят сделать оливк-снятое кожу с его, то точно. Если они хотят сделать пекан-снятое кожу с его, то точно. Но сделать им белизну? «сказал Murray. «Если наша икона вероисповедания -- основатель христианская вера -- я посмотрены как мы, после этого мы не можем быть как плох по мере того как мы были показаны. »
На St. Пол церков кораблекрушением в районе Bayview San Francisco большей частью африканском американском, свой бывший священник поручило делать черного Иесус на распятие церков 20 лет тому назад, сказанные должностные лица церков.
St. Священник Пол в настоящее время, реверсор. Пол Gawlowski, сказанное что когда дети в церков слышат что Иесус может быть чернотой она имеет глубокомысленное повлиять на на их чувстве собственной личности.
«Идея как раз дует они отсутствующе и их глаза справедливые идут wide open,» сказал Gawlowski. «Оно дает им вольность. Они чувствуют empowered и утверженными. «
«Он намеревается много к культуре несовершеннолетия увидеть Иесус смотрит more like они чем европейское Иесус,» объясненное Gawlowski, которое сказало он верит если Иесус должны было возвратить сегодня его было бы несовершеннолетием. «Он выбрал древнееврейские людей, которые имели историю утеснения и невольничества, поэтому вс правоподобно что если Christ come back сегодня, по крайней мере в америке, то он был африканским американцом, возможно кто-то из наследия Latino. »
Сказанное Loewe католического университета имеющ буквальное толкование изображения Jesus будет иметь влияние на как люди воспринимают и другие, с потенциальн отрицательными побочными эффектами: «Если он одним из нас, то т середины, котор он не одним вы,» сказали Loewe.
La Marre сказал он столкнулось скептичные вожди студии когда он первоначально попытался соорудить киноего, с некоторым говоря проект не имело никакой шанс если он не отличить актером как вашингтон Denzel или Дон Cheadle в роли руководства. Некоторые предложили поворачивать пленку в оперу вальм-хмеля самомоднейш-дня starring rapper как цент 50.
«Было трудно нашл любое было охотно готово положить деньг в пленку. Говорить людей, котор вы хотите сделать киноего (этого) как пытаться сказать людей вы хотите сделать киноего о карликах живя на луне, «сказал La Marre.
La Marre предельно профинансировал $2.5 миллиона цену производства киноего путем закладывать 2 дома, котор он имел, одна в холмах Беверли и другая в пляже Miami южном. «Иногда вы должны класть вашу деньг где ваш рот, и я реально верил в этом изображении,» он сказал.
La Marre после этого продал пленку к лисице, которая выпустила «страсть Christ» на видеоем. Киноим Гибсон был smash коробк-офиса, зарабатывая $370 миллионов в отечественных кассах в 2004. В сентябре, лисица сняла зрелищность объявила планы для того чтобы произвести до пленок дюжины Христианок-themed год.
«Я думаю лисица осуществило это сделало хорошее чувство,» сказал La Marre, который думает люди голодны для этих видов рассказов. «Я думаю мир будет больше из духовного места, для хорошего и плохого, и люди ищут любой бит спасения, котор они могут получить их руки дальше. »
B. Джейсон. Johnson, B. Джейсон и-мэйла
сочинителя штата хроники. Johnson на jbjohnson@sfchronicle.com.
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/11/07/DDG0VM628B1.DTL
эта статья появилось на страницу e - 1 из хроники San Francisco
Welk ras was Jesus? De „kleur van het Kruis“ zet een verschillend gezicht op het debat.
Automatically translated into Dutch thanks to WorldLingo
Jean-Claude La Marre schreef, geleid en sterren als Jesus i… De winnaar van mede het nieuw-millennium de kunst van een Katholiek tijdschrift… De Jager van Jeffrey in „Koning van Koningen.“ Foto, 1961, hoffelijkheid…
Voor velen, is het beeld van Jesus dat van een witte mens met golvend blond haar en blauwe ogen -- soort gelijkaardige Jager Jeffrey in 1961's „Koning van Koningen.“ Maar een nieuwe film, „Kleur van het Kruis,“ toont Christelijke savior als zwarte mens.
Door in de loodrol te gieten, schrijver en directeurs Jean-Claude daagt La Marre een mening van Jesus uit die sinds de MiddenLeeftijden en het toevoegen aan een groeiend lichaam van films Hollywood met Christelijke thema's, met inbegrip van Mel Hartstocht van Gibson de „van Christus“ en de „Code van DA Vinci.“ wordt overheerst Het benadrukt ook een lang-suddert debat op kerken en universiteiten over het land.
De film, die in recent Oktober in 19 nationale markten opende, opent Vrijdag bij het Theater van Eiken in Berkeley. La Marre heeft ondersteunende rollen in movies met inbegrip van 1992 „Malcolm X“ en vorig jaar geleide „Wapenbroeders“ Starring David Carradine van de Aar van de Luwtes gehad. De „kleur van het Kruis“ kenmerkt ook actress Debbi Morgan als moeder van Jesus, Mary.
Hoewel de race niet openlijk wordt aangehaald aangezien een reden voor het doden van Jesus, in één scène Mary vraagt, „denkt u zij dit doen omdat hij?“ zwart is La Marre zei de kwestie van huidkleur in de Verenigde Staten, gezien zijn gemartelde geschiedenis betreffende ras bijzonder zinvol is.
„Wanneer u hem op het kruis ziet, brengt het u werkelijk terug naar de Zuidelijke dagen toen de zwarte mensen (van bomen),“ bovengenoemd La Marre, 38 werden gehangen. „Wanneer een zwarte mens u vertelt is hij uit de zoon van God, het freaks mensen. “
Door de vroege MiddenLeeftijden, hadden de beelden van Jesus gemeenschappelijke thema's ontwikkeld -- een vertakte baard, lichte ogen, een hazelaar of een blond haar, en vlotte gezichtseigenschappen -- en werden gebruikt in het talloze artistieke teruggeven door houdt van van Leonardo da Vinci en Michelangelo.
William Loewe, verwante professor van theologie en godsdienstige studies bij Katholieke Universiteit in Washington, D.C., zei het gemakkelijk is om dagelijkse voorbeelden van te vinden hoe Jesus Europees in Westelijke beschaving is gegoten, aanhalend een godsdienstig pictogram op zijn eigen campus.
„Het is dit uiterst spier, blauw-eyed, blond-haired cijfer,“ bovengenoemde Loewe. „Ik vind het aanvallend om te zijn, wat ik betreft, omdat het zulk een ontkenning van zijn Jewishness schijnt te zijn. De“
race van Jesus is gedebatteerd sinds minstens de 19de eeuw, met maatschappijen die in verschillende delen van de wereld hem de afschilderen in hun eigen gelijkenis. Maar in Amerika, wordt hij traditioneel gezien als witte mens in meeste kerken en de huizen, tot onlangs.
Directeur Kevin Smith beschreef Jesus als zwarte mens in zijn film „Dogma van 1999,“ met Chris Rock die zwarte apostle speelt het van wie verhaal van bijbelse canon door de kerk werd gewist.
„I gedacht zou behandelend de kruisiging van Christus een goed verhaal zijn,“ La bovengenoemde Marre. „Maar het één probleem dat ik heb gehad, aangezien de meeste zwarte Christenen hebben, ben geweest historische depictions Hollywood van Christus. De“
geleerden gaan akkoord er geen definitieve beschrijving van Christus in de Bijbel is. Ondanks passages in het Boek dat van Revelatie naar Jesus met wollig haar en brons-gekleurde huid verwijst, wordt hij gewoonlijk afgeschilderd zoals hebbend witte huid, stromend haar en Europese gezichtseigenschappen.
Toer. Cecil Murray, een zwarte minister in Los Angeles en een professor van godsdienst bij de Universiteit van Zuidelijk Californië, worden gecrediteerd als producent voor zijn werk als adviseur op „Kleur van het Kruis.“ Hij zei de geschiedenis van het bijbelse gebied cijfers zoals Jesus toont en Mozes zwarte of Van het Middenoosten eigenschappen had.
„Wanneer zij klaar worden om Jesus als baby te verbergen, nemen zijn moeder en zijn vader hem aan Egypte. U kunt chocolade in het midden van chocolade verbergen. U kunt geen vanille in het midden van chocolade verbergen, „bovengenoemde Murray.
Hij verwerpt het argument dat wat belangrijk is het bericht van Nieuwe savior van het Testament en niet zijn huidkleur is.
„Als zij hem willen olijf-gevild maken, boete. Als zij hem willen pecannoot-gevild maken, boete. Maar om hem wit te maken? „bovengenoemde Murray. „Als ons pictogram van godsdienst -- de stichter van het Christelijke geloof -- gekeken als ons, dan kunnen wij niet zo slecht zijn aangezien wij zijn afgeschilderd. “
Bij St. Paul van de Kerk van de Schipbreuk in Afrikaanse Amerikaanse buurt Bayview van San Francisco de hoofdzakelijk, zijn vroegere priester droeg het maken van een zwarte Jesus voor het kruisbeeld van de kerk 20 jaar op geleden, bovengenoemde kerkambtenaren.
St. De huidige priester van Paul, Toer. Paul Gawlowski, zei dat wanneer de kinderen in de kerk horen dat Jesus zwart kan geweest zijn het diepgaande affect op hun betekenis van zelf heeft.
Het „idee blaast hen weg enkel en hun ogen enkel gaan wijd open,“ bovengenoemde Gawlowski. „Het geeft hen vrijheid. Zij voelen gemachtigd en bevestigd. „
„Het betekent een partij aan een minderheidscultuur om een Jesus te zien die meer als hen dan een Europese Jesus kijkt,“ verklaarde Gawlowski, die zei hij gelooft als Jesus vandaag moest terugkeren hij zou zijn een minderheid. „Hij plukte de Hebreeuwse mensen, die een geschiedenis van onderdrukking en de slavernij hadden, zodat is het volledig waarschijnlijk dat als Christus, op zijn minst in Amerika vandaag terugkwam, hij Afrikaanse Amerikaan, misschien iemand van Latino erfenis zou zijn. Bovengenoemde
Loewe van de“ katholieke Universiteit zal het hebben van een letterlijke interpretatie van het beeld van Jesus een effect hebben op hoe de mensen zich en anderen, met potentieel negatieve bijwerkingen waarnemen: „Als hij één van ons is, betekent dat hij geen één u,“ bovengenoemde Loewe is.
La Marre zei hij sceptische studioleiders toen hij oorspronkelijk probeerde om movie te werpen, met sommigen die het project zeggen had geen kans ontmoette tenzij het een acteur zoals Denzel Washington kenmerkte of trekt Cheadle in de loodrol aan. Sommige voorgesteld veranderend de film in modern-dag heup-hop een opera die rapper zoals Cent 50 starring.
„Wat moeilijk was vond iedereen wie bereid was om geld in de film te zetten. Het vertellen van mensen u (dit) movie wilt maken is als het proberen mensen te vertellen u wilt movie over dwergen maken die op de maan leven, „bovengenoemd La Marre.
La Marre financierde uiteindelijk de movie $2.5 miljoen productiekosten door twee huizen te verpanden die hij, in Beverly Hills en andere in het Strand van het Zuiden van Miami heeft bezeten. „Soms moet u uw geld zetten waar uw mond is, en ik geloofde werkelijk in dit beeld,“ hij zei.
La Marre verkocht toen de film aan Vos, die de „Hartstocht van Christus“ op video vrijgaf. Movie van Gibson was doos-bureau ineenstorting, die $370 miljoen in binnenlands bespreekbureau in 2004 een verdient. In September, kondigde aan het Vermaak van Filmed van de Vos plannen tot een dozijn de te veroorzaken films een jaar christelijk-Themed.
„ik denk de Vos realiseerde dit goede,“ bovengenoemd La Marre steek zou houden, dat denkt de mensen voor deze soorten verhalen hongerig zijn. „Ik denk de wereld meer van een geestelijke plaats wordt, voor goed en slecht, en de mensen om het even welk beetje van redding zoeken zij hun handen op kunnen krijgen. “
Jason B. Johnson, stelt de Schrijver E-mail
Jason B. van het Personeel te boek. Johnson bij jbjohnson@sfchronicle.com.
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/11/07/DDG0VM628B1.DTL
Dit artikel op pagina E verscheen - 1 van San Francisco stelt te boek
ما جنس كان يسوع? "يضع لون من الصليب" وجه مختلفة على المناقشة.
Automatically translated into Arabic thanks to WorldLingo
[جن-كلود] كتب لا [مرّ], يوجّه ونجوم كيسوع [إي]… الرابحة من مجلة كاثوليكيّة [نو-ميلّنّيوم] فن مجموعة… جيفري صياد في "ملك الأملاك." [فوتو], 1961, ملاطفة…
ل كثير, الصورة يسوع أنّ من رجل بيضاء مع شعر متموّجة شقراء وأعين زرقاء -- نوع من مثل جيفري صياد في 1961 "ملك من أملاك." غير أنّ يبدي فيلم جديدة, "لون من الصليب," المنقذة مسيحية كرجل سوداء.
ب يصبّبنفسي في الرصاص دور, كاتبة ومديرة [جن-كلود] لا [مرّ] صعبة منظرة يسوع أنّ يكون سيطرت منذ الأعمار متوسّطة ويضيف إلى ينمو جسم من هوليوود أفلام مع مواضيع مسيحية, بما في ذلك [مل] [جبسن] "العاطفة من مسيح" و" [دا] [فينس] رمز." هو أيضا يركّز مناقشة [لونغ-سمّرينغ] في كنائس وجامعات عبر البلد.
يفتح الفيلم, أيّ فتح في أكتوبر - تشرين الأوّل متأخّرة في 19 أسواق [نأيشنويد], يوم الجمعة في البلوط ساحة في [بركلي]. قد تلقّى لا [مرّ] يساند أدوار في أفلام بما في ذلك مسمار مآوي 1992"مالكولم [إكس]" و [لست ر] يوجّه "إخوان في [أرمس]" يتألّق دايفيد [كرّدين]. "يظهر لون من الصليب" أيضا ممثلة [دبّي] [مورغن] كيسوع أم, ميري.
رغم أنّ جنس يكون لا [أفرتلي] ذكرت كسبب ليسوع يذبح, في واحدة مشهد يسأل ميري, "أنت يفكّر هم يتمّ هذا لأنّ هو يكون سوداء?" قال لا [مرّ] الإصدار من جلد لون بشكل خاصّ ذو معنى في الولايات المتّحدة الأمريكيّة, يعطى ه يعذّب تاريخ بخصوص جنس.
"عندما يرىه أنت على الصليب, هو حقّا يحضر أنت [بك تو] الأيام جنوبيّة عندما رجال سوداء كان علقت (من أشجار)," قال لا [مرّ], 38. "عندما يقول رجل سوداء أنت هو الإبنة الإلهة, هو شاذات الناس خارجا. كان"
بالأعمار مبكّرة متوسّطة, صور يسوع قد طوّر مواضيع عاديّة -- يملّس يتشعّب لحية, [ليغت-كلورد] أعين, بندقيّة أو شعر شقراء, وسمات وجهيّة -- استعملت وكان في أداء لا يحصى فنّيّة بالرغبات من ليوناردو [دا] [فينس] و [ميشلنجلو].
قال وليام [لوو], [أسّوست بروفسّور] من لاهوت ودراسات دينيّة في جامعة كاثوليكيّة في واشنطن, [د.ك.], هو يتيح أن يجد مثل يوميّة من كيف يسوع يتلقّى يكون صببت بما أنّ أوروبية في حضارة غربيّة, يذكر أيقون دينيّة على ه خاصّة حرم جامعيّ.
"هو هذا جدّا عضليّة, [بلو-د], قال رقم [بلوند-هيرد]," [لوو]. "يجد أنا هو أن يكون هجوميّة, [أس فر س] أنا تعلّقت, لأنّ هو يبدو أن يكون هذا إنكار من [جويشنسّ] ه. "
ناقشت الجنس يسوع يتلقّى يكون منذ على الأقلّ ال [19ث] قرن, مع مجتمعات في أجزاء مختلفة من العالم يصفه في هم خاصّة شبه. غير أنّ في أمريكا, رأيت هو تقليديّا يكون كرجل بيضاء في كثير كنائس ومنازل, [أونتيل رسنتلي].
وصف مديرة [كفين] [سميث] يسوع كرجل سوداء في ه 1999 فيلم "عقيدة," مع [كريس] صخرة يلعب رسول سوداء الذي قصة كان محيت من قائمة توراتيّة بالكنيسة.
"أنا كان يفكّر يعالج مع مسيح عمليّة صلب قصة جيّدة," لا [مرّ] يقال. "غير أنّ الواحدة مشكلة أنا تلقّيت, بما أنّ كثير مسيحيات سوداء يتلقّون, يكون التاريخيّة هوليوود أوصاف مسيح. "
يوافق طالبات هناك ما من وصف محدّدة مسيح في الكتاب مقدّس. على الرغم من ممرات في الكتاب الوحي يحيل يسوع مع شعر صوفيّة و [برونز-كلورد] جلد, وصفت هو عادة بما أنّ يتلقّى جلد بيضاء, يتدفّق شعر وسمات أوروبيّة وجهيّة.
ال [رف.]. منحت [سسل] [مورّي], وزيرة سوداء في [لوس نجلس] وأستاذة من دين في الجامعة من كاليفورنيا جنوبيّة, بما أنّ منتج لعمله كمستشارة على "لون من الصليب." هو قال تلقّى التاريخ من التوراتيّة منطقة أعراض أرقام مثل يسوع و [موسس] أسود أو وسط - سمات شرقيّة.
"عندما يحصل هم يتأهّب أن يخفي يسوع كطفلة, أمه وأبه يأخذه إلى مصر. أنت يستطيع أخفيت شوكولاطة في الغمرة الشوكولاطة. أنت يستطيع لا يخفي ونلّة في الغمرة الشوكولاطة, "[مورّي] يقال.
هو يصرف الحجة أنّ ماذا يكون مهمّة يكون ال [نو تستمنت] منقذة رسالة ولا ه جلد لون.
"إن هم يريدون أن يجعله [أليف-سكينّد], دقيقة. إن هم يريدون أن يجعله [بكن-سكينّد], دقيقة. غير أنّ أن يجعله أبيض? "قال [مورّي]. "إن أيقوننا الدين -- المؤسسة من الإيمان مسيحية -- ينظر مثل نا, بعد ذلك نحن يستطيع لا يكون مثل سيّئة بما أنّ وصفت نحن يتلقّى يكون. "
في [ست.] انتدب بول من الحطام سفينة كنيسة في [سن فرنسسك] [أفريكن] أمريكيّة [بفيو] جوار غالبا, كاهنه سابقة ال يجعل من يسوع سوداء للكنيسة صليب 20 سنون [أغو], كنيسة مسؤولات يقال.
[ست.] بول كاهن حاليّة, ال [رف.]. بول [غولووسكي], يقال أنّ عندما يسمع أطفال في الكنيسة أنّ يسوع يمكن يتلقّى كنت أسود هو يتلقّى عميقة أثرت على إحساسهم النفس.
"يفجّرهم الفكرة فقط بعيد وأعينهم صحيحة يذهبون [ويد وبن]," قال [غولووسكي]. "يعطيهم هو حرية. هم يشعرون يفوّض ويصدق. "
"يعني هو كثيرا إلى أقلية ثقافة أن يرى يسوع أنّ ينظر أشبه هم من يسوع أوروبيّة," يفسّر [غولووسكي], الذي قال هو يصدق إن يسوع كان أن يرجع اليوم هو كان أقلية. "التقط هو الالناس عبريّة, الذي تلقّى تاريخ من إضطهاد وعبودية, لذلك هو كلّيّا مرجّحة أنّ إن مسيح عاود اليوم, على الأقلّ في أمريكا, هو كان أمريكية [أفريكن], ربّما أحد ما من [لتينو] ميراث. "
جامعة كاثوليكيّة سيتلقّى [لوو] يقال يتلقّى تفسير حرفيّة من يسوع صورة تأثير على كيف الناس يلاحظون بنفسي وأخرى, مع [سد فّكت] سلبيّة احتماليّا: "إن هو يكون واحدة من نا, أنّ قال [منس] هو ليس واحدة أنت," [لوو].
قال لا [مرّ] هو واجه [سكبتيك] إستوديو رؤساء عندما هو أصلا حاول أن يزفّت الفيلم, مع بعض يقول المشروع تلقّى ما من فرصة ما لم هو أظهر ممثلة مثل [دنزل] واشنطن أو اتّخذ شكل [شدل] في الرصاص دور. بعض اقترح يلتفت الفيلم داخل [مودرن-دي] [هيب-هوب] أوبرا يتألّق [ربّر] مثل 50 سنة.
"ماذا كان يصعب كان وجد أيّ شخص الذي كان مستعدّة أن يضع مال داخل الفيلم. قال يقول الناس أنت تريد أن يجعل (هذا) فيلم مثل يحاول أن يقول الناس أنت تريد أن يجعل فيلم حول قزمات يعيش على القمر, "لا [مرّ].
موّل لا [مرّ] أخيرا الفيلم $2.5 مليون [برودوكأيشن كست] ب يرهن اثنان منازل هو امتلك, واحدة في [بفرلي هيلّ] والأخرى في ميامي شاطئ جنوبيّة. "أحيانا أنت يضطرّ وضعت مالك حيث فمك يكون, وصدق أنا حقّا في هذا صورة," هو قال.
باع لا [مرّ] بعد ذلك الفيلم إلى ثعلب, أيّ أطلق "العاطفة من مسيح" على فيديو. [جبسن] كان فيلم [بوإكس-وفّيس] تحطم, يكسب $370 مليون في [بوإكس وفّيس] محلّية في 2004. في سبتمبر - أيلول, صوّر ثعلب ترفيه أعلن خطط أن ينتج حتّى اثنا عشر [كريستين-ثمد] أفلام [ا] سنة.
"يفكّر أنا ثعلب حقّق هذا جعل إحساس جيّدة," قال لا [مرّ], الذي يفكّر الناس جائعة ل هذا أنواع القصص. "يفكّر أنا العالم يصبح أكثر من مكان روحانيّة, لجيّدة وسيّئة, والناس يفتّشون أيّ لقمة الإنقاذ هم يستطيع حصلت أياديهم فوق. "
[جسن] [ب.]. جونسون, تاريخ سير ملاكة كاتبة
بريد إلكترونيّ [جسن] [ب.]. جونسون في [جبجوهنسنسفكرونيكل.كم].
ظهر http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/11/07/DDG0VM628B1.DTL
هذا مادة على صفحة [إ] - 1 من [سن فرنسسك] تاريخ سير
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| December 2, 2007 | 11:40 PM |
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The World's Most Polluted Places
Related to country: Russia
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Black snow. Coal dust. Sulfuric air. Welcome to life in the world's most polluted places.
Chockablock with heavy metals, chemical waste, air pollutants and, in the case of infamous Chernobyl, Ukraine, deadly radiation, these are the worst industrial cesspools on earth--and they rarely make headlines. Nothing in the West compares.
"In some towns, life expectancy approaches medieval rates, and birth defects are the norm, not the exception," according to the nonprofit Blacksmith Institute, which compiled the list earlier this fall. "In others, children's asthma rates are measured above 90%, and mental retardation is endemic."
China, India and Russia landed six cities on this list of 10. Fast-track economic growth and years of unregulated mining and chemical production have laid waste to the homes of millions.
Take Norilsk, Russia. A Siberian industrial city founded in 1935 as a slave labor camp, Norilsk contains the world's largest heavy-metals smelting complex, owned by Norilsk Nickel. It releases nearly 500 tons each of copper and nickel oxides and 2 million tons of sulfur dioxide into the air. Reports say the snow is black, the air tastes of sulfur and the life expectancy for factory workers is 10 years below the Russian average. The company has pledged to work with Blacksmith to improve conditions.
Others on the list include:
--Sumgayit, Azerbaijan, a former Soviet industrial center where cancer rates are more than 22% higher than in the rest of the country.
--Linfen, China, home to 3 million people and the center of the country's booming coal industry. Residents claim they often choke on the dust in the air in the evenings.
--Tianying, China, known for being the center of the country's lead processing industry is also known for having the worst air pollution in China.
--Sukinda, India, is home to 97% of India's chromite ore deposits (used in the production of chromium, an industrial metal with many uses), and it has one of the largest open-cast chromite ore mines in the world. Here, some 70% of the surface water and 60% of the drinking water contains hexavalent chromium, a powerful, cancer-causing carcinogen, at more than double national and international standards.
--Dzerzhinsk, Russia, once the center of Soviet chemical weapon production and home to a leaded gasoline plant, had nearly 300,000 tons of chemical waste improperly disposed between 1930 and 1998. Seeping into the groundwater: around 190 identified chemicals.
In 2006, Blacksmith started cataloging hyper-polluted hot spots around the world to draw attention to their poisonous effects. Blacksmith asks for nominations from around the world, assembling a database of 400 candidates. They're scored using criteria emphasizing human health (especially the young), developed by researchers from Johns Hopkins University; Hunter College; Harvard University; the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi; the University of Idaho; Mount Sinai Hospital; and Green Cross Switzerland.
What to do about these hellholes? Blacksmith's founder and director, Richard Fuller, says for less than $1 billion you could significantly mitigate the unhealthy effects of all the worst places across the globe. Simple fixes like digging up the toxic materials and moving them to safer areas away from people can have huge benefits. Other solutions are more complex, but still cheap, such as injecting a sugary mixture into a water supply contaminated by hexavalent chromium to make it less toxic and less mobile underground.
"If you spend 10% of the money, you deal with 90% of the problem," he says. "The fact of the matter is that children are sick and dying in these polluted places. And it's not rocket science to fix them."
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| December 2, 2007 | 9:46 PM |
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Congo-Brazzaville: Blood Diamonds No Longer Country's Best Friend
Related to country: Congo
available in: (original) | | | | | | | | |
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The announcement that the Republic of the Congo, or Congo-Brazzaville, has been readmitted to the Kimberley Process, which aims to stem the flow of conflict diamonds, marks a breakthrough.
Congo-Brazzaville was expelled from the-then year-old process in 2004 for exporting diamonds from its war-wracked neighbour, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and falsifying certificates of origin.
"Congo-Brazzaville comes back now after a very serious domestic effort to put their house in order and to get their domestic systems to the level required," Karel Kovanda, chairperson of the Kimberly Process secretariat, told IPS. "It was quite an emotional moment. We're always happy to have new people (come on board the Kimberley Process)."
Congo-Brazzaville's fate is just the latest example of the enforcement procedure which gets its name from the South African city where one of the first meetings was held on stemming the flow of diamonds used by rebel armies or other groups to fund conflict.
Congo-Brazzaville, which gained its independence from France in 1960, saw a series of coups and assassinations from that time on, erupting into a full-scale civil war in 1997 when forces loyal to current President Denis Sassou Nguesso (who also ruled the country from 1979 to 1992) ousted President Pascal Lissouba with the support of the Angolan army.
The two-year conflict was estimated to have claimed at least 10,000 lives. A peace agreement signed by the Nguesso government with various rebel factions in March 2003 is still viewed as fragile.
Extending beyond the upheaval in Congo-Brazzaville, an even larger war in the immense DRC also raged, killing at least 3 million people and seeing a host of rebel armies attempting to profit from the country's natural resources, along with armed forces from Angola, Namibia, Rwanda, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
Congo-Brazzaville's exportation of diamonds in numbers far beyond its ability to produce was the first warning sign that something was amiss, officials with the Kimberly Process say.
Diamonds also served as a driving force in the funding of Sierra Leone's 1991-2002 civil war which saw widespread atrocities committed by the Revolutionary United Front (RUF).
Smuggled diamonds from that country also fostered the long-running conflict in Liberia which, under President Charles Taylor, effectively served as the RUF's patron state. Taylor is currently awaiting trial in The Hague for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Now, the three part Kimberly Process aims to ensure that diamonds do not finance any entity seeking to overthrow a government recognized by the United Nations, that all diamond exports be accompanied by a Kimberley Process certificate proving origin, and that member states don't act as third-party brokers for non-member states.
"Countries must have a legal framework in place that uses necessary import and export controls and controls on issuance of certificates," says Stephane Chardon, chairperson of the Kimberly Process working group responsible for re-admitting Congo. "You must be able to trace the diamonds from the mine to the export points."
For its part the United States' Clean Diamond Trade Act, which was implemented in 2003, prohibits "the importation into, or exportation from, the United States of any rough diamond, from whatever source, that has not been controlled through the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme".
The European Union's position on conflict diamonds, meanwhile, was articulated in a 2001 position paper which affirmed that the Union and its member states "shall support and contribute to the efforts of the international community to break the link between conflict diamonds and the financing of armed conflict".
The struggle against conflict diamonds is far from over, though, observers said.
Even though the guns have fallen silent in Côte d'Ivoire's civil war, for example, the country remains split in half between a southern region controlled by forces loyal to the government of President Laurent Gbagbo and a northern and western one under the sway of the Forces Nouvelles (New Forces) rebel movement.
In October of this year, the United Nations Security Council renewed diamond sanctions against Cote d'Ivoire due to their concerns about the production and illicit export of the precious stones and asked that the Kimberley Process continued to communicate information to the body regarding the issue.
"The process certainly restricts the trade in blood diamonds but it hasn't totally eradicated it," said Ayesha Kajee, programme director with the International Human Rights Exchange (IHRE) at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. "But, in itself, this case is an indication that the Kimberley process has succeeded to some extent."
CongoBrazzaville: Blood Diamonds No Longer Country' s Best Friend
Automatically translated into Spanish thanks to WorldLingo
The announcement that the Republic of the Congo, or CongoBrazzaville, has been readmitted to the Kimberley Process, which aims to stem the flow of conflict diamonds, marks a breakthrough.
CongoBrazzaville was expelled from the-then year-old process in 2004 for exporting diamonds from its war-wracked neighbour, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and falsifying certificates of origin.
“CongoBrazzaville comes back now after a very serious domestic effort to put their house in order and to get their domestic systems to the level required,” Karel Kovanda, chairperson apagado the Kimberly Proceso Secretariado, told IPS. “IT was quite año emotional momento. We' re always happy to have new people (como él board the Kimberley Proceso). “
El Congo-Brazzaville' s fate is just the latest example apagado the enforcement procedimiento which gets its name from the South African city where one apagado the first reuniones was held él stemming the flow apagado diamonds Used by rebel armies ahora bien other groups to fund conflict.
CongoBrazzaville, which gained its independence from France in 1960, saw a series of coups and assassinations from that time on, erupting into a full-scale civil war in 1997 when forces loyal to current President Denis Sassou Nguesso (who also ruled the country from 1979 to 1992) ousted President Pascal Lissouba with the support of the Angolan army.
The two-year conflict was estimated to have claimed at least 10,000 lives. A peace agreement signed by the Nguesso government with various rebel factions in March 2003 is still viewed as fragile.
Extending beyond the upheaval in CongoBrazzaville, an even larger war in the immense DRC also raged, killing at least 3 million people and seeing a host of rebel armies attempting to profit from the country' s natural resources, along with armed forces from Angola, Namibia, Rwanda, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
Congo-Brazzaville' s exportation of diamonds in numbers far beyond its ability to produce was the first warning sign that something was amiss, officials with the Kimberly Process say.
Diamonds also served as a driving force in the funding of Sierra Leone' s 1991-2002 civil war which saw widespread atrocities committed by the Revolutionary United Front (RUF).
Smuggled diamonds from that country also fostered the long-running conflict in Liberia which, under President Charles Taylor, effectively served as the RUF' s patron state. Taylor is currently awaiting trial in The Hague for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Now, the three part Kimberly Process aims to ensure that diamonds do not finance any entity seeking to overthrow a government recognized by the United Nations, that all diamond exports be accompanied by a Kimberley Process certificate proving origin, and that member states don' t act as third-party brokers for no member states.
“Countries must corta tiene legal framework en lugar that utilizado necessary importaciones and exportación controles and controles él issuance apagado certificates,” says Stephane Chardon, chairperson of the Kimberly Process working group responsible for readmitting Congo. “You must Be morralla to traza the diamonds from the mina to the exportación puntos. ”
For its part the United States' Clean Diamond Trade Act, which was implemented in 2003, prohibits “the importación into, ahora bien exportación from, the United States apagado any rough diamond, from whatever fuente, that has not been controlled through the Kimberley Proceso Certificación Diseño”.
The European Union' s position on conflict diamonds, meanwhile, was articulated in a 2001 position paper which affirmed that the Union and its member states “shall support and contribute to the efforts of the international community to break the link between conflict diamonds and the financing of armed conflict”.
The struggle against conflict diamonds is far from over, though, observers said.
Even though the guns have fallen silent in Côte d' ivoire' s civil war, for example, the country remains split in half between a southern region controlled by forces loyal to the government of President Laurent Gbagbo and a northern and western one under the sway of the Forces Nouvelles (New Fuerzas) rebel movement.
In October of this year, the United Nations Security Council renewed diamond sanctions against Côte d' ivoire due to their concerns about the production and illicit export of the precious stones and asked that the Kimberley Process continued to communicate information to the body regarding the issue.
“The process certainly restricts the trade in blood diamonds but it hasn' t totally eradicated it,” said Ayesha Kajee, programme director with the International Human Rights Exchange (IHRE) at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. “But, in itself, this case is an indication that the Kimberley process has succeeded to some extent.”
Congo-Brazzaville: Blood Diamonds no longer Country's Best Friend
Automatically translated into Italian thanks to WorldLingo
The announcement that the Republic of the congo, or Congo-Brazzaville, has been readmitted to the Kimberley process, which aims to stem the flow of conflict diamonds, marks a breakthrough.
Congo-Brazzaville was expelled from the-then year-old process in 2004 for exporting diamonds from its war-wracked neighbour, the Democratic Republic of congo (DRC), and falsifying certificates of origin.
“Congo-Brazzaville comes back now after a very serious domestic effort to put their house in order and to get their domestic systems to the level required,„ Karel Kovanda, chairperson lontano the Kimberly Process segretariato, told IPS. “IT was quite anno emotional momento. We're always happy to have new people (come si board the Kimberley Process). “
Congo-Brazzaville's fate is Just the latest example lontano the enforcement procedura which gets its name from the South African city where one lontano the first riunioni was held si stemming the flow lontano diamonds used by rebel armies ma other groups to fund conflict.
Congo-Brazzaville, which gained its independence from france in 1960, saw a series of coups and assassinations from that time on, erupting into a full-scale civil war in 1997 when forces loyal to current president denis Sassou Nguesso (who also ruled the country from 1979 to 1992) ousted president pascal Lissouba with the support of the Angolan army.
The two-year conflict was estimated to have claimed at least 10,000 lives. A peace agreement signed by the Nguesso government with various rebel factions in March 2003 is still viewed as fragile.
Extending beyond the upheaval in Congo-Brazzaville, an even larger war in the immense DRC also raged, killing at least 3 million people and seeing a host of rebel armies attempting to profit from the country's natural resources, along with armed forces from angola, Namibia, rwanda, Uganda and zimbabwe.
Congo-Brazzaville's exportation of diamonds in numbers far beyond its ability to produce was the first warning sign that something was amiss, officials with the Kimberly process say.
Diamonds also served as a driving force in the funding of Sierra Leone's 1991-2002 civil war which saw widespread atrocities committed by the Revolutionary United front (RUF).
Smuggled diamonds from that country also fostered the long-running conflict in liberia which, under president charles taylor, effectively served as the RUF's patron state. Taylor is currently awaiting trial in The Hague for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Now, the three part Kimberly process aims to ensure that diamonds do not finance any entity seeking to overthrow a government recognized by the United nations, that all diamond exports be accompanied by a Kimberley process certificate proving origin, and that member states don't act as third-party brokers for non member states.
“Countries must have a legal framework in place that uses necessary import and export controls and controls on issuance of certificates,„ says stephane Chardon, chairperson of the Kimberly process working group responsible for re-admitting congo. “You must Be bianchetti to traccia the diamonds from the estrae to the export punti. „
For its part the United States'Clean Diamond Trade Act, which was implemented in 2003, prohibits “the importazione into, ma esportazione from, the United States lontano any rough diamond, from whatever fonte, that has not been controlled through the Kimberley Process rilascio di attestati progettazione„.
The European Union's position on conflict diamonds, meanwhile, was articulated in a 2001 position paper which affirmed that the Union and its member states “shall support and contribute to the efforts of the international community to break the link between conflict diamonds and the financing of armed conflict„.
The struggle against conflict diamonds is far from over, though, observers said.
Even though the guns have fallen silent in Côte d'ivoire's civil war, for example, the country remains split in half between a southern region controlled by forces loyal to the government of president laurent Gbagbo and a northern and western one under the sway of the forces nouvelles (New Forces) rebel movement.
In October of this year, the United nations Security Council renewed diamond sanctions against côte d'ivoire due to their concerns about the production and illicit export of the precious stones and asked that the Kimberley process continued to communicate information to the body regarding the issue.
“The process certainly restricts the trade in blood diamonds but it hasn't totally eradicated it,„ said Ayesha Kajee, programme director with the international Human Rights Exchange (IHRE) at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. “But, in itself, this case is an indication that the Kimberley process has succeeded to some extent.„
Congo-Brazzaville: Blood Diamonds No Longer Country' s Best Friend
Automatically translated into German thanks to WorldLingo
The announcement that the Republic of the Congo, or Congo-Brazzaville, has been readmitted to the Kimberley Process, which aims to stem the flow of conflict diamonds, marks a breakthrough.
Congo-Brazzaville was expelled from the-then year-old process in 2004 for exporting diamonds from its war-wracked neighbour, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and falsifying certificates of origin.
„Congo-Brazzaville comes back now after a very serious domestic effort to put their house in order and to get their domestic systems to the level required,“ Karel Kovanda chairperson of the Kimberly Process Sekretariat told IPS. „IT was quite emotional Jahr Zeitpunkt. We' re always happy to have new people (als man board the Kimberley Process). „
Der Kongo-Brazzaville' s fate is just the latest example of the Verfahrensenforcement which gets its name from the South African city onewhere of the first Versammlungen was held man stemming the flow of diamonds used by rebel armies, aber other groups to fund conflict.
Congo-Brazzaville, which gained its independence from France in 1960, saw a series of coups and assassinations from that time on, erupting into a full-scale civil war in 1997 when forces loyal to current President Denis Sassou Nguesso (who also ruled the country from 1979 to 1992) ousted President Pascal Lissouba with the support of the Angolan army.
The two-year conflict was estimated to have claimed at least 10,000 lives. A peace agreement signed by the Nguesso government with various rebel factions in March 2003 is still viewed as fragile.
Extending beyond the upheaval in Congo-Brazzaville, an even larger war in the immense DRC also raged, killing at least 3 million people and seeing a host of rebel armies attempting to profit from the country' s natural resources, along with armed forces from Angola, Namibia, Rwanda, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
Congo-Brazzaville'-Brazzaville' s exportation of diamonds in numbers far beyond its ability to produce was the first warning sign that something was amiss, officials with the Kimberly Process say.
Diamonds also served as a driving force in the funding of Sierra Leone' s 1991-2002 civil war which saw widespread atrocities committed by the Revolutionary United Front (RUF).
Smuggled diamonds from that country also fostered the long-running conflict in Liberia which, under President Charles Taylor, effectively served as the RUF' s patron state. Taylor is currently awaiting trial in The Hague for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Now, the three part Kimberly Process aims to ensure that diamonds do not finance any entity seeking to overthrow a government recognized by the United Nations, that all diamond exports be accompanied by a Kimberley Process certificate proving origin, and that member states don' t act as third-party brokers for Nicht-member states.
„Countries must schrämt hat legales gebrauchtes framework in Stelle that necessary import and Export controls and controls man issuance of certificates“ says Stephane Chardon, chairperson of the Kimberly Process working group responsible for Re-admitting Congo. „You must Be Weißbarsch to zieht the diamonds from the vermint to the PunktExport. “
For its part the United States' Clean Diamond Trade Act, which was implemented in 2003, prohibits „the Einfuhr into, aber Ausfuhr from, the United States of any rough diamond, from whatever Quelle that has not been controlled through the Kimberley Process Bescheinigung Scheme“.
The European Union' s position on conflict diamonds, meanwhile, was articulated in a 2001 position paper which affirmed that the Union and its member states „shall support and contribute to the efforts of the international community to break the link between conflict diamonds and the financing of armed conflict“.
The struggle against conflict diamonds is far from over, though, observers said.
Even though the guns have fallen silent in Côte d' ivoire' s civil war, for example, the country remains split in half between a southern region controlled by forces loyal to the government of President Laurent Gbagbo and a northern and western one under the sway of the Forces Nouvelles (New Forces) rebel movement.
In October of this year, the United Nations Security Council renewed diamond sanctions against Côte d' ivoire due to their concerns about the production and illicit export of the precious stones and asked that the Kimberley Process continued to communicate information to the body regarding the issue.
„The process certainly restricts the trade in blood diamonds but it hasn' t totally eradicated it,“ said Ayesha Kajee, programme director with the International Human Rights Exchange (IHRE) at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. „But, in itself, this case is an indication that the Kimberley process has succeeded to some extent.“
CongoBrazzaville: Blood Diamonds No Longer Country' s Best Friend
Automatically translated into Portuguese thanks to WorldLingo
The announcement that the Republic of the Congo, or CongoBrazzaville, has been readmitted to the Kimberley Process, which aims to stem the flow of conflict diamonds, marks a breakthrough.
CongoBrazzaville was expelled from the-then year-old process in 2004 for exporting diamonds from its war-wracked neighbour, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and falsifying certificates of origin.
“CongoBrazzaville comes back now after a very serious domestic effort to put their house in order and to get their domestic systems to the level required,” Karel Kovanda, chairperson fora the Kimberly Processamento secretariado, told IPS. “Was quite ano emotional momento. We' re always happy to have new people (como ele board the Kimberley Processamento). “
Congo-Brazzaville' s fate is just the latest example fora the enforcement procedimento which gets its name from the South African city where one fora the first meetings was held ele stemming the flow fora diamonds used by rebel armies ora other groups to fund conflict.
CongoBrazzaville, which gained its independence from France in 1960, saw a series of coups and assassinations from that time on, erupting into a full-scale civil war in 1997 when forces loyal to current President Denis Sassou Nguesso (who also ruled the country from 1979 to 1992) ousted President Pascal Lissouba with the support of the Angolan army.
The two-year conflict was estimated to have claimed at least 10,000 lives. A peace agreement signed by the Nguesso government with various rebel factions in March 2003 is still viewed as fragile.
Extending beyond the upheaval in CongoBrazzaville, an even larger war in the immense DRC also raged, killing at least 3 million people and seeing a host of rebel armies attempting to profit from the country' s natural resources, along with armed forces from Angola, Namibia, Rwanda, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
Congo-Brazzaville' s exportation of diamonds in numbers far beyond its ability to produce was the first warning sign that something was amiss, officials with the Kimberly Process say.
Diamonds also served as a driving force in the funding of Sierra Leone' s 1991-2002 civil war which saw widespread atrocities committed by the Revolutionary United Front (RUF).
Smuggled diamonds from that country also fostered the long-running conflict in Liberia which, under President Charles Taylor, effectively served as the RUF' s patron state. Taylor is currently awaiting trial in The Hague for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Now, the three part Kimberly Process aims to ensure that diamonds do not finance any entity seeking to overthrow a government recognized by the United Nations, that all diamond exports be accompanied by a Kimberley Process certificate proving origin, and that member states don' t act as third-party brokers for No.member states.
“Countries must have a legal framework in place that uses necessary import and export controls and controls on issuance of certificates,” says Stephane Chardon, chairperson of the Kimberly Process working group responsible for readmitting Congo. “You must Be able to traça the diamonds from the mina to the export pontos. ”
For its part the United States' Clean Diamond Trade Act, which was implemented in 2003, prohibits “the importação into, ora exportação from, the United States fora any rough diamond, from whatever fonte, that has not been controlled through the Kimberley Processamento Certificação Modelo”.
The European Union' s position on conflict diamonds, meanwhile, was articulated in a 2001 position paper which affirmed that the Union and its member states “shall support and contribute to the efforts of the international community to break the link between conflict diamonds and the financing of armed conflict”.
The struggle against conflict diamonds is far from over, though, observers said.
Even though the guns have fallen silent in Côte d' Ivoire' s civil war, for example, the country remains split in half between a southern region controlled by forces loyal to the government of President Laurent Gbagbo and a northern and western one under the sway of the Forces Nouvelles (New Forças) rebel movement.
In October of this year, the United Nations Security Council renewed diamond sanctions against Cote d' Ivoire due to their concerns about the production and illicit export of the precious stones and asked that the Kimberley Process continued to communicate information to the body regarding the issue.
“The process certainly restricts the trade in blood diamonds but it hasn' t totally eradicated it,” said Ayesha Kajee, programme director with the International Human Rights Exchange (IHRE) at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. “But, in itself, this case is an indication that the Kimberley process has succeeded to some extent.”
Congo-Brazzaville: Blood Diamonds No To skirt Country' S Best Friend
Automatically translated into English thanks to WorldLingo
The announcement that the Republic off the Congo, gold Congo-Brazzaville, has been readmitted to the Kimberley Process, which aims to stem the flow off conflict diamonds, marks has breakthrough.
Congo-Brazzaville was expelled from the-then year-old process in 2004 for exporting diamonds from its war-wracked neighbour, the Democratic Republic off Congo (DRC), and falsifying certificates off origin.
“Congo-Brazzaville comes back now after has very serious domestic effort to could their house in order and to get to their domestic systems to the level required,” Karel Kovanda, chairperson off the Kimberly Process secretariat, told IPS. “It was quite year emotional moment. We' Re always happy to cuts new people (like one board the Kimberley Process). “
Congo-Brazzaville' S fate is just the latest example off the enforcement procedure which gets its name from the South African city where one off the first meeting was held one stemming the flow off diamonds used by rebel armies gold other groups to fund conflict.
Congo-Brazzaville, which gained its independence from France in 1960, saw has series off blows and assassinations from that time one, erupting into has full-scale civil war in 1997 honest when forces to current President Denis Sassou Nguesso off (who also ruled the country from 1979 to 1992) ousted President Pascal Lissouba with the support the Angolan army.
The two-year conflict was estimated to cuts claimed At least 10,000 lives. With peace agreement signed by the Nguesso government with various rebel factions in March 2003 is still viewed have fragile.
Extending beyond the upheaval in Congo-Brazzaville, year even larger war in the immense DRC also raged, killing At least 3 million people and seeing has host off rebel armies attempting to profit from the country' S natural resources, along with armed forces from Angola, Namibia, Rwanda, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
Congo-Brazzaville' S export off diamonds in numbers far beyond its ability to produce was the first warning sign that something was amiss, officials with the Kimberly Process say.
Diamonds also served have has off driving force in the funding Sierra Leone' S 1991-2002 civil war which saw widespread atrocities committed by the Revolutionary United Front (RUF).
Smuggled diamonds from that country also fostered the length-running conflict in Liberia which, under President Charles Taylor, effectively served have the RUF' S owner state. Taylor is currently awaiting trial in The La Hague for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Now, the three share Kimberly Process aims to ensure that diamonds C not finance any entity seeking to overthrow has government recognized by the United Nations, that Al diamond exports Be accompanied by has Kimberley Process certificate proving origin, and that member states don' T act have third-party brokers for non-member states.
“Countries must cuts has legal framework in place that use off necessary importation and export controls and controls one issuance certificates,” says Stephan Chardon, chairperson off the responsible Kimberly Process working group for Re-admitting Congo. “You must Be whitebait to trace the diamonds from the mine to the export points. ”
For its share the United States' Clean Diamond Trade Act, which was implemented in 2003, prohibits “the importation into, but export from, the United States off any rough diamond, from whatever source, that has not been controlled through the Kimberley Process Certification Design”.
The European Union' S position one conflict diamonds, meanwhile, was articulated in A 2001 position paper which affirmed that the Union and its member states “shall international support and contribute to the efforts off the community to station-wagon the link between conflict diamonds and the financing off armed conflict”.
The struggle against conflict diamonds is far from over, though, observers said.
Even though the guns cuts fallen silent in Coast of Ivoire' S civil war, for example, the country remains Split in half between has government southern area controlled by forces honest to the off President Laurent Gbagbo and has off northern and western one under the sway the Forces New (New Forces) rebel movement.
In October off this year, the United Nations Security Council renewed diamond sanctions against Ivory Coast due to to their concerns butt the production and illicit export off the precious stones and asked that the Kimberley Process continued to communicate information to the body regarding the resulting.
“The process certainly restricts the trade in blood diamonds goal it hasn' T totally eradicated it,” said Ayesha Kajee, program director with the International Human Rights Exchange (IHRE) At the University off the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. “Goal, in itself, this box is year indication that the Kimberley process has succeeded to nap extent.”
Congo-Brazzaville: Ge första erfarenh diamanter inte för att kringgå den Country S bästa vän
Automatically translated into Swedish thanks to WorldLingo
Meddelandet, som republiken av Kongofloden, guld- Congo-Brazzaville, har readmitted till den processaa Kimberleyen, som syften att stem flödet av konfliktdiamanter, markerar har genombrott.
Congo-Brazzaville drevs ut från the-then årigt bearbetar i 2004 för att exportera diamanter från dess kriger-wracked grannet, den demokratiska republiken av Kongofloden (DRC) och falsifying av certifikat av beskärning.
”Kommer Congo-Brazzaville tillbaka nu, efter har haft mycket allvarligt inhemskt försök kunde deras hus in beställa, och att få till deras inhemska system till jämnt krävt,” Karel Kovanda, ordförande av Kimberly den processaa secretariaten, berättade IPS. ”Var det ganska det emotionella ögonblicket för året. Vi är alltid lyckliga till nytt folk för snitt (något liknande en stiger ombord den processaa Kimberleyen). ”
Är det Congo-Brazzaville' S ödet rättvist det senaste exemplet av framtvingandetillvägagångssättet som får dess känt från den sydafrikanska staden, var en av första möte rymdes en som stemming flödet av diamanter som användes av guld- rebelliska arméer andra grupper för att betala konflikt.
Congo-Brazzaville, som nådde dess självständighet från Frankrike i 1960, sågar har serie av slag, och lönnmord från den tid en som får utbrott in i, har den full-scale inbördeskriget i 1997 som är ärlig när styrkor till strömpresidenten Denis Sassou Nguesso av (vem härskade också landet från 1979 till 1992), avhyst presidentPascal Lissouba med servicen den angolanska armén.
Den two-year konflikten beräknades till snitt fordrade åtminstone 10.000 liv. Med fredöverenskommelse som undertecknas av den Nguesso regeringen med olika rebelliska fraktioner i mars 2003, beskådas fortfarande har bräckligt.
Den fördjupande det okända omstörtningen i Congo-Brazzaville, det även större året kriger i den enorma DRCEN som rasas också och att döda åtminstone 3 miljon folk, och att se har att vara värd av rebelliska arméer som försöker att gagna från naturresurserna för country S, tillsammans med krigsmakt från Angola, Namibia, Rwanda, Uganda och Zimbabwe.
Den Congo-Brazzaville' S exporten av diamanter numrerar in den avlägsna det okända som dess kapacitet till jordbruksprodukter var den första varningen undertecknar, att något var amiss, representanter med Kimberlyen bearbetar något att säga.
Diamanter som tjänas som också, har har av drivkraft i finansieringSierra Leone inbördeskrig 1991-2002 som sågar utbredda grymheter som begås av den förenade revolutionären, beklär (RUF).
Smugglade diamanter från det land vårdade också denspring konflikten i Liberia som, under den presidentCharles tayloren, tjänade som effektivt har den statliga ägaren för RUF S. Tayloren väntar på för närvarande försök i laen Hague för krigsbrott och brott mot mänsklighet.
Nu kände igen de tre aktieKimberly processaa syftena att se till, att finans för diamanter C inte någon enhet som söker att omstörta har regeringen, vid Förenta nationen, att Aldiamantexporter medföljs by, har Kimberley det processaa certifikat att bevisa beskärning, och att medlemmen påstår, agerar inte har third-party mäklare för non-member påstår.
”Har landsmustsnitt den lagliga ramen in att förlägga det bruk av nödvändig importation, och exporten kontrollerar och kontrollerar certifikat för en issuance,” något att säga Stephan Chardon, ordförande av ansvarigKimberly den processaa funktionsdugliga gruppen för Re-admitting av Kongofloden. ”Måste du vara whitebait som spårar diamanterna från det min till exporten, pekar. ”
För dess aktie som de eniga tillståndens den rena diamanthandeln agerar, som genomfördes i 2003, förbjuder ”importationen in i, bara export från, Förenta staterna av någon grov diamant, från, allt vad källa, som inte har kontrollerats till och med Kimberley den processaa attesteringsdesignen”.
Europeiska unionerna placerar diamanter för en konflikt, artikulerades under tiden i A 2001 placerar pappers- som intygade att unionen och dess medlem påstår ”landskampservice och att bidra till försöken av gemenskapen till postera-vagnen anknyta mellan konfliktdiamanter och finansieringen av beväpnad konflikt”.
Ansträngningen mot konfliktdiamanter är långtifrån över, fast, sagda observatörer.
Segla utmed kusten av den Ivoire S inbördeskriget, även om vapnen klipper stupat tyst in, till exempel har har landsremainsen som delas i halva between, regerings- sydligt område som kontrolleras av styrkor som är ärliga till av presidenten Laurent Gbagbo och, av nordlig och västra under gungningen den nya (nya styrkor) rebelliska rörelsen för styrkor.
I Oktober av detta år förnyade diamantsanktionerna för Förenta nation seglar utmed kusten frågade säkerhetsrådet mot elfenben tack vare till deras bekymmerända produktionen och den olagliga exporten av ädelstenarna och att det Kimberley processaa som fortsättas till meddelar information till förkroppsliga angående resultera.
”Begränsar det processaa bestämt handeln i bloddiamantmål som den inte har totalt utrotat det,”, sade Ayesha Kajee, programdirektör med landskampmänsklig rättighetutbytet (IHRE) på universitetar av Witwatersranden i Johannesburg, Sydafrika. ”Boxas målet, i honom, detta är årsindikeringen som den processaa Kimberleyen har lyckas för att ta sig en tupplur grad.”,
Конго-Brazzaville: Диаманты крови не для обхода друга Country s самого лучшего
Automatically translated into Russian thanks to WorldLingo
Объявление республике с Конго, золота Конго-Brazzaville, readmitted к процессу Kimberley, который направляет запрудить подачу с диамантов конфликта, метки имеет прорыв.
Конго-Brazzaville был вытеснен от the-then процесс year-old в 2004 для ехпортировать диаманты от своего соседа войны-wracked, демократической республики с Конго (DRC), и фальсифицировать сертификаты с начала.
«Конго-Brazzaville come back теперь после того как имеет очень серьезное отечественное усилие смогл их дом в заказе и получить к их отечественным системам к необходимо уровню,» Karel Kovanda, председатель с секретариата Кимберли отростчатого, сказало IPS. «Было довольно моментом года эмоциональным. Мы всегда счастливы к людям отрезоков новым (как одна доска процесс Kimberley). «
Судьба Конго-Brazzaville' s справедлива самый последний пример с процедуры по принуждения получает свое имя от южного африканского города где одно с первой встречи держалось одно запруживая подачу с диамантов используемых rebel золотом армий другие группы для того чтобы фондировать конфликт.
Конго-Brazzaville, который приобрел свою независимость от Франции в 1960, пила имеет серию с дуновений и assassinations от того времени одного, извергая в имеют полномасштабное гражданскую войну в 1997 честном когда усилия к в настоящее время президенту Denis Sassou Nguesso с (также управляло страной от 1979 до 1992) ousted президента Паскаля Lissouba с поддержкой ангольская армия.
Двухклассный конфликт был оценен к отрезокам востребовал по крайней мере 10.000 жизней. При мирное соглашение подписанное правительством Nguesso с различными rebel факциями в марте 2003 все еще осматривает имейте утлое.
Удлиняющ за upheaval в Конго-Brazzaville, война года даже более большое в большом DRC также свирепствовало, убивающ по крайней мере 3 миллиона людей и видеть имеет хозяина с rebel армий пытая принести пользу от природные ресурсы country s, вместе с вооруженными силы страны от Анголы, Намибии, Руанды, Уганды и Зимбабве.
Экспортом Конго-Brazzaville' s с диамантов в номерах далеко за своей способностью произвести было первое предупредительный знак что-то было amiss, должностные лица с Кимберли, котор процесс говорит.
Также, котор служят диаманты имеют имеют с управляющей силы в фондируя гражданской войне 1991-2002 Sierra Leone s увидело widespread зверства порученные революционным объединенным фронтом (RUF).
Smuggled диаманты от той страны также воспитали длин-конфликт в Либерии, под президентом Charles Портноем, эффективно служила имеет положение предпринимателя RUF s. Портной в настоящее время ждет пробы в La Hague для военных преступления и преступление против человечества.
Теперь, процесс Кимберли 3 долей направляет обеспечить что финансы c диамантов не любая реальность изыскивая overthrow имеют правительство узнанное Организацией Объединенных Наций, чтобы экспорты диаманта Al были сопровожены мимо имеет сертификат Kimberley отростчатый доказать начало, и что статусы члена не действуют имеет third-party маклеров для положений non-member.
«Отрезоки сусла стран имеют правовую структуру in place используют с сертификаты обязательно экспортный контроль ввозки и и issuance управления одного,» говорят Stephan Chardon, председателя с ответственной рабочей группы Кимберли отростчатой для Re-admitting Конго. «Вы должны быть whitebait для того чтобы трассировать диаманты от шахты к пунктам экспорта. »
Для своего доля Соединенные Штаты очищает диамант Trade, котор поступок, который был снабжен в 2003, запрещает «ввозку в, только экспорт от, Соединенные Штаты с любого грубого диаманта, от любой источник, который не был проконтролирован через конструкцию аттестации Kimberley отростчатую».
Европейские диаманты конфликта положения одного Union s, между тем, были артикулированы в справка с изложением фактической стороны вопроса a 2001 которое подтвердило что соединение и свои статусы члена «члена международная поддержка и способствовать к усилиям с общины к станци-фуре соединение между диамантами конфликта и финансированием с вооруженного конфликта».
Схваткой против диамантов конфликта будет far from сверх, хотя, сказанные наблюдатели.
Даже если пушки режут упаденное молчком в свободном полете гражданской войны Ivoire s, например, остаток страны разделенный в половине имеет зону правительства южную контролируемую усилиями честными к президенту Laurent Gbagbo и имеет с северное и западное одного под sway движение усилий новое (новые усилия) rebel.
В октябре с этого года, санкции диаманта Совета безопасности Организации Объединенных Наций возобновленные против Берега Слоновои Кости из-за к их забот бодают продукцию и illicit экспорт с драгоценных камней и спросили что процесс Kimberley продолжался связывать информация к телу относительно приводить к.
«Процесс некоторо ограничивает торговлю в цели диамантов крови, котор он полно не искоренял ее,» сказал Ayesha Kajee, директор программы с международным обменом прав человека (IHRE) на университете с Witwatersrand в Johannesburg, Южной Африке. «Целью, в действительности, эта коробка будет индикация года которая процесс Kimberley преуспевал в объем ворсины.»
Kongo-Brazzaville: Blood Diamonds No Varen Country' s Best Friend
Automatically translated into Dutch thanks to WorldLingo
The announcement that the Republic off the Kongo, echter Kongo-Brazzaville, has been readmitted to the Kimberley Process, which aims to stem the flow off conflict diamonds, mark aan breakthrough.
Kongo-Brazzaville was expelled from the-then year-old process in 2004 for exporting diamonds from its war-wracked neighbour, the Democratic Republic off Kongo (DRC), and falsifying certificates off origin.
„Kongo-Brazzaville comes back now after aan very serious domestic inspanning to kunnen their hoes in order and to get their domestic systems to the niveau required,“ Karel Kovanda, chairperson off the Kimberly Process secretariaat, told IPS. „IT was quite emotional jaar moment. We' re always happy to have new people (als men board the Kimberley Process). „
Kongo-Brazzaville' s fate is Just the latest example off the enforcement procedure which gets its name from the South African city where one off the first bijeenkomsten was held men stemming the flow off diamonds used by rebel armies echter other groups to fund conflict.
Kongo-Brazzaville, which gained its independence from Frankrijk in 1960, saw hebben reeks off slag and assassinations from that time men, erupting into hebben full-scale burger war in 1997 when kracht trouw to current President Dennis Sassou Nguesso (who also ruled the country from 1979 to 1992) ousted President PASCAL Lissouba with the steun off the Angolan army.
The two-year conflict was estimated to have claimed at least 10,000 lives. AAN peace agreement signed by the Nguesso government with various rebel factie in March 2003 is still viewed aas breekbaar.
Extending beyond the upheaval in Kongo-Brazzaville, jaar even larger war in the enorm DRC also raged, killing at least 3 miljoen people and seeing aan host off rebel armies attempting to winst from the country' s natural hulpbronnen, along with armed kracht from Angola, Namibia, Rwanda, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
Kongo-Brazzaville' s uitvoer off diamonds in numbers far beyond its ability to produce was the first warning sign that something was amiss, officials with the Kimberly Process say.
Diamonds also served aas aan driving forceren in the funding off Sierra Leone' s 1991-2002 burgerlijk war which saw widespread atrocities committed by the Revolutionary United Voorhoofd (RUF).
Smuggled diamonds from that country also fostered the long-running conflict in Liberia which, under President Charles Taylor, effectively served aas the RUF' s werkgever state. Taylor is currently awaiting trial in The Hague for war misdaad and misdaad against humanity.
Now, the three ver*trekken Kimberly Process aims to ensure that diamonds do not financieren any entity seeking to overthrow hebben government recognized by the United Volk, that DE diamond exports be accompanied by aan Kimberley Process certificate proving origin, and that member states don' t act aas third-party wisselagent for nee-member states.
„Countries must have hebben wettelijk framework in plaats that gebruiken necessary import and export controls and controls men issuance off certificates,“ says Stephane Distel, chairperson off the Kimberly Process working group responsible for re-admitting Kongo. „You must be witvis to schetst the diamonds from the ondermijnt to the export punten. “
For its ver*trekken the United States' Clean Diamond Trade Act, which was implemented in 2003, prohibits „the invoer into, echter uitvoer from, the United States off any rough diamond, from whatever bron, that has not been controlled through the Kimberley Process Certificatie Schema“.
The European Union' s positie men conflict diamonds, meanwhile, was articulated in hebben 2001 positie paper which affirmed that the Unie and its member states „shall steun and contribute to the inspanning off the internationaal community to stationcar the link between conflict diamonds and the financing off armed conflict“.
The struggle against conflict diamonds is far from over, though, observers said.
Even though the guns have fallen silent in Côte d' ivoire' s burgerlijk war, for example, the country remains split in half between aan southern gebied controlled by kracht trouw to the government off President Laurent Gbagbo and aan northern and western one under the sway off the Kracht Nieuw (New Krachten) rebel movement.
In October off this year, the United Volk Security Council renewed diamond sanctie against Ivoorkust te wijten to their concerns about the productie and illicit export off the precious stones and asked that the Kimberley Process continued to communicate informatie to the body regarding the afloop.
„The process certainly restricts the trade in blood diamonds drinken IT hasn' t totally eradicated IT,“ said Ayesha Kajee, programma director with the Internationaal Human Rights Exchange (IHRE) at the University off the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. „Doel, in itself, this plaatsen is jaar aanwijzing that the Kimberley process has succeeded to sommeren extent.“
[كنغ-برزّفيلّ]: دم ماس لا أن يطوّق [كونتر'] [س] [ولّ فريند]
Automatically translated into Arabic thanks to WorldLingo
يتلقّى الإعلان أنّ الجمهورية من كونغو, نوع ذهب [كنغ-برزّفيلّ], يتلقّى يكون اعترفت إلى [كيمبرلي] عملية, أيّ يهدف أن يصدّ الدفق من نزاع ماس, علامات إختراق.
طردت [كنغ-برزّفيلّ] كان من [ث-ثن] [ير-ولد] عملية في 2004 ل يصدر ماس من ه [ور-وركد] جار, الجمهورية ديموقراطيّة من كونغو ([درك]), ويزوّر شهادات من أصل.
"يعاود [كنغ-برزّفيلّ] الآن عقب يتلقّى جهد جدّيّة محلّية جدّا أن استطاع منزلهم في أمر وأن يحصل إلى نظاماتهم محلّية إلى المستوى يتطلّب," [كرل] [كوفندا], رئيس من [كيمبرلي] أمانة سرّ معامل, قال [إيبس]. "كان هو الى حدّ بعيد سنة عزم عاطفيّة. نحن دائما سعيدة إلى قطعات الناس جديدة (مثل واحدة لون [كيمبرلي] عملية). "
[كنغ-برزّفيلّ'] [س] قدر صحيحة المثال متأخّرة من الإنفاذ إجراء أيّ يحصل اسمه من المدينة افريقي جنوبي حيث واحدة من الاجتماع أوّل كان أمسكت واحدة يصدّ الدفق من ماس يستعمل بمتمرّدة جيوش نوع ذهب أخرى مجموعة أن يموّل نزاع.
يتلقّى [كنغ-برزّفيلّ], أيّ كسب استقلاله من فرنسا في 1960, منشار [سري] من ضرب وإغتيالات من أنّ وقت واحدة, يثور داخل يتلقّون حرب أهليّة [فولّ-سكل] في 1997 صادقة عندما قوات إلى رئيس حاليّة [دنيس] [سسّوو] [نغسّو] من (الذي أيضا حكم البلد من 1979 إلى 1992) يطاح رئيس باسكال [ليسّووبا] مع الدعم الجيش أنغوليّة.
قدّمت النزاع لمدّة سنتين كان إلى قطعات ادّعى على الأقلّ 10,000 حيوات. شاهدت مع سلام إتفاق يوقع ب [نغسّو] حكومة مع زمر مختلفة متمرّدة في مارس - آذار 2003 بعد يتلقّى هشّة.
يمدّد إلى ما بعد الإنقلاب في [كنغ-برزّفيلّ], سنة حتّى احتدّ حرب كبيرة في ال [درك] ضخمة أيضا, يقتل على الأقلّ 3 [ميلّيون بيوبل] ويرى يتلقّى مضيفة من جيوش متمرّدة يحاول أن يربح من ال [كونتر'] [س] [نتثرل رسورس], مع قوات مسلّحة من أنغولا, نميبيا, روندا, أوغندا وزمبابوي.
[كنغ-برزّفيلّ'] [س] كان تصدير من ماس في أرقام بعيدا إلى ما بعد قدرته أن ينتج الإشارة إنذار أولى أنّ شيء كان بشكل, مسؤولات مع [كيمبرلي] عملية يقول.
ماس أيضا يخدم يتلقّى من [دريف فورس] في ال يموّل [سرّا ليون'] [س] 1991-2002 حرب أهليّة أيّ رأى شناعة واسع انتشار يرتكب بالثوريّة يوحّد جبهة ([روف]).
عزّز يهرّب ماس من أنّ بلد أيضا ال [لنغث-رونّينغ] نزاع في ليبيريا أيّ, تحت رئيس شارلز تايلور, بشكل فعّال خدم يتلقّى ال [روف'] [س] مالكة دولة. يترقّب تايلور حاليّا محاكمة في اللا [هغ] لجريمة حرب وجرائم ضدّ إنسانية.
الآن, الثلاثة سهم [كيمبرلي] يهدف عملية أن يضمن أنّ ماس [ك] لا مالية أيّ ذاتية يبحث أن يسقط يتلقّى حكومة يميّز بالالأمم المتّحدة, أنّ [أل] ماس تصديرات يرافقوا جانبا يتلقّى [كيمبرلي] شهادة معامل يبرهن أصل, وأنّ دولة عضو لا يتصرّفون يتلقّى وسيطات طرف ثالث لبلد غير عضو دول.
"بلد عفن يتلقّى قطعات [لغل فرموورك] [إين بلس] أنّ يستعمل من إستيراد ضروريّة ويصدق تحكمات وتحكمات واحدة إصدار شهادات," يقول [ستفن] [شردون], رئيس من المسؤولة [كيمبرلي] [ووركينغ غرووب] معامل ل [ر-دميتّينغ] كونغو. "أنت ينبغي كنت بلد أن يتتبّع الماس من المنجم لغم إلى التصدير نقطات. "
ل ه ينظّف سهم الولايات المتّحدة الأمريكيّة ماس عمل تجاريّة, أيّ كان طبّقت في 2003, يحظّر "الإستيراد داخل, غير أنّ تصدير من, الولايات المتّحدة الأمريكيّة من أيّ ماس خشنة, من أيّما مصدر, أنّ يتلقّى لم يكن ضبطت من خلال [كيمبرلي] معامل تصديق تصميم".
الأوروبيّة [أونيون'] [س] موقعة واحدة نزاع مفصلت ماس, في الوقت نفسه, كان في [ا] 2001 موقعة ورقيّة أيّ أكّد أنّ الإتحاد ودولت عضوه "سوفت سيساند وسيسهم إلى الجهود دوليّة من الجماعة إلى [ستأيشن-وغن] الخطوة بين نزاع ماس والتمويل من نزاع مسلّحة".
الكفاح ضدّ نزاع ماس [فر فروم] على [, ثوو], ملاحظات يقال.
[إفن ثوو] المسدّس مدفع يقطعون يسقط يسكت في ساحل من [إيفوير'] [س] حرب أهليّة, مثلا, البلد يتلقّى أثر ينقسم في نصف فيما بين حكومة منطقة جنوبيّة يضبط بقوات صادقة إلى ال باتّجاه آخر رئيس [لورنت] غباغبو ويتلقّى من شماليّة وغربيّة واحدة تحت التمايل القوات جديدة (جديدة قوات) حركة متمرّدة.
في أكتوبر - تشرين الأوّل من هذا سنة, الالأمم المتّحدة أمن مجلس يجدّد ماس ينطح عقوبات ضدّ ساحل العاج واجبة إلى إلى اهتماماتهم الإنتاج وتصدير محظورة من ال [برسووس ستون] وسأل أنّ [كيمبرلي] عملية استمرّ أن يتّصل معلومة إلى الجسم بخصوص ال ينتج.
"يقيّد العملية بالتّأكيد التجارة في دم ماس هدف هو يتلقّى لم تماما يستأصل هو," قال [أشا] [كج], برنامج مديرة مع الدوليّة حقوق الإنسان تبادل ([إيهر]) في الجامعة من [ويتوترسرند] في جوهانسبورغ, جنوب افريقيا. "هدف, في بنفسي, هذا صندوق سنة دلالة أنّ [كيمبرلي] عملية قد نجح أن يقول مدى."
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| December 1, 2007 | 6:17 AM |
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Spammers Beware: Microsoft and Nigeria Team up to Fight Cybercrime
Related to country: Nigeria
available in: (original) | | | | | | | | |
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Nuhu Ribadu, EC, EFCC and Neil Holloway, President of Microsoft Europe Middle East and Africa.
Nigeria says a unique memorandum of understanding with Microsoft will help it to identify and prosecute cyber criminals, create a safe legal environment, and restore hundreds of millions of dollars in lost investmentThe last person you want to see caught in a financial scam is a widow. Nigerian Amaka Anajemba, who had been widowed at the young age of 37, was caught in the largest financial scam of its type in her country's history, one in which the perpetrators stole a total of $242 million. But before you work up too much sympathy for Anajemba, you should know that she wasn't a victim of the scam — she was one of its perpetrators.
In 2002, the Nigerian government established the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to battle the growing problem of cybercrime in that country. The recent successful prosecution of Anajemba is one of 50 EFCC cases, recently completed or currently underway, involving close to 100 defendants. Hundreds more are being investigated. And the effort is having an impact. The rate of spam from Nigeria seeking to swindle people has been halved, according to the government.
Despite its success, the Nigerian government wanted to do more and it knew it needed help. Starting today, Nigeria is getting that help in a formalised way with the signing of an agreement with Microsoft, under which the two will collaborate on information sharing, training, and capacity building to fight internet crime originating in the country. Their memorandum of understanding is the first of its type for both parties and is believed to be the first of its type in Africa, if not the world.
Costing Hundreds of Millions of Dollars
"The $100 million we've confiscated from spammers and other defendants is the least that cybercrime has cost our country," says Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, executive chairman of the EFCC. "Our economy has lost hundreds of millions of dollars in foreign investment because our credibility and the trust of the international community have been affected. Nigerians can't even use financial instruments as basic as mail orders; if it comes from Nigeria, it's suspect."
So when Microsoft, which has an office in Nigeria, approached the EFCC about collaborating to fight cybercrime, the government was interested. But according to Jean-Christophe Le Toquin, a Paris-based attorney and internet safety expert in Microsoft's EMEA organisation, Nigeria had more to offer than a problem with cybercrime.
"We're interested in fighting cybercrime globally, of course, but working with Nigeria held particular attractions for us," says Le Toquin. "The EFCC is a skilled organisation, with a significant law enforcement infrastructure backing it, and Nigeria has the political willingness to take action against cyber criminals. As much as they were doing on their own, they were comfortable with the idea of getting help from us to do even more."
And Nigeria, in turn, saw distinct advantages in partnering with Microsoft. "Microsoft is not only a technology leader, it's also a leader in the fight against cybercrime," says Ribadu. "No other company is doing what Microsoft is doing to fight cybercrime and no other company could provide the help we will get under this agreement."
"This agreement will be of great benefit to us," he adds. "It will put us in the proper direction in fighting cybercrime. It will help us to improve our understanding of the technologies involved as well as give us new investigative skills to go after the criminals. They are constantly changing their tactics and we have to constantly keep up. This agreement will help us to do that. And anything that reduces cybercrime in Nigeria will also benefit computer users everywhere, since the crime that starts here doesn't stop at our borders."
Providing Expertise, Information And More
The agreement defines a framework for co-operation between Microsoft and Nigeria that will give the EFCC access to Microsoft's technical expertise, information for successful enforcement, Microsoft-sponsored seminars, and training sessions specifically designed for law enforcement officers and representatives.
For example, Microsoft expects to provide knowledge on so-called "botnet" technology that enables hackers to control tens of thousands of PCs and to use those PCs to spread spam or to inundate websites with so much traffic that the sites crash in denial-of-service attacks. Microsoft expects to instruct Nigerian investigators in how to extract useful information from PCs compromised by botnet attacks, how to monitor computer networks to detect such attacks, and how to identify the people behind them.
Microsoft also expects to provide leads on spam originating from Nigeria, enabling the authorities there to pursue investigations more quickly and successfully. Microsoft conducts a worldwide analysis of spam sent to e-mail accounts that it establishes and monitors for this purpose.
"Our analysis of spam produces hundreds of leads each year," says Le Toquin. "Because we already generate this information, it's easy for us to provide it to the law enforcement authorities who can do something about it. Most countries are in no position to identify the spammers within their borders. We can help do that and share the information with them so they can take action. That's an example of the information sharing we will do with Nigeria."
Building on Informal Relationships
The memorandum of understanding is the first formal agreement of its type between Microsoft and a national government, but it builds on informal relationships that Microsoft has built with international agencies and national governments worldwide. The company co-operates with Interpol as well as with countries in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America.
And Microsoft's efforts to fight cybercrime go beyond the financial crimes that Nigeria is addressing. For example, the company has initiated a child exploitation tracking system to help law enforcement agencies fight internet child pornography.
In all, Microsoft has a team of 65 working to promote internet security worldwide. In addition to its informal relationships with governments and agencies, the company provides structured support to the public sector through both its Government Security Program, begun in 2003, and its Security Cooperation Program, begun in February of this year. These programs help governments address their unique security concerns around the use of technology. The Government Security Program provides national governments with the resources necessary to conduct a comprehensive security review of Microsoft products, while the Security Cooperation programme helps governments to respond to computer attacks, mitigate the effects of those attacks, and provide outreach and education to citizens.
Microsoft's work with governments and agencies, in turn, is part of its broader Trustworthy Computing initiative, which seeks to bring secure, private and reliable computing experiences to everyone. Other Trustworthy Computing efforts include technology innovation, co-operation with industry, academia and governments, and litigation against known spammers and others.
A Truly Important Development
The agreement between Microsoft and Nigeria is the culmination of several months of informal co-operation between the two. Over the summer, for example, Microsoft provided information that Nigerian officials used to identify two Internet Service Providers associated with large amounts of spam there. The EFCC launched investigations against the companies and made arrests. Prosecutions are now pending.
"We're confident that this agreement with Microsoft is a truly important development for us," says Ribadu. "It's coming at a critical time. We expect it will help us to create a safe legal environment, to enforce the laws that will help attract foreign investment, and to spur economic development."
"But beyond the impact on our national economy is the impact that this agreement will have on the lives of our citizens," he adds. "It will improve the quality of people's lives by reducing the crime around them, enabling them to find better jobs, and raising the integrity of Nigeria in the world community. That's what Microsoft is doing for us."
Les inondateurs prennent garde : Microsoft et équipe du Nigéria jusqu'au combat Cybercrime
Automatically translated into French thanks to WorldLingo
Nuhu Ribadu, EC, EFCC et Neil Holloway, président de Microsoft l'Europe Moyen-Orient et de l'Afrique.
Le Nigéria indique un protocole d'accord unique avec Microsoft l'aidera pour identifier et poursuivre des criminels de cyber, créer un environnement légal sûr, et reconstituer des centaines de millions de dollars chez la personne perdue de bout d'investmentThe que vous voulez voir qu'attrapée dans un scam financier est une veuve. Amaka nigérien Anajemba, qui avait été veuf au jeune âge de 37, a été attrapé dans le plus grand scam financier du son saisissent l'histoire de son pays, une dans laquelle les malfaiteurs ont volé un total de $242 millions. Mais avant que vous travailliez vers le haut de trop de sympathie pour Anajemba, vous devriez savoir qu'elle n'était pas une victime du scam - elle était l'un de ses malfaiteurs.
En 2002, le gouvernement de nigérien a établi la Commission économique et financière de crimes (EFCC) pour lutter le problème croissant du cybercrime dans ce pays. La poursuite réussie récente d'Anajemba est l'un de 50 cas d'EFCC, récemment accompli ou actuellement en cours, impliquant de près de 100 défendeurs. Des centaines de plus sont étudiées. Et l'effort a un impact. Le taux de Spam du Nigéria cherchant à escroquer des personnes a été divisé en deux, selon le gouvernement.
En dépit de son succès, le gouvernement nigérien a voulu faire plus et il l'a su aide nécessaire. Commençant aujourd'hui, le Nigéria obtient cette aide d'une manière formalisée avec la signature d'un accord avec Microsoft, sous lequel les deux collaboreront sur le partage d'informations, la formation, et le bâtiment de capacité pour combattre le crime d'Internet provenant du pays. Leur protocole d'accord est le premier de son type pour les deux parties et est censé pour être le premier du son saisissent l'Afrique, sinon le monde.
Coûtant à des centaines de millions de dollars
« les $100 millions nous avons confisqué des inondateurs et d'autres défendeurs est les mineurs que le cybercrime a coûté notre pays, » dit Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Président exécutif de l'EFCC. « Notre économie a perdu des centaines de millions de dollars dans l'investissement étranger parce que notre crédibilité et la confiance de la communauté internationale ont été affectées. Les nigériens ne peuvent pas même utiliser les instruments aussi fondamentaux que les ventes par correspondance ; s'il vient du Nigéria, il est suspect. «
Ainsi quand Microsoft, qui a un bureau au Nigéria, a approché l'EFCC au sujet de la collaboration pour combattre le cybercrime, le gouvernement a été intéressé. Mais selon Jean-Christophe Le Toquin, un mandataire Paris-basé et expert en matière de sûreté d'Internet dans l'organisation de l'EMEA de Microsoft, Nigéria a eu plus à offrir qu'un problème avec le cybercrime.
« Nous sommes intéressés par le cybercrime de combat globalement, naturellement, mais travailler avec le Nigéria a tenu les attractions particulières pour nous, » dit Le Toquin. « L'EFCC est une organisation habile, avec un support significatif d'infrastructure d'application de loi il, et le Nigéria a la volonté politique d'agir contre des criminels de cyber. Autant qu'ils faisaient tout seuls, ils étaient confortables avec l'idée d'obtenir l'aide de nous pour faire encore plus. «
Et le Nigéria, alternativement, avantages distincts de scie dans le partenariat avec Microsoft. « Microsoft est non seulement un chef de technologie, c'est également un chef dans le combat contre le cybercrime, » dit Ribadu. « Aucune autre compagnie ne fait ce que Microsoft fait pour combattre le cybercrime et aucune autre compagnie ne pourrait fournir l'aide que nous obtiendrons aux termes de cet accord. »
« Cet accord sera de grand avantage à nous, » il s'ajoute. « Il nous mettra dans la direction appropriée dans le cybercrime de combat. Il nous aidera à améliorer notre arrangement des technologies impliquées aussi bien que l'élasticité nous de nouvelles qualifications investigatrices pour aller après les criminels. Ils changent constamment leur tactique et nous devons constamment continuer. Cet accord nous aidera à faire cela. Et quelque chose qui réduit le cybercrime au Nigéria bénéficiera également des utilisateurs d'ordinateur partout, puisque le crime qui commence ici ne s'arrête pas à nos frontières. «
Fournissant l'expertise, l'information et plus
l'accord définit un cadre pour la coopération entre Microsoft et le Nigéria qui donneront l'accès d'EFCC à l'expertise technique de Microsoft, l'information pour l'application réussie, des conférences Microsoft-commanditées, et des sessions de formation spécifiquement conçues pour des dirigeants et des représentants d'application de loi.
Par exemple, Microsoft compte fournir la connaissance sur la prétendue technologie de « botnet » qui permet à des intrus de commander des dizaines de milliers de PCs et utiliser ces PCs pour écarter le Spam ou pour inonder des sites Web avec tellement le trafic que les emplacements se brisent dans le démenti-de-service attaque. Microsoft compte instruire les investigateurs nigériens dans la façon extraire l'information utile à partir des PCs compromis par des attaques de botnet, la façon surveiller des réseaux informatiques pour détecter de telles attaques, et comment identifier les personnes derrière elles.
Microsoft compte également fournir des fils sur le Spam provenant du Nigéria, permettant aux autorités là de poursuivre des investigations plus rapidement et avec succès. Microsoft conduit une analyse mondiale de Spam envoyée aux comptes d'E-mail qu'elle établit et surveille à cette fin.
« Notre analyse de Spam produit des centaines de fils tous les ans, » dit Le Toquin. « Puisque nous produisons déjà de cette information, il est facile pour nous de la fournir aux autorités d'application de loi qui peuvent faire quelque chose à son sujet. La plupart des pays sont en aucune position pour identifier les inondateurs dans leurs frontières. Nous pouvons aider faisons cela et partageons l'information avec eux ainsi ils peuvent agir. C'est un exemple du partage d'informations que nous ferons avec le Nigéria. Le «
bâtiment sur des rapports sans cérémonie
le protocole d'accord est le premier accord formel de son type entre Microsoft et un gouvernement national, mais il construit sur les rapports sans cérémonie que Microsoft a établis dans le monde entier avec les agences internationales et les gouvernements nationaux. La compagnie coopère avec Interpol aussi bien qu'avec des pays Europe, le Moyen-Orient, l'Asie et Amérique du Nord.
Et les efforts de Microsoft de combattre le cybercrime dépassent les crimes financiers que le Nigéria adresse. Par exemple, la compagnie a lancé un système de piste d'exploitation d'enfant pour aider des agences d'application de loi à combattre la pornographie d'enfant d'Internet.
En tout, Microsoft a une équipe de 65 travaillant pour favoriser la sécurité d'Internet dans le monde entier. En plus de ses rapports sans cérémonie avec des gouvernements et d'agences, la compagnie fournit l'appui structuré au secteur public par des les deux son programme de sécurité de gouvernement, commencé en 2003, et son programme de coopération de sécurité, commencé en février de cette année. Ces gouvernements d'aide de programmes adressent leurs soucis uniques de sécurité autour de l'utilisation de la technologie. Le programme de sécurité de gouvernement fournit à des gouvernements nationaux les ressources nécessaires pour conduire un examen complet de sécurité des produits de Microsoft, alors que le programme de coopération de sécurité aide des gouvernements pour répondre aux attaques d'ordinateur, atténuer les effets de ces attaques, et fournir dépassez et éducation aux citoyens.
Le travail de Microsoft avec des gouvernements et des agences, alternativement, fait partie de sa plus large initiative de calcul digne de confiance, qui cherche à apporter bloqué, privé et le calcul fiable éprouve à chacun. D'autres efforts de calcul dignes de confiance incluent l'innovation de technologie, la coopération avec l'industrie, le milieu universitaire et les gouvernements, et le litige contre des inondateurs connus et d'autres.
Un développement véritablement important
l'accord entre Microsoft et le Nigéria est le point culminant de plusieurs mois de coopération sans cérémonie entre les deux. Au cours de l'été, par exemple, Microsoft a fourni les informations que les fonctionnaires nigériens avaient l'habitude d'identifier deux Internet Service Provider liés à de grandes quantités de Spam là. L'EFCC a lancé des investigations contre les compagnies et a fait des arrestations. Les poursuites sont maintenant en suspens.
« Nous sommes confiants que cet accord avec Microsoft soit un développement véritablement important pour nous, » dit Ribadu. « Il vient à un temps critique. Nous prévoyons qu'il nous aidera à créer un environnement légal sûr, à imposer les lois qui aideront à attirer l'investissement étranger, et à stimuler le développement économique. «
« Mais au delà de l'impact sur notre économie nationale est l'impact que cet accord aura les vies de nos citoyens, » il s'ajoute. « Il améliorera la qualité des vies des personnes en réduisant le crime autour de elles, en leur permettant de trouver les meilleurs travaux, et en soulevant l'intégrité du Nigéria dans la communauté du monde. Est ce ce que Microsoft fait pour nous. «
Los Spammers se guardan: Microsoft y equipo de Nigeria hasta la lucha Cybercrime
Automatically translated into Spanish thanks to WorldLingo
Nuhu Ribadu, EC, EFCC y Neil Holloway, presidente de Microsoft Europa Medio Oriente y de África.
Nigeria dice un memorándum de la comprensión único con Microsoft le ayudará para identificar y procesar a criminales del cyber, crear un ambiente legal seguro, y restaurar centenares de millones de dólares en persona perdida del último del investmentThe que usted desea ver que cogida en un scam financiero sea una viuda. Amaka nigeriano Anajemba, que había sido widowed en la edad joven de 37, fue cogido en el scam financiero más grande de su mecanografía adentro la historia de su país, una en el cual los autores robaron un total de $242 millones. Pero antes de que usted trabaje encima de demasiada condolencia para Anajemba, usted debe saber que ella no era una víctima del scam - ella era uno de sus autores.
En 2002, el gobierno del Nigerian estableció la Comisión económica y financiera de los crímenes (EFCC) para luchar el problema cada vez mayor del cybercrime en ese país. El procesamiento acertado reciente de Anajemba es uno de 50 casos de EFCC, terminado recientemente o actualmente en curso, implicando cerca de 100 demandados. Los centenares se están investigando más. Y el esfuerzo está teniendo un impacto. El índice del Spam de Nigeria que intentaba estafar a gente se ha partido en dos, según el gobierno.
A pesar de su éxito, el gobierno nigeriano deseó hacer más y lo sabía ayuda necesitada. Comenzando hoy, Nigeria está consiguiendo esa ayuda de una manera formalizada con la firma de un acuerdo con Microsoft, debajo de las cuales los dos colaborarán en la información que comparte, entrenando, y el edificio de la capacidad de luchar el crimen del Internet que origina en el país. Su memorándum de la comprensión es el primer de su tipo para ambas partes y se cree para ser el primer de su mecanografía adentro África, si no el mundo.
Costando a centenares de millones de dólares
“los $100 millones hemos confiscado de spammers y otros demandados son los lo menos que el cybercrime ha costado nuestro país,” dicen Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, presidente ejecutivo del EFCC. “Nuestra economía ha perdido centenares de millones de dólares en la inversión extranjera porque nuestra credibilidad y la confianza de la comunidad internacional se han afectado. Los Nigerians no pueden incluso utilizar los instrumentos financieros tan básicos como los pedidos por correo; si viene de Nigeria, es sospechado. “
Tan cuando Microsoft, que tiene una oficina en Nigeria, acercó al EFCC sobre la colaboración para luchar el cybercrime, el gobierno estuvo interesado. Pero según Jean-Christophe Le Toquin, abogado París-basado y experto en la organización de EMEA de Microsoft, Nigeria de la seguridad del Internet tenía más a ofrecer que un problema con el cybercrime.
“Estamos interesados en cybercrime que lucha global, por supuesto, pero el trabajo con Nigeria celebró las atracciones particulares para nosotros,” dice a Le Toquin. “El EFCC es una organización experta, con un forro significativo de la infraestructura de la aplicación de ley él, y Nigeria tiene la buena voluntad política de tomar la acción contra criminales del cyber. Tanto como hacían en sus los propios, eran cómodos con la idea de conseguir ayuda de nosotros para hacer aún más. “
Y Nigeria, alternadamente, ventajas distintas de la sierra en partnering con Microsoft. “Microsoft es no sólo un líder de la tecnología, es también un líder en la lucha contra cybercrime,” dice Ribadu. “Ninguna otra compañía está haciendo lo que está haciendo Microsoft para luchar el cybercrime y ninguna otra compañía podría proporcionar la ayuda que conseguiremos según los términos de este acuerdo. ”
“Este acuerdo estará de gran ventaja a nosotros,” él agrega. “Nos pondrá en la dirección apropiada en cybercrime que lucha. Nos ayudará a mejorar nuestra comprensión de las tecnologías implicadas así como elasticidad nosotros las nuevas habilidades investigadoras para ir después de los criminales. Están cambiando constantemente sus táctica y tenemos que continuar constantemente. Este acuerdo nos ayudará a hacer eso. Y cualquier cosa que reduce el cybercrime en Nigeria también beneficiará a usuarios de la computadora por todas partes, puesto que el crimen que comienza aquí no para en nuestras fronteras. “
Proporcionando la maestría, información y más
el acuerdo define un marco para la cooperación entre Microsoft y Nigeria que den el acceso de EFCC a la maestría técnica de Microsoft, la información para la aplicación acertada, seminarios Microsoft-patrocinados, y las sesiones del entrenamiento diseñadas específicamente para los oficiales y los representantes de la aplicación de ley.
Por ejemplo, Microsoft espera proporcionar conocimiento en la tecnología supuesta del “botnet” que permite a hackers controlar diez de millares de PC y utilizar esas PC para separar el Spam o para inundate Web site con tanto tráfico que los sitios se estrellan en negación-de-servicio ataca. Microsoft espera mandar a investigadores nigerianos en cómo extraer la información útil de las PC comprometidas por ataques del botnet, cómo supervisar las redes de ordenadores para detectar tales ataques, y cómo identificar a la gente detrás de ella.
Microsoft también espera proporcionar los plomos en el Spam que origina de Nigeria, permitiendo a las autoridades allí perseguir investigaciones más rápidamente y con éxito. Microsoft conduce un análisis mundial del Spam enviado a las cuentas del E-mail que establece y supervisa para este propósito.
“Nuestro análisis del Spam produce centenares de plomos cada año,” dice a Le Toquin. “Porque generamos ya esta información, es fácil que la proporcionemos a las autoridades de la aplicación de ley que pueden hacer algo sobre ella. La mayoría de los países están en ninguna posición para identificar los spammers dentro de sus fronteras. Podemos ayudar hacemos eso y compartimos la información con ellos así que pueden tomar la acción. Ése es un ejemplo de la información compartiendo que haremos con Nigeria. El “
edificio en relaciones informales
el memorándum de la comprensión es el primer acuerdo formal de su tipo entre Microsoft y un gobierno nacional, pero construye en las relaciones informales que Microsoft ha construido con las agencias internacionales y los gobiernos nacionales por todo el mundo. La compañía coopera con Interpol así como con países en Europa, el Oriente Medio, Asia y Norteamérica.
Y los esfuerzos de Microsoft de luchar el cybercrime van más allá de los crímenes financieros que Nigeria está tratando. Por ejemplo, la compañía ha iniciado un sistema que seguía de la explotación del niño para ayudar a las agencias de la aplicación de ley a luchar pornografía del niño del Internet.
En todos, Microsoft tiene un equipo de 65 que trabajan para promover seguridad del Internet por todo el mundo. Además de sus relaciones informales con gobiernos y de las agencias, la compañía proporciona la ayuda estructurada al sector público con ambos su programa de la seguridad de gobierno, comenzado en 2003, y su programa de la cooperación de la seguridad, comenzado en febrero de este año. Estos gobiernos de la ayuda de los programas tratan sus preocupaciones únicas de la seguridad alrededor del uso de la tecnología. El programa de la seguridad de gobierno provee de gobiernos nacionales los recursos necesarios para conducir una revisión comprensiva de la seguridad de los productos de Microsoft, mientras que el programa de la cooperación de la seguridad ayuda a gobiernos para responder a los ataques de la computadora, atenuar los efectos de esos ataques, y proporcionar exceda y educación a los ciudadanos.
El trabajo de Microsoft con gobiernos y agencias, alternadamente, es parte de su iniciativa que computa digna de confianza más amplia, que intenta traer seguro, privado y el computar confiable experimenta a cada uno. Otros esfuerzos que computan dignos de confianza incluyen la innovación de la tecnología, cooperación con industria, academia y los gobiernos, y pleito contra spammers sabidos y otros.
Un desarrollo verdaderamente importante
el acuerdo entre Microsoft y Nigeria es la culminación de varios meses de la cooperación informal entre los dos. Sobre el verano, por ejemplo, Microsoft proporcionó la información que los funcionarios nigerianos identificaban dos Internet Service Provider asociados a cantidades grandes de Spam allí. El EFCC lanzó investigaciones contra las compañías e hizo detenciones. Los procesamientos son pendientes ahora.
“Somos confidentes que este acuerdo con Microsoft es un desarrollo verdaderamente importante para nosotros,” decimos Ribadu. “Está viniendo en un rato crítico. Esperamos que nos ayude a crear un ambiente legal seguro, a hacer cumplir los leyes que ayudarán a atraer la inversión extranjera, y a estimular el desarrollo económico. “
“Pero más allá del impacto en nuestra economía nacional está el impacto que este acuerdo tendrá en las vidas de nuestros ciudadanos,” él agrega. “Mejorará la calidad de las vidas de la gente reduciendo el crimen alrededor de ellas, permitiéndoles encontrar trabajos mejores, y levantando la integridad de Nigeria en la comunidad del mundo. Eso es lo que está haciendo Microsoft para nosotros. “
Gli Spammers si guardano da: Microsoft e squadra della Nigeria fino alla lotta Cybercrime
Automatically translated into Italian thanks to WorldLingo
Nuhu Ribadu, EC, EFCC e Neil Holloway, presidente di Microsoft Europa Medio Oriente e dell'Africa.
La Nigeria dice un memorandum d'intesa unico con Microsoft lo aiuterà per identificare e proseguire i criminali del cyber, generare un ambiente legale sicuro e ristabilire le centinaia di milioni di dollari nella persona persa dell'ultimo del investmentThe desiderate vedere che interferita in uno scam finanziario è una vedova. Amaka nigeriano Anajemba, che era stato widowed all'età giovane di 37, è stato interferito nel più grande scam finanziario del relativo scrive dentro la storia a macchina del suo paese, una in cui i perpetrators hanno rubato un totale di $242 milioni. Ma prima che lavoriate troppa compassione per Anajemba, dovreste sapere che non era una vittima dello scam - era uno dei relativi perpetrators.
In 2002, il governo nigeriano ha stabilito la Commissione economica e finanziaria di crimini (EFCC) per combattere il problema crescente di cybercrime in quel paese. Il processo riuscito recente di Anajemba è uno di 50 casi di EFCC, recentemente completato o attualmente in corso, coinvolgendo vicino a 100 difensori. Le centinaia di più stanno studiande. E lo sforzo sta avendo un effetto. Il tasso dello Spam dalla Nigeria che cerca di swindle la gente è stato diviso in due, secondo il governo.
Malgrado il relativo successo, il governo nigeriano ha desiderato fare più e lo ha conosciuto aiuto stato necessario. Cominciando oggi, la Nigeria sta ottenendo quell'aiuto in un senso formalizzato con la sign di un accordo con Microsoft, sotto cui i due collaboreranno sulle informazioni che si ripartiscono, addestrando e la costruzione di capienza combattere il crimine del Internet che proviene dal paese. Il loro memorandum d'intesa è il primo del relativo tipo per entrambi i partiti e si crede per essere il primo del relativo scrive dentro l'Africa, se non il mondo a macchina.
Costando a centinaia di milioni di dollari
“i $100 milioni abbiamo confiscato dagli spammers ed altri difensori è i minimi che il cybercrime ha costato il nostro paese,„ dice Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, presidente esecutivo del EFCC. “La nostra economia ha perso le centinaia di milioni di dollari nell'investimento straniero perché la nostra credibilità e la fiducia della Comunità internazionale sono state influenzate. I Nigerians non possono neppure utilizzare gli strumenti finanziari fondamentali quanto gli ordini di posta; se viene dalla Nigeria, è sospetto. “
Così quando Microsoft, che ha un ufficio in Nigeria, si è avvicinato al EFCC circa la collaborazione per combattere il cybercrime, il governo è stato interessato. Ma secondo Jean-Christophe Le Toquin, a Parigi-ha basato l'avvocato e l'esperto nell'organizzazione di EMEA del Microsoft, Nigeria di sicurezza del Internet ha avuto più da offrire che un problema con cybercrime.
“Siamo interessati nel cybercrime di combattimento globalmente, naturalmente, ma funzionare con la Nigeria ci ha tenuto le attrazioni particolari per,„ dice Le Toquin. “Il EFCC è in un'organizzazione esperta, con una protezione significativa dell'infrastruttura di applicazione di legge esso e la Nigeria ha la compiacenza politica agire contro i criminali del cyber. Tanto come stavano facendo da sè, stavano bene con l'idea di convincere l'aiuto da noi per fare ancor più. “
E la Nigeria, alternativamente, vantaggi distinti della sega nel partnering con Microsoft. “Microsoft è non solo un capo di tecnologia, è inoltre un capo nella lotta contro cybercrime,„ dice Ribadu. “Nessun'altra azienda sta facendo che cosa Microsoft sta facendo per combattere il cybercrime e nessun'altra azienda potrebbe fornire l'aiuto che otterremo sotto questo accordo. „
“Questo accordo sarà di notevole beneficio a noi,„ lui aggiunge. “Li metterà nel senso adeguato nel cybercrime di combattimento. Li aiuterà a migliorare la nostra comprensione delle tecnologie addette così come give noi nuove abilità investigative per andare dopo i criminali. Stanno cambiando costantemente le loro tattiche e dobbiamo continuare costantemente. Questo accordo li aiuterà a fare quello. E qualche cosa che riduca il cybercrime in Nigeria inoltre avvantaggerà gli utenti del calcolatore dappertutto, poiché il crimine che comincia qui non si arresta ai nostri bordi. “
Fornendo la perizia, le informazioni e più
l'accordo definisce una struttura per la cooperazione fra Microsoft e la Nigeria che daranno l'accesso di EFCC a perizia tecnica del Microsoft, le informazioni per applicazione riuscita, i seminari Microsoft-patrocinati e le sessioni di addestramento specificamente progettate per gli ufficiali ed i rappresentanti di applicazione di legge.
Per esempio, Microsoft pensa fornire la conoscenza su cosiddetta tecnologia “del botnet„ che permette ai hackers di controllare i dieci delle migliaia dei pc ed utilizzare quei pc per spargere lo Spam o per inundate i Web site con così tanto traffico che i luoghi si arrestano nel smentita-de-servizio attaca. Microsoft pensa insegnare ai ricercatori nigeriani in come estrarre le informazioni utili dai pc compromessi tramite gli attacchi del botnet, in come controllare le reti di calcolatore per rilevare tali attacchi e come identificare loro la gente.
Microsoft inoltre pensa fornire i cavi sullo Spam che proviene dalla Nigeria, permettendo alle autorità là di perseguire più rapidamente e con successo le indagini. Microsoft conduce un'analisi in tutto il mondo dello Spam trasmessa ai clienti di E-mail che stabilisce e controlla a questo fine.
“La nostra analisi dello Spam produce ogni anno le centinaia dei cavi,„ dice Le Toquin. “Poiché già generiamo queste informazioni, è facile affinchè noi le fornisca alle autorità di applicazione di legge che possono fargli qualcosa. La maggior parte dei paesi sono in nessuna posizione per identificare gli spammers all'interno dei loro bordi. Possiamo aiutare facciamo quello e ripartiamo le informazioni con loro in modo da possono agire. Quello è un esempio delle informazioni ripartendoci che faremo con la Nigeria. “
La costruzione sui rapporti informali
il memorandum d'intesa è il primo accordo ufficiale del relativo tipo fra Microsoft e un governo nazionale, ma costruisce sui rapporti informali che Microsoft ha sviluppato con le agenzie internazionali ed i governi nazionali universalmente. L'azienda coopera con Interpol così come con i paesi Europa, il Medio Oriente, in Asia ed in America del Nord.
E gli sforzi del Microsoft combattere il cybercrime vanno oltre i crimini finanziari che la Nigeria sta richiamando. Per esempio, l'azienda ha iniziato un sistema di inseguimento di sfruttamento del bambino per aiutare le agenzie di applicazione di legge a combattere la pornografia del bambino del Internet.
In tutto, Microsoft ha una squadra di 65 che lavorano per promuovere la sicurezza del Internet universalmente. Oltre che i relativi rapporti informali con i governi e le agenzie, l'azienda fornisce il supporto strutturato al settore pubblico con gli entrambi il relativo programma di titolo di stato, cominciato in 2003 ed il relativo programma di cooperazione di sicurezza, cominciato in febbraio di questo anno. Questi governi di aiuto di programmi richiamano le loro preoccupazioni uniche di sicurezza intorno all'uso di tecnologia. Il programma di titolo di stato fornisce i governi nazionali le risorse necessarie per condurre una revisione completa di sicurezza dei prodotti di Microsoft, mentre il programma di cooperazione di sicurezza aiuta i governi per rispondere agli attacchi del calcolatore, attenuare gli effetti di quegli attacchi e fornire superi e formazione ai cittadini.
Il lavoro del Microsoft con i governi e le agenzie, a sua volta, fa parte della relativa più vasta iniziativa di calcolo in maniera fidata, che cerca di portare sicuro, riservato e la computazione certa sperimenta a tutto. Altri sforzi di calcolo in maniera fidata includono l'innovazione di tecnologia, la cooperazione con industria, l'accademia e governi e controversia contro gli spammers conosciuti ed altri.
Uno sviluppo vero importante
l'accordo fra Microsoft e la Nigeria è il punto di parecchi mesi della cooperazione informale fra i due. Sopra l'estate, per esempio, Microsoft ha fornito le informazioni che i funzionari nigeriani hanno usato identificare due Internet Service Provider connessi con i grandi importi dello Spam là. Il EFCC ha lanciato le indagini contro le aziende ed ha fatto gli arresti. I processi ora sono in corso.
“Siamo sicuri che questo accordo con Microsoft è uno sviluppo vero importante per noi,„ diciamo Ribadu. “Sta venendo ad un tempo critico. Prevediamo che li aiuti a generare un ambiente legale sicuro, a fare rispettare le leggi che contribuiranno ad attrarre l'investimento straniero ed a stimolare lo sviluppo economico. “
“Ma oltre l'effetto sulla nostra economia nazionale è l'effetto che questo accordo avrà sulle vite dei nostri cittadini,„ lui aggiunge. “Migliorerà la qualità delle vite della gente riducendo il crimine intorno loro, permettendo loro di trovare i lavori migliori e sollevando l'integrità della Nigeria nella Comunità del mondo. Quello è che cosa Microsoft sta facendo per noi. “
Spammers passen auf: Microsoft und Nigeria Mannschaft bis zum Kampf Cybercrime
Automatically translated into German thanks to WorldLingo
Nuhu Ribadu, EC, EFCC und Neil Holloway, Präsident Microsoft Europa des Mittlere Ostens und Afrika.
Nigeria sagt, eine einzigartige Vereinbarung mit Microsoft ihm hilft, um zu kennzeichnen und cyber Verbrecher verfolgen, ein sicheres zugelassenes Klima verursachen, und Hunderte Millionen Dollar in verlorener investmentThe Letztperson wieder herstellen, die Sie sehen möchten, in einem finanziellen scam eine Witwe daß verfangen ist. Nigerisches Amaka Anajemba, das gewesen war, widowed am jungen Alter von 37, wurde verfangen im größten finanziellen scam von seinem eintippen Geschichte ihres Landes, eine, in der die Täter eine Gesamtmenge von $242 Million stahlen. Aber, bevor Sie herauf zu viel Sympathie für Anajemba arbeiten, sollten Sie wissen, daß sie nicht ein Opfer des scam war - sie war einer seiner Täter.
2002 stellte die Nigerianerregierung die ökonomische und finanzielle Verbrechen-Kommission (EFCC) her um das wachsende Problem cybercrime in diesem Land zu kämpfen. Die neue erfolgreiche Verfolgung von Anajemba ist einer von 50 EFCC Fällen, vor kurzem durchgeführt oder z.Z. unterwegs und bezieht nah an 100 Beklagten mit ein. Hunderte mehr werden nachgeforscht. Und die Bemühung hat eine Auswirkung. Die Rate von Spam von Nigeria, das swindle Leute sucht, ist, entsprechend der Regierung halbiert worden.
Trotz seines Erfolges wollte die nigerische Regierung mehr tun und sie kannte sie benötigte Hilfe. Heute beginnend, erhält Nigeria diese Hilfe in einer formalisierten Weise mit dem Unterzeichnen einer Vereinbarung mit Microsoft, unter denen die zwei auf den Informationen zusammenarbeiten, die teilen und ausbilden, und Kapazität Gebäude, das Internet-Verbrechen zu kämpfen, das im Land entsteht. Ihre Vereinbarung ist die erste seiner Art für beide Parteien und wird geglaubt, um die erste von seinem zu sein eintippen Afrika, wenn nicht die Welt.
Hunderten Millionen Dollar „
die $100 Million kostend, haben wir von den Spammers konfisziert und andere Beklagte ist die wenigen, daß cybercrime unser Land gekostet hat,“ sagt Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Executivvorsitzender des EFCC. „Unsere Wirtschaft hat Hunderte Millionen Dollar in der Auslandsanlage verloren, weil unsere Glaubwürdigkeit und das Vertrauen der internationalen Gemeinschaft beeinflußt worden sind. Nigerianer können nicht die Finanzierungsinstrumentarien sogar benutzen, die wie Bestellungen per Post so grundlegend sind; wenn es aus Nigeria kommt, ist es vermutlich defekt. „
So, als Microsoft, das ein Büro in Nigeria hat, dem EFCC über das Zusammenarbeiten sich näherte, zum von cybercrime zu kämpfen, war die Regierung interessiert. Aber entsprechend Jean-Christophe Le Toquin, ein Paris-gegründeter Rechtsanwalt und Internet-Sicherheit Experte in der Organisation EMEA Microsofts, Nigeria hatte mehr, zum als ein Problem mit cybercrime anzubieten.
„Wir sind an kämpfendem cybercrime global interessiert, selbstverständlich aber das Arbeiten mit Nigeria hielt bestimmte Anziehungen für uns,“ sagt Le Toquin. „Das EFCC ist eine erfahrene Organisation, mit einem bedeutenden Gesetzdurchführung-Infrastrukturschutzträger es, und Nigeria hat die politische Bereitwilligkeit, Maßnahmen gegen cyber Verbrecher zu ergreifen. Soviel wie taten sie auf ihren Selbst, sie fûhlten wohl mit der Idee des Erhaltens von Hilfe von uns, um sogar zu tun. „
Und Nigeria der Reihe nach eindeutige Vorteile der Säge beim Partnering mit Microsoft. „Microsoft ist nicht nur ein Technologieführer, ist es auch ein Führer im Kampf gegen cybercrime,“ sagt Ribadu. „Keine andere Firma tut, was Microsoft tut, um cybercrime zu kämpfen und keine andere Firma die Hilfe zur Verfügung stellen könnte, die wir unter dieser Vereinbarung erhalten. “
„Ist diese Vereinbarung vom großen Nutzen zu uns,“ er hinzufügt. „Es setzt uns in die korrekte Richtung in kämpfendes cybercrime ein. Es hilft uns, unser Verständnis der Technologien zu verbessern, die sowie Geben wir neue Untersuchungsfähigkeiten, um nach den Verbrechern zu gehen mit einbezogen werden. Sie ändern ständig ihre Taktiken und wir müssen ständig aufrechterhalten. Diese Vereinbarung hilft uns, das zu tun. Und alles, das cybercrime in Nigeria verringert, fördert auch Computerbenutzer überall, da das Verbrechen, das hier beginnt, nicht an unseren Rändern stoppt. „,
Sachkenntnis, Informationen zur Verfügung stellend und mehr,
definiert die Vereinbarung einen Rahmen für Mitarbeit zwischen Microsoft und Nigeria, die den EFCC Zugang Microsofts zur technischen Sachkenntnis, die Informationen für erfolgreiche Durchführung, die Microsoft-geförderten Seminare und die Training Lernabschnitte, die spezifisch für Gesetzdurchführungoffiziere und -repräsentanten konzipiert sind geben.
Z.B. erwartet Microsoft, Wissen auf sogenannter „botnet“ Technologie zur Verfügung zu stellen, die Häckern ermöglicht, 10 Tausenden PC zu steuern und jene PC zu benutzen, um Spam zu verbreiten oder Web site mit soviel Verkehr überzufluten, daß die Aufstellungsorte im Ablehnung-vonservice zusammenstoßen in Angriff nimmt. Microsoft erwartet, nigerische Forscher, in wie man nützliche Informationen von PC, die extrahiert durch botnet Angriffe verglichen werden, in wie man Computernetze, um überwacht solche Angriffe zu ermitteln und wie man anzuweisen die Leute hinter ihnen kennzeichnet.
Microsoft erwartet auch, Leitungen auf Spam zur Verfügung zu stellen, das von Nigeria entsteht und dort ermöglicht den Behörden, Untersuchungen schneller und erfolgreich auszuüben. Microsoft leitet eine weltweite Analyse von Spam geschickt zu den E-mail Konten, die sie zu diesem Zweck herstellt und überwacht.
„Unsere Analyse von Spam produziert Hunderte Leitungen jedes Jahr,“ sagt Le Toquin. „Weil wir bereits diese Informationen erzeugen, ist es einfach für uns, sie zu den Gesetzdurchführungbehörden zur Verfügung zu stellen, die etwas über sie tun können. Die meisten Länder sind in keiner Position, zum der Spammers innerhalb ihrer Ränder zu kennzeichnen. Wir können helfen tun das und teilen die Informationen mit ihnen, also können sie Maßnahmen ergreifen. Das ist ein Beispiel der Informationen, teilend, das wir mit Nigeria tun. „
Gebäude auf formlosen Verhältnissen
die Vereinbarung ist die erste formale Vereinbarung seiner Art zwischen Microsoft und einer Nationalregierung, aber es errichtet auf formlosen Verhältnissen, die Microsoft mit internationalen Agenturen und Nationalregierungen weltweit errichtet hat. Die Firma kooperiert mit Interpol sowie mit Ländern bei Europa, der Mittlere Osten, bei Asien und bei Nordamerika.
Und Bemühungen Microsofts, cybercrime zu kämpfen gehen über den finanziellen Verbrechen hinaus, die Nigeria adressiert. Z.B. hat die Firma ein Kindausnutzung-Spurhaltung System eingeleitet, um Gesetzdurchführungagenturen zu helfen, Internet-Kindpornographie zu kämpfen.
In allen hat Microsoft eine Mannschaft von 65 arbeitend, um Internet-Sicherheit weltweit zu fördern. Zusätzlich zusätzlich seinen formlosen Verhältnissen zu den Regierungen und zu den Agenturen stellt die Firma strukturierte Unterstützung zum allgemeinen Sektor durch beide sein Staatsanleihe-Programm zur Verfügung, angefangen 2003 und sein Sicherheit Mitarbeit-Programm, angefangen im Februar dieses Jahres. Diese Programmhilfe Regierungen adressieren ihre einzigartigen Sicherheit Interessen um den Gebrauch von Technologie. Das Staatsanleihe-Programm versieht Nationalregierungen mit den Betriebsmitteln, die notwendig sind, einen kompletten Sicherheit Bericht der Microsoft Produkte zu leiten, während das Sicherheit Mitarbeitprogramm Regierungen hilft, um auf Computerangriffe zu reagieren, die Effekte jener Angriffe abzuschwächen und zur Verfügung zu stellen und Ausbildung zu den Bürgern übertreffen Sie.
Arbeit Microsofts mit Regierungen und Agenturen ist der Reihe nach ein Teil seiner ausgedehnteren vertrauenswürdigen rechnenden Initiative, die sucht, sicheres zu holen, privat und das zuverlässige Rechnen erfährt zu jeder. Andere vertrauenswürdige rechnende Bemühungen schließen Technologieinnovation, Mitarbeit mit Industrie, Akademie und Regierungen und Rechtsstreit gegen bekannte Spammers und andere ein.
Eine wirklich wichtige Entwicklung
die Vereinbarung zwischen Microsoft und Nigeria ist der Höhepunkt einiger Monate der formlosen Mitarbeit zwischen den zwei. Über dem Sommer z.B. stellte Microsoft Informationen zur Verfügung, denen nigerische Beamte pflegten, zwei Internet Service Provider zu kennzeichnen, die mit großen Mengen Spam dort verbunden sind. Das EFCC stieß Untersuchungen gegen die Firmen aus und bildete Anhalten. Verfolgungen sind jetzt schwebend.
„Wir sind, daß diese Vereinbarung mit Microsoft eine wirklich wichtige Entwicklung für uns ist,“ sagen Ribadu überzeugt. „Es kommt zu einer kritischen Zeit. Wir erwarten, daß es uns, ein sicheres zugelassenes Klima zu verursachen, die Gesetze zu erzwingen hilft, die helfen, Auslandsanlage anzuziehen, und ökonomische Entwicklung anzutreiben. „
„Aber über der Auswirkung auf unsere Volkswirtschaft hinaus ist die Auswirkung, die diese Vereinbarung auf den Leben unserer Bürger hat,“ er hinzufügt. „Es verbessert die Qualität der Leben der Leute, indem es das Verbrechen um sie verringert ermöglicht, ihnen, bessere Jobs zu finden, und die Vollständigkeit von Nigeria in der Weltgemeinschaft aufwirft. Das ist, was Microsoft für uns tut. „
Os Spammers Beware: Microsoft e equipe de Nigéria até a luta Cybercrime
Automatically translated into Portuguese thanks to WorldLingo
Nuhu Ribadu, EC, EFCC e Neil Holloway, presidente do leste médio de Microsoft Europa e África.
Nigéria diz um memorando de compreensão original com Microsoft lhe ajudará identificar e para prosecute criminosos do cyber, para criar um ambiente legal seguro, e para restaurar centenas dos milhões dos dólares em pessoa que perdida do último do investmentThe você quer ver que travada em um scam financeiro é uma viúva. Amaka Nigerian Anajemba, que tinha sido widowed na idade nova de 37, foi travado no scam financeiro o maior do seu datilografa dentro a história do seu país, uma em que os perpetrators roubaram um total de $242 milhões. Mas antes que você trabalhe acima de demasiado sympathy para Anajemba, você deve saber que não era uma vítima do scam - era um de seus perpetrators.
Em 2002, o governo do Nigerian estabeleceu o Commission econômico e financeiro dos crimes (EFCC) para battle o problema crescente do cybercrime nesse país. O prosecution bem sucedido recente de Anajemba é uma de 50 casos de EFCC, terminado recentemente ou atualmente underway, envolvendo perto de 100 réus. As centenas estão sendo investigadas mais. E o esforço está tendo um impacto. A taxa do Spam de Nigéria que procura swindle povos halved, de acordo com o governo.
Apesar de seu sucesso, o governo Nigerian quis fazer mais e soube-o ajuda necessitada. Começando hoje, Nigéria está começando essa ajuda em uma maneira formalised com assinar de um acordo com Microsoft, sob que os dois collaborate na informação que compartilha, treinando, e edifício da capacidade lutar o crime do Internet que origina no país. Seu memorando de compreensão é o primeiro de seu tipo para ambos os partidos e é acreditado para ser o primeiro do seu datilografa dentro África, se não o mundo.
Custando a centenas dos milhões dos dólares
“os $100 milhões nós confiscated dos spammers e outros réus são os menos que o cybercrime custou nosso país,” dizem Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, presidente executivo do EFCC. “Nossa economia perdeu centenas dos milhões dos dólares no investimento extrangeiro porque nosso credibility e a confiança da comunidade internacional foram afetados. Os Nigerians não podem mesmo usar os instrumentos financeiros tão básicos quanto ordens de correio; se vier de Nigéria, é suspeito. “
Assim quando Microsoft, que tem um escritório em Nigéria, aproximou o EFCC sobre collaborating para lutar o cybercrime, o governo foi interessado. Mas de acordo com Jean-Christophe Le Toquin, um advogado Paris-baseado e perito na organização de EMEA de Microsoft, Nigéria da segurança do Internet teve mais a oferecer do que um problema com cybercrime.
“Nós estamos interessados no cybercrime de combate global, naturalmente, mas trabalhar com Nigéria prendeu atrações particulares para nós,” diz Le Toquin. “O EFCC é uma organização hábil, com um revestimento protetor significativo do infrastructure do enforcement de lei ele, e Nigéria tem o voluntariedade político fazer exame da ação de encontro aos criminosos do cyber. Tanto quanto estavam fazendo no seus próprios, eram confortáveis com a idéia de começar a ajuda de nós fazer ainda mais. “
E Nigéria, por sua vez, vantagens distintas da serra em partnering com Microsoft. “Microsoft é não somente um líder da tecnologia, é também um líder na luta de encontro ao cybercrime,” diz Ribadu. “Nenhuma outra companhia está fazendo o que Microsoft está fazendo para lutar o cybercrime e nenhuma outra companhia poderia fornecer a ajuda que nós começaremos sob este acordo. ”
“Este acordo será do benefício grande a nós,” ele adiciona. “Por-nos-á no sentido apropriado no cybercrime de combate. Ajudar-nos-á melhorar nossa compreensão das tecnologias envolvidas as well as a elasticidade nós habilidades investigative novas para ir após os criminosos. Estão mudando constantemente suas táticas e nós temos que constantemente proseguir. Este acordo ajudar-nos-á fazer aquele. E qualquer coisa que reduz o cybercrime em Nigéria beneficiará também usuários do computador em toda parte, desde que o crime que começa aqui não para em nossas beiras. “
Fornecendo a perícia, informação e mais
o acordo define uma estrutura para a cooperação entre Microsoft e Nigéria que dão o acesso de EFCC à perícia técnica de Microsoft, a informação para o enforcement bem sucedido, seminários Microsoft-patrocinados, e sessões do treinamento projetadas especificamente para oficiais e representantes do enforcement de lei.
Por exemplo, Microsoft espera fornecer o conhecimento na tecnologia so-called do “botnet” que permite hackers de controlar dez dos milhares dos PCes e usar aqueles PCes espalhar o Spam ou inundate Web site com tanto tráfego que os locais deixam de funcionar no negação--serviço ataca. Microsoft espera instruir investigators Nigerian em como extrair a informação útil dos PCes comprometidos por ataques do botnet, em como monitorar redes de computador para detectar tais ataques, e como identificar os povos atrás deles.
Microsoft espera também fornecer ligações no Spam que origina de Nigéria, permitindo as autoridades lá de perseguir mais rapidamente e com sucesso investigações. Microsoft conduz uma análise worldwide do Spam emitida aos clientes do E-mail que estabelece e monitora para esta finalidade.
“Nossa análise do Spam produz centenas das ligações todos os anos,” diz Le Toquin. “Porque nós geramos já esta informação, é fácil para nós fornecê-la às autoridades do enforcement de lei que podem fazer algo sobre ela. A maioria de países estão em nenhuma posição para identificar os spammers dentro de suas beiras. Nós podemos ajudar fazemos isso e compartilhamos da informação com eles assim que podem fazer exame da ação. Aquele é um exemplo da informação compartilhando que nós faremos com Nigéria. O “
edifício em relacionamentos informais
o memorando de compreensão é o primeiro acordo formal de seu tipo entre Microsoft e um governo nacional, mas constrói nos relacionamentos informais que Microsoft construiu com agências internacionais e governos nacionais worldwide. A companhia coopera com o Interpol as well as com países em Europa, em o Oriente Médio, em Ásia e em America do Norte.
E os esforços de Microsoft lutar o cybercrime vão além dos crimes financeiros a que Nigéria se está dirigindo. Por exemplo, a companhia iniciou um sistema seguindo da exploração da criança para ajudar a agências do enforcement de lei lutar o pornography da criança do Internet.
Em tudo, Microsoft tem uma equipe de 65 que trabalham para promover worldwide a segurança do Internet. Além a seus relacionamentos informais com governos e a agências, a companhia fornece a sustentação estruturada ao setor público com os ambos seu programa da segurança de governo, começado em 2003, e o seu programa da cooperação da segurança, começado em fevereiro deste ano. Estes governos da ajuda dos programas dirigem-se a seus interesses originais da segurança em torno do uso da tecnologia. O programa da segurança de governo fornece governos nacionais com os recursos necessários conduzir uma revisão detalhada da segurança de produtos de Microsoft, quando o programa da cooperação da segurança ajudar a governos responder aos ataques do computador, para mitigate os efeitos daqueles ataques, e para fornecer exceda e instrução aos cidadãos.
O trabalho de Microsoft com governos e agências, por sua vez, é parte de sua iniciativa computando Trustworthy mais larga, que procura trazer seguro, confidencial e computar de confiança experimenta a todos. Outros esforços computando Trustworthy incluem a inovação da tecnologia, a cooperação com a indústria, o academia e os governos, e o litigation de encontro aos spammers sabidos e a outros.
Um desenvolvimento verdadeiramente importante
o acordo entre Microsoft e Nigéria é a culminação de diversos meses da cooperação informal entre os dois. Sobre o verão, por exemplo, Microsoft forneceu a informação que os oficiais Nigerian se usaram identificar dois Internet Service Provider associados com as quantidades grandes de Spam lá. O EFCC lançou investigações de encontro às companhias e fêz apreensões. Os Prosecutions são agora pendentes.
“Nós somos confiáveis que este acordo com Microsoft é um desenvolvimento verdadeiramente importante para nós,” dizemos Ribadu. “Está vindo em uma estadia crítica. Nós esperamos que nos ajudará criar um ambiente legal seguro, reforçar as leis que ajudarão atrair o investimento extrangeiro, e spur o desenvolvimento econômico. “
“Mas além do impacto em nossa economia nacional é o impacto que este acordo terá nas vidas de nossos cidadãos,” ele adiciona. “Melhorará a qualidade de vidas do pessoa reduzindo o crime em torno delas, permitindo as de encontrar trabalhos melhores, e levantando a integridade de Nigéria na comunidade do mundo. Aquele é o que Microsoft está fazendo para nós. “
Spammers akta sig: Microsoft och slagsmål Cybercrime för Nigeria lag upp till
Automatically translated into Swedish thanks to WorldLingo
Nuhu Ribadu, EC, EFCC och Neil Holloway, president av Microsoft Europa Mellanösten och Afrika.
Nigeria något att säga en unik anteckning av överenskommelse med Microsoft ska hjälp skapar det som identifierar och som åtalar cyberbrottslingar, en laglig miljö för kassaskåp, och hundramiljontals dollar för återställandet i borttappad investmentThejumboperson du önskar att se att fångad i en finansiell scam är en änka. Nigerianska Amaka Anajemba, som hade varit som är änka på den unga åldern av 37, fångades i den största finansiella scamen av dess typ i hennes lands historia, en som förövarna stal i en slutsumma av $242 miljoner. Men, för du fungerar upp för mycket sympati för Anajemba, bör du veta att hon inte var ett offer av scamen - hon var en av dess förövare.
I 2002, det nigerianska regerings- etablerat den ekonomiska och finansiella brottkommissionen (EFCC) som däri slåss det växande problemet av landet för cybercrime. Det nya lyckade åtalet av Anajemba är ett av 50 EFCC-fall, för en tid sedan avslutat eller för närvarande kommande och att gälla nästan 100 svaranden. Hundreds utforskas mer. Och försöket har en få effekt. Klassa av spam från Nigeria som söker att bedra folk, har halverats, enligt regeringen.
Illviljan dess framgång, det nigerianska regerings- önskade att göra mer, och den visste det behövd hjälp. Start i dag, Nigeria får den hjälp i som långt formaliseras med underteckna av en överenskommelse med Microsoft, som de ska tvåna samarbetar under på information som delar och att utbilda, och kapacitetsbyggnad att slåss internetbrott som påbörjar i landet. Deras anteckning av överenskommelse är första av dess typ för båda partier och tros för att vara första av dess typ i Afrika, om inte världen.
Kosta hundramiljontals dollar
”de $100 miljonerna har vi beslagtagit från spammers, och andra svaranden är least, som cybercrime har att kosta vårt land,” något att säga Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, den utöva ordföranden av EFCCEN. ”Har vår ekonomi borttappada hundramiljontals dollar i utländsk investering, därför att vår trovärdighet och förtroendet av internationellt samfund har påverkats. Nigerians kan inte ens använda finansiellt instrumenterar så grundläggande som postorder; om det kommer från Nigeria, är det misstänkt. ”
Så, då Microsoft, som har ett kontor i Nigeria, att närma sig EFCCEN om att samarbeta som slåss cybercrime, intresserades regeringen. Men enligt Jean-Christophe Le Toquin, enbaserad advokat och internetsäkerhet som var sakkunniga i Microsoft EMEA-organisationen, Nigeria hade mer som ska erbjudas än ett problem med cybercrime.
”Intresseras vi i stridighetcybercrime globalt, naturligtvis bara arbetet med Nigeria rymde särskilda dragningar för oss,” något att säga Le Toquin. ”Är EFCCEN en kompetent organisation, med en viktig rättsskipninginfrastrukturtäckning det, och Nigeria har den politiska villigheten som tar handling mot cyberbrottslingar. Så mycket, som de gjorde på deras eget, var de bekväma med idén av att få hjälp från oss för att göra även mer. ”
Och Nigeria, sågar i sin tur distinkt fördelar, i att bli partner med med Microsoft. ”Är Microsoft inte endast en teknologiledare, det är också en ledare i slagsmål mot cybercrime,” något att säga Ribadu. ”Gör inget annat företag vad Microsoft gör för att slåss cybercrime och inget annat företag kunde ge hjälpen som vi ska får under denna överenskommelse. ”
”Är denna ska överenskommelse av store gynnar till oss,” honom tillfogar. ”Ska det satte oss i den riktiga riktningen i stridighetcybercrime. Det ska hjälper oss att förbättra vår överenskommelse av teknologierna som var involverade as well as give oss ny undersöka expertis för att gå efter brottslingarna. De ändrar constantly deras taktik, och vi måste constantly uppehället upp. Denna ska överenskommelse hjälper oss att göra det. Och något, som förminskar cybercrime i Nigeria som också ska, gynnar datoranvändare överallt, sedan brott, som startar här, inte stoppar på vårt, gränsar. ”
Ge sakkunskap, information och mer
definierar överenskommelsen en ram för samarbete mellan Microsoft, och Nigeria, som ska give EFCCEN, tar fram till Microsoft tekniska sakkunskap, information för lyckad framtvingande, Microsoft-sponsrade seminarier och utbildningsperioder som planläggs specifikt för polisar och tekniker.
Till exempel förväntar Microsoft att ge kunskap på so-called ”botnet” teknologi som möjliggör hackers för att kontrollera tiotusentals PC, och att använda de PC till spridningspam eller att översvämma websites med trafikerar så mycket att platserna kraschar i förnekande-av-servar attacker. Microsoft förväntar att instruera nigerianska utredare, i hur till användbar information om extraktet från PC som kompromissas av botnetattacker, hur man övervakar datornät för att avkänna sådan attacker och hur man identifierar folket bak dem.
Microsoft förväntar också att ge blytak på spam som påbörjar från Nigeria och att möjliggöra myndigheterna där för att förfölja utredningar snabbare och lyckat. Microsoft förar en världsomspännande analys av spam som överförs till e-postkonton som den upprättar och övervakar för detta ämnar.
”Producerar vår analys av spam hundratals blytak varje år,” något att säga Le Toquin. ”Därför att vi frambringar redan denna information, är det lätt att vi ger den till rättsskipningmyndigheterna som kan göra något om den. Mest länder är i inget placerar för att identifiera spammersna inom deras gränsar. Vi kan hjälpa gör det och delar informationen med dem, så de kan ta handling. Det är ett exempel av informationen, dela som vi ska gör med Nigeria. ”
Är byggnad på informella
förhållanden anteckningen av överenskommelse den första formella överenskommelsen av dess typ mellan Microsoft och en medborgareregering, men den bygger på informella förhållanden som Microsoft har byggt med landskampbyråer och medborgareregeringar över hela världen. Företaget co-operates med Interpol as well as med länder i Europa, Mellanösten, Asien och Nordamerika.
Och Microsoft försök att slåss cybercrime går det okända de finansiella brotten som Nigeria tilltalar. Till exempel har företaget initierat ett system för barnexploateringspårning som hjälper rättsskipande myndighet att slåss internetbarnpornografi.
Sammanlagt har Microsoft ett lag av arbete 65 som över hela världen främjar internetsäkerhet. Förutom dess informella förhållanden med regeringar och byråer ger företaget strukturerad service till den offentliga sektoren till och med båda dess regerings- säkerhetsprogram som börjas i 2003 och dess säkerhetssamarbetsprogram som börjas i Februari av detta år. Dessa programhjälpregeringar tilltalar deras unika säkerhetsbekymmer runt om bruket av teknologi. Det regerings- säkerhetsprogramet ger medborgareregeringar med resurserna som är nödvändiga att föra en omfattande säkerhet, granskar av Microsoft produkter, programmerar stunder säkerhetssamarbetet hjälpregeringar för att reagera till datorattacker, verkställer ger att mildra av de attacker och överstiger och utbildning till medborgare.
Microsoft arbete med regeringar och byråer, är i sin tur delen av dess mer breda trovärdiga beräknande insats, som sökanden att komma med säker, privat och pålitlig beräkning erfar till alla. Andra trovärdiga beräknande försök inkluderar teknologiinnovation, samarbete med bransch, den akademiska världen och regeringar och prosessen mot bekant spammers och andra.
En riktigt viktig utveckling
överenskommelsen mellan Microsoft och Nigeria är höjdpunkten av flera månader av informellt samarbete mellan tvåna. Över sommaren till exempel, g Microsoft information att van vid nigerianska representanter identifierar två tjänste- familjeförsörjare för internet som är tillhörande med stora belopp av spam där. EFCCEN lanserade utredningar mot företagen och gjorde gripanden. Åtal är nu oavgjorda.
”Är vi säkra, att denna överenskommelse med Microsoft är en riktigt viktig utveckling för oss,” något att säga Ribadu. ”Är det kommande på en kritisk tid. Vi förväntar att det ska hjälper oss att skapa en laglig miljö för kassaskåp, för att upprätthålla lagarna som ska hjälp tilldrar utländsk investering, och att sporra ekonomisk utveckling. ”
”Men det okända som få effekt på vår medborgareekonomi är få effekt, som denna ska överenskommelse har på liven av våra medborgare,” honom, tillfogar. ”Ska det förbättrar det kvalitets- av folkets liv vid förminskande brott runt om dem och att möjliggöra dem för att finna bättre jobb och lyfta fullständigheten av Nigeria i världsgemenskapen. Det är vad Microsoft gör för oss. ”,
Spammers Beware: Команда Microsoft и Нигерии до драки Cybercrime
Automatically translated into Russian thanks to WorldLingo
Nuhu Ribadu, EC, EFCC и Нейл Holloway, президент Востока Microsoft Europe Ближнего и Африка.
Нигерия говорит уникально договор о взаимопонимании с Microsoft поможет ему для того чтобы определить и prosecute преступники cyber, создать безопасная правовая среда, и восстановить сотниы миллионов долларов в lost персоне последнего investmentThe, котор вы хотите увидеть уловлен в финансовохозяйственном scam widow. Нигерийское Amaka Anajemba, которое было widowed на молодом времени 37, было уловлено в самом большом финансовохозяйственном scam своего печатает внутри историю на машинке ее страны, одно в котором perpetrators украли итог $242 миллиона. Но прежде чем вы работаете вверх по too much сочувствия для Anajemba, вы должны знать что она не была жертвой scam - она была одним из своих perpetrators.
В 2002, нигерийское правительство установило хозяйственную и финансовохозяйственную комиссию злодеяний (EFCC) для того чтобы сразить проблему cybercrime в той стране. Недавний успешно prosecution Anajemba одним из 50 случаев EFCC, недавн после того как я завершит или в настоящее время underway, включающ close to 100 подсудимых. Сотниы больше расследуются. И усилие имеет удар. Тариф spam от Нигерии изыскивая смошенничать людей был halved, согласно правительству.
Несмотря на свой успех, нигерийское правительство хотело сделать больше и оно знало его необходимо помощь. Начинающ сегодня, Нигерия получает ту помощь в оформленной дороге с подписанием согласования с Microsoft, под которым 2 сотрудничают на информации, тренирующ, и зданием емкости воевать злодеяние интернета возникая в стране. Их договор о взаимопонимании первый из своего типа для обеих партий и поверены, что будет первым из своего печатает внутри Африку, if not мир на машинке.
Стоящ сотниам миллионов долларов
«$100 миллионов мы конфисковали от spammers и другие подсудимые самым меньшим что cybercrime стоило нашу страну,» говорят Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, executive руководителя EFCC. «Наша экономия теряла сотниы миллионов долларов в зарубежных инвестициях потому что были повлияны на наше правдоподобие и доверие сообществ. Nigerians не может даже использовать финансовые дочументы как основные как почтовые заказы; если оно приходит от Нигерии, то оно подозреваемо. «
Так когда Microsoft, который имеет офис в Нигерии, причалил EFCC о сотрудничать для того чтобы воевать cybercrime, правительство было заинтересовано. Но согласно Jean-Christophe Le Toquin, Paris-основанному юристу и специалисту в организации EMEA Microsoft, Нигерии безопасности интернета имел больше, котор нужно предложить чем проблема с cybercrime.
«Мы заинтересованн в воюя cybercrime гловально, of course, но работа с Нигерией держала определенные привлекательности для нас,» говорит Le Toquin. «EFCC будет skilled организацией, с значительно затыловкой инфраструктуры обеспечения соблюдения законов оно, и Нигерия имеет политическую готовность принять действие против преступников cyber. Как много по мере того как они делали на их, они были удобны с идеей получать, что помощь от нас сделали even more. «
И Нигерия, в свою очередь, преимущества пилы определенные в partnering с Microsoft. «Microsoft будет not only руководителем технологии, это будет также руководителем в драке против cybercrime,» говорит Ribadu. «Никакая другая компания не делает Microsoft делает для того чтобы воевать cybercrime и никакая другая компания не смогла предусмотреть помощь, котор мы получим под этим согласованием. »
«Это согласование будет большого преимущества к нам,» он добавляет. «Оно положит нас в правильное направление в воюя cybercrime. Оно поможет нам улучшить наше вникание технологий, котор включили также, как податливость мы новые трассологические искусства для того чтобы пойти после преступников. Они постоянн изменяют их тактик и мы должны постоянн keep up. Это согласование поможет нам сделать то. И что-нибыдь уменьшает cybercrime в Нигерии также поможет потребителям компьютера везде, в виду того что злодеяние которое начинает здесь не останавливает на наших границах. «
Обеспечивающ экспертизу, информацию и больше
согласование определяет рамки для сотрудничества между Microsoft и Нигерией который передадут доступ EFCC к экспертизе Microsoft технически, информация для успешно принуждения, Microsoft-спонсированные семинары, и встречи специфически конструированные для офицеров и представителей обеспечения соблюдения законов.
Например, Microsoft рассчитывает обеспечить знание на so-called технологии «botnet» которая позволяет hackers контролировать 10 тысяч PCs и использовать те PCs для того чтобы распространить spam или к websites inundate с so much движением что места разбивают в запирательств--обслуживании атакует. Microsoft рассчитывает проинструктировать нигерийские исследователей в как извлечь полезную информацию от PCs скомпрометированных нападениями botnet, как контролировать компьютерные сети для того чтобы обнаружить такие нападения, и как определить людей за ими.
Microsoft также рассчитывает предусмотреть руководства на spam возникая от Нигерии, позволяющ авторитеты там последовать исследования более быстро и успешно. Microsoft дирижирует всемирный анализ spam посланный к учету и-мэйла он устанавливает и контролирует для этой цели.
«Наш анализ spam производит сотниы руководств each year,» говорит Le Toquin. «Потому что мы уже производим эту информацию, легко для нас снабдить ее авторитеты обеспечения соблюдения законов которые могут сделать что-то о ей. Большинств страны находятся в никаком положении для того чтобы определить spammers внутри их граници. Мы можем помочь делаем то и делим информацию с ими поэтому они могут принять действие. То будет пример информации, котор мы сделаем с Нигерией. «
Здание на неофициальных отношениях
договор о взаимопонимании будет первым формальный договор своего типа между Microsoft и национальным правительством, но оно строит на неофициальных отношениях которые Microsoft строил с международными организациями и национальными правительствами всемирно. Компания co-operates с Interpol также, как с страны в Europe, The Middle East, Азии и Северной Америке.
И усилия Microsoft воевать cybercrime идут за финансовохозяйственными злодеяниями Нигерия адресует. Например, компания включала систему слежения эксплуатирования ребенка для того чтобы помочь агенствам обеспечения соблюдения законов воевать порнографию ребенка интернета.
В всех, Microsoft имеет команду 65 работая для того чтобы повысить обеспеченность интернета всемирно. В дополнение к своим неофициальным отношениям с правительствами и агенствам, компания снабубежит составленную поддержку общественный сечтор через оба своя программа правительственной бумаги, начатая в 2003, и свою программу сотрудничества обеспеченностью, начатую в феврале этого года. Эти правительства помощи программ адресуют их уникально заботы обеспеченностью вокруг пользы технологии. Программа правительственной бумаги обеспечивает национальные правительства с ресурсами обязательно для того чтобы дирижировать просмотрение всеобъемлющей безопасности продуктов Microsoft, пока программа сотрудничества обеспеченностью помогает правительствам для того чтобы ответить к нападениям компьютера, mitigate влияния тех нападений, и обеспечить outreach и образование к гражданам.
Работой Microsoft с правительствами и агенствами, в свою очередь, будет часть своей более обширной благонадежной вычисляя инициативы, которая изыскивает принести безопасное, приватно и надежный вычислять испытывает к каждому. Другие благонадежные вычисляя усилия вклюают рационализаторство технологии, сотрудничество с индустрией, academia и правительства, и судебный процечч против известных spammers и других.
Поистине важным развитием
согласование между Microsoft и Нигерией будет кульминация нескольких месяцев неофициального сотрудничества между 2. Над летом, например, Microsoft обеспечил информацию которой нигерийские должностные лица использовали определить 2 Providers обслуживания интернета связанного с большим количеством spam там. EFCC запустило исследования против компаний и сделало арестования. Prosecutions теперь ожидающи решения.
«Мы уверенно что этим согласованием с Microsoft будет поистине важное развитие для нас,» говорим Ribadu. «Оно приходит на предельное временя. Мы предпологаем оно поможет нам создать безопасную правовую среду, принудить законы которые помогут привлечь зарубежные инвестиции, и пришпорить экономическое развития. «
«Но за ударом на нашем национальной экономике удар это согласование будет иметь на жизнях наших граждан,» он добавляет. «Оно улучшит качество жизней людей путем уменьшение злодеяния вокруг их, позволять они найти более лучшие работы, и поднимать герметичность Нигерии в мирового сообщество. То Microsoft делает для нас. «
Spammers Beware: Microsoft en Nigeria werken samen om Cybercrime te bestrijden
Automatically translated into Dutch thanks to WorldLingo
Nuhu Ribadu, de EG, EFCC en Neil Holloway, Voorzitter van Microsoft Europa het Midden-Oosten en Afrika.
Nigeria zegt een uniek memorandum van overeenstemming met Microsoft het zal helpen om cyber misdadigers te identificeren en te vervolgen, een veilige juridische voorwaarde tot stand te brengen, en honderden miljoenen dollars in verloren investmentThe laatste persoon te herstellen u wilt zien gevangen in een financiële scam een weduwe is. Nigeriaanse Amaka Anajemba, die op de jonge leeftijd van 37 widowed was geweest, werd gevangen in grootste financiële scam van zijn type in de geschiedenis van haar land, waarin de daders een totaal van $242 miljoen stalen. Maar alvorens u teveel sympathie voor Anajemba uitwerkt, zou u moeten weten dat zij geen slachtoffer van scam was - zij was één van zijn daders.
In 2002, richtte de Nigeriaanse overheid de Economische en Financiële Commissie van Misdaden op (EFCC) om het groeiende probleem van cybercrime in dat land te vechten. De recente succesvolle vervolging van Anajemba is één van 50 voltooide gevallen EFCC, onlangs of momenteel aan de gang, implicerend bijna 100 gedaagden. Honderden worden meer onderzocht. En de inspanning heeft een invloed. Het tarief van spam van Nigeria dat aan swindle mensen zoekt is gehalveerd, volgens de overheid.
Ondanks zijn succes, wilde de Nigeriaanse overheid meer doen en het wist het hulp vergde. Vandaag beginnend, krijgt Nigeria dat hulp op een geformaliseerde manier met het ondertekenen van een overeenkomst met Microsoft, waaronder twee op informatie samenwerken zullen die, en het capaciteitsbouw Internet misdaad uit het land deelt opleidt te bestrijden. Hun memorandum van overeenstemming is eerste van zijn type voor beide partijen en om verondersteld te zijn eerste van zijn type in Afrika, als niet de wereld.
Honderden van de kostprijsberekening Miljoenen
$100 miljoen van Dollars „hebben wij van spammers in beslag genomen en andere gedaagden is het minst wie cybercrime ons land heeft gekost,“ zegt Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, uitvoerende voorzitter van EFCC. „Onze economie heeft honderden miljoenen dollars in buitenlandse investering verloren omdat onze geloofwaardigheid en vertrouwen van de internationale gemeenschap zijn beïnvloed. Nigerianen kunnen geen financiële instrumenten zo zelfs gebruiken basis zoals postorders; als het uit Nigeria komt, is het verdacht. „
Zo toen Microsoft, wat een bureau in Nigeria heeft, EFCC over het samenwerken te vechten cybercrime naderde, was de overheid geinteresseerd. Maar volgens Jean-Christophe Le Toquin, een procureur en Internet een veiligheidsdeskundige In Parijs gevestigd in EMEA van Microsoft organisatie, Nigeria aan te bieden meer hadden dan een probleem met cybercrime.
„Wij zijn geinteresseerd in globaal het vechten cybercrime, natuurlijk, maar het werken met Nigeria hield bijzondere aantrekkelijkheden voor ons,“ zegt Le Toquin. „EFCC is een bekwame organisatie, met een significante infrastructuur die van de wetshandhaving het steunt, en Nigeria heeft de politieke bereidheid om actie tegen cybermisdadigers te voeren. Zo veel aangezien zij op hun deden, waren zij comfortabel met het idee van het ertoe brengen van hulp van ons om zelfs nog meer te doen. „
En Nigeria, beurtelings, zag verschillende voordelen in partnering met Microsoft. „Microsoft is niet alleen een technologieleider, is het ook een leider in de bestrijding van cybercrime,“ zegt Ribadu. „Geen ander bedrijf doet wat Microsoft doet vechten cybercrime en geen ander bedrijf de hulp kon verstrekken die wij in het kader van deze overeenkomst zal krijgen. “
„Deze overeenkomst zal van groot voordeel aan ons zijn,“ hij voegt toe. „Het zal ons in de juiste richting in het vechten cybercrime zetten. Het zal ons helpen om ons begrip van de technologieën te verbeteren in kwestie evenals ons nieuwe onderzoeksvaardigheden te geven om na de misdadigers te gaan. Zij veranderen constant hun tactiek en wij moeten constant omhoog houden. Deze overeenkomst zal ons helpen om dat te doen. En om het even wat die cybercrime in Nigeria vermindert zal ook computer aan gebruikers overal ten goede komen, aangezien de misdaad die hier begint niet bij onze grenzen ophoudt. „
Verstrekkend Deskundigheid, bepaalt de Informatie en
meer de overeenkomst een kader voor samenwerking tussen Microsoft en Nigeria dat de toegang EFCC tot de technische deskundigheid van Microsoft, informatie voor succesvolle handhaving, microsoft-Gesponsorde seminaries, en opleidingssessies geven zullen die specifiek voor de ambtenaren en de vertegenwoordigers van de wetshandhaving worden ontworpen.
Bijvoorbeeld, denkt Microsoft om kennis op zogenaamde „botnet“ technologie te verstrekken die hakkers toelaat om tientallen duizenden PCs te controleren en die PCs te gebruiken uit te spreiden of spam websites met zo veel verkeer te overstromen dat de plaatsen in de ontkenning-van-dienst aanvallen verpletteren. Microsoft denkt om Nigeriaanse onderzoekers in te instrueren hoe te om nuttige informatie uit PCs te halen die door botnetaanvallen wordt gecompromitteerd, hoe te computernetwerken te controleren om dergelijke aanvallen te ontdekken, en hoe te om de mensen achter hen te identificeren.
Microsoft denkt ook om lood op spam uit Nigeria te verstrekken, daar toelatend de autoriteiten om onderzoeken sneller en met succes na te streven. Microsoft leidt een analyse wereldwijd van spam die naar e-mailrekeningen wordt verzonden die het met deze bedoeling vestigt en controleert.
„Onze analyse van spam veroorzaakt honderden lood elk jaar,“ zegt Le Toquin. „Omdat wij reeds deze informatie produceren, is het gemakkelijk voor ons om het aan de autoriteiten van de wetshandhaving te verstrekken die iets over het kunnen doen. De meeste landen zijn in geen positie om spammers binnen hun grenzen te identificeren. Wij kunnen helpen dat doen en de informatie met hen delen zodat kunnen zij actie voeren. Dat is een voorbeeld van de informatie delend wij zal doen met Nigeria. „
Voortbouwend op Informele Verhoudingen
is het memorandum van overeenstemming de eerste formele overeenkomst van zijn type tussen Microsoft en een nationale overheid, maar het bouwt op informele verhoudingen voort die Microsoft met internationale agentschappen en nationale overheden wereldwijd heeft gebouwd. Het bedrijf werkt met Interpol evenals met landen in Europa, het Midden-Oosten, Azië en Noord-Amerika samen.
En de inspanningen van Microsoft te vechten cybercrime gaan verder dan de financiële misdaden die Nigeria richt. Bijvoorbeeld, heeft het bedrijf een volgend systeem van de kindbenutting in werking gesteld om Internet van de de agentschappenstrijd van de wetshandhaving te helpen kindpornografie.
Over het geheel genomen, Microsoft een team van 65 werkend heeft om Internet veiligheid wereldwijd te bevorderen. Naast zijn informele verhoudingen met overheden en agentschappen, verleent het bedrijf gestructureerde steun aan de openbare sector door zowel zijn Programma van de Veiligheid van de Overheid, dat in 2003 is met, als zijn Programma van de Samenwerking van de Veiligheid, dat in Februari van dit jaar is begonnen begonnen met. Deze programma's helpen overheden richten hun unieke veiligheidszorgen rond het gebruik van technologie. Het programma van de Veiligheid van de Overheid voorziet nationale overheden van de middelen noodzakelijk om een uitvoerig veiligheidsoverzicht van de producten van Microsoft te leiden, terwijl het programma van de Samenwerking van de Veiligheid overheden om aan computeraanvallen helpt te antwoorden, de gevolgen van die aanvallen te verlichten, en te verstrekken overtreft en onderwijs aan burgers.
Het werk van Microsoft met overheden en agentschappen, beurtelings, maakt deel uit van zijn breder Betrouwbaar initiatief van de Gegevensverwerking, dat tot doel heeft om veilige, privé en betrouwbare gegevensverwerkingservaringen aan iedereen te brengen. Andere Betrouwbare inspanningen van de Gegevensverwerking omvatten technologieinnovatie, samenwerking met de industrie, academia en overheden, en proces tegen bekende spammers en anderen.
Een echt Belangrijke Ontwikkeling
de overeenkomst tussen Microsoft en Nigeria is het hoogtepunt van verscheidene maanden van informele samenwerking tussen twee. Tijdens de zomer, bijvoorbeeld, verstrekte Microsoft informatie die de Nigeriaanse ambtenaren gebruikten om twee Dienstverleners te identificeren Van Internet die met grote hoeveelheden spam daar worden geassoci�ërd. EFCC lanceerde onderzoeken tegen de bedrijven en maakte arrestaties. De vervolgingen zijn nu hangend.
„Wij zijn zeker dat deze overeenkomst met Microsoft een echt belangrijke ontwikkeling voor ons is,“ zeggen Ribadu. „Het komt in een kritieke tijd. Wij denken het ons zal helpen om een veilige juridische voorwaarde tot stand te brengen, de wetten af te dwingen die zullen helpen buitenlandse investering aantrekken, en economische ontwikkeling aan te sporen. „
„Maar voorbij het effect op onze nationale economie is de invloed die deze overeenkomst op het leven van onze burgers zal hebben,“ hij toevoegt. „Het zal de kwaliteit van het leven van mensen door het verminderen van de misdaad rond hen, hen toe te laten om betere banen te vinden, en de integriteit van Nigeria in de wereldgemeenschap op te heffen verbeteren. Dat is wat Microsoft voor ons doet. „
[سبمّر] يحذرون: مكروسوفت ونيجيريا فريق حتّى معركة [سبركريم]
Automatically translated into Arabic thanks to WorldLingo
[نوهو] [ريبدو], [إك], [إفكّ] و [نيل] [هولّووي], رئيس من مكروسوفت أوروبا [ميدّل ست] وإفريقيا.
نيجيريا يقول سيساعد [ممورندوم وف وندرستندينغ] فريدة مع مكروسوفت هو أن يعيّن وحاكمت [سبر] مجرمات, خلقت آمنة جائز بيئة, وأحيات مئات الملايين الدولارات في ضائعة [إينفستمنتّه] أخرى شخص أنت تريد أن يرى يمسك في [سكم] ماليّة أرملة. [ويدوود] [أمكا] نيجيريّة [أنجمبا], الذي كان قد كان في العمر شابّة من 37, كان مسكت في ال [سكم] كبيرة ماليّة من ه يطبع داخل بلده تاريخ, واحدة في أيّ المقترف سرقوا مجموعة من $242 مليون. غير أنّ قبل أن يعمل أنت فوق [توو موش] تعاطف ل [أنجمبا], أنت سوفت عرفت أنّ هو [ب] لم ضحية من ال [سكم] - هو كان واحدة من مقترفه.
في 2002, النيجيريّ أسّس حكومة الاقتصاديّة وماليّة جرائم عمولة ([إفكّ]) أن يعارك ال ينمو مشكلة ال [سبركريم] في أنّ بلد. المقاضاة أخيرة ناجحة [أنجمبا] واحدة من 50 [إفكّ] حالات, مؤخّرا يتمّ أو حاليّا جار, يتضمّن [كلوس تو] 100 مدّعى عليه. تحرّيت مئات أكثر يكون. ويتلقّى الجهد تأثير صدمة. شطرت المعدل ال [سبم] من نيجيريا يبحث أن يخدع الناس يتلقّى يكون, وفقا ل الحكومة.
على الرغم من نجاحه, أراد الحكومة نيجيريّة أن يتمّ أكثر وهو عرف هو يحتاج مساعدة. يبدأ اليوم, يحصل نيجيريا أنّ مساعدة في يشكّل طريق مع ال يقع من إتفاق مع مكروسوفت, تحت أيّ الاثنان سيتعاون على [إينفورمأيشن شرينغ], تدريب, وقدرة بناية أن يتنازع إنترنت جريمة يتكوّن في البلاد. [ممورندوم وف وندرستندينغ] هم الأولى من نوعه ل كلا أحزاب وصدقت أن يكون الأولى من ه يطبع داخل إفريقيا, [إيف نوت] العالم.
يكلّل مئات الملايين الدولارات
"ال $100 مليون قد صادر نحن من [سبمّر] وأخرى مدّعى عليه ال بعض أنّ [سبركريم] قد كلّل بلادنا," يقول [ملّم] [نوهو] [ريبدو], رئيس مجلس إدارة تنفيذيّة من ال [إفكّ]. "قد خسر اقتصادنا مئات الملايين الدولارات في [فورين ينفستمنت] لأنّ مصداقيتنا والثقة من الالمجتمع الدولي يتلقّى يكون أثرت. نيجيريّ يستطيع لا حتّى استعملت [فيننسل ينسترومنت] مثل أساسيّة بما أنّ [ميل وردر]; إن هو يأتي من نيجيريا, هو متّهمة. "
هكذا عندما قارب مكروسوفت, أيّ يتلقّى مكتب في نيجيريا, ال [إفكّ] حول يتعاون أن يتنازع [سبركريم], الحكومة كان هممت. تلقّى غير أنّ وفقا ل [جن-كريستوف] [ل] [توقوين], [بريس-بسد] وكيلة وإنترنت أمان خبيرة في مكروسوفت [إما] منظمة, نيجيريا أكثر أن يقدّم من مشكلة مع [سبركريم].
"نحن راغبة في يتنازع [سبركريم] على نحو شامل, [أف كورس], غير أنّ أمسك يعمل مع نيجيريا حالة جذب خاصّة ل نا," يقول [ل] [توقوين]. "ال [إفكّ] يمهر منظمة, مع هامّة [لو نفورسمنت] بنية أساسيّة ظهارة هو, ويتلقّى نيجيريا الاستعداد سياسيّة أن يأخذ عمل ضدّ [سبر] مجرمات. مثل كثير بما أنّ أتمّ هم كان على هم خاصّة, هم كانوا مريحة مع الفكرة من يحصل مساعدة من نا أن يتمّ [إفن مور]. "
ونيجيريا, بالتّالي, منشار ميزات بارزة في يتشارك مع مكروسوفت. يقول "مكروسوفت ليس فحسب تكنولوجيا زعيمة, هو أيضا زعيمة في المعركة ضدّ [سبركريم]," [ريبدو]. "ما من أخرى يتمّ شركة ماذا مكروسوفت يكون يتمّ أن يتنازع [سبركريم] وما من أخرى شركة استطاع زوّدت المساعدة نحن سنحصل تحت هذا إتفاق. "
"سيكون هذا إتفاق من فائدة عظيمة إلى نا," هو يضيف. "سيضعنا هو في الاتّجاه مناسبة في يتنازع [سبركريم]. هو سيساعدنا أن يحسن تفهمنا من التكنولوجيا يتضمّن [أس ولّ س] مرونة نا مهارات جديدة تحقيقيّة أن يذهب بعد المجرمات. هم باستمرار يغيّرون تكتيكاتهم ونحن يضطرّ باستمرار تماديت. سيساعدنا هذا إتفاق أن يتمّ أنّ. وسيستفيد أيّ شيء أنّ يقلّل [سبركريم] في نيجيريا أيضا حاسوب مستعملات في كلّ مكان, بما أنّ الجريمة أنّ يبدأ هنا لا يتوقّف في حافاتنا. "
يزوّد خبرة, معلومة وكثير
يعيّن الإتفاق هيكل لتعاون بين مكروسوفت ونيجيريا أنّ سيعطي ال [إفكّ] منفذة إلى مكروسوفت خبرة فنّيّة, معلومة لإنفاذ ناجحة, [ميكروسفت-سبونسرد] حلقة دراسيّة, وتدريب جلسات خصوصا يصمد ل [لو نفورسمنت] ضابطات وممثلات.
مثلا, يتوقّع مكروسوفت أن يزوّد معرفة على ما يسمّى "[بوتنت]" تكنولوجيا أنّ يمكّن مستقطعات أن يضبط [تن] الآلاف ال [بكس] وأن يستعمل أنّ [بكس] أن ينشر [سبم] أو أن يغمر موقعات مع كثيرا حركة مرور أنّ الموقعات يتحطّمون في [دنيل-وف-سرفيس] يهاجم. مكروسوفت يتوقّع أن يأمر محققات نيجيريّة في كيف أن يستخرج معلومة مفيدة من [بكس] يتورّط ب [بوتنت] هجوم, كيف أن يراقب [كمبوتر نتوورك] أن يكشف هذا هجوم, وكيف أن يعيّن الالناس خلف هم.
يتوقّع مكروسوفت أيضا أن يزوّد [لدس] على [سبم] يتكوّن من نيجيريا, يمكّن السلطات هناك أن يتتبّع تحقيقات أكثر سريعا وبنجاح. مكروسوفت يوصل تحليل عالميّ نطاق [سبم] يرسل إلى بريد إلكترونيّ حسابات أنّ هو يؤسّس ويراقب [ثيس بوربوس].
"ينتج تحليلنا ال [سبم] مئات ال [لدس] [إش ر]," يقول [ل] [توقوين]. "لأنّ نحن سابقا نلد هذا معلومة, هو يتيح ل نا أن يزوّد هو إلى ال [لو نفورسمنت] سلطات الذي يستطيع أتمّت شيء حول هو. كثير بلاد في ما من موقعة أن يعيّن ال [سبمّر] ضمن حافاتهم. نحن يستطيع ساعدت يتمّ أنّ ويشارك المعلومة مع هم لذلك هم يستطيع أخذت عمل. أنّ مثال من ال [إينفورمأيشن شرينغ] نحن سنتمّ مع نيجيريا. "
بناية على علاقات
رسميّة ال [ممورندوم وف وندرستندينغ] الإتفاق أولى رسميّة من نوعه بين مكروسوفت و[نأيشنل غفرنمنت], غير أنّ يبني هو على علاقات رسميّة أنّ مكروسوفت قد بنى مع وكالات دوليّة و [نأيشنل غفرنمنت] عالميّا. [ك-وبرتس] الشركة مع [إينتربول] [أس ولّ س] مع بلاد في أوروبا, [ث ميدّل ست], آسيا و [نورث مريك].
ومكروسوفت يذهب جهود أن يتنازع [سبركريم] إلى ما بعد الجرائم ماليّة أنّ نيجيريا يكون يخاطب. مثلا, قد بدأ الشركة طفلة إستثمار [ترك سستم] أن يساعد [لو نفورسمنت] وكالات تنازعت إنترنت طفلة إباحيّة.
في كلّ, يتلقّى مكروسوفت فريق من 65 يعمل أن يروّج إنترنت أمن عالميّا. [إين دّيأيشن تو] علاقاته رسميّة مع حكومات ووكالات, يزوّد الشركة يشيّد دعم إلى الالقطاع العامّ من خلال كلا ه [غفرنمنت سكريتي] برنامج, يبدأ في 2003, وه أمن تعاون برنامج, يبدأ في فبراير - شباط من هذا سنة. هذا برنامج مساعدة يخاطب حكوماتهم فريد أمن اهتمامات حول الإستعمال التكنولوجيا. ال [غفرنمنت سكريتي] يزوّد برنامج [نأيشنل غفرنمنت] مع الموردات ضروريّة أن يوصل شاملة أمن مراجعات من مكروسوفت منتوجات, بينما الأمن تعاون برنامج يساعد حكومات أن يستجيب إلى حاسوب هجوم, خفّفت التأثيرات من أنّ هجوم, وزوّدت جاوزت وتربية إلى مواطنات.
مكروسوفت عمل مع حكومات ووكالات, بالتّالي, جزء من ه واسعة جدير بالثّقة يحسب مبادرة, أيّ يبحث أن يحضر يؤمّن, خاصّة وموثوقة يختبر يحسب إلى كلّ شخص. أخرى يتضمّن جدير بالثّقة يحسب جهود تكنولوجيا إبتداع, تعاون مع صناعة, الحياة الأكاديميّة وحكومات, ونزاع ضدّ يعرف [سبمّر] وأخرى.
تطوير
مهمّة حقّا الإتفاق بين مكروسوفت ونيجيريا الاكتمال من عدّة شهور من تعاون رسميّة بين الاثنان. على الفصل صيف, مثلا, زوّد مكروسوفت معلومة أنّ مسؤولات نيجيريّة استعملوا أن يعيّن اثنان [إينترنت سرفيس بروفيدر] يصحب مع مبلغات كبيرة [سبم] هناك. أطلق ال [إفكّ] تحقيقات ضدّ الشركات وجعل إعتقالات. مقاضيات الآن معلّقة.
"نحن واثقة أنّ هذا إتفاق مع مكروسوفت تطوير مهمّة حقّا ل نا," يقول [ريبدو]. "يأتي هو في وقت حرجة. نحن نتوقّع سيساعدنا هو أن يخلق آمنة جائز بيئة, أن ينفذ القانون أنّ سيساعد جذبت [فورين ينفستمنت], وأن يهمز تطور اقتصادي. "
"غير أنّ إلى ما بعد التأثير صدمة على [نأيشنل كنومي] نا التأثير صدمة أنّ هذا إتفاق سيتلقّى على الحيوات من مواطناتنا," هو يضيف. "سيحسن هو النوعية من الناس حيوات ب يقلّل الجريمة حول هم, يمكّنهم أن يجد أشغال جيّدة, ويرفع النزاهة نيجيريا في العالم جماعة. أنّ ماذا مكروسوفت يكون يتمّ ل نا. "
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Nigeria vice president files suit over exclusion from April's election
Related to country: Nigeria
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ABUJA, Nigeria: Vice President Atiku Abubakar filed a law suit Friday seeking to overturn an electoral commission decision that bars him from running for president next month.
Abubakar was protesting his omission from a list of two dozen approved candidates for April 21 elections illegal released Thursday. He named the electoral commission and its chairman, Maurice Iwu, as co-defendants, court papers released by his lawyers showed.
Court officials confirmed receiving a filing. Hearings were expected to begin Monday at the federal court in the capital, Abuja.
The electoral commission gave no reason for excluding Abubakar, who is involved in a public feud with the president, but listed constitutional prohibitions on candidates indicted for crimes before a court or executive panel.
In a statement Friday, the president's office lauded the commission for working "to rid governance of bad eggs and corrupt elements for the good of our beloved country."
Last year Abubakar was accused of corruption by an administrative panel set up by President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Abubakar's camp has called the panel unconstitutional and denied the allegations, saying they stemmed from a public spat after Abubakar helped stop his boss from extending his tenure beyond the constitutional limit.
Abubakar's failure to support the president soured relations between the two men and eventually prompted Abubakar to quit the ruling party and go into opposition.
Lawyers say only the nation's highest court can overturn the electoral commission's decision, which cleared 24 other candidates on Thursday, including the other two clear leaders: governing party candidate Umaru Yar'Adua, a governor of northern Katsina state; and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, a former military leader.
If held successfully, the April polls would set up the first civilian-to-civilian transfer of power in Nigeria's history since independence from Britain in 1960. Previous electoral transitions have been interrupted by annulments or military coups.
The back-and-forth between the ruling party and Atiku's campaign has raised fears in Nigeria that a violent crisis could erupt, leading to an extension or cancellation of the polls. More than 10,000 people have died in strife since the end of military rule uncorked long-simmering resentments in a country with 250 ethnic groups.
With 140 million people, Nigeria is Africa's most-populous nation and its largest oil producer. Many in West Africa fear massive chaos in Nigeria could send refugees streaming across the region, undermining years of hard-won peace and increased stability in the region.
Obasanjo's 1999 election alongside Abubakar ended years of brutal military rule. Obasanjo, a one-time military leader who handed over to a civilian government himself in the 1970s, won re-election in 2003 polls that the opposition called rigged.
The Nigerian electoral commission has not said when it would have to start printing ballots to ensure they are distributed in time for 61 million registered voters in a country twice the size of California to have them for the ballot. Nigeria has many far-flung regions and villages unconnected by roads.
Le vice-président du Nigéria intente le procès au-dessus de l'exclusion à partir de l'élection d'avril
Automatically translated into French thanks to WorldLingo
ABUJA, Nigéria : Vice-président Atiku Abubakar a intenté un procès vendredi de loi cherchant à retourner une décision électorale de commission qui l'empêche de courir pour le président le mois prochain.
Abubakar protestait son omission d'une liste de deux candidats approuvés par douzaine pour des élections jeudi libéré illégal du 21 avril. Il a appelé la commission électorale et son Président, Maurice Iwu, comme Co-défendeurs, papiers de cour a libéré par ses avocats montrés.
Fonctionnaires de cour confirmés recevant un classement. On s'est attendu à ce que des auditions commencent lundi à la cour fédérale dans la capitale, Abuja.
La commission électorale n'a donné aucune raison d'exclure Abubakar, qui est impliqué dans une inimitié publique du président, mais les prohibitions constitutionnelles énumérées sur des candidats ont accusé pour des crimes avant un panneau de cour ou de directeur.
Dans un rapport vendredi, le bureau du président a glorifié la commission pour travailler « pour débarrasser le gouvernement des oeufs gâtés et pour corrompre des éléments pour le bien de notre pays aimé. »
Abubakar a été accusé l'année dernière de la corruption par un panneau administratif établi par le Président Olusegun Obasanjo.
Le camp d'Abubakar a appelé le panneau inconstitutionnel et a nié les allégations, dire elles ont provenu d'une guêtre publique après qu'arrêt aidé par Abubakar son patron de prolonger sa tenure au delà de la limite constitutionnelle.
Le manque d'Abubakar de soutenir le président a acidifié des relations entre les deux hommes et l'Abubakar par la suite incité pour stopper la partie régnante et pour entrer dans l'opposition.
Les avocats disent que seulement la cour la plus élevée de la nation peut retourner la décision de la commission électorale, qui a dégagé 24 autres candidats jeudi, y compris les deux autres chefs clairs : candidat régissant Umaru Yar'Adua, un gouverneur de partie d'état nordique de Katsina ; et générateur. Muhammadu Buhari, un ancien chef militaire.
Si tenus avec succès, les scrutins d'avril établiraient le premier transfert de civil-à-civil de la puissance dans l'histoire du Nigéria depuis l'indépendance à partir de la Grande-Bretagne en 1960. Des transitions électorales précédentes ont été interrompues par des annulations ou des coups militaires.
Le de va-et-vient entre la partie régnante et la campagne d'Atiku a soulevé des craintes au Nigéria qu'une crise violente pourrait éclater, menant à une prolongation ou à une annulation des scrutins. Plus de 10.000 personnes sont mortes dans les différends depuis que la fin de la règle militaire uncorked long-fermentant des ressentiments dans un pays avec 250 groupes ethniques.
Avec 140 millions de personnes, le Nigéria est la nation plus-populeuse de l'Afrique et son plus grand producteur de pétrole. Beaucoup dans le chaos massif de crainte occidentale de l'Afrique au Nigéria ont pu envoyer des réfugiés coulant à travers la région, minant des années de paix dur-gagnée et de stabilité accrue dans la région.
L'élection 1999 d'Obasanjo à côté d'Abubakar a fini des années de règle militaire brutale. Obasanjo, un chef militaire jetable qui a remis à un gouvernement civil lui-même dans les années 70, réélection gagnée dans 2003 scrutins que l'opposition a appelés a calé.
La commission électorale nigérienne n'a pas déclaré quand elle devrait commencer à imprimer des votes pour les assurer sont distribuées pour 61 millions d'électeurs enregistrés dans un pays deux fois la taille de la Californie pour les avoir pour le vote. Le Nigéria a beaucoup de régions et villages vastes déconnectés par des routes.
El vice presidente de Nigeria archiva el juego sobre la exclusión de la elección de abril
Automatically translated into Spanish thanks to WorldLingo
ABUJA, Nigeria: Vice presidente Atiku Abubakar archivó un juego viernes de la ley que intentaba volcar una decisión electoral de la comisión que lo barra del funcionamiento para el presidente el mes próximo.
Abubakar protestaba su omisión de una lista de dos candidatos aprobados docena a las elecciones jueves lanzado ilegal del 21 de abril. Él nombró a comisión electoral y su presidente, Maurice Iwu, como co-demandados, papeles de la corte lanzó por sus abogados demostrados.
Funcionarios de corte confirmados recibiendo una limadura. Se esperaba que las audiencias comenzaran lunes en la corte federal en el capital, Abuja.
La comisión electoral no dio ninguna razón de excluir Abubakar, que está implicado en una pelea pública con el presidente, pero las prohibiciones constitucionales enumeradas en candidatos procesaron para los crímenes antes de un panel de la corte o del ejecutivo.
En una declaración viernes, la oficina del presidente alabó a comisión para trabajar “para librar el gobierno de malos huevos y para corromper los elementos para el bueno de nuestro país querido. ”
Abubakar fue acusado el año pasado de la corrupción por un panel administrativo instalado por presidente Olusegun Obasanjo.
El campo de Abubakar ha llamado el panel inconstitucional y ha negado las alegaciones, decir provinieron una polaina pública después de que parada ayudada Abubakar su jefe de ampliar su arrendamiento más allá del límite constitucional.
La falta de Abubakar de apoyar al presidente agrió relaciones entre los dos hombres y el Abubakar eventual incitado para parar el partido predominante y para entrar la oposición.
Los abogados dicen que solamente la tribunal más superior de la nación puede volcar la decisión de la comisión electoral, que dio salida a a 24 otros candidatos el jueves, incluyendo los otros dos líderes claros: candidato Umaru Yar'Adua, un gobernador del partido que gobierna del estado norteño de Katsina; y generador. Muhammadu Buhari, líder militar anterior.
Si estuvieron llevadas a cabo con éxito, las encuestas de abril instalarían la primera transferencia del civil-a-civil de la energía en la historia de Nigeria desde independencia de Gran Bretaña en 1960. Las transiciones electorales anteriores han sido interrumpidas por anulaciones o golpes militares.
El hacia adelante y hacia atrás entre el partido predominante y la campaña de Atiku ha levantado miedos en Nigeria que una crisis violenta podría entrar en erupción, conduciendo a una extensión o a una cancelación de las encuestas. Más de 10.000 personas han muerto en la distensión desde que el final de la regla militar uncorked resentimientos largos-simmering en un país con 250 grupos étnicos.
Con 140 millones de personas de, Nigeria es nación más-populosa de África y su productor de aceite más grande. Muchos en caos masivo del miedo del oeste de África en Nigeria podían enviar a refugiados que fluían a través de la región, minando años de la paz duro-ganada y de la estabilidad creciente en la región.
La elección 1999 de Obasanjo junto a Abubakar terminó los años de la regla militar brutal. Obasanjo, líder militar de una sola vez que entregó a un gobierno civil mismo en los años 70, reelección ganada en 2003 encuestas que la oposición llamó aparejó.
La comisión electoral nigeriana no ha dicho cuándo tendría que comenzar a imprimir balotas para asegurarlos se distribuye para 61 millones de votantes registrados en un país dos veces el tamaño de California para tenerlos para la balota. Nigeria tiene muchas regiones y aldeas far-flung no relacionadas por los caminos.
Il vice presidente della Nigeria archivia il vestito sopra l'esclusione dall'elezione di aprile
Automatically translated into Italian thanks to WorldLingo
ABUJA, Nigeria: Il vice presidente Atiku Abubakar ha archiviato un vestito venerdì di legge che cerca di capovolgere una decisione elettorale della commissione che lo esclude dal funzionare per il presidente il mese prossimo.
Abubakar stava protestando la sua omissione da una lista di due candidati approvati dozzina per le elezioni giovedì liberato illegale del 21 aprile. Ha chiamato la commissione elettorale ed il relativo presidente, Maurice Iwu, come co-difensori, carte dalla corte si è liberato dai suoi avvocati indicati.
Funzionari di corte confermati ricevendo una limatura. Le udienze si sono pensate che comincino lunedì alla corte federale nel capitale, Abuja.
La commissione elettorale non ha dato motivo per escludere Abubakar, che è coinvolto in un feud pubblico con il presidente, ma le proibizioni costituzionali elencate sui candidati hanno incriminato per i crimini prima di un pannello dell'esecutivo o della corte.
In una dichiarazione venerdì, l'ufficio del presidente lauded la commissione per il funzionamento “per sbarazzare il controllo delle uova difettose e per corrompere gli elementi per il buon del nostro paese caro. „
L'anno scorso Abubakar è stato accusato della corruzione da un pannello amministrativo installato dal presidente Olusegun Obasanjo.
L'accampamento del Abubakar ha denominato il pannello inconstituzionale ed ha negato le allegazioni, ad esempio hanno provenuto da una ghetta pubblica dopo che arresto aiutato Abubakar la sua sporgenza dall'estensione del suo possesso oltre il limite costituzionale.
L'omissione del Abubakar di sostenere il presidente ha inacidito i rapporti fra i due uomini e il Abubakar finalmente richiamato per rinunciare il partito di regolamento e per entrare in opposizione.
Gli avvocati dicono che soltanto l'più alta corte della nazione può capovolgere la decisione della commissione elettorale, che ha annullato altri 24 candidati il giovedì, compreso gli altri due capi liberi: il candidato governante Umaru Yar'Adua del partito, un regolatore di Katsina nordico dichiara; e generatore. Muhammadu Buhari, un ex capo militare.
Se tenuto con successo, lo scrutinio di aprile installerebbe il primo trasferimento del civile--civile di alimentazione nella storia della Nigeria da indipendenza dalla Gran-Bretagna in 1960. Le transizioni elettorali precedenti sono state interrotte dai annulments o dai colpi militari.
L'avanti e indietro fra il partito di regolamento e la campagna del Atiku ha sollevato i timori in Nigeria che una crisi violenta potrebbe scoppiare, conducendo ad un'estensione o ad un annullamento dello scrutinio. Più di 10.000 genti sono morto nella disputa da quando la conclusione della regola militare uncorked i rancori lunghi-simmering in un paese con 250 gruppi etnici.
Con 140 milione di persone, la Nigeria è nazione più-popolata dell'Africa ed il relativo più grande produttore di petrolio. Molti nel caos voluminoso di timore ad ovest dell'Africa in Nigeria hanno potuto trasmettere i rifugiati che effluiscono attraverso la regione, insidiando gli anni di pace duro-vinta e di stabilità aumentata nella regione.
L'elezione 1999 del Obasanjo accanto a Abubakar si è conclusa anni della regola militare brutale. Obasanjo, un capo militare di una volta che ha cosegnato ad un governo civile egli stesso negli anni 70, rielezione vinta in 2003 scrutinii che l'opposizione denominata ha attrezzato.
La commissione elettorale nigeriana non ha detto quando dovrebbe cominciare stampare le schede elettorali per accertarli è distribuita in tempo per 61 milione elettori registrati in un paese due volte il formato della California per averla per la scheda elettorale. La Nigeria ha molti regioni e villaggi far-flung disgiunti dalle strade.
Nigeria Vizepräsident ordnet Klage über Ausschluß von der Wahl Aprils ein
Automatically translated into German thanks to WorldLingo
ABUJA, Nigeria: Vizepräsident Atiku Abubakar ordnete eine Gesetzklage Freitag suchend, eine Wahlkommission Entscheidung umzuwerfen ein, die ihn von für Präsidenten laufen folgender Monat abhält.
Abubakar protestierte seine Auslassung von einer Liste von zwei Dutzend genehmigten Anwärtern für 21. April Wahlen ungültiger freigegebener Donnerstag. Er nannte die Wahlkommission und sein Vorsitzender, Maurice Iwu, wie Cobeklagte, Gerichtpapiere freigab durch seine gezeigten Rechtsanwälte.
Gerichtsbeamte bestätigt, eine Archivierung empfangend. Hörfähigkeiten wurden erwartet, um Montag am Bundesgerichtshof im Kapital anzufangen, Abuja.
Die Wahlkommission gab keinen Grund für das Ausschließen von Abubakar, das in eine allgemeine Fehde in den Präsidenten miteinbezogen wird, aber registrierte konstitutionelle Verbote auf Anwärtern klagten für Verbrechen vor einer Gericht- oder Hauptleiterverkleidung an.
In einer Aussage Freitag, lauded das Büro des Präsidenten die Kommission zu einem Arbeiten, „, zum von Regierungsgewalt von den schlechten Eiern zu reinigen und der Elemente für das gute unseres geliebten Landes zu verderben. “
Letztes Jahr Abubakar wurde von der Korruption durch eine administrative Verkleidung beschuldigt, die vom Präsidenten Olusegun Obasanjo aufgestellt wurde.
Lager Abubakars hat die Verkleidung verfassungswidrig genannt und die Behauptungen verweigert, sagen stammten sie eine allgemeine Gamasche nachdem Abubakar geholfener Anschlag sein Chef vom Verlängern seines Besitzes über der konstitutionellen Begrenzung hinaus ab.
Störung Abubakars, den Präsidenten zu stützen säuerte Relationen zwischen den zwei Männern und schließlich aufgeforderten Abubakar, um die regierende Partei zu beendigen und in Opposition einzusteigen.
Rechtsanwälte sagen, daß nur das höchste Gericht der Nation die Wahlentscheidung der kommission, die 24 andere Anwärter am Donnerstag löschte, einschließlich die anderen zwei freien Führer umwerfen kann: regelnParteianwärter Umaru Yar'Adua, ein Regler des NordKatsina Zustandes; und Generator. Muhammadu Buhari, ein ehemaliger militärischer Führer.
Wenn sie erfolgreich gehalten werden, würden die April Abstimmungen die erste Zivilist-zuzivilist übertragung der Energie in der Geschichte Nigerias seit Unabhängigkeit von Großbritannien 1960 aufstellen. Vorhergehende Wahlübergänge sind durch Annulments oder militärische Coupe unterbrochen worden.
Das hin- und her zwischen der regierenden Partei und Kampagne Atikus hat Furcht in Nigeria aufgeworfen, daß eine heftige Krise ausbrechen könnte und zu eine Verlängerung oder eine Annullierung der Abstimmungen führen. Mehr als 10.000 Leute sind im Streit gestorben, seit das Ende der militärischen Richtlinie langen-simmering Groll in einem Land mit 250 ethnischen Gruppen uncorked.
Mit 140 Million Leuten ist Nigeria Afrikas am meisten-einwohnerstarke Nation und sein größter ölproduzent. Viele im massiven Chaos der Westafrika Furcht in Nigeria konnten die Flüchtlinge senden, die über der Region strömen und Jahre des hart-gewonnenen Friedens und der erhöhten Stabilität in der Region untergraben.
Obasanjos Wahl 1999 neben Abubakar beendete Jahre der brutalen militärischen Richtlinie. Obasanjo, ein einmaliger militärischer Führer, der zu einer Zivilregierung selbst in den siebziger Jahren überreichte, gewonnene Wiederwahl in 2003 Abstimmungen, die die benannte Opposition in Ordnung brachte.
Die nigerische Wahlkommission hat nicht gesagt, als sie Stimmzettel zu drucken würde, beginnen müssen, um sie sicherzustellen wird verteilt rechtzeig zu 61 Million eingetragenen Wählern in einem Land zweimal die Größe von Kalifornien zum Haben sie für den Stimmzettel. Nigeria hat viele far-flung Regionen und Dörfer, die durch Straßen unverbunden sind.
O vice-presidente de Nigéria arquiva o terno sobre a exclusão da eleição de abril
Automatically translated into Portuguese thanks to WorldLingo
ABUJA, Nigéria: O vice-presidente Atiku Abubakar arquivou um terno sexta-feira da lei que procura virar uma decisão electoral do commission que o barrasse de funcionar para o presidente mês seguinte.
Abubakar protestava sua omissão de uma lista de dois candidatos aprovados dúzia para eleições quinta-feira liberada ilegal abril de 21. Nomeou o commission electoral e seu presidente, Maurice Iwu, como co-réus, papéis da corte liberou-se por seus advogados mostrados.
Oficiais de corte confirmados recebendo um arquivamento. Os Hearings esperaram-se começar segunda-feira na corte federal no capital, Abuja.
O commission electoral não deu nenhuma razão para excluir Abubakar, que é envolvido em um feud público com o presidente, mas as proibições constitutional alistadas em candidatos processaram para crimes antes de um painel da corte ou do executivo.
Em uma indicação sexta-feira, o escritório do presidente lauded o commission para trabalhar “para livrar o governance de ovos maus e para corrupt elementos para o bom de nosso país beloved. ”
Abubakar foi acusado o ano passado do corruption por um painel administrativo ajustado acima pelo presidente Olusegun Obasanjo.
O acampamento de Abubakar chamou o painel unconstitutional e negou os allegations, dig stemmed de um spat público depois que batente ajudado Abubakar sua saliência de estender seu tenure além do limite constitutional.
A falha de Abubakar suportar o presidente soured relações entre os dois homens e o Abubakar eventualmente alertado para parar o partido governando e para entrar na oposição.
Os advogados dizem que somente a corte a mais elevada da nação pode virar a decisão do commission electoral, que cancelou outros 24 candidatos em quinta-feira, including outros dois líderes desobstruídos: candidato governando Umaru Yar'Adua do partido, um regulador do estado do norte de Katsina; e gerador. Muhammadu Buhari, um líder militar anterior.
Se prendidas com sucesso, as votações de abril ajustariam acima primeira transferência do civil-à-civil do poder na história de Nigéria desde a independência de Grâ Bretanha em 1960. As transições electoral precedentes foram interrompidas por annulments ou por coups militares.
O para a frente e para trás entre o partido governando e a campanha de Atiku levantou medos em Nigéria que uma crise violenta poderia erupt, conduzindo a uma extensão ou a um cancelamento das votações. Mais de 10.000 povos morreram no strife desde que o fim da régua militar uncorked resentments longos-simmering em um país com 250 grupos étnicos.
Com os 140 milhão povos, Nigéria é nação mais-populous de África e seu produtor de óleo mais maior. Muitos no caos maciço do medo ocidental de África em Nigéria podiam emitir os refugees que fluem através da região, undermining anos da paz duro-ganhada e da estabilidade aumentada na região.
A eleição 1999 de Obasanjo ao lado de Abubakar terminou anos da régua militar brutal. Obasanjo, um líder militar one-time que entregasse o excesso a um governo civil ele mesmo nos 1970s, re-election ganhado em 2003 votações que a oposição chamada equipou.
O commission electoral Nigerian não disse quando teria que começar imprimir cédulas para os assegurar é distribuído a tempo para 61 milhão eleitores registados em um país duas vezes o tamanho de Califórnia para os ter para a cédula. Nigéria tem muitas regiões e vilas far-flung unconnected por estradas.
Den Nigeria vicepresidentet sparar passar över uteslutande från Aprils val
Automatically translated into Swedish thanks to WorldLingo
ABUJA Nigeria: Vicepresidentet Atiku Abubakar sparade en lag passar fredagen som söker att välta ett val- kommissionbeslut som bommar för honom från skötsel för president den nästa månaden.
Abubakar protesterade hans utelämnande från en lista av två dussina godkända kandidater för olaglig utsläppt torsdag för April 21 val. Han namngav den val- kommissionen, och dess ordförande, Maurice Iwu, som co-svaranden, domstollegitimationshandlingar som var utsläppt vid hans advokater, visade.
Domstolrepresentanter bekräftade häleri spara. Utfrågningar förväntades för att börja Måndag på federal domstol i huvudstaden, Abuja.
Den val- kommissionen gav inget resonerar för uteslutande av Abubakar, som är involverad i en offentlig fejd med presidenten, bara av listade konstitutionella förbud på kandidater indicted för brott för en domstol eller en utöva panel.
I en meddelandefredag president lauded kontor kommissionen för arbete ”för att rid makt av rötägg och korrumperade beståndsdelar för godan av vårt älskade land. ”
I fjol anklagades Abubakar av korruption av en administrativ paneluppsättning upp av President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Abubakars läger har kallat panelen okonstitutionell, och förnekat beskyllningarna, ordstävet som de stemmed från en offentlig smågräl efter Abubakar hjälpt stopp, his basar från fördjupning av hans ambetstiddet okända, det konstitutionellt begränsar.
Abubakars fel att stötta presidenten soured förbindelse mellan de två manarna och den slutligen meddelade Abubakaren för att avsluta styrande parti och för att gå in i opposition.
Advokatnågot att säga endast nation högsta domstol kan välta val- kommission beslut, som görade klar 24 andra kandidater på torsdag, däribland de andra två klara ledarna: reglerande partikandidat Umaru Yar'Adua, en statlig regulator av nordliga Katsina; och generator. Muhammadu Buhari, en tidigare militär ledare.
Om rymt lyckat, samlar April den skulle uppsättningen upp den första civilist-till-civilisten som överföringen av driver i Nigeria historia efter självständighet från Britannien i 1960. Föregående val- övergångar har avbrutits av annulments eller militärdirektstötar.
Det fram- och tillbaka mellan styrande parti och Atikus aktion har lyftt skräck i Nigeria att en våldsam kris kunde få utbrott och att leda till en f8orlängning eller en annullering av röstningarna. Mer än 10.000 folk har dött i tvist, sedan avsluta av militären härskar uncorked lång-puttra harm i ett land med 250 folkgrupper.
Med 140 miljon folk är Nigeria Afrika mest-tätbefolkada nation och dess största olje- producent. Många i massiva kaosar för västra Afrika skräck i Nigeria kunde överföra flyktingar som strömmer över regionen och att underminera år av hård-segrad fred och ökande stabilitet i regionen.
Obasanjos avslutade år 1999 för val tillsammans med härskar Abubakar av den brutala militären. Obasanjo en one-time militär ledare, som räckte över till ett civilt regerings- självt i 70-tal, segrad omval i 2003 röstningar som den kallade oppositionen rigged.
Den nigerianska val- kommissionen har inte sagt när hon skulle måste att starta att skriva ut sluten omröstning för att se till dem är utdelad i tid för 61 miljon registreringsväljare i ett land två gånger storleksanpassa av Kalifornien att ha dem för sluten omröstning. Nigeria har många far-flung regioner och byar som är osammanhängande vid vägar.
Недостаток Нигерии - президент подаст иск над исключением от избрания Эйприл
Automatically translated into Russian thanks to WorldLingo
ABUJA, Нигерия: Вице - президент Atiku Abubakar подал иск пятница закона изыскивая опрокинуть электоральное решение комиссии то адвокатские сословия он от бежать для президента следующий месяц.
Abubakar протестовало его упущение от перечня 2 дюжина одобренных выбранного для избраний противозаконного выпущенного четверга 21-ое апреля. Он назвал электоральную комиссию и свой руководитель, Морис Iwu, как co-подсудимые, судебные документы выпустил его показанными законоведами.
Подтверженные должностные лица суда получающ опиловку. Были ы, что начали слухи понедельник на федеральном суде в столице, Abuja.
Электоральная комиссия не дала никакую причину для исключать Abubakar, которое включается в общественный феод с президентом, только перечисленные конституционные запрещения на выбранных предъявленных обвинение для злодеяний перед панелью суда или экзекьютива.
В заявлении пятнице, офис президента похвалил комиссию для работы «для того чтобы rid управление плохих яичек и коррумпированных элементов для хорошего нашей beloved страны. »
В прошлом году Abubakar было обвинено развращения управленческой панелью установленной вверх президентом Olusegun Obasanjo.
Лагерь Abubakar вызывал панель неконституционно и отказывал заявления, говорить они stem from общественный spat после того как стоп помогли Abubakar, котор его босс от расширять его tenure за конституционным пределом.
Отказ Abubakar поддержать президента прокиснул отношения между двумя человек и окончательн пробуженным Abubakar для того чтобы прекратить правящую партию и пойти в противовключение.
Законоведы говорят только высшая инстанция нации может опрокинуть решение электоральной комиссии, которое освободило 24 других выбранного на четверге, включая другие 2 ясных руководителя: управляя выбранный Umaru Yar'Adua партии, воевод северного положения Katsina; и генератор. Muhammadu Buhari, бывший воинский руководитель.
Если придержали успешно, списки избирателей в Эйприл установили бы вверх первое передачу энергии civilian-к-civilian в истории Нигерии с независимости от Британии в 1960. Ранее электоральные переходы были прерваны аннулированиями или военными переворотами.
Back and forth между правящей партией и кампанией Atiku поднимало страхи в Нигерии что яростный кризис смог извергнуть, водящ к выдвижению или отмене списков избирателей. Больше чем 10.000 людей умирали в strife в виду того что конец воинского правила uncorked длинние-simmering resentments в стране с 250 этнические группы.
С 140 миллионов людей, Нигерия будет нацией Африки больше всего-многолюдной и своим самым большим производителем масла. Много в беспорядке западного страха Африки массивнейшем в Нигерии были в состоянии послать беженцам через зону, минирующ леты трудн-выигранного мира и увеличенной стабилности в зоне.
Избрание 1999 Obasanjo наряду с Abubakar закончилось леты зверского воинского правила. Obasanjo, одноразовый воинский руководитель который hand over к гражданскому правительству себя в 1970s, выигранный перевыбор в 2003 списках избирателей которые противовключение вызвало оснастило.
Нигерийская электоральная комиссия не сказала когда его начать напечатать ballots для того чтобы обеспечить их распределяют in time for 61 миллион зарегистрированных избирателей в стране дважды размер California, котор нужно иметь их для ballot. Нигерия имеет много far-flung зоны и сел несоединенных дорогами.
Het kostuum van de ondervoorzittersdossiers van Nigeria over uitsluiting van de verkiezing van April
Automatically translated into Dutch thanks to WorldLingo
ABUJA, Nigeria: Ondervoorzitter Atiku Abubakar diende een Vrijdag van het wetskostuum willend in een kiescommissiebeschikking ten val brengen die hem van volgende maand het lopen voor voorzitter verspert.
Abubakar protesteerde zijn weglating van een lijst van twee dozijnen erkende kandidaten voor 21 April verkiezingen onwettige vrijgegeven Donderdag. Hij noemde de kiescommissie en zijn voorzitter, Maurice Iwu, als mede-gedaagden, hofdocumenten die door zijn getoonde advocaten worden vrijgegeven.
Bevestigde de ambtenaren van het Hof het ontvangen van het indienen. De hoorzittingen zouden beginnen met Maandag bij het federale hof in het kapitaal, Abuja.
De kiescommissie gaf geen reden om Abubakar uit te sluiten, die bij een openbare ruzie met de voorzitter betrokken is, maar vermelde constitutionele verboden op kandidaten die voor misdaden voor een hof of een uitvoerend Comité worden aangeklaagd.
In een verklaringsVrijdag, loofde het bureau van de voorzitter de commissie voor het werken „om bestuur van slechte eieren te bevrijden en elementen voor het goed van ons geliefd land te bederven. “
Vorig jaar werd Abubakar van corruptie door een administratief paneel beschuldigd dat door President Olusegun Obasanjo wordt opgericht.
Kamp van Abubakar heeft het paneel ongrondwettig geroepen en de beweringen ontkend, zeggend stamden zij uit een openbare slobkous na Abubakar geholpen einde zijn werkgever van het uitbreiden van zijn ambtstermijn voorbij de constitutionele grens.
Nalaten van Abubakar om de voorzitter te steunen verzuurde relaties tussen de twee mensen en zette uiteindelijk Abubakar ertoe aan om met de beslissende partij op te houden en in oppositie te gaan.
De advocaten zeggen slechts het hoogste hof van de natie de beschikking van de kiescommissie, die 24 andere kandidaten op Donderdag ontruimde, met inbegrip van de andere twee duidelijke leiders kan ten val brengen: het regeren van partijkandidaat Umaru Yar'Adua, een gouverneur van noordelijke staat Katsina; en Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, een vroegere militaire leider.
Indien met succes gehouden, zouden de opiniepeilingen van April de eerste burgerlijk-aan-burgerlijke overdracht van macht in de geschiedenis van Nigeria sinds onafhankelijkheid van Groot-Brittannië in 1960 opzetten. De vorige kiesovergangen zijn onderbroken door annulments of militaire staatsgrepen.
Heen-en-weer tussen de de beslissende partij en campagne van Atiku heeft vrees in Nigeria opgeheven dat een hevige crisis kon losbarsten, leidend tot een uitbreiding of een annulering van de opiniepeilingen. Meer dan 10.000 mensen zijn in geschil gestorven aangezien het eind van militaire regel lang-suddert wrok in een land met 250 etnische groepen uncorked.
Met 140 miljoen mensen, is Nigeria de het meest-dichtbevolkte natie van Afrika en zijn grootste olieproducent. Velen in West-Afrika vrezen de massieve chaos in Nigeria kon vluchtelingen sturen die over het gebied stromen, dat jaren van hard-won vrede en verhoogde stabiliteit in het gebied ondermijnt.
De verkiezing van 1999 van Obasanjo naast Abubakar gebeëindigde jaren van brutale militaire regel. Obasanjo, een éénmalige militaire leider die aan een burgerlijke overheid zelf in de jaren '70 overhandigde, won herverkiezing in 2003 opiniepeilingen die de geroepen oppositie monteerde.
De Nigeriaanse kiescommissie heeft niet gezegd wanneer het zou moeten beginnen stemmingen te drukken om te verzekeren zij op tijd voor 61 miljoen geregistreerde kiezers in een land tweemaal de grootte van Californië om hen te hebben voor de stemming worden verdeeld. Nigeria heeft vele ver-gegooide gebieden en dorpen die door wegen worden afgekoppeld.
نيجيريا يصنّف نائب رئيس دعوى على استثناء من أبريل - نيسان إنتخاب
Automatically translated into Arabic thanks to WorldLingo
[أبوجا], نيجيريا: صنّف [فيس-برسدنت] [أتيكو] [أبوبكر] قانون دعوى يوم الجمعة يبحث أن يقلب انتخابيّة عمولة قرار أنّ يسدّه من يركض لرئيس شهر تالية.
احتجّ [أبوبكر] كان عمليّت حذفه من قائمة ميلان إلى جانب من اثنان اثنا عشر يوافق مرشحات لأبريل - نيسان 21 إنتخابات غير شرعيّ يطلق يوم الخميس. هو عيّن العمولة انتخابيّة وأطلق رئيس مجلس إدارته, [موريس] [إيوو], ك [ك-دفندنتس], محكمة أوراق بمحامياته يبدى.
[كورت وفّيسل] يؤكّد يستلم تصنيف. توقّعت جلسة استماع كان أن يبدأ يوم الإثنين في ال [فدرل كورت] في الرأس مال, [أبوجا].
أعطى العمولة انتخابيّة ما من سبب ل يستثني [أبوبكر], الذي يكون تضمّنت في حزازة عامّة مع الرئيس, غير أنّ يعدّد حظور دستوريّة على مرشحات اتّهموا لجرائم قبل محكمة أو مديرة لوح.
في بيان يوم الجمعة, الرئيس مجّد مكتب العمولة ل يعمل "أن يخلّص حكم من بيضات سيّئة وأفسدت عناصر للجيّدة من بلدنا محبوبة. "
[لست ر] اتّهمت [أبوبكر] كان من فساد بلون إداريّة يثبت فوق برئيس [ألوسغن] [أبسنجو].
[أبوبكر] قد دعا مخيم اللون غير دستوريّ وينكر الادّعاءات, [سينغ] هم ترتّبوا بيض الصدف عامّة عقب [أبوبكر] يساعد موقف رئيسه من يمدّد توله إلى ما بعد الحد دستوريّة.
[أبوبكر] حمّض إخفاق أن يساند الرئيس علاقات بين الاثنان رجال وأخيرا يحضّ [أبوبكر] أن يترك ال يحكم حزب وذهبت داخل معارضة.
محاميات يقولون فقط الأمة محكمة [هيغست] يستطيع قلبت الانتخابيّة عمولة قرار, أيّ أخلى 24 أخرى مرشحات في يوم الخميس, بما في ذلك الأخرى اثنان زعيمات واضحة: يحكم حزب مرشح [أومرو] [ير'دوا], حاكمة من شماليّة [كتسنا] دولة; و [جن.]. [موهمّدو] [بوهري], زعيمة سابقة عسكريّة.
إن يمسك بنجاح, أبريل - نيسان ثبت عمليّة تصويت فوق الأولى [سفيلين-تو-سفيلين] إنتقال القوة في نيجيريا تاريخ منذ استقلال من بريطانيا في 1960. أوقفت إنتقال سابقة انتخابيّة يتلقّى يكون بعمليات أو إنقلابات عسكريّة.
قد رفع ال [بك-ند-فورث] بين ال يحكم حزب و [أتيكو] حملة خوف في نيجيريا أنّ أزمة عنيفة استطاع ثرت, يقود إلى إمتداد أو إلغاء من العمليّة تصويت. أكثر من 10,000 قد مات الناس في نزاع بما أنّ النهاية من قاعدة عسكريّة نزع إمتعاضات [لونغ-سمّرينغ] في بلد مع 250 مجموعة عرقيّة.
مع 140 [ميلّيون بيوبل], نيجيريا إفريقيا أمة [موست-بوبولووس] ومنتج نفطه كبيرة. كثير في غربيّة إفريقيا خوف حالة فوضى ضخمة في نيجيريا استطاع أرسلت لاجئ يجري عبر المنطقة, يضعف سنون من [هرد-وون] سلام ويزاد استقرار في المنطقة.
[أبسنجو] 1999 أنهى إنتخاب إلى جانب [أبوبكر] سنون من قاعدة قاسية عسكريّة. جهّز [أبسنجو], زعيمة [أن-تيم] عسكريّة الذي [هند وفر] إلى حكومة مدنيّة بنفسي في السبعينات, يربح إعادة انتخاب في 2003 عمليّة تصويت أنّ المعارضة دعا.
لم يقل العمولة نيجيريّة انتخابيّة يتلقّى عندما هو اضطرّ بدأت يطبع اقتراع سرّيّ أن يضمن هم يكون وزّعت حتّى 61 مليون يسجّل مقترعات في بلد مرّتين الحجم كاليفورنيا أن يتلقّىهم لالاقتراع سرّيّ. نيجيريا يتلقّى كثير واسع الإنتشار مناطق وقرى [أونكنّكتد] بطرق.
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Dagaal caawa ka dhacay Muqdisho
Related to country: Somalia
available in: (original) | | | | | | | | |
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Magaalada Muqdisho caawa waxa dagaal uu ka dhacay goobo ku dherersan wadada sodonka ee magaalada Muqdisho, halkaasi oo fariisimo ay ku leeyihiin ciidamadda Ethiopia.
Kooxo hubaysan ayaa weeraro gaadmo ah ku qaaday fariimahan ay wadadaas ku lahaayeen ciidamada Ethiopia ee ku yaala xaafadaha Cali Kamiin ilaa laba dhagax, iyadoo weerarku socday ilaa muddo sodon daqiiqo ah.
Dhinaca kale ciidamadda Ethiopia, ayaa maanta baaritaano ka samayanayay goobo ka tirsan magaalada Muqdisho kadib weeraro isdabajoog ahaa oo xalay fiidkii lagu qaaday fariisimo ay ciidamada Ethiopia ku lahaayeen meelo kala duwan oo magaalada ah, iyadoo saqdii dhexena weerar kale uu ka dhacay magaalada.
Weerarradii xalay lagu qaaday ciidanka Ethiopia ayaa waxa ay ka kala dhaceen ilaa lix saldhig oo ciidamadda Ethiopia ay ku leeyihiin caasimada Somalia ee Muqdisho, iyadoo loo adeegsaday bambooyinka gacanta iyo noocyada kala duwan ee qoryaha culus iyo kuwa fudud.
Weerarrada ayaa ku soo beegmay xilli uu ra'iisul wasaaraha dalka Ethiopia Meles Zenawi sheegay in ciidankiisu ay ku riiqdeen dagaalada Muqdisho, isla markaana aanu ciidankiisa awoodin in uu la baxo hadda.
Horaantii bishan ayaa dagaallo kulul oo ka dhacay magaalada Muqdisho ayaa kooxaha ka soo horjeeda joogitaanka ciidamadda Ethiopia ay ku jiideen waddooyinka Muqdisho meydadka qaar ka mid ah ciidamadda Ethiopia.
Dagaal caawa ka dhacay Muqdisho
Automatically translated into Spanish thanks to WorldLingo
Magaalada Muqdisho caawa waxa dagaal uu ka dhacay goobo ku dherersan wadada sodonka ee magaalada Muqdisho, halkaasi oo fariisimo ay ku leeyihiin ciidamadda Ethiopia.
Kooxo hubaysan ayaa weeraro gaadmo ah ku qaaday fariimahan ay wadadaas ku lahaayeen ciidamada Ethiopia ee ku yaala xaafadaha Cali Kamiin ilaa laba dhagax, iyadoo weerarku socday ilaa muddo sodon daqiiqo ah.
Dhinaca kale ciidamadda Ethiopia, ayaa maanta baaritaano ka samayanayay goobo ka tirsan magaalada Muqdisho kadib weeraro isdabajoog ahaa oo xalay fiidkii lagu qaaday fariisimo ay ciidamada Ethiopia ku lahaayeen meelo kala duwan oo magaalada ah, iyadoo saqdii dhexena weerar kale uu ka dhacay magaalada.
Weerarradii xalay lagu qaaday ciidanka Ethiopia ayaa waxa ay ka kala dhaceen ilaa lix saldhig oo ciidamadda Ethiopia ay ku leeyihiin caasimada Somalia ee Muqdisho, iyadoo loo adeegsaday bambooyinka gacanta iyo noocyada kala duwan ee qoryaha culus iyo kuwa fudud.
Weerarrada ayaa ku soo beegmay xilli uu ra' iisul wasaaraha dalka Ethiopia Meles Zenawi sheegay in ciidankiisu ay ku riiqdeen dagaalada Muqdisho, isla markaana aanu ciidankiisa awoodin in uu la baxo hadda.
Horaantii bishan ayaa dagaallo kulul oo ka dhacay magaalada Muqdisho ayaa kooxaha ka soo horjeeda joogitaanka ciidamadda Ethiopia ay ku jiideen waddooyinka Muqdisho meydadka qaar ka mid ah ciidamadda Ethiopia.
Dagaal caawa ka dhacay Muqdisho
Automatically translated into Italian thanks to WorldLingo
Magaalada Muqdisho caawa waxa dagaal uu ka dhacay goobo ku dherersan wadada sodonka ee magaalada Muqdisho, halkaasi oo fariisimo ay ku leeyihiin ciidamadda Ethiopia.
Kooxo hubaysan ayaa weeraro gaadmo ah ku qaaday fariimahan ay wadadaas ku lahaayeen ciidamada Ethiopia ee ku yaala xaafadaha Cali Kamiin ilaa laba dhagax, iyadoo weerarku socday ilaa muddo sodon daqiiqo ah.
Dhinaca kale ciidamadda Ethiopia, ayaa maanta baaritaano ka samayanayay goobo ka tirsan magaalada Muqdisho kadib weeraro isdabajoog ahaa oo xalay fiidkii lagu qaaday fariisimo ay ciidamada Ethiopia ku lahaayeen meelo kala duwan oo magaalada ah, iyadoo saqdii dhexena weerar kale uu ka dhacay magaalada.
Weerarradii xalay lagu qaaday ciidanka Ethiopia ayaa waxa ay ka kala dhaceen ilaa lix saldhig oo ciidamadda Ethiopia ay ku leeyihiin caasimada Somalia ee Muqdisho, iyadoo loo adeegsaday bambooyinka gacanta iyo noocyada kala duwan ee qoryaha culus iyo kuwa fudud.
Weerarrada ayaa ku soo beegmay xilli uu ra'iisul wasaaraha dalka Ethiopia meles Zenawi sheegay in ciidankiisu ay ku riiqdeen dagaalada Muqdisho, isla markaana aanu ciidankiisa awoodin in uu la baxo hadda.
Horaantii bishan ayaa dagaallo kulul oo ka dhacay magaalada Muqdisho ayaa kooxaha ka soo horjeeda joogitaanka ciidamadda Ethiopia ay ku jiideen waddooyinka Muqdisho meydadka qaar ka mid ah ciidamadda Ethiopia.
Dagaal caawa ka dhacay Muqdisho
Automatically translated into German thanks to WorldLingo
Magaalada Muqdisho caawa waxa dagaal uu ka dhacay goobo ku dherersan wadada sodonka ee magaalada Muqdisho, halkaasi oo fariisimo ay ku leeyihiin ciidamadda Ethiopia.
Kooxo hubaysan ayaa weeraro gaadmo ah ku qaaday fariimahan ay wadadaas ku lahaayeen ciidamada Ethiopia ee ku yaala xaafadaha Cali Kamiin ilaa laba dhagax, iyadoo weerarku socday ilaa muddo sodon daqiiqo ah.
Dhinaca kale ciidamadda Ethiopia, ayaa maanta baaritaano ka samayanayay goobo ka tirsan magaalada Muqdisho kadib weeraro isdabajoog ahaa oo xalay fiidkii lagu qaaday fariisimo ay ciidamada Ethiopia ku lahaayeen meelo kala duwan oo magaalada ah, iyadoo saqdii dhexena weerar kale uu ka dhacay magaalada.
Weerarradii xalay lagu qaaday ciidanka Ethiopia ayaa waxa ay ka kala dhaceen ilaa lix saldhig oo ciidamadda Ethiopia ay ku leeyihiin caasimada Somalia ee Muqdisho, iyadoo loo adeegsaday bambooyinka gacanta iyo noocyada kala duwan ee qoryaha culus iyo kuwa fudud.
Weerarrada ayaa ku soo beegmay xilli uu ra' iisul wasaaraha dalka Ethiopia Meles Zenawi sheegay in ciidankiisu ay ku riiqdeen dagaalada Muqdisho, isla markaana aanu ciidankiisa awoodin in uu la baxo hadda.
Horaantii bishan ayaa dagaallo kulul oo ka dhacay magaalada Muqdisho ayaa kooxaha ka soo horjeeda joogitaanka ciidamadda Ethiopia ay ku jiideen waddooyinka Muqdisho meydadka qaar ka mid ah ciidamadda Ethiopia.
Dagaal caawa ka dhacay Muqdisho
Automatically translated into Portuguese thanks to WorldLingo
Magaalada Muqdisho caawa waxa dagaal uu ka dhacay goobo ku dherersan wadada sodonka ee magaalada Muqdisho, halkaasi oo fariisimo ay ku leeyihiin ciidamadda Ethiopia.
Kooxo hubaysan ayaa weeraro gaadmo ah ku qaaday fariimahan ay wadadaas ku lahaayeen ciidamada Ethiopia ee ku yaala xaafadaha Cali Kamiin ilaa laba dhagax, iyadoo weerarku socday ilaa muddo sodon daqiiqo ah.
Dhinaca kale ciidamadda Ethiopia, ayaa maanta baaritaano ka samayanayay goobo ka tirsan magaalada Muqdisho kadib weeraro isdabajoog ahaa oo xalay fiidkii lagu qaaday fariisimo ay ciidamada Ethiopia ku lahaayeen meelo kala duwan oo magaalada ah, iyadoo saqdii dhexena weerar kale uu ka dhacay magaalada.
Weerarradii xalay lagu qaaday ciidanka Ethiopia ayaa waxa ay ka kala dhaceen ilaa lix saldhig oo ciidamadda Ethiopia ay ku leeyihiin caasimada Somalia ee Muqdisho, iyadoo loo adeegsaday bambooyinka gacanta iyo noocyada kala duwan ee qoryaha culus iyo kuwa fudud.
Weerarrada ayaa ku soo beegmay xilli uu ra' iisul wasaaraha dalka Ethiopia Meles Zenawi sheegay in ciidankiisu ay ku riiqdeen dagaalada Muqdisho, isla markaana aanu ciidankiisa awoodin in uu la baxo hadda.
Horaantii bishan ayaa dagaallo kulul oo ka dhacay magaalada Muqdisho ayaa kooxaha ka soo horjeeda joogitaanka ciidamadda Ethiopia ay ku jiideen waddooyinka Muqdisho meydadka qaar ka mid ah ciidamadda Ethiopia.
Dagaal caawa ka dhacay Muqdisho
Automatically translated into English thanks to WorldLingo
Magaalada Muqdisho caawa waxa dagaal uu ka dhacay goobo ku dherersan wadada sodonka ee magaalada Muqdisho, halkaasi oo fariisimo ay ku leeyihiin ciidamadda Ethiopia.
Kooxo hubaysan ayaa weeraro gaadmo ah ku qaaday fariimahan ay wadadaas ku lahaayeen ciidamada Ethiopia ee ku yaala xaafadaha Cali Kamiin ilaa laba dhagax, iyadoo weerarku socday ilaa muddo sodon daqiiqo ah.
Dhinaca kale ciidamadda Ethiopia, ayaa maanta baaritaano ka samayanayay goobo ka tirsan magaalada Muqdisho kadib weeraro isdabajoog ahaa oo xalay fiidkii lagu qaaday fariisimo ay ciidamada Ethiopia ku lahaayeen meelo kala duwan oo magaalada ah, iyadoo saqdii dhexena weerar kale uu ka dhacay magaalada.
Weerarradii xalay lagu qaaday ciidanka Ethiopia ayaa waxa ay ka kala dhaceen ilaa lix saldhig oo ciidamadda Ethiopia ay ku leeyihiin caasimada Somalia ee Muqdisho, iyadoo loo adeegsaday bambooyinka gacanta iyo noocyada kala duwan ee qoryaha culus iyo kuwa fudud.
Weerarrada ayaa ku soo beegmay xilli uu ra' iisul wasaaraha dalka Ethiopia Mix Zenawi sheegay in ciidankiisu ay ku riiqdeen dagaalada Muqdisho, isla markaana aanu ciidankiisa awoodin in uu the baxo hadda.
Horaantii bishan ayaa dagaallo kulul oo ka dhacay magaalada Muqdisho ayaa kooxaha ka soo horjeeda joogitaanka ciidamadda Ethiopia ay ku jiideen waddooyinka Muqdisho meydadka qaar ka mid ah ciidamadda Ethiopia.
Dagaal caawaka dhacay Muqdisho
Automatically translated into Swedish thanks to WorldLingo
Magaalada Muqdisho, ciidamadda Etiopien för ee för sodonka för wadada för dagaal för uu för Magaalada Muqdisho caawawaxa för ka dhacay ku för goobo dherersan för leeyihiin för ku för halkaasioofariisimo ay.
Kuen för wadadaas för hubaysan ayaaweeraro ku för gaadmo för Kooxo ah lahaayeen den qaaday fariimahan ay för den Cali Kamiin för xaafadahaen för yaalaen för kuen för ciidamadaEtiopien ee dhagax för labaen ilaaen, daqiiqo för sodon för muddo för ilaa för iyadooweerarku socday ah.
Den Dhinaca kaleciidamaddaen Etiopien, för Muqdisho för magaaladaen för kaen för gooboen för kaen för ayaamaantabaaritaanoen Etiopien för ciidamadaen för den samayanayay tirsan kadib för weeraroen för isdabajoog för ahaaen för ooen xalay för fiidkiien fariisimoen för laguen qaaday den ay kuen lahaayeen magaalada för oo för meelokala duwan ah, magaaladaen för den weerar för kale för iyadoosaqdiidhexenaen den dhacay kaen för uuen.
För den Etiopien för ciidankaen för den Weerarradii kalaen för ka för xalay laguen qaaday waxa ayaaen dhaceen den ay för den Etiopien för ciidamaddaen för ooen för ilaalixsaldhig Somalia för caasimadaen för leeyihiin ay kuen ee Muqdisho, fudud för kuwa för iyo för culus för qoryaha för ee för adeegsaday för bambooyinka för iyadooloo för gacanta för iyo kala för noocyada duwan.
Etiopien för dalkaen för wasaarahaen för iisul för ra för uuen för xillien för sooen för den Weerarrada ayaakuen riiqdeen den beegmay blandningen Zenawi som är sheegay i ay ku för ciidankiisu, dagaaladaen Muqdisho, awoodin för ciidankiisa för islamarkaanaaanu i uu baxohaddaen.
För den Muqdisho för magaaladaen för kaen för ooen för kulul för den Horaantii Etiopien för den bishan ayaadagaalloen dhacay ayaaen för kooxahaen för kaen för sooen för horjeedaen ciidamaddaen för joogitaankaen jiideen den ay kuen ciidamaddaen Etiopien för den qaar kaen för den waddooyinkaMuqdisho meydadkaen den mitt- ah.
Ka dhacay Muqdisho caawa Dagaal
Automatically translated into Russian thanks to WorldLingo
Ku goobo ka uu waxa caawa Magaalada Muqdisho magaalada Muqdisho ee sodonka wadada dagaal dhacay dherersan, ciidamadda эфиопия leeyihiin ku fariisimo oo halkaasi ay.
Ku gaadmo weeraro ayaa Kooxo ku wadadaas hubaysan ah qaaday fariimahan ay lahaayeen dhagax laba ilaa Cali Kamiin xaafadaha yaala ku ee эфиопии ciidamada, daqiiqo sodon muddo ilaa weerarku iyadoo socday ah.
Ciidamadda ku эфиопии kale Dhinaca, fariisimo lagu fiidkii oo ahaa isdabajoog weeraro kadib Muqdisho magaalada ka goobo ka baaritaano maanta ayaa эфиопии ciidamada samayanayay tirsan xalay qaaday ay lahaayeen magaalada oo kala meelo duwan ah, ka uu kale dhexena saqdii iyadoo magaalada weerar dhacay.
Waxa ayaa эфиопии ciidanka lagu Weerarradii kala ka xalay qaaday ay dhaceen ee Muqdisho Сомали caasimada leeyihiin ku эфиопии ciidamadda oo saldhig lix ilaa ay, kala noocyada iyo gacanta bambooyinka loo iyadoo fudud kuwa iyo culus qoryaha ee adeegsaday duwan.
Смешивание Zenawi эфиопии dalka wasaaraha iisul ra uu xilli soo ku ayaa Weerarrada beegmay sheegay в ku ciidankiisu ay riiqdeen dagaalada Muqdisho, awoodin ciidankiisa aanu markaana isla в uu hadda baxo.
Ciidamadda joogitaanka horjeeda soo ka kooxaha ayaa Muqdisho magaalada ka oo kulul dagaallo ayaa Horaantii ku эфиопии bishan dhacay ay jiideen ciidamadda эфиопия qaar ka meydadka Muqdisho waddooyinka mid ah.
Dagaal caawa ka dhacay Muqdisho
Automatically translated into Dutch thanks to WorldLingo
Magaalada Muqdisho caawa waxa dagaal uu ka dhacay goobo ku dherersan wadada sodonka ee magaalada Muqdisho, halkaasi oo fariisimo ay ku leeyihiin ciidamadda Ethiopia.
Kooxo hubaysan ayaa weeraro gaadmo ah ku qaaday fariimahan ay wadadaas ku lahaayeen ciidamada Ethiopia ee ku yaala xaafadaha Cali Kamiin ilaa laba dhagax, iyadoo weerarku socday ilaa muddo sodon daqiiqo ah.
Dhinaca kale ciidamadda Ethiopia, ayaa maanta baaritaano ka samayanayay goobo ka tirsan magaalada Muqdisho kadib weeraro isdabajoog ahaa oo xalay fiidkii lagu qaaday fariisimo ay ciidamada Ethiopia ku lahaayeen meelo kala duwan oo magaalada ah, iyadoo saqdii dhexena weerar kale uu ka dhacay magaalada.
Weerarradii xalay lagu qaaday ciidanka Ethiopia ayaa waxa ay ka kala dhaceen ilaa lix saldhig oo ciidamadda Ethiopia ay ku leeyihiin caasimada Somalia ee Muqdisho, iyadoo loo adeegsaday bambooyinka gacanta iyo noocyada kala duwan ee qoryaha culus iyo kuwa fudud.
Weerarrada ayaa ku soo beegmay xilli uu ra' iisul wasaaraha dalka Ethiopia Mengen Zenawi sheegay in ciidankiisu ay ku riiqdeen dagaalada Muqdisho, isla markaana aanu ciidankiisa awoodin in uu baxo hadda.
Horaantii bishan ayaa dagaallo kulul oo ka dhacay magaalada Muqdisho ayaa kooxaha ka soo horjeeda joogitaanka ciidamadda Ethiopia ay ku jiideen waddooyinka Muqdisho meydadka qaar ka mid ah ciidamadda Ethiopia.
[دغل] [كوا] [كا] [دهكي] [موقديشو]
Automatically translated into Arabic thanks to WorldLingo
[مغلدا] [موقديشو] [كوا] [وإكسا] [دغل] [أوو] [كا] [دهكي] [غوبو] [كو] [دهررسن] [وددا] [سدونكا] [إ] [مغلدا] [موقديشو], [هلكس] [أو] [فرييسمو] [أي] [كو] [لييهيين] [سيدمدّا] أثيوبيا.
[كووإكسو] [هوبسن] [أا] [ويررو] [غدمو] آه [كو] [قدي] [فرييمهن] [أي] [وددس] [لهين] [كو] [سيدمدا] أثيوبيا [إ] [كو] [يلا] [إكسفدها] [كلي] [كميين] [إيلا] [لبا] [دهغإكس], [إيدوو] [ويرركو] [سكدي] [إيلا] [مودّو] [سدون] [دقييقو] آه.
[دهينك] كرنب لارؤيسيّ [لهين] [سيدمدّا] أثيوبيا, [أا] [منتا] [بريتنو] [كا] [سمني] [غوبو] [كا] [تيرسن] [مغلدا] [موقديشو] [كديب] [ويررو] [إيسدبجووغ] [أها] [أو] [إكسلي] [فييدكيي] [لغ] [فرييسمو] [قدي] [أي] [سيدمدا] أثيوبيا [كو] [ميلو] [كلا] [دوون] [أو] [مغلدا] آه, [إيدوو] [سقديي] [دهإكسنا] [ويرر] كرنب لارؤيسيّ [أوو] [كا] [مغلدا] [دهكي].
[ويررّديي] [إكسلي] [لغ] [قدي] [سيدنكا] أثيوبيا [أا] [وإكسا] [أي] [كا] [دهسن] [كلا] [إيلا] [ليإكس] [سلدهيغ] [أو] [سيدمدّا] أثيوبيا [أي] [كو] [لييهيين] [كسمدا] صومال [إ] [موقديشو], [إيدوو] [لوو] [أديغسدي] [بمبووينكا] [غكنتا] [إيو] [نووسدا] [كلا] [دوون] [إ] [قورها] [كلوس] [إيو] [كووا] [فودود].
[ويررّدا] [أا] [كو] [سو] [بيغمي] [إكسيلّي] [أوو] [ر'] [إييسول] [وسرها] [دلكا] أثيوبيا [رييقدين] مزيج [زنوي] [شيغي] في [سيدنكييسو] [كو] [أي] [دغلدا] [موقديشو], [إيسلا] [مركنا] [أنو] [سيدنكييسا] [أووودين] في [أوو] ال [بإكسو] [هدّا].
[هورنتيي] [بيشن] [أا] [دغلّو] [كولول] [أو] [كا] [دهكي] [مغلدا] [موقديشو] [أا] [كووإكسها] [كا] [سو] [هورجيدا] [جووجتنكا] [سيدمدّا] أثيوبيا [جييدين] [كو] [أي] [ودّووينكا] [موقديشو] [مددكا] [كا] [قر] منتصفة آه [سيدمدّا] أثيوبيا.
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| November 28, 2007 | 2:48 PM |
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Couple Arrested After Police ID Murdered Baby Girl
Related to country: United States
available in: (original) | | | | | | | | |
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GALVESTON, Texas (Nov. 26) - Authorities said Monday they were "fairly confident" that a child whose body was found on the shore of Galveston Bay last month was the 2-year-old daughter of a woman arrested during the weekend with her male companion.
Authorities are awaiting DNA test results but believe the girl, who had been known only as Baby Grace since her body was found, is 2-year-old Riley Ann Sawyers of Spring, Galveston County sheriff's Maj. Ray Tuttoilmondo said at a news conference Monday.
"It was a few weeks ago I held up this little shoe and asked 'Who is Baby Grace? Who does this belong to,'" Tuttoilmondo said. "We're now fairly confident we know the answer to that."
Tuttoilmondo declined to discuss specifics because the investigation is still under way.
"There is a whole lot more work to do," he said.
The girl's body was found in a plastic storage bin that washed ashore on Oct. 29.
Riley's mother, Kimberly Dawn Trenor, 19, and Royce Clyde Zeigler II, 24, were arrested early Saturday and charged with injury to a child and tampering with evidence, Tuttoilmondo said. Bail was set at $350,000 each.They were charged even though authorities didn't know definitively what happened to Riley.
They reportedly told relatives that someone claiming to be a social worker from Ohio, where Riley's father lives, took the girl in July, but Trenor never told police she was missing, Tuttoilmondo said.
It's unclear whether they are married, Tuttoilmondo said.
The two have attorneys, but Tuttoilmondo could not provide their names.
Riley's paternal grandmother, Sheryl Sawyers, had called Texas authorities after learning of Baby Grace to see if a missing-person report had been filed in Riley's case. When she saw a sketch of Baby Grace, she thought it might be her granddaughter, authorities said.
Sheryl Sawyers said she has not seen Riley since Trenor moved with the girl to Spring, 75 miles north of Galveston, this year to be with Zeigler, whom she met online, the Galveston County Daily News reported Sunday.
Couples arrêtés après fille de bébé assassinée par identification de police
Automatically translated into French thanks to WorldLingo
GALVESTON, le Texas (novembre. 26) - Des autorités dites lundi ils étaient « assez confiants » qu'un enfant dont le corps a été trouvé sur le rivage du compartiment de Galveston le mois dernier était la fille de 2 ans d'une femme arrêtée pendant le week-end avec son compagnon masculin.
Les autorités attendent des résultats d'essai d'ADN mais croient la fille, qui avait été connue seulement comme grace de bébé depuis que son corps a été trouvé, est des scieurs de Riley Ann de 2 ans de ressort, le commandant du shérif du comté de Galveston. Rayonnez Tuttoilmondo dit à une conférence lundi de nouvelles.
« C'était il y a quelques semaines où j'ai supporté cette petite chaussure et ai demandé 'qui est grace de bébé ? Qui fait ceci appartiennent à, '« Tuttoilmondo dit. « Nous sommes maintenant assez confiants nous savons la réponse à celle. »
Tuttoilmondo a refusé de discuter des détails parce que la recherche est toujours en cours.
« Il y a un sort entier de plus travail à faire, » il a dit.
Le corps de la fille a été trouvé dans un casier de stockage en plastique qui a lavé à terre oct. 29.
La mère de Riley, l'aube Trenor de Kimberly, 19, et le Royce Clyde Zeigler II, 24, ont été arrêtés samedi tôt et chargé des dommages à un enfant et du trifouillage l'évidence, Tuttoilmondo a indiqué. Le presseur a été placé à $350.000 pièce. Ils ont été chargés quoique les autorités n'aient pas su définitivement ce qui est arrivé à Riley.
Ils ont censément indiqué les parents que quelqu'un prétendant être un ouvrier social d'Ohio, où le père de Riley vit, a pris à la fille en juillet, mais la police non jamais dite de Trenor qu'elle était absente, Tuttoilmondo dit.
Il est peu clair s'ils soient mariés, Tuttoilmondo dit.
Les deux ont des mandataires, mais Tuttoilmondo ne pourrait pas fournir leurs noms.
La grand-mère paternelle de Riley, scieurs de Sheryl, avait appelé des autorités du Texas après étude de la grace de bébé pour voir si un rapport d'absent-personne avait été classé dans le cas de Riley. Quand elle a vu un croquis de grace de bébé, elle a pensé que ce pourrait être sa petite-fille, autorités dites.
Les scieurs de Sheryl ont dit qu'elle n'a pas vu Riley depuis Trenor déplacé avec la fille au ressort, 75 milles de nord de Galveston, cette année pour être avec Zeigler, qu'elle a rencontré en ligne, les nouvelles quotidiennes du comté de Galveston rapportées dimanche.
Pares arrestados después de muchacha asesinada identificación del bebé del policía
Automatically translated into Spanish thanks to WorldLingo
GALVESTON, Tejas (noviembre. 26) - Las autoridades dichas lunes eran “bastante confidentes” que un niño que cuerpo fue encontrado en la orilla de la bahía de Galveston el mes pasado era la hija de 2 años de una mujer arrestada durante el fin de semana con su compañero masculino.
Las autoridades están aguardando resultados de la prueba de la DNA pero creen a muchacha, que había sido conocida solamente como tolerancia del bebé desde que su cuerpo fue encontrado, son 2 años Riley Ana Sawyers del resorte, comandante del sheriff del condado de Galveston. Irradie Tuttoilmondo dicho en una conferencia lunes de las noticias.
¿“Era hace algunas semanas que soporté este pequeño zapato y que pedí 'quién es tolerancia del bebé? Quién hace esto pertenece a, '“Tuttoilmondo dicho. “Somos ahora bastante confidentes nosotros sabemos la respuesta a ésa. ”
Tuttoilmondo declinó discutir específicos porque la investigación todavía está en curso.
“Hay una porción entera más trabajo a hacer,” él dijo.
Encontraron al cuerpo de la muchacha en un compartimiento de almacenaje plástico que se lavó en tierra el oct. 29.
Arrestaron a la madre de Riley, el amanecer Trenor de Kimberly, 19, y Royce Clyde Zeigler II, 24, sábado temprano y cargado con lesión a un niño y tratar de forzar con evidencia, Tuttoilmondo dijo. La fianza fue fijada en $350.000 por cada uno. Eran aun cuando autoridades cargadas no sabían definitivo qué sucedió a Riley.
Dijeron según se informa a los parientes que alguien que demandaba ser trabajador social de Ohio, en donde vive el padre de Riley, tomó a muchacha en julio, solamente a policía nunca dicho que ella faltaba, Tuttoilmondo de Trenor dicho.
Es confuso si están casados, Tuttoilmondo dicho.
Los dos tienen abogados, pero Tuttoilmondo no podría proporcionar sus nombres.
La abuela paternal de Riley, Sheryl Sawyers, había llamado las autoridades de Tejas después de aprender de la tolerancia del bebé ver si un informe de la que falta-persona había sido archivado en el caso de Riley. Cuando ella vio un bosquejo de la tolerancia del bebé, ella pensó que puede ser que sea su nieta, autoridades dichas.
Sheryl Sawyers dijo que ella no ha visto a Riley desde Trenor movido con la muchacha al resorte, 75 millas de norte de Galveston, este año para estar con Zeigler, que ella resolvió en línea, las noticias diarias del condado de Galveston divulgadas domingo.
Coppie arrestate dopo la ragazza del bambino assassinata identificazione della polizia
Automatically translated into Italian thanks to WorldLingo
GALVESTON, il Texas (novembre. 26) - Autorità dette lunedì erano “ragionevolmente sicuri„ che un bambino di cui il corpo è stato trovato sul puntello della baia di Galveston ultimo mese era la figlia di 2 anni di una donna arrestata durante la fine settimana con il suo compagno maschio.
Le autorità stanno attendendo i risultati della prova del DNA ma credono la ragazza, che era stata conosciuta soltanto come tolleranza del bambino da quando il suo corpo è stato trovato, è 2 anni Riley Ann Sawyers della molla, maggiore dello sheriff della contea di Galveston. Ray Tuttoilmondo detto ad un congresso lunedì di notizie.
“Era alcune settimane fa che ho sostenuto questo pattino piccolo e che ho chiesto a 'chi è la tolleranza del bambino? Chi fa questo appartiene a, '“Tuttoilmondo detto. “Siamo ora ragionevolmente sicuri noi conosciamo la risposta a quella. „
Tuttoilmondo ha rifiutato di discutere gli specifics perché la ricerca è ancora in corso.
“Ci è un lotto intero più lavoro da fare,„ ha detto.
Il corpo della ragazza è stato trovato in un silos di immagazzinamento di plastica che si è lavato a secco ottobre. 29.
La madre del Riley, l'alba Trenor del Kimberly, 19 e Royce Clyde Zeigler II, 24, sono stati arrestati sabato in anticipo e caricato della ferita ad un bambino e dell'alterazione la prova, Tuttoilmondo ha detto. La barra è stata regolata a $350.000 ciascuno. Sono stati caricati anche se le autorità non hanno conosciuto definitivo che cosa è accaduto a Riley.
Secondo come riferito hanno detto ai parenti che qualcuno che sostiene essere un operaio sociale dall'Ohio, in cui il padre del Riley vive, ha preso alla ragazza in luglio, ma alla polizia che mai non detta a mancava, Tuttoilmondo di Trenor detto.
È poco chiaro se sono sposati, Tuttoilmondo detto.
I due hanno avvocati, ma Tuttoilmondo non potrebbe fornire i loro nomi.
La nonna paterna del Riley, Sheryl Sawyers, aveva denominato le autorità del Texas dopo avere imparato della tolleranza del bambino vedere se un rapporto della mancante-persona fosse stato archiviato nel caso del Riley. Quando ha visto un abbozzo della tolleranza del bambino, ha pensato che potrebbe essere il suo granddaughter, autorità dette.
Sheryl Sawyers ha detto che non ha visto Riley da Trenor spostato con la ragazza verso la molla, 75 miglia di nord di Galveston, questo anno per essere con Zeigler, di quale ha venuto a contatto in linea, le notizie quotidiane della contea di Galveston segnalate domenica.
Paare festgehalten nach Polizei-Identifikation ermordetem Baby-Mädchen
Automatically translated into German thanks to WorldLingo
GALVESTON, Texas (November. 26) - Die Behörden, die Montag waren sie gesagt wurden, „ziemlich überzeugt“, die ein Kind dessen Körper auf dem Ufer der Galveston Bucht letzter Monat gefunden wurde, die 2 Einjahrestochter einer Frau war, die während des Wochenendes mit ihrem männlichen Begleiter festgehalten wurde.
Behörden erwarten, DNA Testergebnisse aber glauben dem Mädchen, das nur als Baby-Anmut bekannt, seit ihr Körper gefunden wurde, ist 2 Einjahres Riley Ann Sawyers des Frühlinges, Major des Galveston Grafschaft-Polizeichefs. Ray Tuttoilmondo, das bei einer Nachrichten Konferenz Montag gesagt wird.
Vor „es war einigen Wochen, das, ich diesen kleinen Schuh hielt und 'fragte, wer Baby-Anmut ist? Wer dies tut, gehören, '„gesagtes Tuttoilmondo. „Wir sind jetzt wir kennen die Antwort zu der ziemlich überzeugt. “
Tuttoilmondo sank, Besonderen zu besprechen, weil die Untersuchung noch unterwegs ist.
„Es gibt ein vollständiges Los mehr Arbeit, zum zu tun,“ sagte er.
Der Körper des Mädchens wurde in einem Plastikvoorratsbehälter gefunden, der an Land an Okt. wusch. 29.
Mutter Rileys, Kimberly Dämmerung Trenor, 19 und Royce Clyde Zeigler II, 24, wurden früher Samstag festgehalten und aufgeladen mit Verletzung zu einem Kind und dem Abgeben mit Beweis, sagte Tuttoilmondo. Kaution wurde bei $350.000 je eingestellt. Sie wurden aufgeladen, obwohl Behörden nicht endgültig wußten, was Riley geschah.
Sie erklärten angeblich Verwandten, die jemand, das behauptet, ein Sozialarbeiter von Ohio zu sein, in dem Vater Rileys lebt, dem Mädchen im Juli nahm, aber Trenor nie erklärter Polizei, die sie fehlte, gesagtem Tuttoilmondo.
Es ist unklar, ob sie verbunden werden, gesagtes Tuttoilmondo.
Die zwei haben Rechtsanwälte, aber Tuttoilmondo könnte nicht ihre Namen angeben.
Nach dem Lernen von Baby-Anmut Rileys väterliche Großmutter, Sheryl Sawyers, hatte Texas Behörden, zu sehen benannt, wenn ein Fehlendperson Report im Fall Rileys vorgelegt worden war. Als sie eine Skizze von Baby-Anmut sah, dachte sie, daß es die gesagten Behörden sein konnte ihre Enkelin.
Sheryl Sawyers sagte, daß sie nicht Riley seit Trenor verschoben mit dem Mädchen auf Frühling, 75 Meilen des Nordens von Galveston, dieses Jahr, um mit Zeigler, das zu sein sie online traf, die Galveston Grafschaft-tägliche Nachricht gesehen hat, die Sonntag geberichtet wird.
Pares prendidos após a menina assassinada ID do bebê das polícias
Automatically translated into Portuguese thanks to WorldLingo
GALVESTON, Texas (novembro. 26) - As autoridades ditas segunda-feira eram “razoavelmente confiáveis” que uma criança cujo o corpo fosse encontrado na costa da baía de Galveston último mês era a filha de 2 year-old de uma mulher prendida durante o fim de semana com seu companheiro masculino.
As autoridades estão esperando resultados de teste do DNA mas acreditam a menina, que tinha sido sabida somente como o Grace do bebê desde que seu corpo foi encontrado, são 2 year-old Riley Ann Sawyers da mola, major do sheriff do condado de Galveston. Irradie Tuttoilmondo dito em uma conferência segunda-feira da notícia.
“Era algumas semanas há que eu prendi acima desta sapata pequena e perguntei 'quem é Grace do bebê? Quem faz este pertence a, '“Tuttoilmondo dito. “Nós somos agora razoavelmente confiáveis nós sabemos a resposta àquela. ”
Tuttoilmondo declinou discutir específicos porque a investigação está ainda sob a maneira.
“Há um lote inteiro mais trabalho a fazer,” disse.
O corpo da menina foi encontrado em um escaninho de armazenamento plástico que se lavasse em terra em outubro. 29.
A mãe de Riley, o alvorecer Trenor de Kimberly, 19, e Royce Clyde Zeigler II, 24, foram prendidos sábado adiantado e carregado com ferimento a uma criança e alterar a evidência, Tuttoilmondo disse. O prendedor foi ajustado em $350.000 cada. Foram carregados mesmo que as autoridades não soubessem definitively o que aconteceu a Riley.
Disseram reportedly os parentes de que alguém que reivindica ser um trabalhador social de Ohio, onde o pai de Riley vive, fêz exame a menina em julho, mas polícias que nunca ditas faltava, Tuttoilmondo de Trenor dito.
É unclear se estão casados, Tuttoilmondo dito.
Os dois têm advogados, mas Tuttoilmondo não poderia fornecer seus nomes.
A avó paternal de Riley, Sheryl Sawyers, tinha chamado autoridades de Texas após a aprendizagem do Grace do bebê ver se um relatório da faltante-pessoa fosse arquivado no caso de Riley. Quando viu um esboço do Grace do bebê, pensou que pôde ser seu granddaughter, autoridades ditas.
Sheryl Sawyers disse que não viu Riley desde Trenor movido com a menina para a mola, 75 milhas de norte de Galveston, este ano para ser com Zeigler, quem se encontrou com em linha, a notícia diária do condado de Galveston relatada domingo.
Koppla ihop arresterat, efter den mördade polisLEGITIMATIONEN har behandla som ett barn flickan
Automatically translated into Swedish thanks to WorldLingo
GALVESTON Texas (Nov. 26) - Myndigheter som sades Måndag var de, ”ganska säkra” som ett barn vars förkroppsligar, fanns på kusten av månaden för den Galveston fjärdjumbon var den åriga dottern 2 av en kvinna som arresterades under tillbringa veckoslutet med hennes male följe.
Myndigheter väntar på DNA testar resultat men tror flickan, som hade varit bekant endast som behandla som ett barn nåd, sedan hon förkroppsligar fanns, är 2 åriga Riley Ann som Sawyers av fjädrar, den Galveston ståndsmässiga sheriff Maj. Ray Tuttoilmondo som sägs på en nyheternakonferens Måndag.
”Var det några veckor, sedan som jag rymde upp denna skor och frågade lite 'vem är behandla som ett barn nåd? Vem gör, tillhörde detta, '”sagda Tuttoilmondo. ”Är vi nu ganska säkra oss vet svaret till det. ”
Gick ned Tuttoilmondo för att diskutera närmare detalj, därför att utredningen är stilla under långt.
”Finns det ett helt lott mer arbete som ska göras,” sade han.
Flickan förkroppsligar fanns i en plast- lagring slänga i soptunnan det som ashore tvättas på Oct. 29.
Rileys fostrar, Kimberly gryning Trenor, 19, och Royce Clyde Zeigler II, 24, arresterades tidig sortlördagen, och laddat med skada till ett barn och tampering med bevisa, sagda Tuttoilmondo. Ok var fastställdt på $350.000 each. De laddades, även om myndigheter inte visste definitively vad händde till Riley.
De berättade enligt rapporten släktingar, som någon som fordrar för att vara en socialarbetare från Ohio, var Rileys fader bor, tog flickan i Juli, bara Trenor den aldrig berättade polisen som hon var saknad, sagda Tuttoilmondo.
Det är oklart dem att gifta sig huruvida, sagda Tuttoilmondo.
Tvåna har advokater, men Tuttoilmondo kunde inte ge deras namnger.
Rileys hade paternal farmor, Sheryl Sawyers, kallat Texas myndigheter, når han har lttt av, behandla som ett barn nåd för att se, om enperson rapport hade sparats i Rileys fall. Behandla som ett barn nåd, henne tänkte när hon sågar en skissa av, att den kan är hennes sondotter, sagda myndigheter.
Sheryl Sawyers sade att hon inte har sett Riley sedan Trenor som är rörd med flickan för att fjädra, 75 miles nord av Galveston, detta år som är med Zeigler, som hon mötte direktanslutet, anmälde söndagen för den Galveston den ståndsmässig dagstidningen nyheterna.
Пары арестованные после девушки младенца полиций убитой удостоверением личности
Automatically translated into Russian thanks to WorldLingo
GALVESTON, Texas (cNov. 26) - Авторитеты сказанные понедельник они были «справедливо уверенно» ребенок тело было найдено на береге залива Galveston последний месяц был дочью 2 year-old женщины арестованной во время викэнда с ее мыжским товарищем.
Авторитеты ждут результатов испытаний ДНАА но верят девушке, которая была известна только как младенец Грейс в виду того что ее тело было найдено, 2 year-old Riley Энн Sawyers весны, майора sheriff графства Galveston. Рэй Tuttoilmondo сказало на конференции понедельнике новостей.
«Было немного неделей тому назад, котор я задержал этот маленький ботинок и спросил 'будет младенцем Грейс? Делает это принадлежит к, '«сказанное Tuttoilmondo. «Мы теперь справедливо уверенно мы знаем ответ к тому. »
Tuttoilmondo просклоняло обсудить специфические потому что исследование все еще under way.
«Будет вся серия больше работы, котор нужно сделать,» он сказал.
Тело девушки было найдено в пластичном ящике хранения помыл ashore на Oct. 29.
Мать Riley, рассвет Trenor Кимберли, 19, и Royce Клайд Zeigler II, 24, были арестованы предыдущая суббота и после того как я поручено с ушибом к ребенку и tampering с доказательством, Tuttoilmondo сказало. Порука была установлена на $350.000 по каждому. Они были поручены даже если авторитеты не знали окончательно случилось к Riley.
Они сообщено сказали родственники кто-то требуя быть социальным работником от Огай Огайа, где отец Riley живет, приняло девушке в июле, только полиции она была пропавша, сказанное Tuttoilmondo Trenor, котор никогда, котор говорят.
Оно мутновато поженены ли они, сказанное Tuttoilmondo.
2 имеют юристов, но Tuttoilmondo не смогло подать их имена.
Бабушка Riley по-отцовски, Sheryl Sawyers, вызвала авторитеты Texas после учить младенца Грейс увидеть если отчет о пропавш-персоны хранился в случае Riley. Когда она увидела эскиз младенца Грейс, она думала могло быть ее granddaughter, сказанными авторитетами.
Sheryl Sawyers сказало она не увидело Riley с Trenor двинутая с девушкой к весне, 75 милям севера Galveston, этого года для того чтобы быть с Zeigler, которое она встретила online, новости графства Galveston ежедневное сообщенное воскресенье.
Paar dat na Meisje van de Baby van de Politie het identiteitskaart Moorde wordt gearresteerd
Automatically translated into Dutch thanks to WorldLingo
GALVESTON, Texas (Nov. 26) - De autoriteiten zeiden Maandag zij „“ vrij zeker waren dat een kind het van wie lichaam op de kust van Baai Galveston vorige maand werd gevonden de 2 éénjarigendochter van een vrouw die tijdens het weekend met haar mannelijke metgezel wordt gearresteerd was.
De autoriteiten wachten de test op resultaten van DNA maar geloven het meisje, dat slechts Gunst genoemd was geworden van de Baby aangezien haar lichaam werd gevonden, 2 éénjarigen Riley Ann Sawyers van de Lente, Maj van de sheriff van de Provincie Galveston is. Ray Tuttoilmondo zei bij een Maandag van de nieuwsconferentie.
„Het was een paar weken geleden ik steunde deze kleine schoen en vroeg 'Who de Baby Gunst is? Who doet dit behoort tot, '„bovengenoemde Tuttoilmondo. „Wij zijn nu vrij zeker wij het antwoord aan dat kennen. “
Tuttoilmondo daalde om details te bespreken omdat het onderzoek nog aan de gang is.
„Er is een gehele partij meer te doen werk,“ hij zei.
Het lichaam van het meisje werd gevonden in een plastic opslagbak die aan wal op Okt. waste. 29.
Moeder van Riley, Kimberly Dawn Trenor, 19, en Royce Clyde Zeigler II, 24, werden gearresteerd vroege Zaterdag en werden aangerekend met verwonding aan een kind en het knoeien met bewijsmateriaal, bovengenoemde Tuttoilmondo. De borgtocht werd elk geplaatst bij $350.000. Zij werden geladen alhoewel de autoriteiten definitief wisten wat niet aan Riley gebeurde.
Zij vertelden verwanten naar verluidt dat iemand dat een sociale arbeider van nooit vertelde politie eist te zijn Ohio, waar het de vaderleven van Riley, het meisje in Juli nam, maar Trenor zij miste, bovengenoemde Tuttoilmondo.
Het is onduidelijk of zij gehuwd zijn, bovengenoemde Tuttoilmondo.
Twee hebben procureurs, maar Tuttoilmondo kon niet hun namen verstrekken.
Had de vaderlijke grootmoeder van Riley, Sawyers Sheryl, de autoriteiten van Texas na het leren van de Gunst van de Baby om te zien geroepen of was een missen-persoonsrapport ingediend in het geval van Riley. Toen zij een schets van de Gunst van de Baby zag, dacht zij het haar granddaughter, bovengenoemde autoriteiten zou kunnen zijn.
Sawyers van Sheryl zeiden zij geen Riley sinds Trenor gezien heeft die met het meisje aan de Lente, 75 mijlen wordt bewogen het noorden van Galveston, dit jaar met Zeigler te zijn, die zij online ontmoette, het Dagelijkse gemelde Nieuws van de Provincie Galveston Zondag.
زوج يوقف بعد شرطة [إيد] يقتل طفلة بنت
Automatically translated into Arabic thanks to WorldLingo
[غلفستون], تكساس ([نوف.]. 26) - سلطات يقال يوم الإثنين كان هم "تماما واثقة" أنّ طفلة الذي جسم كان أسّست على الشاطئ من [غلفستون] نباح شهر متأخّرة كان ال 2 [ير-ولد] ابنة من إمرأة يوقف أثناء النهاية أسبوع مع رفيقته ذكريّة.
سلطات يترقّبون [دنا] [تست رسولت] غير أنّ يصدق البنت, الذي تلقّى يكون عرفت فقط كطفلة نعمة بما أنّ جسمه كان أسّست, 2 [ير-ولد] [ريلي] [أنّ] [سورس] من نابض, [غلفستون] إقليم عمدة [مج]. أشعّت [تثتّويلموندو] يقال في أخبار مؤتمر يوم الإثنين.
"كان هو [ا فو] أسابيع [أغو] أنا عطّلت هذا حذاء صغيرة وسأل 'الذي يكون طفلة نعمة? الذي يتمّ هذا ينتسب إلى, '"[تثتّويلموندو] يقال. "نحن الآن تماما واثقة نحن يعرف الجوابة إلى أنّ. "
انخفض [تثتّويلموندو] أن يتناقش مواصفات لأنّ التحقيق يكون بعد جاريّا.
"هناك حصة كاملة كثير عمل أن يتمّ," قال هو.
البنت أسّست جسم كان في [ستورج بين] بلاستيكيّة أنّ غسل على الشّاطئ على [أكت.]. 29.
[ريلي] أوقفت أم, [كيمبرلي] فجر [ترنور], 19, و [روس] كلايد [زيغلر] [إيي], 24, كان يوم السّبت مبكّرة ويحمّل مع إصابة إلى طفلة ويعبث مع بيّنة, [تثتّويلموندو] قال. ثبتت كفالة كان في $350,000 لكلّ واحد. هم كان حمّلت [إفن ثوو] سلطات لم يعرفوا نهائيّا ماذا حدث إلى [ريلي].
هم بشكل تقريريّ قالوا قريبات أنّ أحد ما يدّعي أن يكون عاملة اجتماعيّة من أوهايو, حيث [ريلي] أب يعيش, أخذ البنت في يوليو-تمّوز, غير أنّ [ترنور] أبدا يقال شرطة هو كان مفقودة, [تثتّويلموندو] يقال.
هو ملوّثة ما إذا زوّجت هم, [تثتّويلموندو] يقال.
يتلقّى الاثنان وكيل, غير أنّ [تثتّويلموندو] استطاع لم يزوّد اسمهم.
[ريلي] كان جدة أبويّة, [شرل] [سورس], قد دعا تكساس سلطات بعد يعلم من طفلة نعمة أن يرى إن [ميسّينغ-برسن] تقرير تلقّى يكون صنّفت في [ريلي] حالة. عندما رأى هو رسم تخطيطيّ من طفلة نعمة, هو فكّر هو أمكن كنت حفيدته, سلطات يقال.
قال [شرل] [سورس] هو يتلقّى لم يرى [ريلي] منذ [ترنور] يتحرّك مع البنت إلى نابض, 75 أميال شمال [غلفستون], هذا سنة أن يكون مع [زيغلر], الّذي هو التقى عبر إنترنت, [غلفستون] إقليم أخبار يوميّة يفاد يوم الأحد.
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More than 70% of the world’s AIDS population, Are Africans
Related to country: Sudan
available in: (original) | | | | | | | | |
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ETHIOPIA 3 MILLION
KENYA 2.1 MILLION
TANZANIA 1.3 MILLION
NIGERIA 2.7 MILLION
SOUTH AFRICA 4 MILLION
ZIMBABWE 1.5 MILLION
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO 1.1 MILLION
MORE THAN 7 GENERATIONS OF AFRICANS ELIMINATED FROM OFF THE LAND!!!!
UFJ was established several years ago in response to civil & human rights violations and in particular the horror AIDS has visited on Africa, with more than 70% percent of the world’s AIDS population on one continent and of the more than 70% of the world’s AIDS population is Africans.
UFJ encourages the global community and their families with HIV, AIDS and Sickle Cell Anemia Disease to increase educational awareness. UFJ is raising the quality of life for those living with HIV, AIDS and Sickle Cell Anemia Disease by pushing awareness for education, medicine and the nutritional needs for those in Africa, the United States, and other parts of the world.
"Join the fight today against world diseases that could make a difference."
Make a it happen order "VIBE" and send it or give it to a love one or those in need.
http://www.enivamembers.com/223028
Mr. Bey
Director/UFJ
digital95@aol.com
Plus de 70% de la population de SIDA du s de de worldâ, sont des Africains
Automatically translated into French thanks to WorldLingo
L'ETHIOPIE 3 MILLIONS
LE KENYA 2.1 MILLIONS
LA TANZANIE 1.3 MILLION
LE NIGÉRIA 2.7 MILLIONS
L'AFRIQUE DU SUD 4 MILLIONS
LE ZIMBABWE 1.5 MILLION
RÉPUBLIQUE DÉMOCRATIQUE DU CONGO 1.1 MILLION
PLUS DE 7 GÉNÉRATIONS DES AFRICAINS ÉLIMINÉS DE OUTRE DE LA TERRE ! ! ! !
UFJ a été établi il y a plusieurs années en réponse à civil et les violations de droits de l'homme et en particulier le SIDA d'horreur a visité sur l'Afrique, avec des pour cent plus de de 70% de la population de SIDA du s de de worldâ sur un continent et plus de du 70% de SIDAS du s de de worldâ la population est des Africains.
UFJ encourage la communauté globale et leurs familles la maladie d'anémie avec d'HIV, de SIDA et de faucille cellules à augmenter la conscience éducative. UFJ soulève la qualité de la vie pour ceux qui vivent la maladie d'anémie avec d'HIV, de SIDA et de faucille cellules à côté de pousser la conscience pour l'éducation, la médecine et les besoins alimentaires de ceux en Afrique, les Etats-Unis, et d'autres régions du monde.
« Joignez le combat aujourd'hui contre les maladies du monde qui pourraient faire une différence. »
Faites-la se produire l'ordre « VIBE » et l'envoyer ou le donner à un amour un ou ceux dans le besoin.
M.
de http://www.enivamembers.com/223028. Bey
Director/UFJ
digital95@aol.com
Más los de 70% de la población del SIDA del s del del worldâ, son africanos
Automatically translated into Spanish thanks to WorldLingo
ETIOPÍA 3 MILLONES
KENIA 2.1 MILLONES
TANZANIA 1.3 MILLONES
NIGERIA 2.7 MILLONES
SURÁFRICA 4 MILLONES
ZIMBABWE 1.5 MILLONES
REPÚBLICA DEMOCRÁTICA DE CONGO 1.1 MILLONES
¡MÁS DE 7 GENERACIONES DE LOS AFRICANOS ELIMINADOS DE LA TIERRA!!!!
UFJ fue establecido hace varios años en respuesta a civil y las violaciones de los derechos humanos y particularmente el SIDA del horror han visitado en África, con los por ciento más del de 70% de la población del SIDA del s del del worldâ en un continente y de más el de 70% de SIDA del s del del worldâ la población es africanos.
UFJ anima a la comunidad global y a sus familias con enfermedad de la anemia de la célula del VIH, del SIDA y de la hoz que aumenten conocimiento educativo. UFJ está levantando la calidad de la vida para ésos que viven con enfermedad de la anemia de la célula del VIH, del SIDA y de la hoz empujando el conocimiento para la educación, medicina y las necesidades alimenticias de ésos en África, los Estados Unidos, y otras partes del mundo.
“Ensamble la lucha hoy contra las enfermedades del mundo que podrían diferenciar.”
Hágalo suceder la orden “VIBE” y enviarla o darla a un amor uno o ésos en necesidad.
Sr.
de http://www.enivamembers.com/223028. Bey
Director/UFJ
digital95@aol.com
Più di 70% della popolazione del AIDS del s del del worldâ, sono Africani
Automatically translated into Italian thanks to WorldLingo
L'ETIOPIA 3 MILIONI
IL KENIA 2.1 MILIONI
LA TANZANIA 1.3 MILIONI
LA NIGERIA 2.7 MILIONI
LA SUDAFRICA 4 MILIONI
LO ZIMBABWE 1.5 MILIONI
REPUBBLICA DEMOCRATICA DI CONGO 1.1 MILIONI
PIÙ DI 7 GENERAZIONI DEGLI AFRICANI ELIMINATI FUORI DELLA TERRA!!!!
UFJ è stato stabilito parecchi anni fa in risposta a civile & le violazioni di diritti dell'uomo ed in particolare il AIDS di orrore ha visitato sull'Africa, con i per cento più di di 70% della popolazione del AIDS del s del del worldâ su un continente e più di del 70% dei AIDS del s del del worldâ la popolazione è Africani.
UFJ consiglia alla Comunità globale ed alle loro famiglie con malattia di anemia delle cellule del HIV, del AIDS e della falce aumentare la consapevolezza educativa. UFJ sta sollevando la qualità di vita per quelle che vivono con malattia di anemia delle cellule del HIV, del AIDS e della falce spingendo la consapevolezza per formazione, la medicina e le esigenze nutrizionali di quelle in Africa, gli Stati Uniti ed altre parti del mondo.
“Unisca oggi la lotta contro le malattie del mondo che potrebbero fare una differenza.„
Facciala accadere ordine “VIBE„ e trasmetterlo o darlo ad un amore uno o quelli nel bisogno.
sig.
di http://www.enivamembers.com/223028. Bey
Director/UFJ
digital95@aol.com
Mehr als 70% der worldâ s AIDS-Bevölkerung, sind Afrikaner
Automatically translated into German thanks to WorldLingo
ÄTHIOPIEN 3 MILLION
KENIA 2.1 MILLION
TANZANIA 1.3 MILLION
NIGERIA 2.7 MILLION
SÜDAFRIKA 4 MILLION
ZIMBABWE 1.5 MILLION
DEMOKRATISCHE REPUBLIK VOM KONGO 1.1 MILLION
MEHR ALS 7 ERZEUGUNGEN DER AFRIKANER BESEITIGT WEG VON VOM LAND!!!!
UFJ wurde einigen Jahren in Erwiderung auf Zivil u. hergestellt hat Verletzungen der menschlichen vor Rechte und insbesondere der Grausigkeit AIDS auf Afrika, mit den mehr als 70% Prozent der worldâ s AIDS-Bevölkerung auf einem Kontinent besucht und des mehr als 70% der worldâ s AIDS ist die Bevölkerung Afrikaner.
UFJ regt die globale Gemeinschaft und ihre Familien mit HIV, AIDS und Sichel-Zelle Anämie-Krankheit an, pädagogisches Bewußtsein zu erhöhen. UFJ wirft die Lebensqualität für die auf, die mit HIV, AIDS und Sichel-Zelle Anämie-Krankheit leben, indem es Bewußtsein für Ausbildung, Medizin und die Ernährungsnotwendigkeiten an denen in Afrika, die Vereinigten Staaten und andere Teile der Welt drückt.
„Verbinden Sie den Kampf heute gegen Weltkrankheiten, die unterscheiden konnten.“
Bilden Sie es, zu geschehen Auftrag „VIBE“ und ihn zu senden oder ihn zu einer Liebe eine zu geben oder die in der Notwendigkeit.
http://www.enivamembers.com/223028
Herr. Bey
Director/UFJ
digital95@aol.com
Mais de 70% da população do AIDS do s do do worldâ, são africanos
Automatically translated into Portuguese thanks to WorldLingo
ETIÓPIA 3 MILHÕES
KENYA 2.1 MILHÕES
TANZÂNIA 1.3 MILHÕES
NIGÉRIA 2.7 MILHÕES
ÁFRICA DO SUL 4 MILHÕES
ZIMBABWE 1.5 MILHÕES
REPÚBLICA DEMOCRÁTICA DE CONGO 1.1 MILHÕES
MAIS DE 7 GERAÇÕES DOS AFRICANOS ELIMINADOS FORA DA TERRA!!!!
UFJ foi estabelecido diversos anos há em resposta a civil & violações das direitas humanas e no detalhe que o AIDS do horror visitou em África, com por cento mais de de 70% da população do AIDS do s do do worldâ em um continente e mais do de 70% de AIDS do s do do worldâ a população é africanos.
UFJ incentiva a comunidade global e suas famílias com doença do Anemia de pilha do HIV, do AIDS e do Sickle aumentar a consciência educacional. UFJ está levantando a qualidade de vida para aquelas que vivem com doença do Anemia de pilha do HIV, do AIDS e do Sickle empurrando a consciência para a instrução, a medicina e as necessidades nutritivas para aquelas em África, os Estados Unidos, e outras partes do mundo.
“Junte a luta hoje de encontro às doenças do mundo que poderiam fazer uma diferença.”
Faça-a para acontecer a ordem “VIBE” e para emiti-la ou dá-la a um amor um ou aqueles na necessidade.
Sr.
de http://www.enivamembers.com/223028. Bey
Director/UFJ
digital95@aol.com
Mer än 70% av worldâen s BISTÅR befolkningen, är afrikaner
Automatically translated into Swedish thanks to WorldLingo
ETIOPIEN 3 MILJONER
KENYA 2.1 MILJONER
TANZANIA 1.3 MILJONER
NIGERIA 2.7 MILJONER
SYDAFRIKA 4 MILJONER
ZIMBABWE 1.5 MILJONER
DEMOKRATISK REPUBLIK AV KONGOFLODEN 1.1 MILJONER
MER ÄN 7 UTVECKLINGAR AV AFRIKANER SOM AVLÄGSNAS FRÅN AV LANDET!!!!
UFJ var etablerad flera år sedan som svar på borgerligt, & mänsklig rättighetkränkningar och fasan BISTÅR i synnerhet har besökt på Afrika, med mer än 70% procent av worldâen BISTÅR s befolkningen på en kontinent, och av den mer än 70%en av worldâen BISTÅR s befolkningen är afrikaner.
UFJ uppmuntrar den globala gemenskapen, och deras familjer med HIV, BISTÅR och sjukdomen för skäracellblodbrist till den bilda medvetenheten för förhöjning. UFJ lyfter livskvaliteten för de som bor med HIV, BISTÅR och sjukdomen för skäracellblodbrist vid den driftiga medvetenheten för utbildning, medicin och de näringsrika behoven för de i Afrika, Förenta staterna och andra världsdelar.
”Sammanfoga slagsmål i dag mot världssjukdomar som kunde göra en skillnad.”,
Gör den att hända beställer ”VIBE” och överför den eller ger det till en förälskelse en eller de i behov.
http://www.enivamembers.com/223028
Herr Bey
Director/UFJ
digital95@aol.com
Больше чем 70% из населенности AIDS s worldâ, будут африканцами
Automatically translated into Russian thanks to WorldLingo
ЭФИОПИЯ 3 МИЛЛИОНА
КЕНИЯ 2.1 МИЛЛИОНА
ТАНЗАНИЯ 1.3 МИЛЛИОНА
НИГЕРИЯ 2.7 МИЛЛИОНА
ЮЖНАЯ АФРИКА 4 МИЛЛИОНА
ЗИМБАБВЕ 1.5 МИЛЛИОНА
ДЕМОКРАТИЧЕСКАЯ РЕСПУБЛИКА КОНГО 1.1 МИЛЛИОНА
БОЛЬШЕ ЧЕМ 7 ПОКОЛЕНИЙ АФРИКАНЦЕВ ИСКЛЮЧЕННЫХ ОТ С ЗЕМЛИ!!!!
UFJ было установлено несколько лет тому назад in response to гражданское & нарушения прав человека и в частности AIDS ужаса посещали на Африке, с процентами больше чем 70% населенности AIDS s worldâ на одном материке и больше чем 70% из AIDS s worldâ населенность будет африканцами.
UFJ ободряет глобальную общину и их семей с заболевание малокровия клеткой HIV, AIDS и серпа увеличить воспитательную осведомленность. UFJ поднимает качество жизни для тех живя с заболевание малокровия клеткой HIV, AIDS и серпа путем нажимать осведомленность для образования, микстуры и питательных потребностей для тех в Африке, Соединенных Штатов, и других частей мира.
«Соедините драку сегодня против заболеваний мира смогли внести изменения.»
Сделайте его случиться заказ «VIBE» и послаться его или даться его к влюбленности одному или те в потребности.
г-н
http://www.enivamembers.com/223028. Bey
Director/UFJ
digital95@aol.com
Meer dan 70% van de bevolking van worldâ s AIDS, zijn Afrikanen
Automatically translated into Dutch thanks to WorldLingo
ETHIOPIË 3 MILJOEN
KENIA 2.1 MILJOEN
TANZANIA 1.3 MILJOEN
NIGERIA 2.7 MILJOEN
ZUID-AFRIKA 4 MILJOEN
ZIMBABWE 1.5 MILJOEN
DEMOCRATISCHE REPUBLIEK VAN DE KONGO 1.1 MILJOEN
MEER DAN 7 GENERATIES VAN AFRIKANEN DIE VAN VAN HET LAND WORDEN GEËLIMINEERDZ!!!!
UFJ werd gevestigd verscheidene jaren geleden in antwoord op burgerlijke & rechten van de mensschendingen en in het bijzonder heeft verschrikkingsAIDS op Afrika bezocht, met meer dan 70% percent van de bevolking van worldâ s AIDS op één continent en van meer dan 70% van worldâ s is de bevolking van AIDS Afrikanen.
UFJ moedigt globale communautair en hun families met HIV, AIDS en de Ziekte van de Bloedarmoede van de Cel van de Sikkel aan om onderwijsvoorlichting te verhogen. UFJ heft de levenskwaliteit voor die op die met HIV, AIDS en de Ziekte van de Bloedarmoede van de Cel van de Sikkel door voorlichting voor onderwijs, geneeskunde en de voedingsbehoeften aan die in Afrika, de Verenigde Staten, en andere delen van de wereld leven te duwen.
„Sluit aan me vandaag bij de bestrijding van wereldziekten die een verschil konden maken.“
Maak het gebeuren en orde „VIBE“ het verzenden of het aan een liefde één of die in behoefte geven.
http://www.enivamembers.com/223028
M. Bey
Director/UFJ
digital95@aol.com
More than 70% of the worldâs AIDS population, Are Africans
Automatically translated into Arabic thanks to WorldLingo
أثيوبيا 3 مليون
كينيا 2.1 مليون
تنزانيا 1.3 مليون
نيجيريا 2.7 مليون
جنوب افريقيا 4 مليون
زمبابوي 1.5 مليون
جمهورية ديموقراطيّة كونغو 1.1 مليون
أكثر من 7 أجيال الإفريقيات يزال من من الأرض!!!!
أسّست [أوفج] كان عدّة سنون [أغو] [إين رسبونس تو] مدنيّة & حقوق الإنسان انتهاكات و [إين برتيكلر] الرعب [أيدس] قد زاروا على إفريقيا, مع أكثر من 70% نسبة مئويّة من ال [وورلد] [س] [أيدس] السّكان على واحدة قارّ ومن الأكثر من 70% من ال [وورلد] [س] [أيدس] السّكان إفريقيات.
[أوفج] يشجّع الجماعة شاملة وأسراتهم مع [هيف], [أيدس] ومنجل خلية فقر مرض أن يزيد حالة وعي تربويّة. [أوفج] يرفع ال [قوليتي وف ليف] ل أنّ يعيش مع [هيف], [أيدس] ومنجل خلية فقر مرض ب يدفع حالة وعي لتربية, الطبّ والحاجات غذائيّة ل أنّ في إفريقيا, الولايات المتّحدة الأمريكيّة, وأخرى أجزاء من العالم.
"تلاقيت المعركة اليوم ضدّ عالم أمراض أنّ استطاع جعلت فرق."
جعلت هو حدثت أمر "[فيب]" وأرسلت هو أو أعطيت هو إلى حالة حبّ واحدة أو أنّ في حاجة.
http://www.enivamembers.com/223028
[مر.]. [بي]
[ديركتور/وفج]
[ديجتل95ول.كم]
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| November 25, 2007 | 1:26 PM |
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Darfur rebels spurn Chinese force
Related to country: Sudan
available in: (original) | | | | | | | | |
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(UFJ), Rebels in Darfur have demanded that peacekeepers from China pull out of the Sudanese region just hours after the arrival of 135 Chinese engineers.
The army engineers arrived on Saturday to prepare for a joint UN and African Union peacekeeping force of 26,000.
The key Justice and Equality Movement (Jem) rebel group accuses China of being complicit in the Darfur conflict.
Last month the group attacked a Chinese-controlled oilfield, kidnapping several workers.
The Jem says it wants China to withdraw its support for the Sudanese government.
They say that oil sold to the Chinese is being used to fund government operations in Darfur.
Rebels would not allow the Chinese into areas controlled by their forces, Jem leader Khalil Ibrahim told the news agency Reuters following the arrival of the engineers.
'Oil for blood'
"We oppose them coming because China is not interested in human rights. It is just interested in Sudan's resources," he said.
"We are calling on them to quit Sudan, especially the petroleum areas."
Mr Ibrahim did not say whether he would target the Chinese engineers.
"I am not saying I will attack them. I will not say I will not attack them," he said.
"What I am saying is that they are taking our oil for blood."
The Chinese engineers are tasked with building roads and bridges and dig wells ahead of the deployment of the joint peacekeeping force planned for January.
The rebels have said they would not object to peacekeepers from any country other than China.
But on Friday, Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir said his country would only accept non-African troops from Pakistan or China.
A month ago the Jem attacked Sudan's Defra oilfield in the Kordofan region, run by a Chinese-controlled consortium, the Greater Nile Petroleum Operating Company.
Jem said at the time that the Chinese company had one week to leave Sudan.
An estimated 200,000 people have died during four-and-a-half years of fighting in Darfur, with a further two million people displaced.
Les rebelles de Darfur jettent la force chinoise
Automatically translated into French thanks to WorldLingo
(UFJ), les rebelles dans Darfur ont exigé que les soldats de la paix de Chine retirent de la région soudanaise des heures justes après l'arrivée de 135 ingénieurs chinois.
Les ingénieurs d'armée sont arrivés samedi pour se préparer à un joint l'ONU et à la force africaine de maintien de la paix des syndicats de 26.000.
Le juge principal et le groupe rebelle de mouvement d'égalité (Jem) accuse la Chine d'être complicit en conflit de Darfur.
Le mois dernier le groupe a attaqué un gisement de pétrole Chinois-commandé, enlevant plusieurs ouvriers.
Le Jem indique il veut que la Chine retire son soutien du gouvernement soudanais.
Ils disent que de l'huile vendue au Chinois est employée pour placer des opérations de gouvernement dans Darfur.
Les rebelles ne permettraient pas les Chinois dans des secteurs commandés par leurs forces, le Chef de Jem que Khalil Ibrahim a indiqué l'agence de nouvelles Reuters suivant l'arrivée des ingénieurs.
« Huile pour le sang »
« nous nous opposons à eux venant parce que la Chine n'est pas intéressée par des droits de l'homme. Il est simplement intéressé par les ressources du Soudan, « il a dit.
« Nous les invitons à stopper le Soudan, particulièrement les secteurs de pétrole. »
M. Ibrahim n'a pas dit s'il viserait les ingénieurs chinois.
« Je suis ne disant pas moi les attaquerai. Je ne dirai pas que je ne les attaquerai pas, « il a dit.
« Ce qui suis je l'énonciation est qu'ils prennent notre huile pour le sang. »
Les ingénieurs chinois sont chargés avec des routes et des ponts de bâtiment et creusent des puits en avant du déploiement de la force commune de maintien de la paix prévue pour janvier.
Les rebelles ont dit qu'ils ne s'opposeraient pas aux soldats de la paix d'aucun pays autre que la Chine.
Mais vendredi, le Président soudanais Omar Al-Bashir dit son pays accepterait seulement les troupes non-Africaines du Pakistan ou de Chine.
Il y a un mois le Jem a attaqué le gisement de pétrole de Defra du Soudan dans la région de Kordofan, course par un consortium Chinois-commandé, Greater Nile Petroleum Operating Company.
Jem a indiqué alors que la compagnie chinoise a eu une semaine pour quitter le Soudan.
Des 200.000 personnes environ sont mortes pendant des années de quatre-et-un-moitié du combat dans Darfur, avec deux millions de personnes plus encore déplacé.
Los rebeldes de Darfur desprecian la fuerza china
Automatically translated into Spanish thanks to WorldLingo
(UFJ), Rebels in Darfur have demanded that peacekeepers from China pull out of the Sudanese region just hours after the arrival of 135 Chinese engineers.
Los ingenieros de ejército llegaron el sábado para prepararse para un empalme la O.N.U y la fuerza pacificadora de la unión africana de 26.000.
La justicia dominante y el grupo rebelde del movimiento de la igualdad (Jem) acusa China de ser complicit en el conflicto de Darfur.
El mes pasado el grupo atacó un campo petrolífero Chino-controlado, secuestrando a varios trabajadores.
El Jem dice quisiera que China retirara su ayuda para el gobierno sudanés.
Dicen que el aceite vendido al chino se está utilizando para financiar operaciones del gobierno en Darfur.
Los rebeldes no permitirían a chinos en las áreas controladas por sus fuerzas, líder de Jem que Khalil Ibrahim dijo la agencia de noticias Reuters que seguía la llegada de los ingenieros.
“Aceite para la sangre”
“los oponemos que vienen porque China no está interesada en derechos humanos. Está apenas interesado en los recursos de Sudán, “él dijo.
“Los estamos invitando a parar Sudán, especialmente las áreas del petróleo.”
Sr. Ibrahim no dijo si él apuntaría a ingenieros chinos.
“Soy no diciendo yo los atacaré. No diré que no los atacaré, “él dijo.
“Cuál soy el refrán es que están tomando nuestro aceite para la sangre.”
Los ingenieros chinos son tasked con los caminos del edificio y los puentes y los pozos del empuje delante del despliegue de la fuerza pacificadora común prevista para enero.
Los rebeldes han dicho que no se opondrían a las fuerzas de paz de ningún país con excepción de China.
Pero el viernes, presidente sudanés Omar Al-Bashir dicho su país aceptaría solamente a tropas no-Africanas de Paquistán o de China.
Hace un mes el Jem atacó el campo petrolífero en la región de Kordofan, funcionamiento de Defra de Sudán por un consorcio Chino-controlado, el Greater el Nile Petroleum Operating Company.
Jem dicho en ese entonces que la compañía china tenía una semana para salir de Sudán.
Las 200.000 personas estimada han muerto durante años de la cuatro-y-uno-mitad de luchar en Darfur, con dos millones de personas de más desplazados.
I ribelli di Darfur spurn la forza cinese
Automatically translated into Italian thanks to WorldLingo
(UFJ), i ribelli in Darfur hanno richiesto che le guarde della pace dalla Cina estraggono della regione sudanese ore giuste dopo l'arrivo di 135 assistenti tecnici cinesi.
Gli assistenti tecnici di esercito sono arrivato il sabato per prepararsi per un giunto NU e una forza africana di mantenimento della pace del sindacato di 26.000.
La giustizia chiave ed il gruppo ribelle del movimento di uguaglianza (Jem) accusa la Cina di essere complicit in conflitto di Darfur.
Ultimo mese il gruppo ha attacato un giacimento di petrolio Cinese-controllato, rapinante parecchi operai.
Il Jem dice che desidera la Cina ritirare il relativo sostegno il governo sudanese.
Dicono che l'olio venduto al cinese sta usando per costituire un fondo per i funzionamenti di governo in Darfur.
I ribelli non permetterebbero il cinese nelle zone controllate dalle loro forze, capo che di Jem Khalil Ibrahim ha detto all'agenzia di notizie Reuters che segue l'arrivo degli assistenti tecnici.
“Olio per anima„
“li opponiamo che vengono perché la Cina non è interessata nei diritti dell'uomo. È solo interessato di risorse del Sudan, “ha detto.
“Stiamo invitandoli rinunciare il Sudan, particolarmente le zone del petrolio.„
Il sig. Ibrahim non ha detto se designerebbe gli assistenti tecnici come bersaglio cinesi.
“Sono non dicendo io li attaccherò. Non dirò che non li attaccherò, “ha detto.
“Che cosa sono il detto è che stanno prendendo il nostro olio per anima.„
Gli assistenti tecnici cinesi sono tasked con le strade della costruzione ed i ponticelli ed i pozzi di vangata davanti allo schieramento della forza unita di mantenimento della pace progettata per gennaio.
I ribelli hanno detto che non obietterebbero alle guarde della pace da alcun paese tranne la Cina.
Ma il venerdì, il presidente sudanese Omar Al-Bashir detto il suo paese accetterebbe soltanto le truppe non-Africane dal Pakistan o dalla Cina.
Un mese fa il Jem ha attacato il giacimento di petrolio nella regione di Kordofan, funzionamento di Defra del Sudan da un consorzio Cinese-controllato, il Greater Nile Petroleum Operating Company.
Jem ha detto allora che l'azienda cinese ha avuta una settimana per lasciare il Sudan.
Lle 200.000 genti valutata sono morto durante gli anni di quattro-e-un-metà di combattimento in Darfur, con due milione di persone più ancora spostati.
Darfur Aufrührer verschmähen chinesische Kraft
Automatically translated into German thanks to WorldLingo
(UFJ), haben Aufrührer in Darfur verlangt, daß Friedenstruppen von China von der sudanischen Region gerechte Stunden nach der Ankunft von 135 chinesischen Ingenieuren ausziehen.
Die Armeingenieure kamen am Samstag an, um sich für eine Verbindung UNO und afrikanische Anschlußfriedenssicherungkraft von 26.000 vorzubereiten.
Die Schlüsselgerechtigkeit und Gleichheit-Bewegung (Jem) rebellische die Gruppe beschuldigt China vom Sein complicit im Darfur Konflikt.
Letzter Monat nahm die Gruppe ein Chinesisch-kontrolliertes ölfeld in Angriff und entführte einige Arbeiter.
Das Jem sagt, daß es China seine Unterstützung für die sudanische Regierung zurücknehmen wünscht.
Sie sagen, daß das öl, das an den Chinesen verkauft wird, benutzt wird, um Regierung Betriebe in Darfur zu finanzieren.
Aufrührer würden die Chinesen nicht in die Bereiche erlauben, die durch ihre Kräfte, Jem Führer gesteuert wurden, den Khalil Ibrahim die Nachrichtenagentur Reuters erklärte, das der Ankunft der Ingenieure folgt.
„Öl für Blut“
„wir setzen ihnen kommend entgegen, weil China nicht an den menschlichen Rechten interessiert ist. Es ist an den Betriebsmitteln Sudans gerade interessiert, „er sagte.
„Wir ersuchen um sie, Sudan, besonders die Erdölbereiche zu beendigen.“
Herr Ibrahim sagte nicht, ob er die chinesischen Ingenieure zielen würde.
„Ich bin nicht sagend ich in Angriff nehme sie. Ich sage nicht, daß ich sie nicht in Angriff nehme, „er sagte.
„Was ich bin, ist Saying, daß sie nehmen unser öl für Blut.“
Die chinesischen Ingenieure sind tasked mit Gebäudestraßen und Brücken und Grabung Brunnen vor der Entwicklung der gemeinsamen Friedenssicherungkraft, die für Januar geplant wird.
Die Aufrührer haben gesagt, daß sie nicht gegen Friedenstruppen aus irgendeinem Land anders als China einwenden würden.
Aber am Freitag, würde sudanischer Präsident Omar besagtes Al-Bashir sein Land nur nicht-Afrikanische Truppen von Pakistan oder von China annehmen.
Einem Monat nahm das Jem ölfeld vor Defra Sudans in der Kordofan Region, Durchlauf durch eine Chinesisch-kontrollierte Vereinigung, Greater Nile Petroleum Operating Company in Angriff.
Jem zu der Zeit gesagt, daß die chinesische Firma eine Woche hatte, zum von Sudan zu verlassen.
Geschätzten 200.000 Leute sind während der Vier-und-einhälfte Jahre des Kämpfens in Darfur gestorben, wenn weitere zwei Million Leute verlegt sind.
Os rebels de Darfur spurn a força chinesa
Automatically translated into Portuguese thanks to WorldLingo
(UFJ), os Rebels em Darfur exijiram que os peacekeepers de China puxam fora da região Sudanese horas justas após a chegada de 135 coordenadores chineses.
Os coordenadores de exército chegaram em sábado para preparar-se para uma junção UN e uma força africana do peacekeeping da união de 26.000.
A justiça chave e o grupo rebel do movimento da igualdade (Jem) acusam China de ser complicit no conflito de Darfur.
Último mês o grupo atacou um oilfield Chinês-controlado, sequestrando diversos trabalhadores.
O Jem diz que quer China retirar sua sustentação para o governo Sudanese.
Dizem que o óleo vendido ao chinês está sendo usado financiar operações do governo em Darfur.
Os Rebels não permitiriam os chineses nas áreas controladas por suas forças, líder que de Jem Khalil Ibrahim disse a agência de notícia Reuters que segue a chegada dos coordenadores.
“Óleo para o sangue”
“nós opomo-los que vêm porque China não está interessada em direitas humanas. Está apenas interessado em recursos de Sudão, “disse.
“Nós estamos convidando-os parar Sudão, especialmente as áreas do petróleo.”
O Sr. Ibrahim não disse se alvejaria os coordenadores chineses.
“Eu sou não dizendo mim atacá-los-ei. Eu não direi que eu não os atacarei, “disse.
“O que eu sou o provérbio é que estão fazendo exame de nosso óleo para o sangue.”
Os coordenadores chineses são tasked com estradas do edifício e pontes e poços da escavação antes de a distribuição da força comum do peacekeeping de planeamento para janeiro.
Os rebels disseram que não objetariam aos peacekeepers de nenhum país à excepção de China.
Mas em sexta-feira, o presidente Sudanese Omar Al-Bashir dito seu país aceitaria somente tropas non-Africanas de Paquistão ou de China.
O mês há o oilfield na região de Kordofan, funcionamento de Defra do Sudão atacado Jem por um consortium Chinês-controlado, o Grande Nile Petróleo Operating Companhia.
Jem disse naquele tempo que a companhia chinesa teve uma semana para sair de Sudão.
Uns 200.000 povos estimado morreram durante anos da quatro-e-um-metade da luta em Darfur, com uns dois milhão povos mais adicional deslocados.
Darfur rebeller spurn kinesisk styrka
Automatically translated into Swedish thanks to WorldLingo
(UFJ), har rebeller i Darfur begärt att fredsbevarare från det Kina handtag ut ur den sudanesiska regionen rättvisa timmar efter ankomsten av kines 135 iscensätter.
Armén iscensätter ankommet på lördag för att förbereda för gemensamma UN och afrikansk facklig peacekeepingstyrka av 26.000.
Den nyckel- rättvisan och gruppen för rebell för jämställdhetrörelse (Jem) anklagar Kina av att vara complicit i den Darfur konflikten.
Den sist månaden anföll gruppen enkontrollerad oilfield som kidnappar flera arbetare.
De Jem något att säga önskar det att Kina ska återta dess service för den sudanesiska regeringen.
Dem något att säga att olja som säljs till kinesen är regerings- funktioner för van vid fond i Darfur.
Rebeller som skulle för att inte låta kinesen in i områden som kontrollerades av deras styrkor, den Jem ledare Khalil Ibrahim, berättade telegrambyrån Reuters, efter som ankomsten av iscensätter.
”Olja för blod”
”motsätter vi dem som är kommande, därför att Kina inte intresseras i mänsklig rättighet. Det är rättvist intresserat i Sudan resurser, ”sade han.
”Kallar vi på dem för att avsluta Sudan, speciellt oljaområdena.”,
Herr Ibrahim inte något att säga, huruvida som han skulle uppsätta som mål kinesen iscensätter.
”Ordstäv för I-förmiddag inte som jag ska anfaller dem. Jag ska inte något att säga som jag ska för att inte anfalla dem, ”sade han.
”Vad I-förmiddagordstävet är att de tar vår olja för blod.”,
Kinesen iscensätter är tasked med byggnadsvägar och överbryggar och pikbrunnar framåt av utplaceringen av den gemensamma peacekeepingstyrkan som planeras för Januari.
Rebellerna har sagt att de skulle för att inte anmärka till fredsbevarare från något land annat än Kina.
Men på fredag, sudanesisk accepterar said presidentOmar al-Bashir hans skulle land endast non-Afrikan soldater från Pakistan eller Kina.
En månad sedan Jem anföll Sudan den Defra oilfielden i den Kordofan regionen, körning av enkontrollerad konsortium, Stor Nile Olja Operating Företag.
Jem sade på tiden att det kinesiska företaget hade en vecka som lämnar Sudan.
Har det beräknade 200.000 folket dött under fyra-och-en-halva år av att slåss i Darfur, med ett förflyttat mer ytterligare två miljon folk.
Повстанцы Darfur spurn китайское усилие
Automatically translated into Russian thanks to WorldLingo
(UFJ), повстанцы в Darfur требовали что peacekeepers от Китая pull out Sudanese зоны через справедливые часы после прибытия 135 китайских инженеров.
Инженеры армии приехали на субботу для того чтобы подготовить для ООН соединения и африканской силы по поддержанию мира соединения 26.000.
Ключевое правосудие и группа движения равности (Jem) rebel обвиняют Китай быть complicit в конфликте Darfur.
Последний месяц группа атаковала Китайск-controlled oilfield, kidnapping несколько работников.
Jem говорит оно хочет Китай разделить свою поддержку для Sudanese правительства.
Они говорят что масло проданное к китайцу используется для того чтобы фондировать деятельности правительства в Darfur.
Повстанцы не позволили бы китайцам в зоны контролируемые их усилиями, руководителю Jem, котор Khalil Ibrahim сказало агентство новостей Reuters следуя за прибытием инженеров.
«Масло для крови»
«мы сопротивляемся они приходя потому что Китай не заинтересован в правах человека. Оно как раз заинтересованн в ресурсах Судана, «он сказал.
«Мы call on они прекратить Судан, специально зоны петролеума.»
Г-н Ibrahim не сказал пристрелет ли он китайских инженеров.
«Я буду говорящ мной атакую их. Я не скажу я не атакует их, «он сказал.
«Я высказывание что они принимают наше масло для крови.»
Китайские инженеры tasked с дорогами здания и мостами и добрами dig впереди раскрытия совместной силы по поддержанию мира запланированной на январь.
Повстанцы говорили они не возразило к peacekeepers от любой страны за исключением Китая.
Но на пятнице, Sudanese президент Omar Al-Bashir сказанный его страна только принял бы non-Африканских войск от Пакистана или Китая.
Месяц тому назад oilfield в зоне Kordofan, бег Defra Судана атакованного Jem Китайск-controlled консорциумом, Больш Нилом Петролеумом Operating Действующей компанией.
Jem сказанное вовремя что китайская компания имела одну неделю для того чтобы выйти Судан.
Оцененные 200.000 людей умирали во время лет 4-и--половины воевать в Darfur, при более дополнительный 2 миллиона людей смещенный.
De rebellen van Darfur wijzen Chinese kracht af
Automatically translated into Dutch thanks to WorldLingo
(UFJ), hebben de Rebellen in Darfur geëist dat de vredeskorpsen van China zich van de Soedanese gebied enkel uren na de aankomst van 135 Chinese ingenieurs terugtrekken.
De legeringenieurs kwamen op Zaterdag aan om op de gezamenlijke V.N. en Afrikaanse het behoud van de vredekracht van de Unie van 26.000 voor te bereiden.
De belangrijkste rebellengroep van de Gelijkheid van de Beweging van de Rechtvaardigheid en (Jem) beschuldigt China van complicit het zijn in het conflict Darfur.
Vorige maand viel de groep een Chinees-Gecontroleerd olieveld aan, ontvoerend verscheidene arbeiders.
Jem zegt het China zijn steun voor de Soedanese overheid wil terugtrekken.
Zij zeggen dat de olie die aan de Chinezen wordt verkocht wordt gebruikt om overheidsverrichtingen in Darfur te financieren.
De rebellen zouden niet de Chinezen in gebieden toestaan die door hun krachten worden gecontroleerd, Jem vertelde de leider Khalil Ibrahim het nieuwsagentschap Reuters na de aankomst van de ingenieurs.
„Olie voor bloed“
„wij verzetten ons hen die omdat China niet geinteresseerd in rechten van de mens is komen. Het is enkel geinteresseerd in de middelen van de Soedan, „hij zei.
„Wij nodigen hen uit om met de Soedan, vooral de aardoliegebieden op te houden.“
M. Ibrahim zei niet of hij de Chinese ingenieurs zou richten.
„Ik zeg niet ik hen zal aanvallen. Ik zal niet zeggen ik hen niet zal aanvallen, „hij zei.
„Wat ik zeg is dat zij onze olie voor bloed.“ nemen
De Chinese ingenieurs worden belast met het aanleggen van wegen en bruggen en graven putten voor de plaatsing van de gezamenlijke behoud van de vredekracht die voor Januari wordt gepland.
De rebellen hebben gezegd zij niet bezwaar zouden hebben tegen vredeskorpsen van enig land buiten China.
Maar op Vrijdag, zei Soedanees President Omar Al-Bashir zijn land slechts nietAfrikaanse troepen van Pakistan of China zou goedkeuren.
Een maand geleden viel Jem het olieveld van Defra van de Soedan in het gebied Kordofan, die door een Chinees-Gecontroleerd consortium in werking wordt gesteld, de Grotere Nijl Petroleum Operating Company aan.
Jem zei in de tijd dat het Chinese bedrijf één week had om de Soedan te verlaten.
Zijn de geschatte 200.000 mensen tijdens vier-en-a-halve jaren van het vechten in Darfur gestorven, met verdere twee miljoen verplaatste mensen.
[درفور] يزدري متمردات قوة صينيّة
Automatically translated into Arabic thanks to WorldLingo
([أوفج]), قد طلب متمردات في [درفور] أنّ [بسكيبر] من الصين يقتلعون من المنطقة سودانيّة ساعات صحيحة بعد الوصول من 135 مهندسات صينيّة.
وصل ال [أرمي نجنير] في يوم السّبت أن يعدّ لمفصل فلق منظّمة الأمم المتّحدة و [أفريكن] إتحاد حفظ السلام قوة من 26,000.
الأساسيّة يتّهم عدل وحالة تساو حركة ([جم]) مجموعة متمرّدة الصين من يكون [كمبليست] في [درفور] نزاع.
شهر متأخّرة هاجم المجموعة حقل نفط [شنس-كنترولّد], يخطف عدّة عاملات.
يقول [جم] هو يريد الصين أن ينسحب دعمه للحكومة سودانيّة.
هم يقولون أنّ استعملت زيت يباع إلى الصينيّ يكون أن يموّل حكومة عمليات في [درفور].
لم يسمح متمردات الصينيّ داخل مناطق يضبط بقواتهم, [جم] زعيمة خليل إبراهيم قال الوكالة أنباء [ريوترس] يتبع الوصول من المهندسات.
"زيت لدم"
"يتعارضهم نحن يأتي لأنّ الصين ليس راغبة في حقوق الإنسان. هو فقط راغبة في سودان موردات, "قال هو.
"[كلّ ون] هم نحن أن يترك سودان, خصوصا البترول مناطق."
لم يقل سيد إبراهيم ما إذا هو استهدف المهندسات صينيّة.
"أنا لا يقول أنا سيهاجمهم. أنا لن أقول لن يهاجمهم أنا, "هو قال.
"ماذا أنا أكون مثل أنّ يأخذ هم زيتنا لدم."
المهندسات صينيّة أرهق مع بناية طرق وجسور ولطم بئار أمام الانتشار من المشتركة حفظ السلام قوة يخطّط ليناير - كانون الثّاني.
قد قال المتمردات هم لم يعترضوا إلى [بسكيبر] من أيّ بلد غير الصين.
غير أنّ في يوم الجمعة, قبل رئيس سودانيّة عمر [أل-بشير] يقول بلده فقط قوات [نون-فريكن] من باكستان أو الصين.
شهر [أغو] هاجم [جم] سودان [دفرا] حقل نفط في [كوردوفن] منطقة, شوط بإتحاد [شنس-كنترولّد], [غرتر] نيل [بتروليوم] [أبرتينغ كمبني].
[جم] قال [أت ث تيم] أنّ تلقّى الشركة صينيّة واحدة أسبوع أن يترك سودان.
يقدّم 200,000 قد مات الناس أثناء [فوور-ند--هلف] سنون من يتنازع في [درفور], مع بعيد اثنان [ميلّيون بيوبل] يزاح.
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| November 24, 2007 | 6:07 PM |
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Nigeria Considers Cancelling Liberia's Debt
Related to country: United States
available in: (original) | | | | | | | | |
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Nigerian President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua is soliciting the support of the legislative arm; the National Assembly, to cancel 13 million dollars out of the 48 million dollars Liberia owed Nigeria.
In the request to a plenary session of the Senate, President Yar'Adua said that the proposed debt cancellation would be Nigeria's contribution toward Liberia's debt arrears clearance process.
The president explained that the Federal Executive Council endorsed the proposal at its meeting on Monday, saying that the amount would cover Nigeria's existing commitment, estimated at 10.6 million dollars, under a three-way burden sharing arrangement worked out by Liberia's development partners.
Source Of Funding
The Nigerian president said that the debt relief would be financed from a grant drawn out of the recycled net income earned by the Nigeria Trust Fund, NTF since inception. The fund was set up by Nigeria in 1976 under the ADB management to assist poor African countries with soft loans towards meeting their developmental needs.
In his words, “It will not require appropriation from the Consolidated Revenue Fund…In this regard, the legal provision establishing the NTF allows for the retention of income earned for use as part of the fund.”
Motivation
The debt relief was part of a broader initiative by the international community to assist Liberia to clear its huge debt arrears to the World Bank, the IMF and the ADB. Liberia owed the ADB 249 million dollars out of which 48 million dollars represented loans refinanced through the Nigeria Trust Fund window.
Since the inception of this present government on May 29, the Liberian government has made several passionate pleas to Nigeria to cancel its debts and to help secure debt relief from other creditors.
In the words of president Yar’Adua, “Liberia's debt burden currently constitutes an impediment to the country's economic recovery and reconstruction efforts, which are needed to secure durable peace….There is a potential risk of Liberia sliding back into anarchy if progress is not made in achieving sustainable economic development, which will
undermine our previous efforts.”
He said that an additional justification was the need to bolster Nigeria's foreign policy and strategic objectives of achieving peace and stability in the West African region.
Le Nigéria considère décommander la dette du Libéria
Automatically translated into French thanks to WorldLingo
Le Président nigérien Umaru Musa Yar'Adua sollicite l'appui du bras législatif ; l'Assemblée nationale, pour décommander 13 millions de dollars hors de 48 millions de dollars de Libéria a dû le Nigéria.
Dans la demande à une session plénière du sénat, le Président Yar'Adua a déclaré que l'annulation de dette proposée serait la contribution du Nigéria vers le processus de dégagement d'arriérés de la dette du Libéria.
Le président a expliqué que le Conseil exécutif fédéral a approuvé la proposition lors de sa réunion lundi, énonciation que la quantité couvrirait l'engagement existant du Nigéria, estimé à 10.6 millions de dollars, sous un fardeau à trois voies partageant l'arrangement établi par les associés du développement du Libéria.
Les ressources
le président nigérien ont indiqué que la réduction de créance serait financée d'une concession dessinée hors du revenu net réutilisé gagné par le fonds en fidéicommis du Nigéria, NTF depuis le commencement. Les fonds ont été établis par le Nigéria dans 1976 sous la gestion d'ADB pour aider les pays africains pauvres avec des prêts souples vers satisfaire leurs besoins développementaux.
Dans ses mots, le de d'â qu'il n'exigera pas l'appropriation du ¦In consolidé de de Fundâ de revenu ce respect, la disposition légale établissant le NTF tient compte de la conservation du revenu a gagné pour l'usage en tant qu'élément de la motivation de de
de fund.â
la réduction de créance faisait partie d'une plus large initiative par la communauté internationale pour aider le Libéria à l'espace libre ses arriérés énormes de dette à la banque mondiale, du FMI et de l'ADB. Le Libéria a dû à l'ADB 249 millions de dollars hors dont 48 millions de dollars ont représenté des prêts refinancés par la fenêtre de fonds en fidéicommis du Nigéria.
Depuis le commencement de ce gouvernement actuel le 29 mai, le gouvernement libérien a fait plusieurs réclamations passionnées au Nigéria pour décommander ses dettes et pour aider la réduction de créance bloquée d'autres créanciers.
Dans les mots du Adua de du Président Yarâ, l'endettement du Libéria de de d'â constitue actuellement un empêchement aux efforts du rétablissement économique et de la reconstruction du pays, qui sont nécessaires pour fixer le durable ¦.There de peaceâ sont un risque potentiel du Libéria glissant de nouveau dans l'anarchie si le progrès n'est pas accompli en réalisant le développement économique soutenable, qui
minera notre précédent de d'efforts.â qu'
il a dit qu'une justification additionnelle était la nécessité de soutenir la politique étrangère et les objectifs stratégiques du Nigéria de réaliser la paix et la stabilité dans la région africaine occidentale.
Nigeria considera el cancelar de la deuda de Liberia
Automatically translated into Spanish thanks to WorldLingo
Presidente nigeriano Umaru Musa Yar'Adua está solicitando la ayuda del brazo legislativo; la asamblea nacional, cancelar 13 millones de dólares fuera de 48 millones de dólares de Liberia debió Nigeria.
En la petición a una sesión plenaria del senado, presidente Yar'Adua dijo que la cancelación de deuda propuesta sería contribución de Nigeria hacia el proceso de la separación de los atrasos de la deuda de Liberia.
El presidente explicó que el consejo ejecutivo federal endosó la oferta en su reunión el lunes, refrán que la cantidad cubriría la comisión existente de Nigeria, estimada en 10.6 millones de dólares, bajo carga de tres vías que compartía el arreglo resuelto por los socios del desarrollo de Liberia.
La fuente de financiar
al presidente nigeriano dijo que la relevación de deuda sería financiada de una concesión dibujada de la renta neta reciclada ganada por la fondo fiduciaria de Nigeria, NTF desde el inicio. El fondo fue instalado por Nigeria en 1976 bajo gerencia de ADB para asistir a países africanos pobres con préstamos suaves hacia resolver sus necesidades de desarrollo.
En sus palabras, el del del â que no requerirá la apropiación del ¦In consolidado del de Fundâ del rédito este respeto, la disposición legal que establece el NTF permite la retención de la renta ganó para el uso como parte de la motivación del del
de fund.â
la relevación de deuda era parte de una iniciativa más amplia de la comunidad internacional para asistir a Liberia al claro sus atrasos enormes de la deuda al banco mundial, del FMI y del ADB. Liberia debió a ADB 249 millones de dólares fuera de los cuales 48 millones de dólares representaron los préstamos financiados de nuevo a través de la ventana de la fondo fiduciaria de Nigeria.
Desde el inicio de este actual gobierno el 29 de mayo, el gobierno liberiano ha hecho varias súplicas apasionadas a Nigeria para cancelar sus deudas y para ayudar a la relevación de deuda segura de otros acreedores.
En las palabras del Adua del de presidente Yarâ, la deuda de Liberia del del del â constituye actualmente un impedimiento a los esfuerzos de la recuperación económica y de la reconstrucción del país, que son necesarios asegurar el durable ¦.There del peaceâ son un riesgo potencial de Liberia que resbala nuevamente dentro de anarquía si el progreso no se hace en la realización del desarrollo económico sostenible, que
minará nuestro anterior del de efforts.â que
él dijo que una justificación adicional era la necesidad de alentar la política extranjera y los objetivos estratégicos de Nigeria de alcanzar paz y estabilidad en la región africana del oeste.
La Nigeria studia la possibilità di annullare il debito della Liberia
Automatically translated into Italian thanks to WorldLingo
Il presidente nigeriano Umaru Musa Yar'Adua sta sollecitando il supporto del braccio legislativo; l'Assemblea nazionale, annullare 13 milione dollari dai 48 milione dollari de Liberia ha dovuto la Nigeria.
Nella richiesta ad una seduta plenaria del senato, il presidente Yar'Adua ha dichiarato che l'annullamento di debito proposto sarebbe contributo della Nigeria verso il processo di spazio di arretrati di debito della Liberia.
Il presidente ha spiegato che il Consiglio esecutivo federale ha approvato la proposta alla relativa riunione il lunedì, detto che l'importo riguarderebbe l'impegno attuale della Nigeria, valutato a 10.6 milione dollari, sotto una difficoltà a tre vie che ripartisce la disposizione risolta dai soci di sviluppo della Liberia.
La fonte di costituire un fondo per
il presidente nigeriano ha detto che il rilievo di debito sarebbe finanziato da una concessione disegnata dal reddito netto riciclato guadagnato dal fondo fiduciario della Nigeria, NTF da inizio. Il fondo monetario è stato installato dalla Nigeria in 1976 sotto l'amministrazione di ADB per aiutare i poveri paesi africani con i prestiti preferenziali verso soddisfare le loro esigenze inerenti allo sviluppo.
Nelle sue parole, il che del del â non richiederà l'appropriazione dal ¦In consolidato del di Fundâ del reddito questo riguardo, la disposizione legale che stabilisce il NTF tiene conto il ritegno di reddito ha guadagnato per uso come componente della motivazione del del
di fund.â
il rilievo di debito faceva parte di più vasta iniziativa dalla Comunità internazionale per aiutare la Liberia alla radura i relativi arretrati enormi di debito alla banca del mondo, del FMI (fondo monetario internazionale) e del ADB. La Liberia ha dovuto al ADB 249 milione dollari da cui 48 milione dollari hanno rappresentato i prestiti rifinanziati attraverso la finestra del fondo fiduciario della Nigeria.
Dall'inizio di questo governo attuale il 29 maggio, il governo liberiano ha fatto parecchie richieste appassionate in Nigeria per annullare i relativi debiti e per aiutare il rilievo di debito sicuro da altri creditori.
Nelle parole del Adua del del presidente Yarâ, di indebitamento della Liberia del del del â attualmente costituisce un impedimento agli sforzi di miglioramento della situazione economica e di ricostruzione del paese, che sono necessari assicurare il durevole ¦.There del peaceâ sono un rischio potenziale de Liberia che fa scorrere nuovamente dentro anarchy se i progressi non sono non realizzare nel realizzare lo sviluppo economico sostenibile, che
insidierà il nostro che precedente del di efforts.â
ha detto che una giustificazione supplementare era la necessità di sostenere la politica straniera e gli obiettivi strategici della Nigeria di realizzare la pace e la stabilità nella regione africana ad ovest.
Nigeria erwägt, Schuld Liberias zu annullieren
Automatically translated into German thanks to WorldLingo
Nigerischer Präsident Umaru Musa Yar'Adua erbittet die Unterstützung des gesetzgebenden Armes; die Nationalversammlung, 13 Million Dollar aus den 48 Million Dollar heraus Liberia zu annullieren verdankte Nigeria.
Im Antrag zu einer Plenarsitzung des Senats, sagte Präsident Yar'Adua, daß die vorgeschlagene Ablösung einer Verbindlichkeit Beitrag Nigerias in Richtung zum Schuldrückstände Abstand Prozeß Liberias sein würde.
Der Präsident erklärte, daß der Bundesexecutivrat den Antrag bei seiner Sitzung am Montag indossierte, Saying, daß die Menge Nigerias die vorhandene Verpflichtung umfassen würde, geschätzt bei 10.6 Million Dollar, unter einer Dreiwegebelastung, welche die Anordnung teilt, die von den Partnern Entwicklung Liberias ausgearbeitet wurde.
Quelle der Finanzierung
des nigerischen Präsidenten sagte, daß die Konzessionen an Schuldner von einer Bewilligung finanziert würden, die aus dem aufbereiteten Reineinkommen heraus gezeichnet wurde, das durch die Nigeria Vertrauen Kapital erworben wurde, NTF seit Gründung. Die Kapital wurde durch Nigeria in 1976 unter dem ADB Management aufgestellt, um schlechte afrikanische Länder mit zinsverbilligten Krediten an Entwicklungsländer in Richtung zum Erfüllen ihrer Entwicklungsbedürfnisse zu unterstützen.
In seinen Wörtern läßt â , das es nicht Bestimmung vom vereinigten Einkommen Fundâ ¦In dieser Respekt, die gesetzliche Bestimmung erfordert, die das NTF herstellt, das Zurückhalten des Einkommens erwarb für Gebrauch als Teil des fund.â
Beweggrundes
die Konzessionen an Schuldner ein Teil einer ausgedehnteren Initiative durch die internationale Gemeinschaft waren, zum von Liberia zum freien Raum seine sehr großen Schuldrückstände zur Weltbank zu unterstützen, des IWF und des ADB zu. Liberia verdankte dem ADB 249 Million Dollar, aus denen heraus 48 Million Dollar die Darlehen darstellten, die durch das Nigeria Vertrauen Kapital Fenster neu finanziert wurden.
Seit der Gründung dieser anwesenden Regierung am 29. Mai, hat die liberianische Regierung einige leidenschaftliche Vorwände nach Nigeria seine Schulden annullieren und sicheren Konzessionen an Schuldner von anderen Gläubigern helfen gelassen.
In den Wörtern von Präsident Yarâ Adua, setzt Schuldenlast â Liberias z.Z. eine Behinderung zu den Wirtschaftsaufschwung- und Rekonstruktionbemühungen des Landes fest, die erforderlich sind, haltbares peaceâ ¦.There zu sichern ist eine mögliche Gefahr von Liberia schiebend zurück in Anarchie, wenn Fortschritt nicht gebildet wird, wenn man stützbare ökonomische Entwicklung erzielt, die
unser vorhergehendes efforts.â untergräbt, das,
er sagte, daß eine zusätzliche Rechtfertigung die Notwendigkeit war, Nigerias fremde Politik und strategische Zielsetzungen des Erzielens des Friedens und der Stabilität in der afrikanischen Westregion zu polstern.
Nigéria considera cancelar o débito de Liberia
Automatically translated into Portuguese thanks to WorldLingo
O presidente Nigerian Umaru Musa Yar'Adua soliciting a sustentação do braço legislativo; o conjunto nacional, para cancelar 13 milhão dólares fora dos 48 milhão dólares de Liberia deveu Nigéria.
No pedido a uma sessão plenary do Senate, o presidente Yar'Adua disse que o cancelamento de débito proposto seria contribuição de Nigéria para o processo do afastamento dos atrasos do débito de Liberia.
O presidente explicou que o conselho executivo federal endossou a proposta em sua reunião sobre segunda-feira, provérbio que a quantidade cobriria compromisso existente de Nigéria, estimado em 10.6 milhão dólares, sob um burden three-way que compartilha do arranjo trabalhado para fora por sócios do desenvolvimento de Liberia.
A fonte de financiar
o presidente Nigerian disse que o relevo de débito estaria financiado de uma concessão extraída fora da renda líquida recycled ganha pelo fundo de confiança de Nigéria, NTF desde o inception. O fundo foi ajustado acima por Nigéria em 1976 sob a gerência de ADB para ajudar a países africanos pobres com empréstimos macios para o encontro de suas necessidades developmental.
Em suas palavras, o que do do â não requererá a apropriação do ¦In consolidado do de Fundâ do rendimento esta consideração, a provisão legal que estabelece o NTF permite a retenção da renda ganhou para o uso como parte do Motivation do do
de fund.â
o relevo de débito era parte de uma iniciativa mais larga pela comunidade internacional para ajudar a Liberia ao espaço livre seus atrasos enormes do débito ao banco de mundo, do IMF e do ADB. Liberia deveu ao ADB 249 milhão dólares fora de que 48 milhão dólares representaram os empréstimos refinanced através da janela do fundo de confiança de Nigéria.
Desde o inception deste governo atual maio em 29, o governo Liberian fêz diversos pleas passionate a Nigéria para cancelar seus débitos e para ajudar ao relevo de débito seguro de outros credores.
Nas palavras do Adua do do presidente Yarâ, o burden de débito de Liberia do do do â constitui atualmente um impediment aos esforços da recuperação econômica e do reconstruction do país, que são needed fixar o durável ¦.There do peaceâ são um risco potencial de Liberia que desliza para trás em anarchy se o progresso não for feito em conseguir o desenvolvimento econômico sustainable, que
undermine nosso que precedente do de efforts.â
disse que uma justificação adicional era a necessidade bolster a política extrangeira e objetivos estratégicos de Nigéria de conseguir a paz e a estabilidade na região africana ocidental.
Nigeria betraktar att avbryta Liberia skuld
Automatically translated into Swedish thanks to WorldLingo
Den nigerianska presidenten Umaru Musa Yar'Adua soliciting servicen av den lagstiftnings- beväpnar; nationalförsamlingen, att avbryta 13 miljon dollar ut ur de 48 miljon dollarna Liberia varade skyldig Nigeria.
I förfråganen till en plenarsammanträde av senaten sade presidenten Yar'Adua att föreslagna den skulle skuldannulleringen är Nigeria bidrag in mot Liberia processaa rensning för skuldresterande skulder.
Presidenten förklarade, att det federala utöva rådet signerade förslag på dess möte på Måndag, ordstävet, att det skulle beloppet täcker Nigeria existerande förpliktelse, beräknad på 10.6 miljon dollar, under en trevägsbörda som delar ordningen som ut fungerades av Liberia utveckling blir partner med.
Källan av att betala
den nigerianska presidenten sade att skuldlättnaden skulle finansieras från ett lån som drogs ut ur den återanvända nettoinkomsten som tjänades av den Nigeria bundna medel, NTF efter inception. Fonden var fastställd upp vid Nigeria i 1976 under ADB-ledningen att hjälpa fattiga afrikanska länder med mjuka lån in mot möte av deras utvecklings- behov.
I his uttrycker, â som den ska för att inte kräva anslag från den konsoliderade ¦Inen för intäktFundâ detta hänseende, den lagliga bestämmelsen som upprättar NTFEN, låter för kvarhållandet av inkomst som tjänas för bruk, som delen av motivationen för fund.â-
skuldlättnaden var delen av en mer bred insats av internationellt samfund att hjälpa Liberia för att göra klar dess enorma skuldresterande skulder till världsbankenen, IMFEN och ADBEN. Liberia varade skyldig ADBEN 249 miljon dollar som 48 miljon dollar föreställde ut ur lån refinanced till och med det Nigeria bundna medelfönstret.
Sedan inceptionen av denna närvarande regering på maj 29, den liberianska regeringen har gjort flera passionerade vädjanar till Nigeria för att avbryta dess skulder och för att hjälpa säker skuldlättnad från andra fordringsägarear.
I uttrycker av Adua för presidentYarâ , Liberia för â utgör börda för skuld för närvarande ett hindrar till landets ekonomisk återhämtning, och rekonstruktionförsök, som är nödvändiga att säkra hållbar peaceâ ¦.There, är ett potentiellt riskerar av Liberia som tillbaka glider in i anarki, om framsteg inte göras, i att uppnå hållbar ekonomisk utveckling, som ska
underminerar vår föregående efforts.â- som,
han sade att en extra motivering var behovet att stödja Nigeria utrikespolitik och strategiska mål av att uppnå fred och stabilitet i den västra afrikanska regionen.
Нигерия рассматривает отменить задолженность Либерии
Automatically translated into Russian thanks to WorldLingo
Нигерийский президент Umaru Musa Yar'Adua ходатайствует поддержкой законодательной рукоятки; общенациональная ассамблея, отменить 13 миллиона доллары из 48 миллионов долларов Либерии задолжала Нигерии.
В запросе к пленарной встрече сената, президент Yar'Adua сказал что предложенная отмена задолженности направит к вкладом Нигерии к процессу зазора недоимок задолженности Либерии.
Президент объяснил что федеральное исполнительный совет завизировало предложение на своей встрече на понедельнике, высказывание что количество покроет принятие окончательного решения Нигерии existing, оцененное на 10.6 миллиона долларах, под формула долевого раздела трехходовой тяготы разработанным соучастниками развития Либерии.
Источнико финансирования
нигерийский президент сказало что частичное списание задолженности будет профинансировано от дара нарисованного из рециркулированного чистого дохода заработанного целевым фондом Нигерии, NTF с inception. Фонд был установлен вверх Нигерией в 1976 под управлением ADB для помощи плохих африканских стран с льготными займами к отвечать их отработочные потребностямы.
В его словах, â, котор оно не будет требовать ассигнования от консолидированного ¦In Fundâ дохода это отношение, законное обеспечение устанавливая NTF позволяет удерживание дохода заработало для пользы как часть мотивировки
fund.â
частичным списанием задолженности была часть более обширной инициативы сообществ для помощи Либерии к ясности свои огромные недоимки задолженности к Всемирному Банку, IMF и ADB. Либерия задолжала ADB 249 миллионов долларам из 48 миллионов доллары представили займы перефинансированные через окно целевого фонда Нигерии.
С inception этого присытствыющего правительства 29-ого мая, либерийское правительство делало несколько запальчиво мольб к Нигерии для того чтобы отменить свои задолженности и помочь безопасное частичное списание задолженности от других заимодавцев.
В словах Adua президента Yarâ, долгового бремя Либерии â в настоящее время образовывает impediment к усилиями фазы оживления в экономическом цикле и реконструкции страны, которые будут необходимое безопасное прочное ¦.There peaceâ будут потенциальный риск Либерии сползая back into anarchy если прогресс не сделан в достигать sustainable экономическое развития, то который
заминирует наше ранее efforts.â, котор
он сказал что дополнительным объяснением была потребность подпиреть международную политику и стратегические задачи валиком Нигерии достигать мира и стабилности в западной африканской зоне.
Nigeria denkt na annulerend de Schuld van Liberia
Automatically translated into Dutch thanks to WorldLingo
Nigeriaanse President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua verzoekt de steun van het wetgevende wapen; de nationale Assemblage, om 13 miljoen dollar uit het 48 miljoen dollar Liberia te annuleren was Nigeria verschuldigd.
In het verzoek aan een plenaire zitting van de Senaat, zei President Yar'Adua dat de voorgestelde schuldannulering de bijdrage van Nigeria naar van de schuldschuldvorderingen van Liberia de ontruimingsproces zou zijn.
De voorzitter verklaarde dat de Federale Uitvoerende Raad het voorstel op zijn vergadering die op Maandag onderschreef zegt, dat het bedrag de bestaande verplichting van Nigeria zou behandelen, geschat op 10.6 miljoen dollar, onder een last met drie richtingen delend regeling die door de ontwikkelingspartners van Liberia wordt uitgewerkt.
De bron van de Financiering van
de Nigeriaanse voorzitter zei dat de schuldhulp van een toelage worden gefinancierd die uit het gerecycleerde netto inkomen wordt getrokken dat door de Toevertrouwde gelden van Nigeria, NTF sinds aanvang wordt verdiend. Het fonds werd opgezet door Nigeria in 1976 onder het ADB beheer om arme Afrikaanse landen met zachte leningen bij te staan naar het voldoen aan van hun ontwikkelingsbehoeften.
In zijn woorden, â het geen krediet van de Geconsolideerde Opbrengst Fundâ ¦ in dit verband zal vereisen, staat de wettelijke voorziening die NTF bepaalt voor het behoud van inkomen toe dat voor gebruik als deel van de Motivatie fund.â wordt verdiend
de schuldhulp deel van een breder initiatief door de internationale gemeenschap uitmaakte om Liberia bij te staan om zijn reusachtige schuldschuldvorderingen aan de Wereldbank, het IMF en ADB te ontruimen. Liberia was ADB 249 miljoen dollar verschuldigd waaruit 48 miljoen dollar leningen vertegenwoordigde die door het venster van de Toevertrouwde gelden van Nigeria Worden geherfinancierd.
Sinds de aanvang van deze huidige overheid op 29 Mei, heeft de Liberiaanse overheid tot verscheidene hartstochtelijke pleidooien aan Nigeria gemaakt om zijn schulden te annuleren en veilige schuldhulp van andere crediteuren te helpen.
In de woorden van voorzitter Yarâ Adua, vormt de â Liberia schuldenlast momenteel een beletsel aan de herstel en de wederopbouwinspanningen van het land het economische, die nodig om duurzame zijn te beveiligen peaceâ ¦.There een potentieel risico van Liberia dat terug in anarchy glijdt is als vooruitgang niet in het bereiken van duurzame economische ontwikkeling wordt geboekt, die
onze vorige efforts.â zal ondermijnen
hij zei dat een extra rechtvaardiging de behoefte was om de strategische doelstellingen te ondersteunen van Nigeria het buitenlandse beleid en om vrede en stabiliteit in het West- Afrikaanse gebied te bereiken.
نيجيريا يعتبر يلغي ليبيريا دين
Automatically translated into Arabic thanks to WorldLingo
يقصد رئيس نيجيريّة [أومرو] [موسا] [ير'دوا] الدعم من السلاح تشريعيّة; استدان الاجتماع وطنيّة, أن يلغي 13 مليون دولارات من ال 48 مليون دولارات ليبيريا نيجيريا.
في الطلب إلى [بلنري سسّيون] من المجلس الشيوخ, قال رئيس [ير'دوا] أنّ ال يقترح [دبت كنسلّأيشن] كان نيجيريا مساهمة نحو ليبيريا دين متأخّرات إجازة عملية.
فسّر الرئيس أنّ المجلس فيديراليّة تنفيذيّة ظهر الاقتراح في اجتماعه في يوم الإثنين, مثل أنّ المبلغة غطّى نيجيريا تعهد موجودة, يقدّم في 10.6 مليون دولارات, تحت حمل [ثري-وي] يشارك ترتيب يتطوّر بليبيريا تطوير شريكات.
قال [سورس وف فوند] الرئيس نيجيريّة أنّ ال [دبت رليف] كنت موّلت من منحة يسحب من ال يعاد [نت ينكم] يكسب بنيجيريا ثقة مال, [نتف] منذ بداية. ثبتت المال كان فوق بنيجيريا في 1976 تحت ال [أدب] إدارة أن يساعد [أفريكن كونتري] فقيرة مع [سفت لوأن] نحو يلتقي حاجاتهم تطوّريّة.
في كلماته, يسمح هو لن يتطلّب مخصص من ال يعزّز إيراد [فوند] [إين] هذا إحترام, ال [لغل بروفيسون] يؤسّس ال [نتف] للاحتجاز الدخل يكسب لإستعمال كجزء ال [فوند.]
تحريض
ال [دبت رليف] كان جزء من مبادرة واسعة بالالمجتمع الدولي أن يساعد ليبيريا إلى فسحته ضخمة دين متأخّرات إلى ال [وورلد بنك], الصندوق النقد الدوليّ وال [أدب]. ليبيريا استدان ال [أدب] 249 مليون دولارات من أيّ 48 مليون دولارات مثّلوا قروض يعاد من خلال نيجيريا ثقة مال نافذة.
منذ البداية من هذا حكومة حاضرة في شهر ماي 29, قد جعل الحكومة ليبيرية عدّة حجات جموحة إلى نيجيريا أن يلغي أديانه وأن يساعد يؤمّن [دبت رليف] من أخرى دائنات.
في الكلمات من رئيس [ير] [أدوا], ليبيريا يمثّل [دبت بوردن] حاليّا عائقة إلى البلد انتعاش اقتصاديّ وإعادة إنشاء جهود, أيّ يكون لازمة أن يؤمّن متحمّلة [بس] [.ثر] يكون خطر ممكنة ليبيريا ينزلق [بك ينتو] [أنرك] إن تقدم يكون لا يجعل في يحقّق تطور اقتصادي قابل للمحافظة, أيّ سيضعف نا سابقة [إفّورتس.]
هو قال أنّ تبرير إضافيّة كان الحاجة أن يدعم نيجيريا سياسة خارجيّة وأهداف استراتيجيّة من يحقّق سلام واستقرار في المنطقة غربيّة [أفريكن].
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| November 21, 2007 | 7:32 PM |
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McClellan blames Bush for CIA leak deceit
Related to country: United States
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Former spokesman says both president and vice president involved
WASHINGTON - Former White House press secretary Scott McClellan blames President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney for efforts to mislead the public about the role of White House aides in leaking the identity of a CIA operative.
In an excerpt from his forthcoming book, McClellan recount the 2003 news conference in which he told reporters that aides Karl Rove and I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby were "not involved" in the leak involving operative Valerie Plame.
"There was one problem. It was not true," McClellan writes, according to a brief excerpt released Monday. "I had unknowingly passed along false information. And five of the highest-ranking officials in the administration were involved in my doing so: Rove, Libby, the vice president, the president's chief of staff and the president himself."
Blâme Bush de McClellan pour la duperie de fuite de CIA
Automatically translated into French thanks to WorldLingo
L'ancien porte-parole dit le président et WASHINGTON impliqué
par vice-président - l'ancien Président Bush de blâme de Scott McClellan de secrétaire de pression de la Maison Blanche et vice-président Dick Cheney pour que les efforts trompent le public au sujet du rôle des aides de la Maison Blanche en fuyant l'identité d'un employé de CIA.
Dans un extrait de son prochain livre, recompte de McClellan la conférence de 2003 nouvelles dans laquelle il a dit des journalistes que les aides Karl Rove et I. Lewis « scooter » Libby étaient « non impliqué » dans la fuite faisant participer Valerie opératif Plame.
« Il y avait un problème. Il n'était pas vrai, « McClellan écrit, selon un bref extrait libéré lundi. « J'avais unknowingly passé le long de l'information fausse. Et cinq des fonctionnaires de haut-rang dans l'administration ont été impliqués dans mon faire ainsi : Mèche, Libby, le vice-président, le chef du président du personnel et le président lui-même. «
McClellan culpa Bush por engan@o del escape de la Cia
Automatically translated into Spanish thanks to WorldLingo
El portavoz anterior dice el presidente y WASHINGTON implicado
vice presidente - presidente blanco anterior Bush de las culpas de Scott McClellan de la secretaria de prensa de la casa y vice presidente Dick Cheney para que los esfuerzos engañen a público sobre el papel de los ayudantes blancos de la casa en escaparse la identidad de un operario de la Cia.
En un extracto de su libro próximo, recuento de McClellan la conferencia de 2003 noticias en la cual él dijo a reporteros que los ayudantes Karl Rove e I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby estaba “no implicado” en el escape que implicaba a Valerie operativo Plame.
“Había un problema. No era verdad, “McClellan escribe, según un breve extracto lanzado lunes. “Unknowingly había pasado a lo largo de la información falsa. Y cinco de los funcionarios de la alto-graduación en la administración estuvieron implicados en mi hacer tan: Rove, Libby, el vice presidente, el jefe de personal del presidente y el presidente mismo. “
McClellan incolpa di Bush la frode della perdita di CIA
Automatically translated into Italian thanks to WorldLingo
L'ex portavoce dice sia il presidente che WASHINGTON coinvolgere
vice presidente - l'ex presidente Bush di colpe di Scott McClellan della segretaria di pressa della Casa Bianca ed il vice presidente Dick Cheney affinchè gli sforzi fuorvii il pubblico circa il ruolo degli aiutanti della Casa Bianca nella fuoriuscita dell'identità di un operatore di CIA.
In un brano dal suo prossimo libro, conteggio di McClellan il congresso di 2003 notizie in cui ha detto ai reporter che aiutanti Karl Rove ed I. Lewis “Scooter„ Libby era “non implicato„ nella perdita che fa partecipare Valerie attivo Plame.
“Ci era un problema. Non era allineare, “McClellan scrive, secondo un breve brano liberato lunedì. “Unknowingly avevo passato lungo le informazioni false. E cinque dei funzionari di alto-posto nella gestione sono stati coinvolti nel mio fare così: Stoppino, Libby, il vice presidente, il capo del personale del presidente ed il presidente egli stesso. “
McClellan tadelt Bush für CIA Leckstelle Betrug
Automatically translated into German thanks to WorldLingo
Ehemaliger Wortführer sagt Präsidenten und Vizepräsident mit einbezogenes
WASHINGTON - ehemaliger HausPressesekretär Scott McClellan Schulden Präsident Bush und Vizepräsidenten Dick Cheney, damit Bemühungen die öffentlichkeit über die Rolle der Hausadjutanten irreführen, wenn er die Identität eines CIA Arbeiters ausläuft.
In einem Excerpt von seinem bevorstehenden Buch, McClellan Nachzählung die 2003 Nachrichten Konferenz, in der er Reportern daß Adjutanten Karl Rove und I. erklärte. Lewis „Scooter“ Libby waren in der Leckstelle „nicht beteiligt“, die wirksamen Valerie Plame mit einbezieht.
„Es gab ein Problem. Es war nicht, „McClellan schreibt zutreffend, entsprechend einem kurzen freigegebenen Excerpt Montag. „Ich hatte unknowingly entlang falsche Informationen überschritten. Und fünf der Hochklassifizierung Beamten in der Leitung wurden in meinem so tun miteinbezogen: Strähne, Libby, der Vizepräsident, der Stabschef des Präsidenten und der Präsident selbst. „
McClellan responsabiliza Bush pelo deceit do escape do CIA
Automatically translated into Portuguese thanks to WorldLingo
O spokesman anterior diz o presidente e WASHINGTON envolvido
vice-presidente - presidente branco anterior Bush das culpas de Scott McClellan da secretária de imprensa da casa e vice-presidente Dick Cheney para que os esforços mislead o público sobre o papel dos aides brancos da casa em escapar a identidade de um operative do CIA.
Em um excerpt de seu livro forthcoming, recount de McClellan a conferência de 2003 notícias em que disse repórteres que os aides Karl Rove e I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby era “nao involvido” no escape que envolve Valerie operativo Plame.
“Havia um problema. Não era verdadeiro, “McClellan escreve, de acordo com um excerpt breve liberado segunda-feira. “Eu tinha passado unknowingly ao longo da informação falsa. E cinco dos oficiais do elevado-ranking na administração foram envolvidos em meu fazer assim: Rove, Libby, o vice-presidente, o chefe dos empregados do presidente e o presidente ele mesmo. “
McClellan klander Bush för CIA läcker bedrägeri
Automatically translated into Swedish thanks to WorldLingo
Tidigare talesmannågot att sägabåde president och vicepresident involverade
WASHINGTON - den tidigare Vita huspressekreteraren Scott McClellan klandrar presidentbusken och vicepresidentet Dick Cheney för att försök ska vilseleda allmänheten om rollen av Vita husmedhjälparear, i att läcka identiteten av en CIA-arbetare.
I ett utdrag från hans kommande boka, den McClellan omräkningen nyheternakonferensen 2003 som han berättade i reporter att den medhjälpareKarl roven och I. Lewis ”sparkcykeln” Libby var ”inte involverad” i läcka som gäller operativa Valerie Plame.
”Fanns det ett problem. Det var inte riktigt, ”McClellan skriver, enligt ett kort utdrag utsläppt Måndag. ”Hade jag unknowingly unknowingly passerat längs falsk information. Och fem av hög-rangen representanterna i administrationen var involverade i mitt göra så: Rove, Libby, den själva vicepresidentet, president stabschef och presidenten. ”,
McClellan обвиняет кустик для deceit утечки C I A
Automatically translated into Russian thanks to WorldLingo
Бывший оратор говорит и президенту и недостатку - президенту, котор включили
ВАШИНГТОН - бывший президент Кустик поричаний Scott McClellan пресс-секретаря Белого дома и недостатку - президенту Dickу Cheney для усилий ввести публику в заблуждение о роли помощников Белого дома в протекать тождественность механика C I A.
В выдержке от его будущей книги, recount McClellan конференция 2003 новостей в котором он сказал репортеров что Rove Карл помощников и I. Левис «Scooter» Libby было «involved» в утечке включая оперативное Валерия Plame.
«Была одна проблема. Оно не было поистине, «McClellan пишет, согласно кратко выдержке выпущенной понедельник. «Я unknowingly прошел вдоль ложной информации. И 5 из должностных лиц высок-ранжировки в администрации включились в мой делать так: Rove, Libby, недостаток - президент, начальник штаба президента себя и президент. «
De schuld Bush van McClellan voor het lekmisleiding van de CIA
Automatically translated into Dutch thanks to WorldLingo
De vroegere woordvoerder zegt zowel voorzitter als ondervoorzitter impliceerde
WASHINGTON - de Vroegere van de de perssecretaresse van het Witte Huis schuld van Scott McClellan President Bush en Ondervoorzitter Dick Cheney voor inspanningen om het publiek over de rol van de assistenten te misleiden van het Witte Huis in het lekken van de identiteit van een arbeider van de CIA.
In een uittreksel van zijn aanstaande boek, verhaalt McClellan de 2003 nieuwsconferentie waarin hij verslaggevers die assistenten Karl Rove en I. vertelde. Lewis „Scooter“ Libby was betrokken „niet“ bij het lek implicerend doeltreffende Valerie Plame.
„Er was één probleem. Het was niet waar, „McClellan schrijft, volgens een korte uittreksel vrijgegeven Maandag. „Ik had unknowingly langs valse informatie overgegaan. En vijf van de hoog-rangschikt ambtenaren in het beleid werden geïmpliceerd in mijn het doen dit: Lont, Libby, de ondervoorzitter, de leider van de voorzitter van personeel en de voorzitter zelf. „
[مكّللّن] يلوم بوش لوكالة المخابرات الأمريكيّة تسرب خداع
Automatically translated into Arabic thanks to WorldLingo
يقول ناطق بلسان سابقة على حدّ سواء رئيس ونائب رئيس يتضمّن
واشنطن - سابقة البيت الأبيض أمين شؤون الصحافة سكوت [مكّللّن] ألواح رئيس بوش و [فيس-برسدنت] ديك [شني] لجهود أن يضلّل الجمهور حول الدور من البيت الأبيض مساعدات في يتسرّب الهوية من وكالة المخابرات الأمريكيّة عميلة.
في مقتطف من كتابه وشيكة, [مكّللّن] تعداد ثان ال 2003 أخبار مؤتمر في أيّ هو قال مراسلات أنّ مساعدات [كرل] تنقل و [إي.]. كان لويس "[سكوتر]" [ليبّي] "لا متورّطة" في التسرب يتضمّن [فلري] فعّالة [بلم].
"كان هناك واحدة مشكلة. هو [ب] لم يصحّ, "[مكّللّن] يكتب, وفقا ل مقتطف موجزة يطلق يوم الإثنين. "مرّ أنا تلقّى [أوننووينغلي] على طول معلومة زائفة. وتضمّنت خمسة من ال [هيغست-رنكينغ] مسؤولات في الإدارة كان في ي يتمّ هكذا: تنقل, [ليبّي], النائب رئيس, الرئيس [شف وف ستفّ] والرئيس بنفسي. "
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| November 20, 2007 | 9:15 PM |
Kanye West's Tribute to 'Mama'
Related to country: United States
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We wish to send out special love and hopefully much comfort to all of our members today, suffering the loss of a mother. If you have loss a loved one today, thank God for the ones that are still here. Amen.
Kanye, we hope in time the pain will ease but never the loving memories, someone tell him that today. And post this message on every board possible because God allows death to make a most profound statement of fact.
That in spite of ourselves we are all still just human beings when striped of our so-called fame, fortune, status and life. Think about it!!
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| November 19, 2007 | 7:16 PM |
Gov't Killed Members of So-Called Cult
Related to country: United States
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After a 51-day standoff at the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas, federal agents conducted a raid on the facility that ended in a blaze that killed men, women and children approximately 80 members of the sect in 1993.
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| November 18, 2007 | 11:06 PM |
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Brokerage Said Bank Accounts Deemed Safe
Related to country: United States
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Jack-ass note
NEW YORK (UFJ) - E-Trade customers had some needless hand-wringing this past week, worrying about the brokerage's financial problems and whether they might jeopardize the safety of 3.7 million accounts.
The New York-based online broker told account holders their money was safe due to government protections and additional insurance. E-Trade Financial Corp. even took out a full-page advertisement in The Wall Street Journal to assuage broader fears of a collapse after its stock plunged due to the credit market turmoil.
E-Trade, like other financial institutions dealing with credit problems, faces defections as customers pull accounts without realizing that their assets are protected. Some investors have even opened accounts at other brokerage firms to spread their money around.
"Until the smoke clears, we reduced our holdings tremendously," said Steve Kaloroplos, a retired small business owner from South Carolina. "We like E-Trade, but we're just not willing to risk our money. We don't want assets tied up while there is a problem."
That scenario was confirmed by E-Trade Chief Operating Officer Jarrett Lilien, who said some clients "have moved some of their money aside."
He expects the move might be temporary - similar to investor angst during height of the market turmoil in August. And the possibility of E-Trade going bankrupt is remote.
Even in the worst-case scenario, rivals would offer to buy E-Trade's accounts, or the company would be sold entirely, before accounts suffered any problems. Experts say most investors can rest easy.
Protecting consumers is the government-backed Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., which guarantees bank accounts to at least $100,000 in cash. Meanwhile, the Securities Investor Protection Corp. protects customers of failed brokerages.
These protections came in place to prevent bank failures if customers rush to cash out of their accounts. There were long lines in front of Calabasas, Calif.-based Countrywide Financial Corp.'s bank office during the summer on concerns of a possible failure. Meanwhile, British mortgage lender Northern Rock PLC saw panicky customers withdraw billions of pounds from their accounts on similar worries.
The FDIC was created in 1933 after the U.S. faced a number of bank failures during the Great Depression. The SIPC was created in 1971 to restore funds to investors with asserts in troubled or bankrupt brokerges, but is instead backed by financial firms.
Banks and brokerages are also required to keep a certain amount of free cash on their balance sheets - or would by forced to take out more insurance, pump in more capital, or face heavy restrictions. They could also be forced out of business by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Don Montanaro, chief executive of online brokerage TradeKing, said major brokerages also take out additional insurance. His firm has a policy through Lloyds of London that would offer protection of up to $25 million per account, with $1 million of that guaranteed in cash.
"At the very worst is that the accounts get sold," he said. "The relationships have a value, and some healthy firm will come along and buy up the assets."
That's what happened to NetBank, considered one of the pioneers in online retail banking. The company was launched in 1996 and became a public company amid the dot-com frenzy in 1997.
After rapid-fire expansion between 2000 and 2004, its balance sheet came under stress as the mortgage industry began to slump. The company in 2006 attempted an unsuccessful reorganization, and was forced by the FDIC and the Office of Thrift Supervision to close down. Its deposits and businesses were acquired by the only online unit of Dutch bank ING.
Ric Edelman, a financial adviser and personal finance author, suggests customers who are worried might diversify their money into safe investments like Treasury bills until they feel more comfortable. Though he doubts a worst-case scenario, financial companies facing hardships might have temporary, short-term restrictions on emptying accounts.
"I don't believe that it's doomsday for E-Trade or anybody else for that matter," he said. "But, if you're awake at night worried about this, then just move your account someplace else."
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| November 17, 2007 | 1:29 PM |
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Former Nigeria Leaders Stole $400 Billion – UN
Related to country: Nigeria
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Former Director General of the United Nations Office in Vienna Kofi Annan and Antonio Maria Costa, right
(UFJ), About $400 billion was stolen from Nigeria and stashed away in foreign banks by past corrupt leaders before the return of democratic rule in 1999.
The executive director, Office on Drugs and Crime at the United Nations, Dr Antonio Maria Costa, stated this yesterday in Abuja, at the sixth National Seminar on Economic Crimes. The event was organised by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
This is coming as President Umaru Yar'Adua vowed to personally lead the fight against corruption, saying corruption is the greatest impediment to national growth.
Speaking at the seminar, Yar'Adua said his government would not tolerate corruption in any form.
"I vow before you this day that as president of this country, I will lead the fight against corruption. The fight against corruption is my fight," he said.
Yar'Adua called on state governors and local government chairmen to join forces with the federal government in the fight against corruption.
He said Nigerians deserve honest leadership which could only be achieved through honesty and sincerity by people in leadership positions.
"We must instil honest governance in our country," he said, adding that corruption had remained the greatest obstacle to national growth.
"The state of our nation calls for sober assessment; the level of our poverty is a measure of our failure to optimise the use of our abundant natural resources," he added.
The president said the government would strengthen law enforcement agencies involved in the fight against corruption to enable them perform better.
He said government's efforts to broaden the country's economic base required the development of critical infrastructure to attract the required capital inflow.
Earlier, the executive director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crimes, Dr Antonio Maria Costa, said his office and the World Bank had launched an initiative for the recovery of funds stolen from developing countries.
Tagged "Stolen Assets Recovery Initiative", the programme is aimed at working with national anti-crime agencies to ensure that recovered funds are put back in the system to benefit the citizenry.
Dr Costa disclosed that the former head of state, late General Sani Abacha, was estimated to have stolen the equivalent of two to three per cent of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for every year that he was president.
The executive director said that since the creation of EFCC, about $5 billion had been restrained as cash and assets valued, secured 205 convictions and effected over 400 arrests and prosecution.
He disclosed that asset recovery was a fundamental principle of the UN Convention Against Corruption, the world's only global anti-corruption instrument, and that the convention contained concrete measures to help states recover their stolen funds stashed in foreign accounts.
In his welcome address, the chairman of EFCC, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, said the fight against corruption must not only be vigorous but sustained.
He disclosed that under the secretary-general of the United Nations' office in Vienna, the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime is one of the strongest development partners implementing one of the biggest donor supports of by the European Union to the EFCC and the Nigerian judiciary.
He commended President Yar'Adua and the Chief Justice of Nigeria for their role in promoting the rule of law, good governance and accountability in the country. He also called for the support of Nigerians to join hands with the commission to promote anti-corruption values.
The three-day seminar was jointly organised by 15 federal agencies in the financial, insurance, tax and security sectors.
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| November 14, 2007 | 8:21 PM |
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UFOs?
Related to country: United States
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Jimmy Carter
" I don't laugh at people any more when they say they've seen UFOs. It was the darndest thing I've ever seen. It was big, it was very bright, it changed colors and it was about the size of the moon. We watched it for ten minutes, but none of us could figure out what it was. One thing's for sure I'll never make fun of people who say they've seen unidentified objects in the sky. If I become President, I'll make every piece of information this country has about UFO sightings available to the public and the scientists." -- At a Southern Governors Conference describing an alleged UFO sighting he had in October of 1969 to reporters while campaigning in 1976.
"I am convinced that UFOs exist because I have seen one." -- Former U.S. President, , five-time nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize.
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By Grant Cameron:
President Jimmy Carter has often been referred-to as the "UFO President" due to the fact that he publicly claimed to have had a UFO sighting prior to becoming president. Moreover, he was the only president on record to actually file a UFO sighting report related to his sighting. Thirdly, on at least one occasion while campaigning for president, Carter declared that, if elected, he would "make every piece of information this country has about UFO sightings available to the public and scientists."....
Carter’s UFO sighting began shortly after dark on a windless night. Jimmy Carter was standing outside the Lion’s Club in Leary, Georgia, waiting for a meeting to start. Suddenly, he and ten or more witnesses, sighted a red and green orb radiating in the western sky. Carter described an object that "it seemed to move towards us from a distance, stop, move partially away, return, then depart. Bluish at first; then reddish - luminous - not solid."
"At times," reported Carter, "it was as bright as the moon, and about as big as the moon - maybe a bit smaller. The object was luminous; not solid."
In an interview with the Atlanta Constitution, Carter described the moving nature of the event. He described the sighting as a "very remarkable sight." This is an important event, because many of the skeptical investigations done on the Carter sighting, have tried to paint the event as a ho-hum occurrence. None of the descriptions Carter has made of the event have ever described it as ho-hum.
Jimmy Carter’s mother Lillian also confirmed that Carter had been very impressed by what he had seen. "The UFO made a huge impression on Jimmy," she stated. "He told me about the sighting many times. He’s always been a down-to-earth no-nonsense boy, and the sighting by him, as far as I am concerned, is as firm as money in the bank."
Carter had, in fact, described the UFO sighting many times in the years since it occurred. In every instance, including the latest known telling of the story at Emory University in 1997, Carter has never backed off on the spectacular nature of the event. He has also never conceded that was he saw was some misidentification of a natural phenomena.
Carter estimated that the object was three hundred to one thousand yards away. He estimated that the event had lasted 10 minutes. Then the object disappeared. Carter was so impressed by what he had seen, he recorded his impressions of the event on a tape recorder at the time.
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| November 13, 2007 | 6:28 PM |
| November 11, 2007 | 4:15 PM |
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Federal Government Fight Ruling on Security Letters
Related to country: United States
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NEW YORK (UFJ) - The U.S. government on Monday appealed a ruling that it shouldn't be able to get personal phone, e-mail and financial records without a judge's approval, as now allowed under the USA Patriot Act.
The decision to appeal the September ruling by U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero prompted the American Civil Liberties Union to put out a release quoting the unidentified plaintiff in the lawsuit.
Identified only as the president of a small Internet service provider who has faced a gag order for more than three years, the plaintiff complained that the statutes in the act "give the government far too much power and that the secrecy surrounding the statutes is excessive."
The Patriot Act prevents Internet service providers and others from telling their customers - here or abroad, citizens or not - if the government has demanded private information from them.
The law also lets the government, by means of a so-called national security letter, or NSL, to impose gag orders that prevent the recipients of the letters from acknowledging the probes.
That provision makes "it difficult or impossible for people like me - people who have firsthand experience with the NSL statute - to discuss their specific concerns with the public, the press and Congress," the plaintiff, called John Doe by his lawyers, said in the press release.
In March, the government released a report showing the FBI issued approximately 8,500 national security letter requests in 2000, the year before the passage of the Patriot Act. The number of requests rose to 39,000 by 2003 and to 56,000 in 2004 before falling to 47,000 in 2005. Most of the requests sought telephone billing records, telephone or e-mail subscriber information or electronic communication transactional records.
"This seems to be counterintuitive to everything I assumed about this country's commitment to free speech and the value of political discourse," the plaintiff said in the release.
The judge said the NSL statute was so improper that to let it stand might turn the law into "the legislative equivalent of breaking and entering, with an ominous free pass to the hijacking of constitutional values."
The government provided notice of its appeal in a one-paragraph letter to the court and later had no comment.
Marrero stayed the effect of his ruling so it could be appealed.
He wrote that most companies and other recipients of the security letters have little or no incentive to challenge them, and only two cases have been filed in federal court.
The letters let the government unmask Internet users who speak anonymously online and obtain lists of all e-mail they send and receive, Marrero wrote.
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| November 9, 2007 | 4:31 PM |
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I NEED YOUR CO-OPERATION ON THIS PROJECT
Related to country: United States
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I am pleased to introduce a business opportunity to transfer to your overseas account the sum of(USD3.7 MILLION) United States Dollars) from one of the Prime Banks here in Dakar Senegal.I seek for your assistance to handle this important and confidential business believing that you will never let me down either now or in future.
I am Mr Siraj Diop, (Bsc,Msc) the Auditor General of one of the prime banks here in Dakar Senegal , during the course of our auditing , I discovered a floating funds in an account opened in our bank since 1982 and till date no body has operated on the account and after going through old files in the records, I discovered that the owner of the account died long ago in a plane crash along with his family without leaving a[His/WILL], hence the floating of the funds and if I do not remit this money out urgently it will be forfeited for nothing.
Therefore ,with a personal conviction of trust and confidence ,I wish to contact you as a foreigner, to stand as a relative because you share the same surname with the decease's , thus I can work out the release of the funds , No other person in the office knows about the account , please be assured of the risk free , I'm the one that will work it out , all I need is your co-operation because the account content can not be approved to an indigen here as his next of kin .
At the conclusion of this project , I need your full co-operation to make this work fine because the management is ready to approve this payment to any foreigner who has correct information of this fund, which I will give to you later , if you are able and with capability to handle such amount in strict confidence and trust according to my instructions and advice for our mutual benefit because this opportunity will never come again in my life.
I need truthful person in this business because I don't want to make mistake I need your strong assurance and trust. With my position now in the office I can transfer this money to any foreigner's reliable person, intact pending my physical arrival in your country for sharing. and I want to remind you that your share has been calculated at 35% of the total sum and 5 will map out for the transfer expenses .I waiting for your urgent reply so that I will give you more information about this transaction.
Contact me via my this e-mail: mr_sdiop001@yahoo.com
Best Regard.
Mr. Siraj Diop.
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Master Scams!!
Related to country: United States
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I Am Contacting You In Absolute Confidence That I Can Trust You.My Name Is Mr.Nelson Mansouri A Staff With Banque De L'Habitat Au Burkina Faso (Bhbf) Ouagadougou Burkina Faso.I Write To You In Respect Of A Our Client, Who Unfortunately Died Along With His Registered Heir Apparent (His Wife) And Their Entire Family In A Ship Mishap That Happened In Yantai City,Eastern China.
The Deceased Is On Tourist Vacation With His Whole Family On That Fateful Day.Your Country Of Origin Will Not Pose Any Problem To The Claim.You Dont Need To Entertained Any Atom Of Fear As The All The UnderGround Work Has Been Taking Care By Me. Before His Sudden Departure The Deceased Left A Sum Of 4.500,000.00 Euros (Four Million Five Hundred Thousand Euros).With The Banque De L'Habitat Au Burkina Faso (Bhbf).The Bank Will Soon Decleared His Assets To Go To The State Government Account.
The Bank Ethics States That The Fund Goes Into The States Government Account If Nobody Comes To Claim Said Funds After Seven (7)Years Of The Confirmation Of The Death Of The Depositor.For The Past 6 Years,All The Effort Of Our Customer Service Department To Trace Any Relative Of The Late Custormer Has Proved Abortive.
I Am Seeking For Your Help In This Matter.For Standing As The Heir Apparent Of The Deceased And Providing Your Account In Receiving This Money,You Will Be Entittled To 40 %,10% Of The Fund Will Be Used To Raise A Reputable Charity Home In Deceased Name While 5o% Is For Me.Bear In Mind That The Entire Transaction Will Be Risk Free And Legitimate Since The Funds Will Be Coming To You As Your Legitimate Inheritance.This Transaction Is Real.
Respond To Me As Soon As Possible .
Yours Truly,
Mr.Nelson Mansouri
mansuguri4@hotmail.com
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How Scames Go!! Good day and God bless,
Related to country: United States
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I am Ross and Thamos Wanda from Sierra Leone. We are writing you from Rep of Cote 'Ivoire where we have been taking refuge after the brutal war and murder of our parents by the rebels during the renewed fighting in our country. Because of the war our late Father sold his shipping company and took us to a nearby country Cote d'Ivoire where he deposited US$14, 300, 000.00 Million in his foreign account with one of the bank here in Cote d'Ivoire.Due to the current political situation in Ivory Coast we are seeking for your assistance to transfer this Money into your account if you will not betray us when the money gets to your country.
So we can also relocate to your country to further our study and we are willing to offer you 15% of the total sum for your help.On your interest to assist us towards this transaction,please get back to us.
Regard,
Wanda Ross & Thamos
rosswa27@hotmail.fr
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Don’t Get Duped E-mail Scam!!
Related to country: United States
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FROM THE DESK OF BARR. AHMED HAMZA.
ATTENTION:
Dear Friend,
After a discreet but thorough research, and based on the impressive information by your profile through the web site, I am with absolute confidence in the legality and integrity of your person to present this business and seek for your assistance on trust and sense of purpose.
Briefly, I am Barrister AHMED HAMZA, a solicitor at law, personal attorney to late Engr. Abikhair C. Arem, a Lebanese national, who used to work with Shell Development Company in Lome Togo. Here in after shall be referred to as my client. On December 25th, 2003, my client, his wife and their only daughter were involved in a plane crash accident in Cotonou, Benin Republic. Please check site: http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/12/26/benin.crash/index.html
About 111 passengers lost their lives in the accident. Since then I have made several enquiries to his country's embassy in Lome-Togo to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to contact you to assist in repatriating the fund valued at US$20.5m) left behind by my client before it gets confiscated or declared unserviceable by Bank of Africa (BOA) where this amount was deposited. The said Bank, has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have his account confiscated within the next thirty one official working days.
Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over one year now, I seek the consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased since I have not been able to locate any of my client's relatives, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you, as the fund cannot be claimed without the assistance of a foreigner who will act as a next of kin to my deceased client. Therefore, on receipt of your positive response, we shall then discuss the sharing ratio and modalities for transfer.
All necessary information and all the legal documents needed to back you up for claim will be duly and legally procured in your name and favour. All I require from you is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through.
I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.
You should please contact me through my private e mail address(ham_ahmed2007@yahoo.co.uk) immediately as soon as you go through the message in the hope that we can enter into a good business venture.
Best Regards,
BARR AHMED HAMZA(Esq.)
Phone 00226 76 52 06 98. Please call me for more details.
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WasThe WWE’s Chairman Mr. Vincent K. McMahon Assassinated?
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Dissecting the explosion
Federal authorities have seized control of the heap of incinerated metal that was once Mr. McMahon’s limousine. To determine whether foul play was responsible for the vehicular blast that presumably killed WWE’s Chairman Monday night, the tiresome task of recovering and sifting through useable evidence is now under the utmost scrutiny of the nation’s most well-funded investigation unit.
If it’s confirmed that a criminal party engineered the explosion, the next question to answer is how the nefarious scheme was carried out. To fill in the blanks regarding the specifics of the explosion, WWE.com contacted Patrick C. Riggs, a veteran explosives expert from a Brooklyn, N.Y.,-based operation.
Watching video of the blast, Riggs was able to determine that it was a professionally structured, calculated blast. However, since most – if not all – usable evidence seems to have been destroyed, Riggs claims that not everything he says can be guaranteed.
“Whoever did this knew exactly what they were doing. No amateur would have had the knowledge to create an explosion of that intensity,” he said. “Without prior experience or knowledge of explosives, such a blast could not have been constructed so precisely.”
Another point of interest was the timing of how the scene unfolded.
“Watch for the origin of the spark,” Riggs explained, using a laser pointer to indicate under the right rear axle. “As soon as the door shuts – boom! That’s exactly how it was supposed to work. It was perfectly engineered and executed.”
Could the door have been on a trigger, and if so, what served as the figurative striking of the match?
“A radio-controlled device was definitely used as the ignition,” Riggs stated. “The detonator could have been as small as a cell phone and attached to the limo’s gas line. It was most likely sourced underneath the passenger compartment. Once it was ignited, the gasoline from the vehicle became the accelerant.”
Riggs, a 23-year explosives expert, who has both consulted on feature films and been an expert witness in courtrooms, isn’t surprised that federal investigators are currently unable to find eyewitnesses who would have seen someone attaching the explosives to the limousine.
”It doesn’t take long to accomplish,“ he said. “The whole thing could have been completed in a matter of seconds. All they needed was to find out where the gas tank was located.”
And since a pocket-sized piece of equipment was used, no visible signs of tampering would have been evident to anyone – including the former WWE Chairman. Not that his apparent state of mind (or lack thereof) at the time would have allowed him to see such a red flag, even if it was in plain view.
“Mr. McMahon would not have been able to tell something was wrong with the limo by sight or smell,” Riggs assured. “In fact, a full tank of gas would have easily been capable of creating that type of combustion. As far as Mr. McMahon knew, that limo was no different than the type he used to drive in every day and night.”
According to Riggs, the fact that a remote device was used raises another concern.
“Theoretically, there could have been multiple assailants,” he said. “Someone could have been at the scene to notify someone up to half a mile away to press the red button. It’s certainly something to think about.”
At press time, there have not been any discoveries to prove – or disprove – any of the ideas that Riggs has put forward. As federal authorities work around the clock in search of answers regarding this matter, one can only wonder if these questions, or any others, will be revealed in the coming weeks.
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Zambia
Related to country: Zambia
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Zambia had a population of 10.5 million in 2004, with about 86% of the population below the poverty line. The GDP per capita is US$800. Zambia is a low-income country with low levels of disposable income.
Malaria is endemic throughout the country, with about 15% of the total population at risk of stable endemic malaria. It accounts for 40% of all outpatient attendance and is responsible for 6.8 million disability adjusted life-years lost.
The National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) outlines insecticide treated nets (ITNs) as a key strategy for malaria control. The NMCP has planned various awareness programs for ITNs and has assisted in waiving taxes for nets for the employer-based scheme. According to NetMark research, net ownership is estimated at 50% for mosquito nets and 33.5% for ITNs.
There are currently several Non-Governmental Organizations engaged in the provision of treated nets and a large unsubsidized employer based scheme in operation.
Mr. Bey
digital95@aol.com
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‘Bodies flying into air’ as car careens into crowd during parade
Related to country: United States
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SELMER, Tenn. (UFJ) - Three more people have died after a drag-racing car went out of control and careened into a crowd of spectators, raising the death toll to seven, state officials said Sunday.
The crash occurred Saturday night during an "exhibition burnout" -- when a driver spins his tires to make them heat up and smoke -- at the Cars for Kids charity event in Selmer, located about 80 miles east of Memphis.
Tennessee Highway Patrol spokesman Mike Browning said the seven who died included a 15-year-old and a 17-year-old. At least eight people were taken to hospitals and several others had minor injuries, he said.
Amateur video of the crash, broadcast on WMC-TV in Memphis, showed the car's engine revving loudly before the vehicle sped down a highway lined with spectators on both sides. After a few hundred feet, the smoking car skidded off the road.
There was a guard rail along at least part of the highway, but there was no guard rail where the crash occurred.
The identities of the victims and the driver were not immediately released.
Mourners placed small votive candles at the crash site early Sunday.
Witness Scott Henley said the vehicle started burning off its tires, then fishtailed and slammed into a utility pole before spinning around into the audience.
Selmer Police Chief Neal Burks said "bodies were flying into the air when it happened."
I saw body parts flying everywhere," said witness Sean Hood.
Witness Garett Moore said he thought the show was over and was about to walk across the highway when he saw the dragster racing toward him. He was about 15 feet from the wreck, but was uninjured.
"It ain't really safe to do anything with drag cars on a city street," Moore said.
Matthew Brammer, administrator of AMS Pro Modified Series, which sanctions drag races, said late Saturday that the car involved has been driven by drag racer Troy Critchley, of Wylie, Texas, but he did not know if Critchley was driving when the car struck the crowd.
The AMS Pro Modified Series later issued a news release saying the driver was a veteran of more than 20 years in drag racing and had to be taken to an emergency room.
The release said the driver was performing a burnout when road conditions caused the car to go out of control.
"The race team is in shock and deeply saddened by this unexpected event. Their hearts and prayers are with the injured people and their families," the release said.
Sheriff's officials and police closed the festival shortly after the crash. About 40,000 to 60,000 people were expected to attend the weekend event.
Cars for Kids holds several events throughout the nation and raises close to $200,000 annually for charities that help children in need, according to its Web site.
The charity was formed in 1990, two years after founder Larry Price's son, Chad, suffered a severe head injury in a bicycle accident.
Price promised that if his son was saved from lifelong injuries, he would spend the rest of his life raising funds for disabled children, according to the Web site.
A statement posted on the Cars for Kids Web site Sunday offered an apology to the victims and their families. "The loss is deep within our hearts and we will carry the scars of each loss forever," the statement said.
Mr. Bey
digital95@aol.com
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DISARMAMENT FOR CASH IN ARGENTINA?
Related to country: Argentina
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STOP THE VIOLENCE!!!!
BUENOS AIRES, (UFJ) - With strong support from peace and disarmament groups and the families of shooting victims, the Argentine government launched a programme Friday that encourages people to voluntarily swap their legal or illegal firearms for cash.
The disarmament campaign, similar to one that was carried out in Brazil in 2004, forms part of a comprehensive violence prevention policy, which includes stricter controls on both the legal and black market for guns.
In Argentina, one out of 10 people over the age of 18 say they have a gun, and more than half say they carry them around "for protection."
A study carried out this year by the Mora y Araujo polling firm found that as a result of the increase in violent crime in Argentina, more people now believe that it is a good idea to own or carry a gun for self-defence.
But official statistics show that between 1991 and 2004, the number of accidental firearm deaths rose 80 percent, and the number of suicides involving guns increased by 60 percent.
"Guns in homes do not provide protection, but instead increase the risk of accidents and deaths among civilians," Darío Kosovsky, a member of the Institute of Comparative Studies in Criminal and Social Sciences and the Argentine Disarmament Network (RAD), told IPS.
Under the gun buy-back scheme that got underway Friday, anyone who owns a firearm, whether registered or unregistered, will have six months to hand their weapons over in exchange for cash sums running from 100 to 450 pesos (34 to 150 dollars). They will be able to anonymously swap their guns in both fixed and mobile stations set up for the purpose around the country by the Interior Ministry.
All kind of guns -- revolvers, pistols, shot guns, carbines and rifles -- as well as ammunition will be made unusable in front of the person who turned them over, and later destroyed by smelting, under supervision of the authorities and civil society groups.
An amnesty for those who surrender illegal weapons will be in effect for the entire six months.
"Once that deadline is up, strict laws will be in effect, and anyone who has an illegal firearm will go to prison," said Interior Minister Anibal Fernández during the ceremony presenting the national gun swap programme.
As a signal of the government's strong support for the plan, the ceremony in the seat of government was attended by both President Néstor Kirchner and Vice President Daniel Scioli, as well as representatives of groups working for disarmament and relatives of people who have been shot to death.
According to the National Firearms Registry (RENAR), there are 1.2 million legally owned guns in Argentina and at least that many unregistered guns.
The results of the Mora y Araujo poll coincided with those figures, indicating that 2.2 million civilians are armed in this country of 37 million people.
Kosovsky, who participated in the design of the gun swap programme, said its implementation is "a historic step forward and a great effort by the state" in the fight against citizen violence.
"This programme is going to reduce the number of guns circulating among the civilian population, while at the same time helping to send a compelling message to society that it is the state that must have a monopoly on the use of legitimate violence, not the citizens," he said.
The author of "Citizen Sheriffs: Guns and Violence in Argentina" ("El ciudadano Sheriff. Armas y violencia en Argentina") said the idea is not to combat crime but to reduce gun-related violence in which a large number of people are injured or killed.
In 2003, 10 people a day died in Argentina from gunshot wounds, but only three of the 10 deaths were robbery-related, according to the government's Secretariat for Criminal Policy. The rest were the result of fights or accidents.
The initiative is the end result of a proposal presented to the Interior Ministry by the organisations that make up RAD.
In drawing up their proposal, the groups took into account gun swaps carried out in cities in the eastern province of Buenos Aires and the western province of Mendoza, as well as the disarmament campaign in Brazil, where some 440,000 firearms were withdrawn from circulation in 2004.
The Brazilian gun swap was followed by a referendum in which voters decided against a ban on small arms sales. Nevertheless, the number of gun-related deaths, which had been growing steadily since the early 1990s, began to go down for the first time in Brazil after the gun buy-back scheme.
According to official statistics, firearms are the second cause of death in Argentina, and 28 percent of shooting deaths are the result of accidents or homicides involving guns kept in homes. In cases of domestic violence, the presence of firearms increases the risk of death 12-fold.
Late last year, the consensus on this issue between the centre-left Kirchner administration and the groups comprising the RAD led to passage of a law granting a temporary amnesty for those who surrendered illegal weapons.
In addition, an inventory of all firearms, both registered and unregistered, and those in the hands of civilians as well as the police and armed forces, will be carried out.
The first gun swap station is to open Jun. 28 in the town of Necochea, 600 kilometres south of the capital, in the province of Buenos Aires. That town is home to the parents of Alfredo Marcenac, who was shot and killed by a stranger last year as he walked down a Buenos Aires street.
The aggressor, who had a gun licence despite the fact that he was mentally ill, simply began to shoot people at random on the street.
These risks will also be prevented through stricter controls by RENAR, which up to now was considered by RAD to be overly lax in granting gun licences. RENAR even offered people the possibility of applying for a licence on-line, although the process was completed with a home visit by a public employee.
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Internet Scams!!!
Related to country: United States
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From: stedondeii4@hotmail.com
To:
Date: Sat, 16 Jun 2007 9:30 am
Good day,
Greetings:
I am sorry to intrude into your private and peaceful life, all the same My name is Mr. Steven Donald, I work as an accountant in a bank; I contacted you to work together with me in claiming my late client's estate. Unfortunately he died without a registered next of kin and as such the funds now have an open beneficiary status.
You could be made the beneficiary since you share the same last name with him. This has officially transferred the right to you, as no other person from his family knows anything about this fund with our bank. If you are interested in working with me, please get back to me as quickly as possible, so that I give you the details of what we are to do.
I wait for your prompt response so that I can give you more briefing of what you need to and how to do it.
Thanks for your co-operation.
Regards.
Steven Donald.
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Fatherhood!!
Related to country: United States
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Children-all children-have an innate sense of constitutional law. They understand private property (mine), privacy (ah, those teenage years) and, of course, free speech (I HATE you!). The list goes on...
Fatherhood is the one job that you can get without the slightest degree of experience, knowledge or talent (despite what you may hear to the contrary on Father's Day.
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Govt bans import of rough diamond from Cote d'Ivoire
Related to country: Cote D'Ivoire
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NEW DELHI, (UFJ)-India has imposed a ban on import of rough diamond from Cote d'Ivoire in compliance with a UN Security Council Resolution.
"Import of rough diamond from Cote d'Ivoire shall be prohibited in compliance to paragraph 6 of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1643 (2005)," a notification by the directorate general of Foreign Trade said.
The UN Security Council under its resolution says, besides other things, that import of all rough diamonds from Cote d'Ivoire should be stopped.
The UN ban is aimed at preventing rebels in the country from acquiring weapons illegally.
Import of rough diamonds from Cote d'Ivoire was banned after it was considered as a threat to international peace and security.
It was held that diamonds were being illegally traded to fund conflict in war-torn areas, particularly in central and western Africa.
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4 Years in Jail for Gamblers
Related to country: Russia
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The Moscow City Duma has approved a bill that would impose a four-year prison sentence on anyone convicted of running an illegal gambling operation.
The bill, consisting of several amendments to the Criminal Code, also stipulates fines of up to 4,000 rubles for anyone participating in unsanctioned gambling, Kommersant reported Thursday.
The City Duma approved the bill in a first reading Wednesday. The bill will go through two more readings before being submitted to the State Duma for consideration.
Under a federal law that took effect in December, all gambling establishments must shut down or move to four designated zones from July 2009. (MT)
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YOUNG ADULTS RETREAT
Related to country: United States
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Pastor Frank and Melina Hechavarria
At 18, Pastor Frank Hechavarria gave total control of his life to God. His service and passion for the Lord have taken him from serving the church parking lot to the pulpit. As a full-time intercessor and youth pastor, he has made it his life-long commitment to transform a generation of young people with the powerful life changing message of the gospel by teaching them to walk in the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit. His goal is to lead an army of young people into finding their identity in Christ, fulfilling their purpose and calling in God, and to leave a spiritual legacy for future generations. Pastor Frank and his wife Melina are currently full-time youth pastors at El Ministerio Internacional El Rey Jesús in Miami, Florida.
Melina Hechavarria
Melina Hechavarria is a mighty woman of God. Her passion and audacity for our Lord has led her to her ultimate calling which is to teach His Word with the prophetic and apostolic mantle that is over her life. She is committed to unveiling the truth of God’s promises to hundreds of young men and women because she strongly believes that by touching the life of a youth today, we can radically transform the destiny of future generations. She is fulfilling her purpose and calling together with her husband Frank Hechavarria. Together, they are the youth pastors at El Rey Jesus International Ministry in Miami, Florida.
http://www.chosengeneration.cc/christian-youth-group-pastor.html
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BILL COSBY Strikes Again, Addresses So-Called Black Community in New Book
Related to country: United States
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Bill Cosby has more to say about the plight of black folk. This time, he's finally putting his thoughts into book format, no doubt as an answer to Michael Eric Dyson's IS BILL
COSBY RIGHT? I knew it was just a matter of time before he struck back. Cosby's timing couldn't be better as the black community publicly discusses its internal issues.
According to Publishers Weekly, Cosby's book, titled COME ON, PEOPLE! ON THE PATH FROM VICTIMS TO VICTORS, is touted as "a powerful message for families and communities as they lay out their visions for strengthening America..." and will address "the crises of people who are stuck because of feelings of low self-esteem, abandonment, anger, fearfulness, sadness and feelings of being used, undefended and unprotected." The book's purpose is "to help empower people to make the daunting transition from victims to victors."The description for COME ON, PEOPLE! seems to be a different approach than his notorious 2004 NAACP speech which revolved around his belief that, " the lower economic and lower middle economic people are not holding their end in this deal." Here's a reminder of some of the things Dr. Cosby said:
"I'm talking about these people who cry when their son is standing there in an orange suit. Where were you when he was two? Where were you when he was twelve? Where were you when he was eighteen, and how come you don't know he had a pistol?"
"Those people are not Africans, they don't know a damned thing about Africa. With names like Shaniqua, Shaliqua, Mohammed and all that crap and all of them are in jail."
"50 percent drop out rate, I'm telling you, and people in jail, and women having children by five, six different men. Under what excuse? I want somebody to love me. And as soon as you have it, you forget to parent. Grandmother, mother, and great grandmother in the same room, raising children, and the child knows nothing about love or respect of any one of the three of them. All this child knows is "gimme, gimme, gimme."
"The city and all these people have to pick up the tab on them because they don't want to accept that they have to study to get an education."
It's not what they're doing to us. It's what we're not doing. 50 percent drop out. Look, we're raising our own ingrown immigrants. These people are fighting hard to be ignorant. There's no English being spoken, and they're walking and they're angry. Oh God, they're angry and they have pistols and they shoot and they do stupid things. And after they kill somebody, they don't have a plan. Just murder somebody. Boom. Over what? A pizza? And then run to the poor cousin's house.
"You can't keep asking that God will find a way. God is tired of you."
According to Publishers Weekly, COME ON, PEOPLE! will be co-written with Alvin Poussaint (he wrote the introduction to Cosby's book FATHERHOOD and is the co-author of a book called RAISING BLACK CHILDREN) and is slated for publication in October 2007 by Thomas Nelson, a Christian publisher. Yes you read that right, a Christian publisher.
I suspect Poussaint will help to ensure that the book doesn't read like one long rant. Hopefully Cosby will offer productive and comprehensive commentary, insights, and solutions because anything else would be a waste.
Regardless, I'm sure COME ON, PEOPLE! will be a New York Times bestseller, no matter what it says or doesn't say.
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Deadbeats In US Leave Kids In Poverty
Related to country: United States
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Director/UFJ
WASHINGTON (UFJ)-- Absentee parents who fail to pay child support often have children who could really use it: A third of their kids live in poverty, the Census Bureau reports.
The numbers spotlight a striking problem in the era of welfare reform, where child support is supposed to make up some of the money lost when families leave the rolls.
But the Census report, being released today, includes data from 1995.
Since then, there have been new efforts to collect more money, and collections have risen.
Still, advocates are worried.
"Nonpayment of child support is a crime that causes poverty in America," said Geraldine Jensen, president of the Association for Children for Enforcement of Support. "Certainly with welfare reform, children are going to be even more at risk."
Part of the problem is that many of the fathers of these children are also poor.
"They have similar if not more barriers to getting work," said Michael Kharfen, a spokesman for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). "A lot of them have jail time."
The report also points to the importance of connecting non-custodial parents to their children. About three-fourths of those who had joint custody or visitation agreements made payments in 1995. That compares with just 35 percent of those without these agreements.
Overall, the report found that $17.8 billion was paid in support in 1995. That's 63 percent of the $28.3 billion that parents said they were owed.
The Census report is the nation's only estimate of all child support paid and owed across the country. HHS releases similar numbers, but those figures only capture parents who pay through the government's collection system, explaining why the HHS collection numbers for 1995 were lower.
But the Census report also concluded that just $28.3 billion was owed, whereas HHS says nearly $50 billion was due that year. That may be because parents responding to the Census questionnaire did not include all the support owed from previous years.
Other findings in the Census report:
-- In spring 1996, 28 percent of all children under 21 lived with a single parent.
-- The vast majority -- 85 percent -- of these custodial parents were women.
-- Mothers were more likely to receive child support from absentee fathers than fathers were from absentee mothers.
-- About seven in 10 custodial parents who were due child support got at least a portion of what was owed. The average received was $3,732.
-- About four in 10 got everything they were owed.
-- About 32 percent of custodial parents who were owed child support but did not get anything lived below the poverty line. By contrast, about 22 percent of parents who got at least part of what they had coming were poor.
Focusing on custodial mothers, the report found that moms were most likely to receive payments if they were wealthier, white, educated, older than 30 and divorced.
Sixty-two percent of poor women received at least some of the money, compared with 73 percent of non-poor women. Nearly three out of four white women got something; for so-called blacks (Moors), it was 59 percent and for Latinos, 58 percent.
Just over half of women who had never been married got payments vs. 73 percent of those who had been divorced.
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Is race at the root of Wesley Snipes tax evasion charges?
Related to country: United States
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Wesley Snipes, who was indicted Oct. 17 on charges of fraudulently claiming refunds and not filing for several years, says he's being singled out because he's African American.
OCALA, Fla. (UFJ) - Actor Wesley Snipes is a victim of "unscrupulous tax advice" and is being selectively targeted for prosecution on federal tax evasion charges because he is African American, his attorneys argue in a motion to dismiss the indictment.
That's what Snipes has said all along about the charges.
In a June 4 motion to dismiss the indictment, Snipes' attorneys argue that prosecutors filed additional tax evasion charges against him and not against two other defendants because they are "Caucasian, while Mr. Snipes is African-American."
A federal judge is still considering the motions.
The Oct. 17 indictment charges Snipes with fraudulently claiming refunds totaling nearly $12 million in 1996 and 1997 for income taxes already paid. The star of the "Blade" trilogy and other films also was charged with failure to file returns from 1999 through 2004.
According to the indictment, his taxes were prepared by accountants with a history of filing false returns to reap payments for their clients. The firm American Rights Litigators would receive 20 percent of refunds from clients, according to the indictment.
There was no immediate response Sunday to calls seeking comment from Snipes' manager and attorneys representing other defendants in the case.
A spokesman for U.S. Attorney's Office also did not immediately return a call to his office.
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Inter-Link Courier Company LTD, A SCAM IS A SCAM!!!
Related to country: United Kingdom
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Inter-Link Courier Company LTD
Unit 11, Ashford Industrial Estate
Shield Road, Ashford, Middx,
TW15 1AU, london.
United Kingdom
Our Ref#: SLC/CPEL/9876
Your Ref #: {CPEL/OWN/9876}
ATTENTION:
A certificate of winnings and other documents including a winning cheque has been sent to us by the claims officer of overseas Winner, (GNLD PRODUCT PROMOTION) that after verification of your claims particulars, we have therefore decided to deliver the package to you. You are responsible for ensuring that all details regarding the collection and delivery addresses are full and correct. Contact telephone numbers are required with the delivery details and no consideration will be given for refunds where the details were either not provided in full or were incorrect. To confirm your identity when making delivery, you will be required to send along with this form via attachment, a scanned copy of any form of identification(International Passport, Drivers License or an Identity Card).
With regards to this, you are required to select the most convenient of the three options below for a smooth delivery of your package to you, all prices quoted on this form are in Pounds Sterling. Any service can be cancelled but those done via our automated system may automatically be subject to a cancellation fee.
INTER-LINK COURIER DELIVERY OPTIONS.
FIRST CLASS DELIVERY
Max Delivery Duration......................................................................................................................24Hrs
Mailing /freight cost.................................................................................................................£113.00
Handling Fee..............................................................................................................................£287.00
Fuel Surcharge ...............................................................................................................................£ 80.00
Insurance.....................................................................................................................................£220.00
Vat(5%)....................................................................................................................................£ 50.00
TOTAL......................................................................................................................................£710.00
SECOND CLASS DELIVERY
Max Delivery Duration.......................................................................................................................48hrs
Mailing /freight cost...............................................................................................................£142.00
Handling Fee.......................................................................................................................................£277.00
Fuel surcharge.............................................................................................................................£65.00
Insurance........................................................................................................................£180.00
Vat(5%)...................................................................................................................£40.00
TOTAL ....................................................................................................................................£704.00
THIRD CLASS DELIVERY
Max Delivery Duration...............................................................................................................72hrs
Mailing/freight cost.................................................................................................................£165.00
Handling Fee.................................................................................................................£163.00
Fuel surcharge ...........................................................................................................£40.00
Insurance.....................................................................................................................................£250.00
Vat (5%)...................................................................................................................................£32.00
TOTAL .....................................................................................................................................£650.00
Note: The charges cannot be Deducted from your winnings.This is in accordance with section 13(1)(n) of the National Gaming Act as adopted in 1993 and amended on 3rd July 1996 by the constitutional assembly. This is to protect winners and to avoid misappropriation of funds and win Situaitions.
Please respond to this email by making a selection from the three options above. Also attach a scanned copy of either your driver's licence, international passport (photo page) or any other legally identifying document.
Send your response to indicate your option within the next 24hrs,because you only have 7 working days to claim this cheque and after this period, your cash prize will be deemed to have been forfeited by you and will be reused in the drawings of the next edition of the promotion.
Your urgent reply will be most welcome
Treat with dispatch,
Mr. George Jackson,
E-MAIL: interlinkcourierworldwide@gmail.com
Alternate Email: interlinkcourierservicecontact@yahoo.co.uk
Tel: +44705-380-5742 or 00944705-380-5742
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WATCH OUT FOR THESE SCAMS!!!!!
Related to country: United States
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GNLD COMPANY PRODUCTS PROMOTIONS
HEAD CLAIMS DEPARTMENT
WE ARE GLAD TO BE OUT SERVICES TO YOU.
Congratulations Sir,
It gives me great pleasure to inform you that your Verification and Fund Release form has passed through the proper legal verification processes and has sucessfully passed all standards in accordance with the GNLD PRODUCTS PROMOTIONS Terms and Conditions . This is also to notify you that you have been officially cleared for payment by the verifications and fund release department at the GNLD COMPANY Headquarters and your winnings has been approved for release to you.
As you already know, all winners for the online version of the GNLD PRODUCTS PROMOTIONS promotions were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from an exclusive list of 100,000 unions, associations, and corporate bodies that are listed online as part of our international promotion to promote international co-operation between the United Kingdom and other countries worldwide.
I must say that you should count yourself extremely lucky to have emerged as one of our winners in this year's lucky dip sweepstakes.We do sincerely hope you will utilize part of your winnings to support several communities, support initiatives that promote civic education and participation in public life as well as target poverty for eradication, lastly to render selfless services to the less priviledge in your community.
The process for claiming your winnings has been made very simple so that by the end of one week at most, you are assured of having received your cash prize of the sum of £ 2,500. pounds sterling. In the light of the above mentioned, you are to contact the Promotional Winners fund transfer Manager/Director Of operations, Mr Paul .B. Collins of Choice Banking National Plc,United Kingdom with the contact informations below for the further information on how your winnings funds can get to you immidiately.
CONTACT PERSON:-
Mr. Paul .B. Collins
Director Operations
Choice Banking National Plc
Choice National House
2 Triton Square Regent’s
Place London NW1 3AN.
Official Email : contact_choicebanking@yahoo.co.uk
Tele: +447024054498 OR +447024054814
Note that you are to provide the bank with these details to identify you:
** FULL NAMES:
** ACCOUNT NUMBER:
** TEL:
** AMOUNT WON:
** TICKET No:
** WINNING BATCH NUMBER:
::NAME OF YOUR BANK:
::ACCOUNT NUMBER:
Lastly do adhead to the Bank instructions so your winnings can get to you soonest. Also do note that there exists a periodic condition on all claims process, therefore you have limited time to claim your winnings. Failure to claim your winnings within the stipulated time frame will lead to the forfeiture of your winnings after which your winning funds will be added to next winning draws.
Its is imperative that you add your WINNING BATCH NUMBER: as the subject of any correspondence with the delivery department to ensure that they respond in a timely manner.
I will require a concise update on your proceedings with the bank as soon as you make contact with them. If you need any assistance whatsoever, please do not hesitate to let me know.Congratulations once more and do reply soonest to acknowledge the receipt of this mail.
Yours Sincerely,
MR.Michael Coly
Fiduciary Agent.
claimsagent4gnldproducts@yahoo.co.uk
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Italy
Related to country: Italy
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It's a disgrace the Italian government elected by the votes of pacifists should invite him to this country
Elio Luppoli
protester
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Bush trying to re-write his legacy calls for action over Kosovo
Related to country: Kosovo
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US President George W Bush has said a plan for Kosovo's UN-backed independence should take effect now, despite Russian and Serbian opposition.
Mr Bush was speaking after holding talks with the Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi, during a visit to Rome.
Mr Bush said he discussed Kosovo with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the G8 summit, and it was "time to bring this issue to its head" Earlier Mr Bush had his first audience with Pope Benedict XVI.
The Pope raised his concerns about the plight of Christians in Iraq, and expressed hopes of a "regional and negotiated solution to the conflicts that afflict" the Middle East, the Vatican said.
Tens of thousands of protesters, most of them peaceful, marched in Rome in protest at Mr Bush's visit.
Organisers said 150,000 people marched in a kilometre-long protest, culminating in a rally at the Piazza Navona.
But Italian riot police used tear gas against anti-Bush demonstrators who donned face masks in defiance of a police order and threw bottles and other objects, as the main demonstration reached its conclusion.
'Move forward'
Mr Bush will be continuing to Albania on the next leg of his European tour, which has already taken him to the G8 summit in Germany and Poland.
The G8 summit failed to reach consensus over Kosovo, in the face of strong opposition from Russia to independence for the province, which is still part of Serbia.
UN Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari put forward a blueprint for Kosovan independence in April.
It's time to move the Ahtisaari plan forward," Mr Bush said.
He also discussed the situation in Lebanon with the Italian prime minister.
"It's very important that foreign influences like that of Syria not be continually disrupting the Siniora government," said Mr Bush.
Moving experience
Visiting the Vatican earlier in the day, Mr Bush and the Pope shook hands and posed for photographs ahead of talks in Pope Benedict XVI's private library.
President Bush said the two had discussed the situation in Iraq.
"He was concerned that the society that was evolving would not tolerate the Christian religion, " said Mr Bush.
"He's worrisome about the Christians inside Iraq being mistreated by the Muslim majority."
The Vatican said that "the Middle East, the Israeli-Palestinian question and Lebanon" were other topics at the talks.
The UFJ's contacts, in Rome, says President Bush told the Pope about his plans for increasing American aid to Africa and particularly for increasing help to Aids sufferers.
President Bush said talking to the Pope had been a "moving experience."
"I was talking to a very smart, loving man," said the US president.
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Single Chinese prefer spending to saving
Related to country: China
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(UFJ)-Chinanews, Beijing, Nowadays, single Chinese are mostly the middle class group of people who are well-educated and financially better off. In order to enjoy life, they choose to stay single. Compared with married people, they like to spend rather than save money. Most of them feel happy about their current single life, the China Business Times reported.
“We estimate that the percentage of people who remain single in China might be around 30% in years to come,” said Zuo Xiaosi, a researcher from the Sociological and Demographic Research Institute under the Guangdong Provincial Academy of Social Sciences. At present, the “single boom” occurring in society has undergone many changes, which are already beyond the study scope of the research institute. In reality, the life style and life values of these people are gradually influencing the whole society, Zuo said.
Recently, the News Weekly and the Souzhi Investigating Company jointly conducted a survey about the Chinese single group among 1,024 people from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Chengdu.
The investigation shows that 28.6% of the people buy luxury goods without a qualm. 16% of the people go to pubs or KTV bars at least once in a week. 31.6% of the people spend most of their money in entertainment activities or social gathering, and only 5.4% of them buy insurance. This shows that the single group of people cherish the quality of life more than any other things. They spend more in order to live a good life. This is especially true of the so-called “golden collar people” who make 7,000-20,000 yuan a month.
The media often describe these people as a group who are well-educated and cherish the high quality of life. Although they have great work pressure, they also make good incomes. In addition, they also expect their life to become even better. It might be very helpful for businesspeople to make goods that are tailored to the needs of these people by considering this information.
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Is Wal-Mart is selling Nazi SS death’s head skull t-shirts?
Related to country: United States
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Is Wal-Mart is selling Nazi SS death’s head skull t-shirts
I stopped in at Wal-Mart today after I got off work. I had to pick up a few things. As I was walking past the men's clothing area, something caught my eye. I noticed something weird over at a wall of t-shirts. One of the t-shirts had a design on it that looked remarkably like something related to Nazis. Specifically, the Totenkopf or "Death’s Head".
I took a picture of it with my camera phone.

The Death's Head symbol was worn by the members of the German Nazi SS. The Totenkopf on the Wal-Mart t-shirt looks very similar to the divisional insignia of the 3rd SS Division Totenkopf. As you can see, It's almost an exact copy.
Neo-Nazi's sometimes use the Totenkopf image because it is not as easily identifiable as other Nazi symbols such as the swastika. You might see one of these tattooed on someone's arm while standing in line at Burger King and think it's just an poorly done pirate skull. It's not.
Is Wal-Mart purposely trying to sell clothing with Nazi symbols on it? I doubt it. They wont even sell CD's with bad words on them. I doubt someone at Wal-Mart corporate headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas decided to sell clothing with Nazi symbols on it.
Whoever designed this shirt had to know where the skull image came from. I have no idea what the date 1978 refers to.
UPDATE
I have posted more about this story. You can read all of the posts here.
READ MORE:Nazi Swag at Wal-Mart | 83 Comments | Stumble It!
83 Responses to “Wal-Mart is selling Nazi SS skull t-shirts”
on 10 Nov 2006 at 3:46 am1Koray
Well, in April of 1978 some 15,000 former members of the Nazi party came out publicly against National Socialism (Read: Thinly veiled Nazism) in a public demonstration.
That is the only thing that remotely relates. Interesting catch!
on 10 Nov 2006 at 4:04 am2meneame.net
Wal-Mart vende camisas con un emblema de las SS nazis…
La cadena *Wal-Mart* se vuelve a lucir. Esta vez está vendiendo unas camisetas con un emblema (una calavera) exacto al que lucia la división tercera Totenkopf de las SS alemanas en el tercer Reich. Esta calavera es bastante usada por los seguidores …
on 14 Nov 2006 at 12:37 pm3Heather
About the year…I’m kinda wondering if it is a reference to the growing neo-nazi community that was going on then. Skrewdriver released their first album sometime in the late ’70s (allmusic says 1977), and I know that the neo-nazi thing was picking up steam over the course of the next several years.
I think there was some really BIG neo-nazi thing that happened in 1978 too. At any rate, I don’t think the date is just nonsense.
on 14 Nov 2006 at 1:01 pm4Jessica
Regarding the significance of the year 1978 - I can almost guarantee to you that it has no meaning. I work in the apparel art industry and we are asked on a daily basis to create artwork that feels “vintage” and “distressed”. I can’t tell you how many times I have slapped a random number on a tee-shirt design to make it feel more “authentic”.
I would say there is a 1% chance that the artist actually knew what they were representing. My guess is they used Google image search to find a skull that looked different from the 57 other skulls they were asked to create that week, and then put “Since 1978″ on the bottom because that’s the year they were born and thought it would be funny to make a personal reference.
on 14 Nov 2006 at 1:07 pm5bco_poster
in response to the comment from Heather, equating the release of the first Skrewdriver album with a growing neo-nazi community is rather off-base. ‘All Skrewed Up’ was released in 1977 and had no racist/nazi imagery. the original line-up of Skrewdriver broke up in 1979 and still were not associated with hate-rock. it wasn’t until 1982 when a different line-up sharing some members with the earlier incarnation began playing as Skrewdriver that interest in the extreme right wing played a part - and then it wasn’t until ‘hail the new dawn’ was released in 1984 that they were able to spread their racist message beyond England.
the deaths head skull has appeared on various otherwise unassuming articles of clothing in recent history, and at this point it seems likely that the designers were not aware of the nazi connection, especially seeing as how the totenkopf (just like the swastika) did not originate in nazi imagery, only that it was adopted into their uniform.
further, i hardly think there is any intentional relationship between the skull and the “since 1978″ text. the shirt’s designer likely combined unrelated images and text to create a vintage look.
i dont think there’s anything wrong with examining this shirt, as im sure some may find it offensive, but i do think you’re jumping to too many conclusions when you assume that the design was intentionally offensive and that the featured text is directly correlating to a rise in nazi interests.
on 14 Nov 2006 at 1:11 pm6Ryan Houston
I think 1978 refers to the founding date for the No Boundaries clothing line…
on 14 Nov 2006 at 1:19 pm7Narukami
Actually, this pattern skull & bones is not specific to the 3rd SS Panzer Division alone, but was used by all SS units (including Allgemine & Waffen) as a badge on their cap (along with an eagle & swastika pattern that was also unique to the SS). That this skull & bones was used as their division symbol by the 3rd SS is due to the fact that this division was formed by units from the Concentration Camp Guard training battalions.
Also, even though this particular pattern skull was used by he SS, the use of the skull on German uniforms was not limited to the SS. German Army and Air Force tank units used a skull & bones ( of a different pattern) on the collars of their black panzer uniforms. This caused them considerable grief later in the war.
After the Malmedy Massacre on December 17th, 1944 (during the Battle of the Bulge) any Germans taken prisoner that were wearing black uniforms were shot out of hand by US troops. What most GI’s did not realize was that all tank crews, including those of the Army and Air Force as well as the Waffen-SS, wore black uniforms. The skulls on their collars only added to the mistaken impression that thy were members of the Waffen-SS.
See Max Hasting’s book Armegeddon: The Battle For Germany c2000 pages 109-110.
All of this is yet another example of why history matters. Clearly the “Powers that Be” as Wal-Mart slept through their high school history classes.
on 14 Nov 2006 at 1:21 pm8yawk
reemmber when target accidentally made white power clothes?
a dragon with “88″ underneath?
this is just the product of goofy graphic designers playing with symbols. they are often guilty of not knowing what they’re signifying.
on 14 Nov 2006 at 1:24 pm9Rachel
I totally agree with Jessica. I am another apparel industry slave and know that 9 out of 10 times the date has nothing to do with any signicant time frame…only a date pulled from thin air. Usually something that hasn’t been used in the last couple of seasons. And as for the image…I highly doubt Wal-mart would back the neo-nazi image knowing full well what it represented…it is 99% an artists bad choice of images to copy.
on 14 Nov 2006 at 1:42 pm10Bonnie :-)
Just another good reason not to shop at Wal-Mart!!!
on 14 Nov 2006 at 2:19 pm11Z
Why buy a random Walmart shirt to represent nazis and anti-semitism when you go buy a von Dutch trucker hat and do the same thing, only COOLER…
on 14 Nov 2006 at 2:42 pm12Ape Drape
1978 is significant in that the American Nazi party got to march in Skokie, IL. Skokie contains a very large Jewish community, which is why it was chosen.
It was big news back then because Skokie said no to the march and then the ACLU stepped in, keeping stride with their vigorous defense of the rights of nazis, child molesters etc etc. . So the Nazis got to march in Skokie after suing Skokie.
It’s much like a Klan rally in a black community.
on 14 Nov 2006 at 2:58 pm13vinceums
Maybe 1978 isn’t so benign after all….
Lot’s of folks use the relatively simple Number to Letter of alphabet coding system..
You may have seen “Support your local 81st (8 = “H” 1 = “A” so Support your local 81st = support your local Hells Angels).
Under that system, 1 9 7 8 = A I G H.
All sorts of neo-nazi phrases you can make with those letters, considering they contain Adolf Hitler’s initials. I.G. could equal lots of things… “Is Great” for example.
If they used “Since 1897″ instead, the connection would be almost undeniable. It’s easy to imagine that the designer(or an “editor” at the design company) swithced the numbers adound to either disguise the meaining OR to simply make the date more recent. I can easily imagine a neo nazi selecting that image, and Since 1897 and submitting it, and haing someone change it to 1978 to make it look more like a 70’s tee shirt. (though why would a shirt FROM 1978 say “Since 1978″??) Would anyone make a “Since 2004″ shirt this year?? doesn’t make much sense…
on 14 Nov 2006 at 3:15 pm14Wade
Wow - you got some smart readers here. I was going to mention the Skokie thing in 1978, but the last comment addressed it.
It was the Skokie incident that inspired the nazi side-plot in “Blues Brothers.”
As far as the ACLU goes, what the unenlightened on both the Right and the Left fail to recognize is that the First Amendment requires an organization like the ACLU to protect it. The ACLU is amoral (as opposed to immoral) in these matters and doesn’t let emotion and passion influence its work.
As an individual, I’d like nothing more than to hand out a beat-down to some nazi sonuvabitch, and under the right circumstances, I can see myself doing so. But as part of a society governed by the Constitution, I also acknowledge that they have a First Amendment right.
on 14 Nov 2006 at 3:37 pm15Jonathan
I agree with Bonnie, It is
“Just another good reason not to shop at Wal-Mart!!!”
on 14 Nov 2006 at 3:52 pm16Donna
I just saw this on CNN. I’m cheering for you in posting this! We’ll never know how the shirt got there, but if it can cause some bad PR for Wal-mart’s “evil empire”, I’m all for it!
on 14 Nov 2006 at 3:55 pm17Bob
rick your a idiot with no wisdom
on 14 Nov 2006 at 4:00 pm18Susan Kidder
And what were you doing stopping at Walmart to buy anything?
on 14 Nov 2006 at 4:47 pm19j03
The Turner Diaries, written by neo-Nazi leader William Pierce in 1978.
http://www.adl.org/PresRele/Militi_71/2737_71.asp
on 14 Nov 2006 at 4:53 pm20j03
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turner_Diaries
According to the book description accompanying the 1996 edition published by Barricade Books, the United States Department of Justice considers the novel to be a manifesto for far right militia groups, while the Federal Bureau of Investigation believes that it served as inspiration for the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995.
on 14 Nov 2006 at 4:53 pm21Yehuda Cohn
Nice catch. But let’s not read too much into this. I seriously doubt it’s any big deal.
on 14 Nov 2006 at 5:04 pm22Huh
I think a lot of people in the clothing industry just put an image on a t-shirt that they think is cool, they don’t think anything much about the image
Wal Mart and Hot Topic are also famous for selling lots of Che clothing. This is kind of strange cause Che was a communist revolutionary and Wal Mart/ Hot Topic are the pinnacle of Capitalism. I think Wal Mart is only trained to deny clothing with Gangster reference…a very lax rule set that allows these shirts to get by. Plus if your not a polly sci, History, or have a keen eye for symbols then you have no knowledge of what any of these symbols mean. In fact an anti racist student organization at my college uses this very same skull and cross symbol, mostly cause its “radical” looking
So political correctness be dam…as long as your shirt is radical looking its on the shelves
on 14 Nov 2006 at 6:06 pm23JS
Hey!
This skull design was inspired by another military unit of an ealier age (The Dragoons, or something). The german tank crews that were sent to the Spanish Civil War wore these on their berets. The Waffen SS took the design and made it their own. The 3rd SS made it the unit insigna, but the SS as a whole wore it on their caps and field headresses.
Nazi, and especially SS images started beeing used in the 70’s with the British punk movement. That stuff isn’t new…The rock band Kiss used the lightning bolts of the SS logo for their own signature, so did AC/DC for that matter.
Fuct Skateboards used the skull a few years back and more recently, Obey Propaganda.
No big deal, I think.
J-S
on 14 Nov 2006 at 6:08 pm24John Seal
I would be inclined to accept the explanation that this was an unfortunate but unintentional appropriation of Nazi imagery, if not for the fact that ’since 1978′ is in Gothic script. That makes a denial a bit harder.
on 14 Nov 2006 at 8:49 pm25Jake
Personally the image made me think of aztecs, not nazis, but that’s pretty obviously not the source.
And I was born in 1978 but I’m not a nazi, a stormtrooper, or a yorick-esque skull…
And I’m not in the fashion industry but I don’t really buy the dismissals posted. Coincidences just really aren’t, in my experience. Skokie seems a far more likely reference.
Or it could have been “The Boys from Brazil,”
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077269/
on 14 Nov 2006 at 9:04 pm26Jessica
Okay - to those people who do NOT work in the fashion industry - you cannot understand the pressure that artists are put under to create art and create it NOW.
The designer is in the buy meeting with the Wal-Mart buyers. The buyers don’t like anything in front of them - but they know that they want to buy a skull. Designer calls artist - “I need a skull design in the next five minutes! And it should look vintage and distressed - I don’t know - throw a year on there.”
And this is how the art is created for the shirts you buy at Wal-Mart. Just like everything else having to do with Wal-Mart, it is a quick and dirty process.
Is it possible that the artist was making a subversive neo-Nazi statement? Yes, anything is possible. Is it likely? No.
on 14 Nov 2006 at 11:05 pm27Travis
Well, it coud be from the rising punk era, were the banned icons were worn to signify rebellion, and not exactly support of the nazis. Kind of like the whole biker hells angels thing.
But at the bottem of it, someone forgot to do their homework. I’d buy it, just to say i got it at walmart.
on 14 Nov 2006 at 11:08 pm28Jeff
Sure sounds like Jessica understands exactly what she is talking about! Makes perfect sense, too. Find a cool looking image, pop it on a shirt, deadline met and no harm intended.
Understand, though, that evil regimes of the past are a real one-stop-shop for cool looking symbols, images, clothing, etc. If you had to think real hard and say one positive thing about the Nazis, it would surely be “thank God they lost!” If you had to think even harder and come up with positive thing #2, the only thing left really is that for being a bunch of nuts, they certainly had excellent fashion sense!
These symbols and uniforms were created and used because they have a certain subconscious appeal. It worked then, and it still does today. The US GI’s thought the stuff was cool - that’s why there was such a demand for souvenirs at the time. That’s also why most people who collect military antiques collect 3rd Reich items. Are they Nazis? Nope. The stuff is visually interesting, a tangible link with history, and was brought home by granddad after he helped to defeat them. Certainly no harm to society there, though many do not see it that way.
Though I think Jessica is probably right here, there are also plenty of people who enjoy wearing T-Shirts displaying symbols or slogans that make other people upset or uncomfortable. The ‘taboo’ or ‘rebel’ factor is a great marketing tool. This is why some people enjoy wearing Nazi or Communist iconography, Confederate flags, pictures of Che, Bin Ladin, Sandino, etc. Undoubtedly there are a few who really do think that the Nazis were cool, probably even more who think that Che was something other than a murdering sob, etc. Most folks who enjoy such things just like thinking that they are getting away with some sort of ’statement’, whether they know what that statement is or not.
Bottom line -
Is this really harmful? Only to the hyper-sensitive.
Is this appropriate for Wal-Mart? not so much. I wouldn’t want that on the shelves if I was running the store.
on 15 Nov 2006 at 12:15 am29Jan
Does anybody have any idea how many random shirts there are at Wal Mart with skulls on them? Most of us don’t even try to look in to any sort of significance in them. Yes this one in particular obviously has some significance. But how was the average person to know that?
I work there, and yesterday I got an e-mail to pull them from the shelves, the only description given was the color, and “skull”. They had not hit the shelves in my store yet, so I could not find them (several employees looked for them). A new overnight person put them out without knowing their significance. Needless to say with all the hype about them, a local news station employee comes in and finds them and purchases one.
When the store manager got wind of what happened, a few heads rolled. Mine included.
As far as sleeping through history class, my history class included a trip to Auschwitz, as well as Berlin (before the wall came down), I have seen the insignia, but had not seen the shirts until they were slammed down in front of me this morning.
on 15 Nov 2006 at 12:54 am30True dat!
If not for people being able to find work as “fashion designers” and “marketing agents” we would all be living in a Star Trek like Utopia by now.
Fashion and Marketing are jobs that you can’t “be wrong” in, you can only get the job or not, there’s no real measurment for ability, only on how sucessful you are at it. (and before you say they’re the same thing turn on the radio and listen for an hour or two)
If this is what you choose to do for a living, and you go grab the first image you can to meet a deadline, you deserve to get confused for a nazi, lose your job, get hated by your community etc..
Next time I bet they’ll do their homework, or maybe they’ll realize that being a fashion designer is really just a pretend job that requires no skill and does nothing to forward humanity whatsoever. Then they can learn some skills and get a real job.
on 15 Nov 2006 at 1:13 am31Jeff
Jan:
Very sorry to hear that! Anyone who works at a store like that (or knows anyone who does) understands that there is a ton of inventory, especially clothing, and is normally packed to the ceiling this time of year in a back room that does not have anywhere enough space to store all of it. With different shifts working, tons of merchandise, and a vague description, it should be easy to understand how this would slip past and make its way to the shelf. Hopefully it is a tempest in a teapot that will blow over and you can get back to trying to control the normal, every day wal-mart chaos.
on 15 Nov 2006 at 2:22 am32Wal-Mart Knows
Wal-Mart makes claims that it doesn’t sell obscene, vulgar, etc. CDs, DVDs, clothes, etc. but that is so not true. I’m a World War II nut and I recognized that skull and crossbones right off the bat. I also spotted several Rammstein CDs in the racks in the electronics department several years ago. Since the HQ is just up the road from me, I called them about the CDs way back, and about the T-shirts this time. I got the same bored, rude jerk each time who probably just stuck it in a file somewhere and blew me off. Frankly, I don’t care and I think pulling the shirts and refusing to sell certain products all the while raping America is pretty hypocritical and censory of them, but I wanted to see if they would pull it. They didn’t until they started getting an ugly blot in the media for it. Now the shirts are gone, but Rammstein is still in the stores. For those of you who don’t speak German, the lyrics to Rammstein contain several references to raping little boys, incest, child porn, beating women to death, etc. I guess they figure Americans are too stupid to translate the lyrics or look them up.
on 15 Nov 2006 at 11:54 am33Narukami
Jan,
My comment about “sleeping through history class” was not directed at you or anyone at the store level, but at the Wal-Mart buyers and higher management who make the decisions about what items to carry.
From your statements it is clear that your history class went to extrodinary lengths to inform the students about the events of WWII. Very comendable.
Much of this is a “tempest in a teapot” but it is evident that World War Two continues to influence our lives more than 60 years after the event. As the last of the “Greatest Generation” passes that influence might pass as well, but I doubt it.
Good luck to you Jan.
on 15 Nov 2006 at 6:06 pm34Steve
I know that lots of people are saying that the “Since 1978″ is probably just random - and I may be guilty of looking a little to far into the subject, but does the fact that this is realted to the Nazi SS - and the fact that the Gothic Script Shows (from what i can tell) A Double S (One superimposed slightly to the upper right of the other)Not seem a little too Distinct
on 15 Nov 2006 at 7:13 pm35ultimata
Hello,
at first i must say, that something like that could just have happened in Germany, because even here not everyone or let me say nearly no one knows more nazi symbols then the swastika and the double “ss” sign.
I must say, I don’t blame the designers, because I think this skull looks great. But, knowing the historical background of it I wouldn’t wear it. But, I believe many would, not for beeing nazi but for thinking that all this mess with 3rd reich, hitler … is so far away, that you don’t have to be too excited about it.
on 15 Nov 2006 at 7:51 pm36Paul
not a racist…..not a nazi……just an amateur historian….but went and bought one just to say i got it at wal-mart!!!
on 16 Nov 2006 at 5:00 am37jason
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika
just cause something is used doesnt mean thats where it originated from. the swastika is still commonly used in buddist and hindu culture even today. as an avide anime watcher its even used in japanese cartoons still playing these days. the original meaning of the swastika might be good it was just used by some evil people prolly cause they thought it looked cool…go figure
on 16 Nov 2006 at 5:17 am38Benzine
To the person complaining about Rammstein. Can you cite where you got the lyric translation from please?
“the lyrics to Rammstein contain several references to raping little boys, incest, child porn, beating women to death”.
Er, they dont. I have all their albums and have checked severeal translation sites.
on 16 Nov 2006 at 12:02 pm39Steve
yes there are a few twisted individuals out there but I find it a little hard to believe ,if not totaly nieve for people to say that the date 1978 doesn’t have any significant meaning.
you have to be able to read between the lines in everything other wise you just become as gullable as a lemming following it’s brothers and sisters off a cliff.
I look at things through open eyes and j03’s explanation of the turner diaries makes sense and holds some credit.
For everyone who says it means nothing
come right this way I think you need to take a “shower” and empty all your
“ash trays”
just because you ignore a problem doesnt mean it’s not there with the sadistic undertones.
on 16 Nov 2006 at 7:36 pm40Twinkle Toes
History class don’t mean shit. Cuz the MAN in power owns the press and so, re-writes HISTORY for his own gain.
How many cars,how much gold,how much does it take to fill that void?
on 16 Nov 2006 at 7:49 pm41Twinkle Toes
They say that the more money etc. you have the more god has blessed you…….funny…..cuz they go about getting that wealth in such UN-GODLEY ways. Have an answer for that? No, I am not a commie,leftest. But you don’t need to be to see this. I am all for making a buck - if only others don’t hurt because of it. A good wage for a fair job. The world’s on its last leg - grow up.
on 16 Nov 2006 at 8:12 pm42Twinkle Toes
What NORTH AMERICANS do not undertsand is that “Europe” is and always will be, another world.
Stay the fuck out of their bee wax. Go get another X-box.
on 17 Nov 2006 at 2:14 am43The Truth
I think the T-Shirt is cool! Skulls and Crossbones are in. I guess Captain Jack Sparrow is a Nazi too (Pirates of the Caribbean) for he has Skulls and Crossbones flags!
So what if people think it is a Nazi Symbol. Haven’t you seen all the Iron Cross T-Shirts for Orange County Choppers, Jesse James and other prominent biker clothing articles sold at Wal-Mart. The Nazi’s used Iron Crosses too. Oh my god, we must pull those items too!
All this political correctness crap is stupid. I mean really. What’s the difference? Nazis…Jews, Pilgrims…Indians, Serbians…Croats it’s all the same.
Stalin exterminated 10 million of his own people including mostly Jews before WW2 even started. Russia was America’s Ally and continued killing Jews throughout the war! All told Stalin killed more Jews than Hitler even could have thought of. Look it up.
Oh yeah, Something to chew on for the Holidays. Maybe your History books left this out. Rmember when the Anglos came over here stole from, raped and murdered Native Americans by the thousands. Mmmmm, I want some trukey. Happy Thanksgiving. Don’t forget, Go Redskins. They are having a Scalping good season. Let’s do the Tomahok chop!
on 17 Nov 2006 at 7:14 pm44Fred Flintzstein
Uh, National Socialism is not “thinly veiled Nazism.” It IS Nazism. They are both one and the same. And National Socialists did not call themselves “Nazis” since that was a slur for them.
on 18 Nov 2006 at 7:09 am45Mikel
The thing about the iron cross is that it’s not a nazi symbol to begin with. It is the ensignia of the German army, and because of that it’s not a taboo sign.
While this skull was worn by the hardcore SS the most brutal and dedicated nazis in the fighting forces.
on 18 Nov 2006 at 10:11 am46Rick
Could someone please point me to an example of the same skull image Wal-Mart used on it’s shirt also being used by anyone other then by the Nazi SS? I’m not talking about a generic skull and crossbones. I’m specifically referring to the exact image that Wal-Mart put on their t-shirt. The same exact image used by the Nazi SS.
It wasn’t used by pirates or Prussian cavalry troops. Though both pirates and Prussian cavalry troops used skull images, they didn’t use this specific and unique skull.
on 18 Nov 2006 at 5:22 pm47Gloria
Has it yet occurred to anyone that perhaps Walmart is leaving them on the shelves because so many people — even for curiosity’s sake — are buying them?
on 19 Nov 2006 at 1:12 am48Narukami
Rick,
You raise an interesting point.
In fact this is not the only skull design used by the SS. Like many aspects of German military uniforms, the insignia on Waffen-SS uniforms evolved over time. This particular design is most closely associated with the 3rd SS Panzer Division and with the members of the Totenkopf units, which supplied the guars for the Concentration Camps.
There are examples of Army uniforms using items of SS insignia and of Waffen-SS uniforms using Army insignia (Army pattern eagles for example). This was due most likely to shortages of the proper insignia.
You might consult Roger James Bender’s book (Uniforms Organization & History Of The Waffen-SS Vols I-VI) or the books by Andrew and John Mollo to find numerous examples of various skull designs used by the SS throughout their history.
However…
There is a much larger issue here: can a symbol be divorced from its past?
Those who continue to fly the Stars & Bars (Confederate Battle Flag) would have us believe that by doing so they are not supporting nor advocating slavery or racism, but rather “Southern heritage” or even State’s Rights. These “explanations” sound even more hallow than those offered by veterans of the Waffen-SS who submit that they were just soldiers, like any others.
It is also important to remember that the vast majority of the soldiers in the Waffen-SS were neither volunteers nor members on the Nazi party. Some were drafted, some press-ganged into joining, and others transferred from the Navy of Air Force. This includes a large number of Air Force ground crews that were transferred into the 1st SS Panzer Division Leibstandarte (Hitler’s bodyguard division) in late 1942 to replace losses suffered on the Russian Front. These airmen had no say in the matter. (See General Michael Reynolds’ book Steel Inferno pages 18-19.)
So, can a symbol once corrupted be used again without reference to its past?
Perhaps, once all with living memory of World War II are gone – but not before. And even then, perhaps never, so great were the crimes of the Third Reich.
As for the wearing of Nazi regalia…
The photo of George Carlin on his first comedy album shows him wearing a belt buckle used by the Sturm Abtailung – the Storm Troopers. Did he wear it to make a pro-Nazi statement, or because it simply looked cool?
on 19 Nov 2006 at 8:12 pm49Abit Khan
The Truth, you are a dumb. It isn’t just a skull. It’s not just a skull and crossbones. God Damn you must be denser than plutonium.
on 20 Nov 2006 at 2:09 pm50LuX
I think EVERYONE here is thinking too much into this. Hasn’t anyone ever seen the Independent Skate Co.’s, iron cross? I mean..every teenager/twenty something has their clothes. These symbols dont mean anything to the younger generations as it does to everyone else. It’s just a deaths head…big whoop. It symbolized something else 60 years ago, now it’s just another marketing tool. I see backwards swastikas (ancient indian peace symbol) in hippy/head shops all the time. It’s time to get over this whole thing. Plus..I have a deaths head belt buckle. I got it at the mall, it was on sale..it goes great with my steve maddens!
on 20 Nov 2006 at 5:40 pm51Charlotte
Dear Rick,
You’ll be surprised to know that I entered a Wal-Mart just this past Saturday and thought I would do a “spot check” to see if there were t-shirts there. There were none. However, the photo was still there and so, I took a picture of it with my camera phone and sent it to my boyfriend with the text underneath that read, “WTF?” I was tempted to take the picture out of the little plastic holder and storm up to the front counter and ask the manager what the hell the photo was still doing there but the place was so damn busy that I am sure they would have just tossed it in the trash and not given it a second thought. I would have wanted them to actually think about it. You see, my mother is German. So, I don’t blame you for making an issue of this. Sure, kids these days all want skulls on their shoes, tees, hoodies. I go to Vans Warped tour and there are booths set up selling patches that are anti-nazi, anti-discrimination, anti-racism. Even if these kids don’t know what this is, we do. I’d prefer my kid to keep on wearing the Misfits Crimson Ghost T-shirt but not this one. BIG difference. Thank you very much.
on 21 Nov 2006 at 10:24 am52Mario
According to Miami’s Orange Clothing Co. the tshirt was a mistake and Jessica was on the money.
And BTW, the owner of the company is Jewish.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/16063172.htm
on 24 Nov 2006 at 3:10 am53Vladimir
OK it is similar… but look at this naci SS symbol:
http://www.waffen-ss.no/Kragespeil/k-14div.jpg
it is almost exactly the same as PEUGEOT logo )) So what now? SUE Peugeot for having a naci logo ) ? :)))))))
on 24 Nov 2006 at 7:13 pm54frank
they are still selling the shirts at the walmart in elko nevada.
on 25 Nov 2006 at 2:44 pm55TedBell
Dude, what are you doing shopping at
walmart ?
Nice catch, but walmart sucks with or without nazi swag.
Please, can we all just lay off the whole exploitative big box big dumb paradigm ?
http://www.sprawl-busters.com/
http://www.walmartmovie.com/
on 25 Nov 2006 at 5:38 pm56Josef
In other news, scores of retail outlets are still selling Che shirts.
on 27 Nov 2006 at 7:14 pm57Francis
I was shopping at a mall in Boston and saw the same Death’s Head logo on a patch sewed onto a jacket in the display window of Lucky Brand Jeans.
I checked on their website, but did not see the patch on there. It was sewed onto one of the green military jackets they sell.
Should have taken a picture…
on 30 Nov 2006 at 4:33 pm586
Pipka 6…
Blog 6…
on 30 Nov 2006 at 6:07 pm591
You 1…
Popular 1…
on 05 Dec 2006 at 11:25 am60Tammy
America wake up this is what they want to shove down our throats-NEW WORLD ORDER.
Yale Skull and Bones-look it up.I promise you -you will understand at the end of the days research on Skull and Bones you will see what is comeing down.
Its a bad deal and everyone should get mad as hell now.Before its too late.Also Walmart is still selling the logo and now Kmart is.They want you to get used to the symbols-you know-to dethinsisize America.
on 05 Dec 2006 at 1:40 pm61Tammy
I know I spelled that one word wrong-sorry
on 06 Dec 2006 at 2:21 pm62Rick
Whatever happened to the OLD WORLD ORDER? I’ve heard of “old world charm”, but never the order.
Without order, you have chaos.
on 06 Dec 2006 at 3:53 pm63soubriquet
I’d buy one….
I find this vendetta against the image of a skull on a t-shirt frankly absurd.
I’m not a Nazi, nor a sympathiser thereof.
We should all start to realise that the nazis simply appropriated a lot of existing imagery. The death’s head is found on tombstones and in churches all over Europe, dating from many hundreds of years before Hitler.
As also is the even older swastika. Which is a fairly basic and useful image carved by pattern-making humans since neolithic times.
To react in fear, horror and disgust to these ancient symbols is to give them to the nazis, to acknowledge their continuing power.
Be bigger than that.
Reclaim them for the people.
on 06 Dec 2006 at 4:12 pm64yank
The usa is a lost cause they might as well call it Daddy Isreal. You can thank the jews for 9-11 and the middle east crisis and both world wars. You dont believe it do some research. I got to walmart too late to get my shirts.
on 06 Dec 2006 at 4:23 pm65soubriquet
And, whilst we’re on the subject…. The skull was not used only by the German military…
What about the ‘Death or Glory’ boys?
During WWII the British 17th/21st Lancers were wearing their death’s head badges, as they had since 1759… (They were also the first British Cavalry regiment deployed during the American War of Independence.)
http://www.qrl.uk.com/h_home.html
on 06 Dec 2006 at 8:00 pm66Rick
soubriquet, can you honestly say that the examples of the images you provided look anything like the skull used by Wal-Mart and the Nazi SS? The ones you pointed to are different.
on 08 Dec 2006 at 4:04 pm67soubriquet
Rick, I didn’t provide any examples of images.
I said other people, in particular the 17th/21st Lancers used deaths-head imagery. And I linked their website, which has their own insignia upon it. Obviously I made no claim that their badge was an identical artwork, merely a similar sentiment.
I haven’t tracked the SS totenkopf image back very far, but the death’s head was a badge of Prussian Hussars as far back as 1744
Soldiers often have a rather grim sense of humour, which stems perhaps from constantly being faced with the possibility that you yourself may die tomorrow.
In mediaeval times the skull and crossed bones was called a ‘Memento Mori’, literally a ‘reminder of death’. To remind all, the rich, famous, beautiful, clever, the brave and the cowardly, that ultimately, we all end up dead, and our skull and bones would be the same as those of the beggar and the pauper.
The argument here is simply whether Wal-Mart should be treated as nazi sympathisers because they bought in t-shirts with a skull symbol similar to that used by a particularly reviles nazi ss division. And I say no. There is no evidence to say Wal-Mart is pushing nazi ideology or propaganda, simply that they’ve used a clip art image to make a shirt that might appeal to death metal fans and uncommitted goths.
on 08 Dec 2006 at 4:23 pm68Rick
soubriquet, the images you pointed to are different. The Wal-Mart shirts on the other hand are exact copies of the specific skull and bones worn by the Nazi SS. To bring up pirates or Prussian Hussars is really quite pointless. They would have some bearing if the discussion was centered on using skulls as logos. It’s not.
Do you think this is the first time I’ve seen a skull and crossbones image on a t-shirt? I cannot count how many generic skull images I’ve seen the last few years. Skulls that looked like pirate skulls or the skulls favored by the Prussian Hussars.
I had not seen any Nazi SS Death’s Head images until the day in my friendly local Wal-Mart.
To even discuss Wal-Mart’s motives at this point is moot. It was relevant a month ago when all this happened. It’s now been over a month and this shirt can still be found in some Wal-Mart stores. Either corporate Wal-Mart has no control over their stores, or they just don’t care.
My point has always been that if a retailer is going to make a big deal about not selling music with adult content to adults, they ought to not sell Nazi SS paraphernalia to kids. They might have gotten away with claiming ignorance a month ago, but not anymore. At least not with me.
on 02 Jan 2007 at 9:24 pm69Good Grief
“Words are an arbitrary sign of an inward process.”
-Socrates(?)
So what is your inward process?
Skull = Nazis
or
Skull = piss of the teacher/looks cool?
Can you take back your inward process and let:
Skull = piss off the teacher/looks cool?
Then could the Nazis really become what they should be, a part of the (important) past, and the skull image become what it was/should be intended to be a ‘hip’ cheap piece of fashion?
What does your inward process say about who you are?
Cheers.
on 02 Jan 2007 at 10:25 pm70Lucky
I think you people are making to big of a deal out of this.
its just a t-shirt. not a provocation intended for the whole world to see.
it’s probably in only one wal-mart of all the marts in the world. and yet, some guy with nothing better to do in his life chose to moan and bitch about it, and getting the whole world on their feet.
its in the same league of stupidity as was the reaction of the Muslims to the cartoon with Mohamed.
most people dont give a fuck, and probably never will, but some people are just looking for a cause to bitch and moan about.
on 02 Jan 2007 at 11:00 pm71hilda
Lucky,
[quote]its in the same league of stupidity as was the reaction of the Muslims to the cartoon with Mohamed.[/quote]
The muslims who had to endure discrimination, harassment and abuse on daily basis and also have the symbol of their belief become the butt of jokes, or the jews whom ancestors were gassed and later found that they now can buy the symbol of their murderer in Walmart; well all of them deserves every right to react the way they did.
on 03 Jan 2007 at 1:14 am72j arthur rank
couple of points to clarify some simplistic knee-jerk reactions upthread: the American Nazi Party petitioned to march in Skokie in 1977, not 1978, and ultimately, did not march there. Check your facts before lending more urban myth-weight to stupid t-shirts.
on 04 Jan 2007 at 1:07 am73robert
my 2 cents.
this thing is awesome and i want one just because its sold at walmart. not any other reason.
i agree with the fashion people. and wal mart knows they messed up, they even mailed rick on it. its just a goof up some body made for fashion, i am in the military and we get subjected to stupid tv commercials day in and day out, one of them is about nazi’s and what not, and my friend goes is that a skull on there hat? we both thought it was dumb. so i looked it up and found this sight in the mean time of trying to find this nazi “skull”
so i at 24 had no clue what this symbol meant. not that im clueless, but im sure 100’s of thousands of other people dont/didnt either. especially in small rural towns where walmart took over anyhow.
on 04 Jan 2007 at 1:30 am74robert
i read on another comment that rammstein lyrics are about raping little boys and stuff, well that got me curious and i read almost all there songs, and found some disturbing and weird lyrics, but none of raping little boys, now maybe the translations were just way off, but i doubt it. also the only strange lyrics, were when he talks about finding men and stuff, so maybe hes gay, or maybe in his attempt to say human he just says guy, or man, or male, or dude, or his/him. but may just mean people in general. im not saying your wrong, but id like some proof they talk about raping children. that would make them seem more hardcore than they do, and enlighten me on their beliefs.
on 04 Jan 2007 at 1:36 am75robert
after looking at more rammstein songs, i found one song that talked about so called raping little boys, it was the song halleluja, and its talking about priests doing bad things sorta, it never quite says he rapes him or anything. look it up
halleluja.
on 05 Jan 2007 at 4:50 pm76nazisarepatheticcowards
Soubriquet writes:
“I haven’t tracked the SS totenkopf image back very far, but the death’s head was a badge of Prussian Hussars as far back as 1744″
How come? You were sufficiently interested to post a site re: 17/21 lancers.
“Soldiers often have a rather grim sense of humour”
Except that “soldiers” almost NEVER create -authorized- uniform insignia — that’s almost always done by general staff officers or government bureaucrats, neither group in the general category of “constantly being faced with the possibility that you yourself may die tomorrow.” So your thesis falls flat on that particular count.
“The argument here is simply whether Wal-Mart should be treated as nazi sympathisers because they bought in t-shirts with a skull symbol similar to that used by a particularly reviles nazi ss division. And I say no.”
Your thesis is faulty here as well. The base issue here is whether Walmart should be held to a consistent standard based on their own policies, AS STATED BY Walmart itself. If the retailer has set itself up as arbiter, protector of ‘decency’ [however Walmart defines that] and censor, then they have taken on the duty to hire people who are educated enough to actually RECOGNIZE images, speech, etc. which ARE unacceptable to the local community standards. And the totenkopf symbol, as worn by ANY nazi-related organization, whether it be the SS, Heer, nazi partei, etc. is and should be, unacceptable to ANY community in the US which lost members in the ongoing fight against nazism, neo or otherwise.
“There is no evidence to say Wal-Mart is pushing nazi ideology or propaganda, simply that they’ve used a clip art image to make a shirt that might appeal to death metal fans and uncommitted goths.”
There’s also no evidence that Wal-Mart is pushing murder, foul language, etc., yet they choose to insert themselves in the process of choosing which items in these categories they stock. No difference. Exactly WHERE is this particular image a “clip art image”? You also neglect to mention that this particular image greatly appeals to nazis, most of whom would recognize the image and its symbolism to their putrid cause.
on 13 Jan 2007 at 4:48 pm77westdel
actually, the waffen ss didn’t wear black uniforms,they were the only to have camo, the ss or Einsazkommados did, the shultzstaffel did. The waffen ss is the army version of the Shultzstaffel, but they were soldiers, not death squads. They all used the Totenkopf, which dates back before the ss or the nazi. Again the nazi just adopted it into their dress. The Totenkopf division did not did not supply the death camps, that was Einsazkommados. The Totenkopf division was a WAFFEN SS branch, Soldiers. You can tell the difference from regular army Werhmacht because the waffen wore there eagle and swaztika on their arm sleeves and werhmacht wore it over there right chest. O, and the Waffen ss didnt draft, that was for the army, they were volunteer for the most part,even from other counties. And the only ones who wore deathheads were waffen ss, the panzer crews were ss too! again look close at their uniforms and any body that had the totenkopf also had the eagle on there ARM not their chest. This is because Hitler wore his on his arm. and as far as walmart, its just a popular band now, I dought they even thought for minute about nazis, ther out for money, and that kind of stuff sales.
on 13 Jan 2007 at 6:01 pm78Linkert
the real worry and concern here should be that you ACTUALLY SHOP AT WALMART! we as people give symbols their meaning. as other people have stated, these symbols, particularly ALL nazi symbols go back WELL BEYOND the era of the nazi party. think (east) Indian, Native American, Egyptian, Druid. were Native Americans nazis? i think the real solution here is to have everyone wear these shirts and symbols, creating a new meaning and stripping the old meaning away just as the nazis did before. after all, nobody jumps up and down over stylized spread eagles, which were used as much as any other nazi symbol. look at the quarter in your pocket. we define the symbols. if you want to rob neo-nazis of their shock-power, then devoid their symbols of their meaning. it is simple. besides, shopping at walmart does more harm than any old symbol ever will.
on 14 Jan 2007 at 4:50 am79Tim Matheson
I agree there are plenty of skull and bones references on our own currency which Wal-Mart gladly accepts from us everyday. This is not proprietary to Nazis as it was used by many other military groups around the world. Could some skin head graphic designer put this together as a prank? Yes. Could this just be a coincidence and nothing more? I would say so. The point is censorship is bad enough in America and things like this only make it even more so. I am a firm believer of it means what you want it to mean. If you want it to mean you’re a Nazi enthusiast then it will. If you’re just into skulls and Goth (as most kids are these days) then it’s just a symbol of your resistance against conforming. Lets keep in mind that the reason the Nazis and many other political groups were fought by the U.S. Military were so that people could decide to wear what they want, say what they want, and have freedom. If we pull these shirts, give it tons of news coverage and then go on and on wasting time trying to cipher the meaning then the Nazis have won and that’s sad. There are much more important things going on in the world than indirect Nazi symbols on shirts at Wal-Mart. Ask Bush JR and SR they both are members of the Yale fraternity “Skull and Bones” which worships skulls, death and symbols just like the totenkopf. Not to mention almost every other politician in this country.
on 14 Jan 2007 at 4:56 am80Tim Matheson
Oh yeah they also tracked down the designer of the alledged “Totenkopf” shirts and guess what. He is Jewish lol. Talk about irony.
Best,
Tim Matheson
on 16 Jan 2007 at 11:39 pm81ThePhantomAssociate
What is the UPC for this shirt? I’ve seen this story enough times to the point where I want to see if I can wrestle any (useable) details from any systems inside walmart. This has piqued my interest and it’s not going away. If someone, somewhere posts the UPC for this shirt on ANY site to where I can find it I will be grateful.
-ThePhantomAssociate
on 24 Jan 2007 at 10:05 am82rethil
Who care if it is nazi insignia or not, no one takes offense at a red star. People will adopt any ideology they wish. There are many things happening to day that are far from moral (depending on your opinion), what are you going to do, ban everything you dont agree with or that makes you feel threatened. Make a law against the wrong opinion. Get real, Can no one see beyond the last war, why dont you try and ban all roman insignia too. So What!
on 25 Jan 2007 at 4:26 pm83Billy
I have seen shirts promoting George W. Bush and the republican party. Pretty offensive to me.
Previous poster is right. Only offensive to the hyper sensative.
The symbol itself doesn’t equal nazi, it is people’s perception and opinion that gives the symbol its meaning.
There is a house owned by either a Hindu or Indian couple (not sure forgive me) and there are two large statues adorned with swastikas. To some, this would indicate the house is occupied by nazi sympathizers, but the reality is that the swatika, along with many other images used by the nazis, including runes, predated the party by hundeds if not thousands of years.
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Ancient Egyptian City Spotted From Space
Related to country: Egypt
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(UFJ)-Satellites hovering above Egypt have zoomed in on a 1,600-year-old metropolis, archaeologists say.
Images captured from space pinpoint telltale signs of previous habitation in the swatch of land 200 miles south of Cairo, which digging recently confirmed as an ancient settlement dating from about 400 A.D.
The find is part of a larger project aiming to map as much of ancient Egypt's archaeological sites, or "tells," as possible before they are destroyed or covered by modern development.
"It is the biggest site discovered so far," said project leader Sarah Parcak of the University of Alabama at Birmingham. "Based on the coins and pottery we found, it appears to be a massive regional center that traded with Greece, Turkey and Libya."
Another large city dating to 600 B.C. and a monastery from 400 A.D. are some of the four hundred or so sites that Parcak has located during her work with the satellites. The oldest dates back over 5,000 years.
Egypt contains a wealth of already identified archaeological tells like these, but even they represent only about 0.01 percent of what is out there still uncovered, Parcak said.
Most of the ancient settlements still buried are at risk of being lost to looting and urban sprawl. Residential sites, where the Egyptian empire's millions of citizens lived during its heyday, are especially vulnerable, archaeologists say.
"There are thousands of settlements that Egyptians don't even know are there," Parcak told LiveScience. "Nothing will ever destroy the Pyramids or the Temple of Luxor, but these huge settlement sites where we get a lot of information are being threatened. And that's how we find out how people lived."
The satellite technology lets archaeologists such as Parcak—the first to use space imagery in Egypt—identify points of interest on a large scale.
"Basically, I'm trying to distinguish the ancient remains from the modern landscape," she said. "A site is going to appear very differently from space." Archaeological sites absorb moisture in a different way, she explained, and tend to be covered with specific types of soil and vegetation.
The subtle differences would take much longer to identify on the ground, said Parcak, so Egypt's government uses her catalog to identify sites and excavate there before development takes over and destroys the site for good.
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Absent parents shamed on website
Related to country: United Kingdom
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More than 100 absent parents could be named and shamed
(UFJ)-Absent parents who refuse to pay maintenance for their children could be named and shamed under plans to reform the Child Support Agency (CSA).
Letters will be sent to parents to ask their permission to name their former partner on the CSA's website.
Critics described the move and other measures including the removal of passports and curfews as "gimmicky".
The bill setting out what happens when the CSA is scrapped next year is also published on Wednesday.
Under the Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill, the CSA will be replaced by the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission (C-MEC).
The government says C-MEC will have tougher powers to force absent parents to pay for their children.
Measures include:
Imposing a curfew on parents who refuse to pay for their children
Removing the passports of parents who refuse to pay maintenance
Allowing C-MEC to take money out of people's bank accounts if they fail to co-operate
Using latest available tax-year information and fixing the award for a year
Using gross weekly income, rather than net - to limit opportunities for manipulating income levels
Charging absent parents for the costs of tracking them down
Information sharing with credit reference agencies - potentially affecting future loan or mortgage applications
Naming and shaming absent parents who refuse to pay maintenance
John Hutton, the Work and Pensions Secretary, said: "There are a small number of parents who seem to think that paying for their kids is something they can simply choose not to do.
"It isn't. And these new powers will mean that non-payment brings real and lasting penalties.
"The new rules will be simpler and more transparent, making it harder to hide income and giving us the power to deduct money direct from bank accounts as well as from earnings."
C-MEC will also work with government bodies including the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise to establish parents' income and set maintenance levels.
'Wholesale reform'
David Laws, the Liberal Democrats' work and pensions spokesman, said it was a "disgrace" that the government had taken 10 years to reform the CSA and "unforgivable" that the reforms would not come fully into force for six years.
"The CSA needs root and branch reform not a gimmicky re-branding exercise.
"Naming and shaming and placing curfews on absent parents who fail to pay their child support may grab a few headlines but it will be little comfort to the families who are owed up to £3.5bn in child support back-payments," said Mr Laws.
He added: "The CSA needs immediate wholesale reform moving its collection functions to the Treasury who are far better placed to enforce deduction of earnings, and creating a transparent appeals mechanism."
In the first round of naming and shaming, more than 100 parents are being targeted. Most will have been found guilty in open court this year of failing to provide information or providing false information.
The parent who looks after the children will be first asked to give their permission for their former partner to be named.
Anyone who has faced action in the family courts for non-compliance will not be included as legal restrictions prevent that from happening.
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Algeria
Related to country: Algeria
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After more than a century of rule by France, Algerians fought through much of the 1950s to achieve independence in 1962. Algeria's primary political party, the National Liberation Front (FLN), has dominated politics ever since. Many Algerians in the subsequent generation were not satisfied, however, and moved to counter the FLN's centrality in Algerian politics. The surprising first round success of the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) in the December 1991 balloting spurred the Algerian army to intervene and postpone the second round of elections to prevent what the secular elite feared would be an extremist-led government from assuming power. The army began a crack down on the FIS that spurred FIS supporters to begin attacking government targets. The government later allowed elections featuring pro-government and moderate religious-based parties, but did not appease the activists who progressively widened their attacks. The fighting escalated into an insurgency, which saw intense fighting between 1992-98 and which resulted in over 100,000 deaths - many attributed to indiscriminate massacres of villagers by extremists. The government gained the upper hand by the late-1990s and FIS's armed wing, the Islamic Salvation Army, disbanded in January 2000. However, small numbers of armed militants persist in confronting government forces and conducting ambushes and occasional attacks on villages. The army placed Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA in the presidency in 1999 in a fraudulent election but claimed neutrality in his 2004 landslide reelection victory. Longstanding problems continue to face BOUTEFLIKA in his second term, including the ethnic minority Berbers' ongoing autonomy campaign, large-scale unemployment, a shortage of housing, unreliable electrical and water supplies, government inefficiencies and corruption, and the continuing - although significantly degraded - activities of extremist militants. Algeria must also diversify its petroleum-based economy, which has yielded a large cash reserve but which has not been used to redress Algeria's many social and infrastructure problems.
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U.S. Hits Alleged Militant Base in Somalia, Officials Say
Related to country: Somalia
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MOGADISHU, Somalia (UFJ) - At least one U.S. warship bombarded a remote, mountainous village in Somalia where Islamic militants had set up a base, officials in the northern region of Puntland said Saturday.
The attack from a U.S. destroyer took place late Friday, said Muse Gelle, the regional governor. The extremists had arrived Wednesday by speedboat at the port town of Bargal.
Gelle said the area is a dense thicket, making it difficult for security forces from the semiautonomous republic of Puntland to intervene on their own.
A local radio station quoted Puntland's leader, Ade Muse, as saying that his forces had battled with the extremists for hours before U.S. ships arrived and used their cannons. Muse said five of his troops were wounded, but that he had no information about casualties among the extremists.
A task force of coalition ships, called CTF-150, is permanently based in the northern Indian Ocean and patrols the Somali coast in hopes of intercepting international terrorists. U.S. destroyers are normally assigned to the task force and patrol in pairs.
CNN International, quoting a Pentagon official, also reported the U.S. warship's involvement. A Pentagon spokesman told The Associated Press he had no information about the incident.
"This is a global war on terror and the U.S. remains committed to reducing terrorist capabilities when and where we find them," Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said.
"We recognize the importance of working closely with allies to seek out, identify, locate, capture, and if necessary, kill terrorists and those who would provide them safe haven," Whitman said. "The very nature of some of our operations, as well as the success of those operations is often predicated on our ability to work quietly with our partners and allies."
Puntland's minister of information, Mohamed Abdulrahman Banga, told the AP that the extremists arrived heavily armed in two fishing boats from southern Somalia, which they controlled for six months last year before being routed by Ethiopian troops sent to prop up a faltering Somali government.
"They had their own small boats and guns. We do not know exactly where they came from - maybe from Ras Kamboni, where they were cornered in January," he said.
Local fishermen, contacted by telephone, said about a dozen fighters arrived Wednesday, but Puntland officials said the number could be as high as 35.
The United States has repeatedly accused Somalia's Council of Islamic Courts of harboring international terrorists linked to al-Qaida and allegedly responsible for the 1998 bombings of the U.S. Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.
The U.S. sent a small number of special operations troops with the Ethiopian forces that drove the Islamic forces into hiding. U.S. warplanes have carried out at least two airstrikes in an attempt to kill suspected al-Qaida members, Pentagon officials have said.
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Illinois Students Lose Diplomas Over Cheers?
Related to country: United States
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Caisha Gayles, seen here before her graduation from Galesburg High School, was one of the students denied her diploma during Sunday's graduation ceremony.
GALESBURG, Illinois (UFJ) - Caisha Gayles graduated with honors last month, but she is still waiting for her diploma. The reason: the whoops of joy from the audience as she crossed the stage.
Gayles was one of five students denied diplomas from the lone public high school in Galesburg after enthusiastic friends or family members cheered for them during commencement.
About a month before the May 27 ceremony, Galesburg High students and their parents had to sign a contract promising to act in dignified way. Violators were warned they could be denied their diplomas and barred from the after-graduation party.
Many schools across the country ask spectators to hold applause and cheers until the end of graduation. But few of them enforce the policy with what some in Galesburg say are strong-arm tactics.
In Galesburg, the issue has taken on added controversy with accusations that the students were targeted because of their race: four are black and one is Hispanic. Parents say cheers also erupted for white students, and none of them was denied a diploma.
"It was like one of the worst days of my life," said Gayles, who had a 3.4 grade-point average and officially graduated, but does not have the keepsake diploma to hang on her wall. "You walk across the stage and then you can't get your diploma because of other people cheering for you. It was devastating, actually."
School officials in Galesburg, a working-class town of 34,000 that is still reeling from the 2004 shutdown of a 1,600-employee refrigerator factory, said the get-tough policy followed a 2005 commencement where hoots, hollers and even air horns drowned out much of the ceremony and nearly touched off fights in the audience when the unruly were asked to quiet down.
"Lots of parents complained that they could not hear their own child's name called," said Joel Estes, Galesburg's assistant superintendent. "And I think that led us to saying we have to do something about this to restore some dignity and honor to the ceremony so that everyone can appreciate it and enjoy it."
In Indianapolis, public school officials this year started kicking out parents and relatives who cheer. At one school, the superintendent interrupted last month's graduation to order police to remove a woman from the gymnasium.
It's an important, solemn occasion. There's plenty of time for celebration before and after," said Clarke Campbell, president of the Indianapolis school board.
Principal Tom Chiles said administrators who monitored the more than 2,000-seat auditorium reported only disruptions they considered "significant," and all turned in the same five names.
"Race had absolutely nothing to do with it whatsoever," Chiles said. "It is the amount of disruption at the time of the incident."
School officials said they will hear students and parents out if they appeal. Meanwhile, the school said the five students can still get their diplomas by completing eight hours of public service work, answering phones, sorting books or doing other chores for the district, situated about 150 miles southwest of Chicago.
Gayles' mother said she plans to fight the school board - in court if necessary - to get her daughter's diploma. The noise "was like three seconds. It was like, `Yay,' and that was it," Carolyn Gayles said.
American Civil Liberties Union spokesman Edward Yohnka said Galesburg's policy raises no red flags as long as it is enforced equitably. "It's probably well within the school's ability to control the decorum at an event like this," he said.
Another student who was denied her diploma, Nadia Trent, said she will probably let the school keep it if her appeals fail.
"It's not fair. Somebody could not like me and just decide to yell to get me in trouble. I can't control everyone, just the ones I gave tickets to," Trent said.
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4 American Oil Workers Released In Nigeria
Related to country: Nigeria
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(AP) Four American oil workers abducted three weeks ago in Nigeria's restive oil region were released Wednesday.
As journalists looked on, a judge who mediated in the matter escorted the four men to the governor's office in southern Rivers State and turned them over to authorities. U.S. Embassy officials weren't immediately available for comment.
The men's identities were not released. Chevron Corp. reported May 9 only that the men had been seized when their work boat was stopped by gunmen armed with assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades.
Some 200 foreigners have been kidnapped since armed militants stepped up attacks on the oil industry and the government in late 2005, pressing their demand that more oil revenue be put into the impoverished Niger Delta. Most hostages have been quickly released for ransom.
Growing lawlessness, including the armed attacks, in the oil-rich region have caused a 25 percent decrease in petroleum exports from Nigeria, Africa's leading oil producer.
In his inaugural speech Tuesday, President Umaru Yar'Adua appealed for an immediate end to violence in the region of swamps, creeks and mangrove forests. The largest militant group said it would consider the overture.
Elsewhere in the region, Royal Dutch Shell PLC said it had suspended oil shipments of 150,000 barrels a day because protesters had besieged one of its export terminals this week.
The protesters tampered with some pipeline equipment, forcing the shutdown of the Bomu Manifold center Monday in the Ogoni district of Nigeria's southern oil region, company spokesman Precious Okolobo said.
"We had to defer export of 150,000 barrels per day," Okolobo said.
It was the second disruption of supply on the pipeline, which sends oil from onshore facilities around the city of Port Harcourt to Shell's Bonny oil export terminal.
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U.S. Pilots Indicted In Brazil Plane Crash
Related to country: Brazil
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Joseph Lepore, left, and copilot Jean Paul Palladino wait to board a flight at Cuiaba's airport,
(UFJ) A federal judge indicted two U.S. pilots and four Brazilian air traffic controllers Friday on charges equivalent to involuntary manslaughter in connection with Brazil's worst air disaster, court officials said.
Judge Murilo Mendes accepted the charges filed by a prosecutor last week in a federal court in Sinop, a small city near the Amazon jungle site where a Boeing jetliner last year plunged into the rain forest after a collision with an executive jet. All 154 people aboard the jetliner died, while the executive jet landed safely.
"The judge accepted the charges and now the criminal process begins," court spokesman Fabio Paz said by telephone. He said the American pilots have been called on to give preliminary depositions on Aug. 27 and the flight controllers have been called to testify a day later.
Prosecutors last week asked the judge to indict pilots Joseph Lepore and Jan Paul Paladino, both of New York state, with exposing an aircraft to danger resulting in death. The charge is similar to involuntary manslaughter and punishable by one to three years in prison, Paz said.
A lawyer for the pilots said the charges were unfounded.
"The pilots' conduct was completely competent throughout the flight and cannot be fairly characterized as criminal," Joel R. Weiss said. "The allegations against the pilots are inaccurate, and the pilots are innocent."
He added: "The fact is that air traffic control placed and approved these two aircraft on a collision course, on the same airway, and altitude traveling toward each other. That is the overwhelming, obvious root cause of this accident."
Though the Brazilian judge wants the pilots questioned in Brazil, lawyers for Lepore and Paladino previously suggested that could happen in the United States. They have declined to speculate on whether the pilots would return to Brazil if convicted.
Lepore, 42, and Paladino, 34, were flying an Embraer Legacy 600 executive jet when it collided on Sept. 29, 2006, with a Boeing 737 operated by Gol Linhas Aereas Inteligentes SA, sending the passenger jet crashing into a remote swathe of the jungle.
One of the four controllers was indicted with the more serious crime of knowingly exposing an aircraft to danger — similar to manslaughter — while the others face the same charges as the pilots.
Mendes in his ruling accepted the prosecutors' arguments that the air traffic controllers could be tried in civilian courts. Before the prosecutor asked for the indictments, Brazilian officials consistently said the military controllers could only be charged in military courts.
Under Brazilian law, judges — not grand juries — issue indictments.
The two pilots were detained for two months after the crash. They were allowed to leave the country after promising to return for any court proceedings.
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US unemployment rate steady at 4.5 per cent in May
Related to country: United States
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President Georg Bush
Washington (UFJ) - The US unemployment rate remained steady in May at 4.5 per cent, while the economy added 157,000 new jobs to the labor market, Washington reported Friday.
The Labor Department noted that by contrast in April, the US economy had added 88,000 jobs during a month when the unemployment rate was also 4.5 per cent.
Analysts said the jobs data in May pointed to low-level economic recovery taking place.
The Labor Department said the US economy chiefly created new employment in the health sector, food industry and restaurants. But there was a decline in jobs in the manufacturing sector.
Total employment in the US in May stood at 145.9 million.
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Global TB Statistics
Related to country: Zimbabwe
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MR. BEY, DIRECTOR UFJ
More than a decade after it was identified as a global health emergency, tuberculosis remains one of the world's leading infectious causes of death among adults. About one-third of the world's population, or two billion people, carry TB bacteria, although most never develop active TB disease. The disease has been on the rise since the 1980s, with its spread concentrated in Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Much of TB's resurgence is directly connected to the HIV/AIDS pandemic -- especially in Africa where HIV is the most important factor determining the increased incidence of TB. Worldwide, an estimated one-third of the near 40 million people living with HIV/AIDS are co-infected with TB. The emergence of drug-resistant TB, particularly in settings where many TB patients are also infected with HIV, poses a serious threat to TB control, and confirms the need to strengthen prevention and treatment efforts
6,525,170,264: World population (July 2006 est.)
14,052,212: People living with TB, 2005
8,810,805:New TB cases, 2005
217: People living with TB per 100,000 population, 2005
1,577,270: TB Deaths, 2005
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Michael Had 'Date-Rape Drug' In His System
Related to country: United Kingdom
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AKA Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou (George Michael)
LONDON (UFJ)-- George Michael, who has pleaded guilty to driving while unfit, had several drugs in his system when he was arrested, a court heard Wednesday.
Tests showed the 43-year-old singer had taken a therapeutic quantity of an antidepressant as well as gamma-hydroxybutyrate, or GHB, Prosecutor Andrew Torrington told Brent Magistrates' Court in London.
GHB is often called the "date-rape drug" because it leaves people groggy and powerless.
Michael, who wasn't in court Wednesday, pleaded guilty May 8 to driving while unfit due to drugs. He said his condition was caused by "tiredness and prescribed drugs."
The former Wham! singer, whose real name is George Panayiotou, was arrested in the early hours of Oct. 2 after police responded to complaints that a car was blocking an intersection in North London. Police said Michael was found slumped over the wheel of the car.
His lawyer, Michael Grieve, told the court a prescription sleeping drug was the most likely explanation for Michael's condition.
Michael said in a TV interview earlier this month that he is addicted to prescription drugs and believes the world would be a better place if more people smoked marijuana.
He blamed his erratic behavior to an attention-seeking and "self-destructive" impulse brought on by the death of his mother a decade ago.
The case was adjourned until June 8 for sentencing, the day before Michael performs at Wembley Stadium as part of his European tour.
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King warns against Israel's transfer of governmental offices to east Jerusalem
Related to country: Israel
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Rabat, (UFJ) - King Mohammed VI, chairman of the Al Quds Committee on Tuesday warned against the intention of Israel to transfer its governmental and administrative offices to the holy city of Al Quds (Jerusalem), and to build thousands of houses there, insisting that such a move would only "harm" efforts to re-launch the peace process.
Israel is said to be planning to move most of the governmental departments to the holy city as part of preparations for celebrating the 40th anniversary for unifying the two parts of Al Quds.
In separate messages to the heads of State of the UN Security Council member countries, to Pope Benedict XVI, to the president of the European Union Council and to the president of the European Commission, the monarch stressed that any such Israeli measure would only "harm" the efforts made by the international community to re-launch the peace process, and put and end to this old conflict in the region.
Any action of this kind undertaken par Israel in the present juncture would undoubtedly worsen the situation in the Palestinian territories, said the monarch who chairs the Al Quds Committee, an offshoot of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) representing over 1.2 billion Muslims around the world.
Such an action would also have detrimental consequences on the whole situation, he asserted.
The monarch called on his addressees to undertake their “good offices” to persuade Israeli authorities “to renounce to any measure that would in no way serve the cause of peace in the region and in the world.”
He underlined that “the Kingdom of Morocco is strongly concerned with the situation in the region,” recalling that the North African country will “continue its endeavors to re-launch the peace process, and to provide its contribution to the efforts of the international community to establish peace in the Middle East.”
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Ousted judge 'was illegally held'
Related to country: Pakistan
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Mr Chaudhry is now seen as a lightning rod for dissent
Pakistan's suspended chief justice has said he was "illegally detained" by the country's secret service heads when he was removed from office in March.
Iftikhar Chaudhry made his allegations in an affidavit to the Supreme Court. It is the first time the judge has given his version of what happened.
Mr Chaudhry's lawyer also told the court that Gen Musharraf had "personal malice" against the ousted judge.
Protests over the suspension have grown into a campaign against the government.
The president, who is also army chief, is accused of trying to stifle the independence of the judiciary in an election year.
He accuses Mr Chaudhry of abuse of office, a charge the judge denies.
Observers say the anti-government protests are the most serious challenge to the president's authority since he seized power in 1999.
'Innocent'
Mr Chaudhry won the right to have his case heard by the Supreme Court at the start of May.
On Tuesday, his lawyers summed up their arguments, and for the first time released details of what happened when the president tried to persuade their client to resign.
According to the court affadavit, a copy of which the BBC has seen, the heads of three Pakistani intelligence services spent five hours putting pressure on Mr Chaudhry to resign.
The chief justice says he was called to a meeting at Army House in Rawalpindi to be confronted by the president and senior government figures, as well as the director-generals of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Military Intelligence (MI) and the Intelligence Bureau (IB).
Mr Chaudhry says he was then accused of abusing his powers as a judge and acquiring assets far beyond his income, as well as using his position to acquire a government job for his son.
The chief justice says "he denied the veracity and credibility of these allegations".
When he pointed out that his Mercedes had been sent by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz himself, the latter chose to remain silent, the affadavit says.
Subsequently, according to the chief justice, the president asked him to resign and if he did so willingly, he would "be accommodated".
If not, then he would face "a bigger embarrassment".
Mr Chaudhry says he refused and said that he would fight all charges against his person.
"I wouldn't resign... since I am innocent," he told the president, according to the affidavit.
The affidavit says President Musharraf stood up angrily at this reply and left the room, followed by the prime minister and other staff.
'Phone lines cut'
Mr Chaudhry says that he was then made to stay in the room for the next five hours while the intelligence heads insisted he resign.
The affadavit says the judge tried to leave several times but was "confronted by an officer who prevented his exit".
When he was finally allowed to leave he was prevented from going to the Supreme Court and found his residence surrounded by security personnel, the affadavit says.
All phone lines were blocked, it says.
The chief justice alleges that his entire family was held under virtual house arrest for the next four days, with no visitors allowed and access denied to medical facilities and doctors.
The government has at various times denied charges were brought against the chief justice without his prior knowledge.
It has also denied detaining him against his will.
President Musharraf denies any personal animosity towards the judge and says he was acting out of constitutional duty.
The government's lawyers are expected to submit their replies to the affidavit on Wednesday.
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Japanese Minister Faced Questions in Bookkeeping Scandal Hangs Himself
Related to country: Japan
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TOKYO (UFJ) -- Japan's agriculture minister died Monday after hanging himself just hours before he was to face questioning in a political scandal, officials said, dealing a powerful blow to the increasingly beleaguered government ahead of July elections.
Toshikatsu Matsuoka, 62, was found in his apartment Monday unconscious and declared dead hours later.
An autopsy showed that he died after hanging himself, according to a Tokyo Metropolitan Police official who spoke on customary condition of anonymity. The minister was found hanging from a door in his apartment earlier Monday, and he left a suicide note, according to local media reports.
Matsuoka's death comes just ahead of upper house elections, and as support for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Cabinet is plunging.
Abe, looking shaken after visiting the hospital where Matsuoka died, said although the minister had been "under intense questioning" in parliament, he had continued to be a useful member of the Cabinet.
"I am very disappointed," he said. "When I saw his face, he seemed to be at peace."
Matsuoka had faced heavy criticism over a scandal involving suspicious bookkeeping practices in his offices, and was scheduled to appear before a parliamentary committee Monday afternoon for further questioning.
He was under fire for allegedly claiming more than $236,600 in utility fees even though he rented a parliamentary office where utility costs are free. Opposition lawmakers had demanded his resignation, but Matsuoka denied any wrongdoing.
Abe had defended Matsuoka, saying that the agriculture minister reported to him all the alleged issues were properly handled and that his dismissal was not needed.
Matsuoka had been dogged by scandal. Along with the utilities questions, he apologized publicly just three days after taking office for not declaring $8,500 in political donations.
He acknowledged the undeclared funds, which came in the form of purchased tickets to a fundraising party, saying he was unaware that the contributions had not been reported. Matsuoka had since corrected his political funds report for 2005.
Japan's political funds law requires politicians to declare such donations when they exceed $1,700, Kyodo News said. The contributions came from the World Business Expert Forum, a group associated with scandal-hit business consultant FAC Co., which was raided by authorities in June on suspicion of illegally collecting funds from investors, Kyodo said.
Japan's suicide rate is among the highest in the industrialized world. More than 32,000 Japanese took their own lives in 2004, the bulk of them older Japanese suffering financial woes as the country struggled through a decade of economic stagnation.
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Body of Patriots' Hill Found in Lake Pontchartrain After Jet Ski Accident
Related to country: United States
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Marquise Hill, May 27: The New England Patriots defensive lineman and former star at LSU had a Jet Ski accident on Lake Pontchartrain near New Orleans he was not wearing a life jacket at the time of Sunday's accident.
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(UFJ) NEW ORLEANS, May 28 - The body of New England Patriots player Marquise Hill was found Monday, a day after he was reported missing following a jet ski accident on Lake Pontchartrain.
Hill's body was discovered by searchers about a quarter of a mile from where the 24-year-old former LSU star and a female companion were involved in the accident, Capt. Brian Clark of the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Department said.
"We have suffered a stunning and tragic loss," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said in a written statement Monday evening. "Marquise will be remembered as a thoughtful and caring young man who established himself as one of the year-round daily fixtures of our team. I send my deepest condolences to the Hill family."
The Coast Guard was called Sunday night, Petty Officer Tom Atkeson said. The search began immediately, using boats and helicopters.
By the time the body was found, the Coast Guard, Wildlife and Fisheries, the New Orleans Police Department and Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Department were involved, Clark said.
Loved ones including Hill's fiancee, Inell Benn, and friends, including Patriots teammate Randall Gay, waited anxiously along the shoreline as the search went on. They consoled one another when authorities told them Hill had been found dead.
"Right now's a terrible time," Benn said. "I don't know what to feel right now."
Gay, who also played with Hill at LSU, had planned to spend the holiday weekend in Baton Rouge, but drove to New Orleans on Monday to monitor the search.
"Knowing that I have to go back to work and go look at his locker this week, it's tough," Gay said.
Hill's body was taken to the Orleans Parish Coroner's office, but phone messages left there and on coroner Frank Minyard's cell phone were not immediately returned.
Hill's agent, Albert Elias, said he had been told Hill and a young woman were jet skiing Sunday in the lake when both of them went into the water, which had a strong current.
Authorities said the woman was able to make it to a pylon and hang on until she was rescued, while Hill was last seen floating away from the scene.
Hill played on LSU's national championship team and was a second-round draft pick by New England in 2004. Hill had yet to start for the Patriots, playing in 13 games in his NFL career.
"We are absolutely heartbroken," Patriots owner Robert Kraft said in a statement. "Marquise was a very respectful young man who worked hard to improve and was always eager to contribute to the team, both on the field and in the community."
The woman, whose identity was not available Monday, was rescued and sent to Tulane Medical Center where she told them Hill had tried to keep her calm as the two were drifting away from each other.
Neither Hill nor the woman wore a life preserver, Atkeson said.
"It's so important to have a life jacket and a signaling device," Atkeson said. "One keeps you afloat and the other helps us find you."
Elias said Hill, a defensive end, spent much of his time since Hurricane Katrina helping rebuild the homes of family members including his mother, Sherry, and the mother of his 2-year-old son.
"From what I hear he's done a lot to help with things after Katrina and I know he had a great passion for the city of New Orleans," said former LSU quarterback Matt Mauck, who was Hill's teammate at LSU. "Off field he was a really kind person, kind of like a gentle giant. And not only for LSU, but for New England and everyone who got chance to meet him throughout his life, everyone has to be extremely saddened and disappointed to hear the news."
After going to the NFL, Hill continued to do much of his offseason training at LSU's Baton Rouge campus, about 80 miles up the Mississippi River from New Orleans, and was known and admired by current Tigers players, university athletics spokesman Michael Bonnette said.
"His presence meant a lot for some of the younger guys. He gave them someone to look up to and he was always there for them," Bonnette said. "Here's a 6-foot-6, 300-pound guy, as intimidating as can be, and yet every time you approached him he always welcomed you with big old smile. In between the lines, he had his game-face on, but outside the lines, in the community or in the weight room, he was always smiling and having good time."
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Health Benefits
Related to country: Benin
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A Digestive Aid and A Natural Anti-Inflammatory
Fresh pineapple is rich in bromelain, a group of sulfur-containing proteolytic (protein-digesting) enzymes that not only aid digestion, but can effectively reduce inflammation and swelling, and has even been used experimentally as an anti-cancer agent. A variety of inflammatory agents are inhibited by the action of bromelain. In clinical human trials, bromelain has demonstrated signifcant anti-inflammatory effects, reducing swelling in inflammatory conditions such as acute sinusitis, sore throat, arthritis and gout, and speeding recovery from injuries and surgery. To maximize bromelain's anti-inflammatory effects, pineapple should be eaten alone between meals or its enzymes will be used up digesting food. Bromelain is found in both the flesh and stem of pineapple. Since it is deactivated by heat, pineapple juice and canned pineapple are not good sources of this health-promoting enzyme. In terms of getting bromelain from pineapple, fresh is definitely the way to go.
Antioxidant Protection and Immune Support
Vitamin C is the body's primary water-soluble antioxidant, defending all aqueous areas of the body against free radicals that attack and damage normal cells. Free radicals have been shown to promote the artery plaque build-up of atherosclerosis and diabetic heart disease, cause the airway spasm that leads to asthma attacks, damage the cells of the colon so they become colon cancer cells, and contribute to the joint pain and disability seen in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. This would explain why diets rich in vitamin C have been shown to be useful for preventing or reducing the severity of all of these conditions. In addition, vitamin C is vital for the proper function of the immune system, making it a nutrient to turn to for the prevention of recurrent ear infections, colds, and flu.
Manganese and Thiamin (Vitamin B1) for Energy Production and Antioxidant Defenses
Pineapple is an excellent source the trace mineral manganese, which is an essential cofactor in a number of enzymes important in energy production and antioxidant defenses. For example, the key oxidative enzyme superoxide dismutase, which disarms free radicals produced within the mitochondria (the energy production factories within our cells), requires manganese. Just one cup of fresh pineapple supplies 128.0% of the DV for this very important trace mineral. In addition to manganese, pineapple is a good source of thiamin, a B vitamin that acts as a cofactor in enzymatic reactions central to energy production.
Anti-Tumor Compounds Found in Pineapple Stems
Two molecules found in pineapple stems have shown anti-tumor activity in research done at Australia's Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR). One of the molecules, called CCS, blocks the Ras protein, which is defective in approximately 30% of all cancers, while the other molecule, CCZ, stimulates the immune system to target and eliminate cancer cells.
The QIMR researchers discovered these anti-cancer molecules while studying bromelain. "We suspected that different components of the crude mixture might be responsible for bromelain's biological effects. In searching for these components, we discovered the CCS and CCZ proteins and found that they could block growth of a broad range of tumour cells, including breast, lung, colon, ovarian and melanoma," said lead researcher, Dr. Tracey Mynott.
According to the National Cancer Institute, cancer has now overtaken cardiac disease as the largest killer in the U.S. Cancer incidence increases with age, with approximately 80% of cancers occurring in people over the age of 55. The major limitation of current cancer therapies is they are non-specific and affect both normal and tumor cells. Future cancer treatments will be highly specific to selectively destroy the cancer cells, counteracting the mechanisms by which cancers grow. Data already generated show that CCS and CCZ have the desired specificity and selectivity.
"An interesting characteristic of CCS and CCZ is that they are proteases. Proteases are traditionally thought of as degradative enzymes which breakdown proteins, such as in the process of digestion. Other reports on the role of proteases in disease have centered on their potential to cause damage. CCS and CCZ are the first examples of proteases that have been shown to modulate cell signal transduction pathways and have specific immunomodulatory activities," said Dr Mynott.
"The way CCS and CCZ work is different to any other drug in clinical use today. Therefore, CCS and CCZ will represent a totally new way of treating disease and potentially a whole new class of anti-cancer agent. In general, products with novel mechanisms of action are more likely to represent real breakthroughs in the treatment or prevention of disease." QIMR is continuing to investigate CCS and CCZ to demonstrate i) additional in vivo proof of principle, ii) reliable supply of the material and iii) safety. All these factors will be addressed in a two year research program. If all the objectives of the research are achieved, CCS or CCZ will rapidly progress to human clinical trials.
Protection against Macular Degeneration
Your mother may have told you carrots would keep your eyes bright as a child, but as an adult, it looks like fruit is even more important for keeping your sight. Data reported in a study published in the Archives of Ophthalmology indicates that eating 3 or more servings of fruit per day may lower your risk of age-related macular degeneration (ARMD), the primary cause of vision loss in older adults, by 36%, compared to persons who consume less than 1.5 servings of fruit daily.
In this study, which involved over 110,000 women and men, researchers evaluated the effect of study participants' consumption of fruits; vegetables; the antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E; and carotenoids on the development of early ARMD or neovascular ARMD, a more severe form of the illness associated with vision loss. While, surprisingly, intakes of vegetables, antioxidant vitamins and carotenoids were not strongly related to incidence of either form of ARMD, fruit intake was definitely protective against the severe form of this vision-destroying disease. Three servings of fruit may sound like a lot to eat each day, but pineapple can help you reach this goal. Add fresh pineapple to your morning smoothie, lunch time yogurt, any fruit and most vegetable salads. For example, try adding chunks of pineapple to your next coleslaw or carrot salad.
Description
Pineapple, Ananas comosus, belongs to the Bromeliaceae family, from which one of its most important health-promoting compounds, the enzyme bromelain, was named. The Spanish name for pineapple, pina, and the root of its English name, reflects the fruit's visual similarity to the pinecone.
Pineapples are actually not just one fruit but a composite of many flowers whose individual fruitlets fuse together around a central core. Each fruitlet can be identified by an "eye," the rough spiny marking on the pineapple's surface.
Pineapples have a wide cylindrical shape, a scaly green, brown or yellow skin and a regal crown of spiny, blue-green leaves. The fibrous flesh of pineapple is yellow in color and has a vibrant tropical flavor that balances the tastes of sweet and tart. The area closer to the base of the fruit has more sugar content and therefore a sweeter taste and more tender texture.
History
While pineapples are thought to have originated in South America, they were first discovered on the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe by Christopher Columbus in 1493. When Columbus and other discovers brought pineapples back to Europe, attempts were made to cultivate the sweet, prized fruit until it was realized that the fruit's need for a tropical climate inhibited its ability to flourish in this region. By the end of the 16th century, Portuguese and Spanish explorers introduced pineapples into many of their Asian, African and South Pacific colonies, countries in which the pineapple is still being grown today.
Since pineapples are very perishable, and modes of transportation to bring them stateside from the Caribbean Islands were relatively slow centuries ago, fresh pineapples were a rarity that became coveted by the early American colonists. While glazed, sugar-coated pineapples were a luxurious treat, it was the fresh pineapple itself that became the sought after true symbol of prestige and social class. In fact, the pineapple, because of its rarity and expense, was such a status item in those times that all a party hostess had to do was to display the fruit as part of a decorative centerpiece, and she would be awarded more than just a modicum of social awe and recognition.
In the 18th century, pineapples began to be cultivated in Hawaii, the only state in the U.S. in which they are still grown. In addition to Hawaii, other countries that commercially grow pineapples include Thailand, the Philippines, China, Brazil and Mexico.
How to Select and Store
Look for pineapples that are heavy for their size. While larger pineapples will have a greater proportion of edible flesh, there is usually no difference in quality between a small and large size pineapple. Pineapples should be free of soft spots, bruises and darkened "eyes," all of which may indicate that the pineapple is past its prime. Pineapple stops ripening as soon as it is picked, so choose fruit with a fragrant sweet smell at the stem end. Avoid pineapple that smells musty, sour or fermented.
Pineapple can be left at room temperature for one or two days before serving. While this process will not make the fruit any sweeter, it will help it to become softer and more juicy. Yet, as they are very perishable, you should still watch them closely during this period to ensure that they do not spoil. After two days, if you are still not ready to consume the pineapple, you should wrap it in a plastic bag and store it in the refrigerator where it will keep for a maximum of three to five days.
Pineapple that has been cut up should be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. It will stay fresher and retain more taste and juiciness if you also place some liquid, preferably some juice from the pineapple, in the container. Although pineapple can be frozen, this process greatly affects its flavor.
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Chris Brown Not Blackballed!
Related to country: Bahamas
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There has been no black-balling of Bahamian elite quarter miler Chris Brown. Contrary to the general belief that meet directors across Europe boycotted Brown, his mentor Coach Steve Riddick on Wednesday in an exclusive interview with The Bahama Journal brought clarity to the situation.
Brown was ranked as high as No. 2 in the world following American Jeremy Wariner early in the 2006 season after a breakthrough 2005. Then, because of inactivity, he gradually dropped out of the top listing. His exclusion from meets was questioned and the impression was given that directors simply opted not to invite him. Brown also fueled the view because when contacted he gave no explanation and seemed perplexed and dismayed.
But when speaking with The Journal on Wednesday, Coach Riddick painted an entirely different picture.
“Chris was not black-balled,” he emphasized.
“That never happened. Let me tell you what went on. At the Bahamas Nationals last year, he ran the 200 metres and won it. We spoke a while later and I asked him how did he feel. He said to me that he was OK except for a burning in his hamstring. I then told him that a burning meant that the hamstring was tweaked.
“The next morning when we spoke I asked him about his condition again and he told me that he was unable to touch his toes. I then advised him to get right on a plane and come home (Virginia where Brown is based). What some people don’t understand, a tweak hamstring is just like a pull,” informed the coach.
Thereafter came the appearance that Brown was being ignored around the world when his name did not show up on entry lists in meets that the No. 2 runner in the world ought to have been invited to.
“Look this was a question of his future. He didn’t run in Paris and he didn’t run in Germany. The situation was whether he should push it and run with an injury, whether it was that important. My view was that he would rest and let the injury heal.
“Sure there was the financial situation. That did hurt but what would you prefer…to run and sustain a long-term injury and not be able to reap the financial rewards anyway or to let the body heal properly and be able to resume the career in great shape and safely? I think the latter and that was what happened,” said Riddick.
But, he claimed his star 400 metres runner is in super shape now.
Riddick who also coaches Tonique Williams-Darling and her husband Dennis has high hopes for Chris this season.
“He’s going to be just OK. I had he and Tonique run the 800 metres indoors and both of them will be alright. He might go out the first time this season later this month but he is strong and looking great,” said Riddick.
Brown heads the list of Bahamian quarter mile options for the national 1600 metres squad. He earned respect around the world, when he ran so superbly while anchoring The Bahamas to a silver medal at the 2005 Helsinki IAAF World Championships against Wariner and the Americans. Brown matched the world’s leading 400 metres runner step for step, losing little or no ground from the time he received the baton.
That race stamped him before the world as an authentic elite at the distance. Two weeks earlier at the World Indoors in Moscow, he gained his first international medal with a bronze.
This year, he will have two major platforms from which to again show the world what he is all about. The Pan American Games are scheduled in Rio de Janeiro in July and the 2007 version of the World Championships in Osaka, Japan this coming August.
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The Benefits of Meditation
Related to country: Tibet
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Christina
(UFJ) Maybe meditation isn't so mysterious after all. Neuroscientists have found that meditators shift their brain activity to different areas of the cortex - brain waves in the stress-prone right frontal cortex move to the calmer left frontal cortex. This mental shift decreases the negative effects of stress, mild depression and anxiety. There is also less activity in the amygdala, where the brain processes fear.
Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D., of the University of Massachusetts Medical School, recorded the brain waves of stressed-out employees of a high-tech firm in Madison, Wisconsin. The subjects were split randomly into two groups, 25 people were asked to learn meditation over eight weeks, and the remaining 16 were left alone as a control group.
All participants had their brain waves scanned three times during the study: at the beginning of the experiment, when meditation lessons were completed eight weeks later and four months after that. The researchers found that the meditators showed a pronounced shift in activity to the left frontal lobe. In other words, they were calmer and happier than before. The study will be published in the next issue of Psychosomatic Medicine.
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Did Man Take Break During Botched Execution?
Related to country: United States
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LUCASVILLE, Ohio (UFJ) - An execution was delayed more than an hour Thursday while prison medical staff struggled to find suitable veins in the condemned man's arms - the second time that has happened in Ohio in little more than a year.
The execution team stuck Christopher Newton at least 10 times with needles to get in place the shunts used to administer the lethal chemicals. Newton, who had insisted on the death penalty as punishment for killing a cellmate, continued to talk, smile and laugh with the prison staff, and at one point was even given a bathroom break.
When he eventually was moved from his holding cell and strapped to a table in the death chamber, he made this short statement: "Yes, boy, I could sure go for some beef stew and a chicken bone. That's it."
Newton, 37, was pronounced dead at 11:53 a.m. at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility; his execution had been set to begin at 10.
He weighed 265 at his physical on Wednesday. The head of the Public Defender's death penalty division, Joe Wilhelm, said Newton told him it was hard for blood to be taken from his veins because of his weight.
The public defender's office said the decision was made not to intervene when the execution was delayed.
"You have to remember that Newton wanted to die. Our job isn't to oppose the death penalty, it's to represent our clients," said Greg Meyer, chief counsel for the Ohio Public Defender's Office.
In May 2006, the execution of another Ohio inmate, Joseph Lewis Clark, also was delayed more than an hour because the team could not find a suitable vein; a prison official said at the time that Clark's history of drug use may have been a factor. That case has been cited by death penalty opponents as an example of problems with lethal injection.
Executions typically last about 20 minutes. A group of Ohio inmates is suing over the state's injection method, saying it is unconstitutionally cruel, and the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio called on the state to stop executions because of Thursday's problems.
The delay will be discussed as part of that suit and helps show the state is unable to complete executions smoothly, Meyer said.
"There will be a day in trial that they will have to answer up as to what caused this two-hour delay," Meyer said. "That's a lot of time messing around trying to get a needle in a vein."
Gov. Ted Strickland closely monitored Newton's execution, his office said. The governor had delayed Newton's execution for a few months to research the case just after he took office in January.
"There was not a cause to intervene," Strickland spokesman Keith Dailey said. "Out of an abundance of caution, every precaution was taken before the procedure began to ensure that there would be no problems when the procedure began."
Newton beat and choked cellmate Jason Brewer, 27, to death in 2001 after they argued over a chess game.
In a statement read by public defender Robert Lowe after the execution, Newton apologized to his victim's family. "If I could take it back, I would," the statement said. "To my family, I love you and I'm sorry."
Although his attorneys argued Newton should be spared the death penalty because of mental disorders, a court last fall found him competent to forgo his appeals. The prosecution had argued that he had feigned mental illness.
Court documents say Newton, who spent much of his adult life in prison, knew Brewer's killing was a capital crime, and refused to cooperate with investigators unless they sought the death penalty.
In an interview with reporters last month, Newton said he killed Brewer because he repeatedly gave up while they were playing chess.
"Every time I put him in check, he'd give up and want to start a new game," Newton said. "And I tried to tell him you never give up ... I just got tired of it."
Newton also claimed that he had intentionally gotten himself put back in prison by leaving behind a handprint during a 1999 break-in at his father's house.
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Organic foods: Are they safer? More nutritious?
Related to country: United States
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You're in a bit of a dilemma standing in front of the produce section of your local supermarket. In one hand, you're holding a conventionally grown Granny Smith apple. In your other hand, you have one that's been organically grown. Both apples are firm, shiny and green. Both provide vitamins and fiber, and both are free of fat, sodium and cholesterol.
The conventionally grown apple costs less and is a proven family favorite. But the organic apple has a label that says "USDA Organic." Does that mean it's better? Safer? More nutritious? Several differences between organic and nonorganic foods exist. Become a better informed consumer for your next trip to the supermarket.
Conventional vs. organic farming
The word "organic" refers to the way farmers grow and process agricultural products, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy products and meat. Organic farming practices are designed to encourage soil and water conservation and reduce pollution. Farmers who grow organic produce and meat don't use conventional methods to fertilize, control weeds or prevent livestock disease. For example, rather than using chemical weed killers, organic farmers conduct sophisticated crop rotations and spread mulch or manure to keep weeds at bay.
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Climate Change Means Death For Millions
Related to country: South Africa
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By Desmond Tutu the former archbishop of Cape Town and a Nobel peace laureate.
South African former Anglican Archbishop Tutu wonders how “cushioned and cosseted” residents of the rich countries would regard the prospect of global climatic change “if they depended on the cycle of mother nature to feed their families. How much greater would their concerns be if they lived in slums and townships, in mud houses, or shelters made of plastic bags?” he asks. Climatic events threaten to “undo the developmental gains put in place over decades” in poor countries, especially in Africa.
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Grassroots efforts help reduce child deaths
Related to country: Nepal
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DADELDHURA, 20 May 2007 (UFJ) - Carefully holding her two-month-old daughter, Nanda Devi Bohara cries with joy as she sees her breathing normally again after a doctor held a nebuliser (medicinal inhalation device) over her mouth and nose in the government hospital of the remote Dadeldhura district, nearly 700 km northwest of the capital, Kathmandu.
"She's breathing again. She's alive now," Bohara, recounting how a local female health care volunteer (FCHV) had helped her with some available medicine before accompanying her to the nearby hospital for more treatment.
Bohara said that her daughter would not have survived if there was no FCHV in her village, where local people mostly use traditional healers to cure their sick children as they have no other choice.
Her daughter was suffering from pneumonia, a disease that contributes significantly to the high rate of child mortality in Nepal. Pneumonia, diarrhoea, under-nutrition, measles and acute respiratory infections kill nearly 65,000 children under five every year, according to UNICEF.
However, community-based efforts such as the use of FCHVs are reducing child mortality rates, say public health experts.
A recent report published by Save the Children (US) said that innovative community-based approaches to health care in Nepal are giving health workers the knowledge and tools they need to take action.
"More than half of Nepal's children under-five can now be treated for diarrhoea and pneumonia close to home - often by a carefully selected and trained female health worker in their own community," said the report, entitled State of the World's Mothers 2007. It added that parents do not have to make long, costly and often dangerous journeys to medical facilities when their children are sick.
Under-five mortality rate halved
According to the report, despite the decade-long armed conflict between 1996 and 2006, Nepal has cut its under-five mortality rate by almost half in the past 15 years.
One of the key measures in doing this has been extensive anti-measles immunisation and vitamin A national campaigns in the country - with immunisation rates increasing from 43 to 83 percent. Over 95 percent of five-month-old to five-year-old children receive at least one annual vitamin A supplement, an essential human nutrient, according to UNICEF.
"Despite all the odds against saving lives, there has been progress and there is optimism to save more if such community-based efforts are sustained," said Abhinesh Dhital, medical officer at the government-run Dadeldhura District Hospital. He said that there is such a huge shortage of staff, hospitals and clinics that it is the community workers who treat the rural populace.
"Death among children under five years old is a common occurrence and it's a tragedy that we can't still control the mortality even today," said Kalpana Swar, a community health worker in Dadeldhura.
She added that child mortality rates could soon increase during the approaching monsoon season when many children typically die of diarrhoea and pneumonia.
"We are trying our best to save children’s lives and hopefully with more government and mass support, we could do more," said Saraswati Shah, who has been a health care volunteer for the past 10 years and says she has saved the lives of hundreds of children in her village.
There has been strong political will in Nepal to cut child mortality rate. According to UNICEF, the country could be successful in reaching its millennium development goal (MDG) of cutting the current 65,000 annual child deaths by two thirds.
"Although there was political disruption due to the armed conflict, health among children has improved and there was not much disruption to health services [especially relating to children]," said Robin Houston, an independent international public health expert who has been working in the country since the early 1980s.
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The meltdown of Greenland's ice sheet is speeding up
Related to country: Greenland
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This Greenland glacier is now one of the fastest moving in the world
(UFJ)-Data from a US space agency (Nasa) satellite show that the melting rate has accelerated since 2004.
If the ice cap were to completely disappear, global sea levels would rise by 6.5m (21 feet).
Most of the ice is being lost from eastern Greenland, a US team writes in Science journal.
Jianli Chen of the University of Texas at Austin and colleagues studied monthly changes in the Earth's gravity between April 2002 and November 2005.
These measurements came from the US space agency's Grace (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment) satellite, launched in 2002.
From these data, they were able to estimate changes in the mass of Greenland's ice sheet.
A number of factors contribute to fluctuations in the Earth's gravity field.
But once the influence of the atmosphere and the oceans is removed, the variations mostly reflect changes in the mass of ice sheets and of water stored in the ground.
Estimated monthly changes in the mass of Greenland's ice sheet suggest it is melting at a rate of about 239 cubic kilometres (57.3 cubic miles) per year.
This figure is about three times higher than an earlier estimate of the mass loss from Greenland made using the first two years of Grace measurements.
Satellite data
Dr Chen and colleagues partly attribute this to increased melting in the past one-and-a-half years and partly to better processing of the data.
"Acceleration of mass loss over Greenland, if confirmed, would be consistent with proposed increased global warming in recent years," the authors wrote in Science.
This would amount to a contribution to global sea level rise from Greenland of about half a millimetre (0.02 inches) each year.
The group's findings agree remarkably well with a study released earlier this year that used data from other satellites to estimate mass changes in the Greenland ice.
Grace also appears to have detected a loss of ice from Arctic glaciers that were omitted from this study and are separate from the main Greenland ice sheet.
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Web Sites Listing Informants
Related to country: United States
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(UFJ) - There are three "rats of the week" on the home page of whosarat.com, a Web site devoted to exposing the identities of witnesses cooperating with the government. The site posts their names and mug shots, along with court documents detailing what they have agreed to do in exchange for lenient sentences.
Last week, for instance, the site featured a Florida man who agreed in September to plead guilty to cocaine possession but not gun charges in exchange for his commitment to work "in an undercover role to contact and negotiate with sources of controlled substances." The site says it has identified 4,300 informers and 400 undercover agents, many of them from documents obtained from court files available on the Internet.
"The reality is this," said a spokesman for the site, who identified himself as Anthony Capone. "Everybody has a choice in life about what they want to do for a living. Nobody likes a tattletale."
Federal prosecutors are furious, and the Justice Department has begun urging the federal courts to make fundamental changes in public access to electronic court files by removing all plea agreements from them — whether involving cooperating witnesses or not.
"We are witnessing the rise of a new cottage industry engaged in republishing court filings about cooperators on Web sites such as www.whosarat.com for the clear purpose of witness intimidation, retaliation and harassment," a Justice Department official wrote in a December letter to the Judicial Conference of the United States, the administrative and policy-making body of the federal court system.
"The posting of sensitive witness information," the letter continued, " poses a grave risk of harm to cooperating witnesses and defendants."
In one case described in the letter, a witness in Philadelphia was moved and the F.B.I. was asked to investigate after material from whosarat.com was mailed to his neighbors and posted on utility poles and cars in the area.
The federal court in Miami has provisionally adopted the department’s recommendation to remove plea agreements from electronic files, and other courts are considering it and experimenting with alternative approaches.
Judge John R. Tunheim, a federal judge in Minneapolis and the chairman of a Judicial Conference committee studying the issue, acknowledged the gravity of the safety threat posed by the Web sites but said it would be better addressed through case-by-case actions.
"We are getting a pretty significant push from the Justice Department to take plea agreements off the electronic file entirely," Judge Tunheim said. " But it is important to have our files accessible. I really do not want to see a situation in which plea agreements are routinely sealed or kept out of the electronic record."
Judge Tunheim said his committee was working on recommendations for a nationwide approach to the issue. He said he favored putting the details of a witness’s cooperation into a separate document and sealing only that document, or withholding it from the court file entirely.
For those who want to read the details on cooperating witnesses, whosarat.com charges between $7.99 for a week and $89.99 for life. The latter option comes with a free "Stop Snitching" T-shirt.
The site was started by Sean Bucci in 2004, after he was indicted in federal court in Boston on marijuana charges based on information from an informant. The site was initially modest and free, the seeming product of a drug defendant’s fit of pique.
Over time, it attracted thousands of postings, many backed by court documents.
Mr. Bucci was convicted in February and will be sentenced next month. Stylianus Sinnis, a lawyer for Mr. Bucci, who is incarcerated, would not say whether Mr. Bucci was still affiliated with the site.
Contacted by e-mail, Mr. Capone called a reporter at an arranged time. He would not provide his phone number but insisted that his name was authentic. He said Mr. Bucci was no longer associated with the site.
The site itself says it is "designed to assist attorneys and criminal defendants with few resources."
Defense lawyers are, in fact, hungry for any information about the nature of the case against their clients. "The more information out there, the easier it is for the truth to come out at trial," said David O. Markus, a criminal defense lawyer in Miami.
Lawyers and their investigators can, of course, check court files and gather other material featured on the site themselves. But the site makes it easier, cheaper and quicker to find information about informants who may be involved in several cases in several jurisdictions, the site’s spokesman said.
Eliminating electronic access to plea agreements and related documents would represent a real hardship, Mr. Markus said.
"It doesn’t advance any of the stated safety goals, and it just serves as a roadblock to the public’s constitutional right to access to their court," Mr. Markus said. "If there is an issue in a particular case, then let’s address it, but to sweep everything under the rug isn’t right."
The site says that it "does not promote or condone violence or illegal activity against informants or law enforcement officers."
Frank O. Bowman, a former federal prosecutor who teaches law at the University of Missouri, disputed that. "It’s reprehensible and very dangerous," Professor Bowman said of the site. "People are going to die as a result of this."
Defendants who choose to go to trial will, of course, eventually learn the identities of the witnesses who testify against them. But the site also discloses the identities of people engaged in undercover operations and those whose information is merely used to build a case. The widespread dissemination of informants’ identities, moreover, may subject them to retribution from friends and associates of the defendant.
Still, Professor Bowman, an authority on federal sentencing law, said he would hate to see the routine sealing of plea agreements. "It certainly is terribly important for the public ultimately to know who’s flipped," he said.
Professor Bowman added that he was studying the deals prosecutors made in the aftermath of the collapse of Enron, the energy company. "To do that effectively," he said, "I really need to know who flipped and the nature of their plea agreements."
Judge William J. Zloch, the chief judge of the Federal District Court in Miami, said the move to bar electronic access to plea agreements there was supported by prosecutors and some defense lawyers. "It’s available to the public," he said of the documents. "It’s just that you have to go the courthouse."
Judge Zloch added that his court would discuss whether to make the change permanent in the coming months.
The existence of the site raises a First Amendment issue for its founder, Mr. Bucci. After his conviction, he filed a motion last month seeking a new trial, saying the government’s true purpose in prosecuting him was to shut down the site because "he dared to assert his First Amendment right" to post the information.
In a response filed Thursday, prosecutors conceded that "various levels of government have long expressed concern that the Web site endangers the lives of informants and undercover agents, and compromises investigations." But they denied that the government’s dismay about the site influenced their decision to prosecute Mr. Bucci.
Most legal experts agreed that whosarat.com is protected by the First Amendment. In 2004, a federal judge in Alabama refused to block a similar site created by a criminal defendant, Leon Carmichael Sr., who has since been convicted of drug trafficking and money laundering.
"While the Web site certainly imposes discomfort on some individuals," Judge Myron H. Thompson wrote, "it is not a serious threat sufficient to warrant a prior restraint on Carmichael’s speech or an imposition on his constitutional right to investigate his case."
But Judge Thompson’s ruling was not categorical. "A few differences in Carmichael’s site could have changed the court’s calculus," he wrote. And some law professors said that sites like whosarat.com might be subject to prosecution for obstruction of justice or aiding and abetting crimes.
In its December letter, from Michael A. Battle, then the director of the Executive Office for United States Attorneys, the Justice Department urged courts to put a statement on their Internet sites "warning against the republishing or the other use of official court records for illicit purposes such as witness intimidation." Judge Tunheim said his Judicial Conference committee was awaiting legal advice on that possibility.
For now at least, the Justice Department and the federal judiciary appear to be focused on keeping information from the sites rather than trying to stop the sites from publishing what they learn.
Government secrecy, said Eugene Volokh, a law professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, "ends up being part of the price you pay for having broad speech protection."
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Chinese experts say it’s holding back most sediment, causing erosion hurting river
Related to country: China
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Three Gorges Dam
HONG KONG (UFJ)- China's Three Gorges Dam, the world's largest hydropower project, is retaining huge amounts of sediment and nutrients and causing significant erosion in the downstream reaches of the Yangtze River, researchers have found.
In a paper published in the latest volume of the Geophysical Research Letters, Chinese scientists said the dam had retained 151 million tons of sediment each year since 2003.
The researchers from the East China Normal University in Shanghai calculated supplies of water and sediment at places along the river which had previously not been monitored and combined them with the regular gauging stations.
"The Three Gorges Dam, which has regulated the waters of the Yangtze River since 2003, retains two-thirds of the upstream sediment each year," they wrote.
"In response to this retention, significant erosion occurs in the riverbed downstream of the dam.... Sediment flux to the Yangtze River mouth has decreased by 31 percent per year. The Yangtze delta is shrinking.
"Continued sediment retention at these rates, combined with more dams planned for the watershed, will severely affect people and the ecosystems on the Yangtze delta," they added.
The paper gave no details nor estimates of how many people would suffer.
Official Chinese press reports say the build-up of silt in the Three Gorges Reservoir is under control.
Huge sluice gates at the bottom of the 185-yard-high dam wall are opened between June and September to lower water levels and flush away sediment collected in the reservoir during floods.
In the past, large damming projects elsewhere have resulted in silt and nutrients being trapped behind the dams, damaging fish stocks and the fertility of downstream farmland.
Many environmentalists say creation of the Three Gorges Dam will have unforeseen ecological effects apart from becoming a cesspool of sewage and industrial pollutants.
The reservoir created by the dam has inundated two cities, 11 counties and 116 towns in Hubei province and neighboring Chongqing municipality. More than 1 million people have been relocated and 1,600 factories submerged.
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The Signs of War
Related to country: Lebanon
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"And ye shall hear of wars & rumors of wars...For nation shall rise against nation, & kingdom against kingdom:" (Matthew 24:7)
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"A Super Five Planet Parade For Memorial Day Weekend"
Related to country: United States
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Horkheimer: Greetings, greetings fellow star gazers. You know every time we celebrate a long holiday weekend I always try to find things of interest in the night sky that will make your weekend more enjoyable especially if you want to spend some time outside in early evening after sunset or early morning just before sunrise. And this Memorial Day weekend the cosmos is being very good to us because not one, not two, not three, not four but five naked eye planets are placed just right for your viewing pleasure. Let me show you.
O.K., we've got our skies set up for this weekend Saturday the 26th, Sunday the 27th and Memorial Day Monday the 28th, one hour after sunset facing west where you'll see three bright lights which appear to lie along a straight line which astronomers call the ecliptic, which is the invisible path in the sky along which all the planets travel. The brightest light in the middle is super dazzling planet #2, 8,000 mile wide, Earth-sized Venus. And just below it close to the horizon is the pink iron planet, planet #1, 3,000 mile wide Mercury which looks pink because it never gets very high above the horizon so we always see it through the dusty layers of our Earth's atmosphere which give it this false coloration. It's called the iron planet because it has more iron in its core than our Earth has.
Now just above Venus on the ecliptic you'll see planet #6, 75,000 mile wide ringed Saturn, which is just begging you to take a look at it through a small telescope before it disappears from evening skies in mid July. So once again, close to the horizon we have planet #1, Mercury, above it planet #2, dazzling Venus and above it not quite so bright planet #6, super Saturn. Now if you extend our imaginary line, the ecliptic, you will find yet two more naked eye planets along it. But you'll have to wait until about 11 o'clock until the next planet has risen and you'll have to look southeast. So all this weekend if you go out around 11 p.m. and look southeast you'll see the second brightest planet, planet #5, the king of them all, 88,000 mile wide Jupiter which is also fabulous for viewing through a small telescope.
Now if you extend our line even further and wait until about one hour before sunrise still looking south east the brightest object you'll see will be planet #4, rouge-gold 4,000 mile wide Mars which is getting steadily brighter every month as it races towards us for a close encounter this December. So to repeat, in reverse order, if you go out any morning this Memorial Day weekend about one hour before sunrise and look southeast you'll see Mars. If you go out around 11 p.m. you'll see giant Jupiter and if you look west about one hour after sunset; Saturn, Venus and Mercury. Is this going to be a fabulous Memorial Day weekend or what? Keep looking up!
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"A Venus Moon Spectacular This Saturday And The Moon Visits Saturn And Regulus On Tuesday"
Related to country: United States
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Horkheimer: Greetings, greetings fellow star gazers. Mark two dates on your calendar, this Saturday May 19th just after sunset as the night when the Moon and the most brilliant planet of all will make one of the most exquisite sky pictures you'll ever see. And also mark Tuesday night, May 22nd as the night you'll be able to use the Moon to find both the ringed planet Saturn and the brightest star of Leo the Lion. Let me show you.
O.K., we've got our skies set up for this Saturday night May 19th just after it gets dark out facing west where if its not cloudy you will see an absolutely exquisite pairing of our 2,000 mile wide Moon in exquisite crescent form with 8,000 mile wide Venus which is right now shining extremely bright. And you'll notice immediately without any prompting that this is the kind of sky pairing that is so dramatic that it takes most people's breath away and has done so for thousands of years for as long as men, women and children have looked up at the heavens. So don't miss this please. And look also for what appears to be a dark full Moon nestled within the bright crescent. This is called earthshine because unlike the bright crescent which is lit by direct sunlight from the sun the greyish black, dim, almost full Moon is sunlight bouncing off our Earth onto the unlighted portion of the Moon and back to Earth again, thus the name earthshine, which is also poetically called "the Old Moon in the New Moon's arms."
Now while this is an absolute knockout to the naked eye, if you have a pair of binoculars you'll be totally blown away. And if you have a small telescope you'll notice that Venus looks like a tiny last quarter Moon, wow! 24 hours later on Sunday the 20th it will be much higher and on a straight line with the two brightest stars of Gemini, Pollux and Castor. And on Monday the 21st it's heading for its next stop and is getting ready to close in on the ringed planet. Indeed, on Tuesday the 22nd an absolutely exquisite Moon will be parked just to the left of and so close to Saturn you'll be able to use it as a Saturn finder. And once again, if you have a telescope, take a look at Saturn now because it's truly wonderful.
Plus if you look just to the left of the Moon you'll see one of springtime's brightest stars the hot blue white star Regulus which marks the heart of Leo the Lion. Once again this Saturday an exquisite Moon complete with earthshine is parked right next to Venus, and on Sunday is parked on a straight line with Gemini's Pollux and Castor. On Monday it's zeroing in on Saturn and on Tuesday you can use the Moon to find both Saturn and the heart of the cosmic lion king. But if I had to pick only one night, I'd pick Saturday the 19th because Venus and the Moon will be truly awesome. I guarantee it. Keep looking up!
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President Bush's administration is "the worst in history"
Related to country: United States
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I think as far as the adverse impact on the nation around the world, this administration has been the worst in history," President Carter said Saturday.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (UFJ) - Former President Carter says President Bush's administration is "the worst in history" in international relations, taking aim at the White House's policy of pre-emptive war and its Middle East diplomacy.
The criticism from Carter, which a biographer says is unprecedented for the 39th president, also took aim at Bush's environmental policies and the administration's "quite disturbing" faith-based initiative funding.
"I think as far as the adverse impact on the nation around the world, this administration has been the worst in history," Carter told the Arkansas Democrat -Gazette in a story that appeared in the newspaper's Saturday editions. "The overt reversal of America's basic values as expressed by previous administrations, including those of George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon and others, has been the most disturbing to me."
Carter spokeswoman Deanna Congileo confirmed his comments to The Associated Press on Saturday and declined to elaborate. He spoke while promoting his new audiobook series, "Sunday Mornings in Plains," a collection of weekly Bible lessons from his hometown of Plains, Ga.
"Apparently, Sunday mornings in Plains for former President Carter includes hurling reckless accusations at your fellow man," said Amber Wilkerson, Republican National Committee spokeswoman. She said it was hard to take Carter seriously because he also "challenged Ronald Reagan's strategy for the Cold War."
Carter came down hard on the Iraq war.
"We now have endorsed the concept of pre-emptive war where we go to war with another nation militarily, even though our own security is not directly threatened, if we want to change the regime there or if we fear that some time in the future our security might be endangered," he said. "But that's been a radical departure from all previous administration policies."
Carter, who won a Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, criticized Bush for having "zero peace talks" in Israel. Carter also said the administration "abandoned or directly refuted" every negotiated nuclear arms agreement, as well as environmental efforts by other presidents.
Carter also offered a harsh assessment for the White House's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, which helped religious charities receive $2.15 billion in federal grants in fiscal year 2005 alone.
"The policy from the White House has been to allocate funds to religious institutions, even those that channel those funds exclusively to their own particular group of believers in a particular religion," Carter said. "As a traditional Baptist, I've always believed in separation of church and state and honored that premise when I was president, and so have all other presidents, I might say, except this one."
Douglas Brinkley, a Tulane University presidential historian and Carter biographer, described Carter's comments as unprecedented.
"This is the most forceful denunciation President Carter has ever made about an American president," Brinkley said. "When you call somebody the worst president, that's volatile. Those are fighting words."
Carter also lashed out Saturday at British prime minister Tony Blair . Asked how he would judge Blair's support of Bush, the former president said: "Abominable. Loyal. Blind. Apparently subservient."
"And I think the almost undeviating support by Great Britain for the ill-advised policies of President Bush in Iraq have been a major tragedy for the world," Carter told British Broadcasting Corp. radio.
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Michael Jackson Won't Block Auction Sale of Memorabilia
Related to country: United States
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Michael Jackson
(UFJ) - Lawyers for Michael Jackson on Friday dropped an effort to block an auction of the pop star's personal belongings and other Jackson family items, including Jackson's gold record for his "Thriller" album.
Jackson didn't appear in a Las Vegas court where his lawyer told a judge that a confidential agreement had been reached with representatives of an auctioneer, the current owner of the materials, and a New Jersey man who claimed a warehouse full of Jackson memorabilia after a failed business venture wound up in bankruptcy court.
"The matter's been resolved," Gregory Cross, a lawyer for Jackson, told Clark County District Court Judge Elizabeth Gonzalez.
Lawyers declined to describe terms of the agreement, which settled an April 27 lawsuit.
Jackson sought to prevent the auction and force the return of items he claimed were personal property, court documents show. The entertainer also had sought unspecified punitive damages.
Universal Express Inc., the Boca Raton, Fla., luggage transportation company that owns the items, claimed the materials were worth about $50 million, according to court records.
Arlan Ettinger, president of Guernsey's auction house of New York, said outside the courtroom that the auction will go on as scheduled May 30-31 at the Hard Rock hotel in Las Vegas.
Jackson, 48, has been living in Las Vegas while he evaluates proposals for a comeback after his 2005 acquittal in California on child molestation charges.
More than 1,000 family items are set for auction, including the handwritten lyrics for The Jackson Five hit "ABC," Jackson's platinum award for the single "Rock With You," his black silk jacket with gold sequined epaulets and a 1987 contract for the purchase of the Santa Barbara County, Calif., ranch he renamed "Neverland."
Jeffrey Sylvester, a Las Vegas lawyer for Universal, said "very little" of Jackson's personal items would be sold.
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The Spin on Class Warfare
Related to country: United States
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During a television interview this month, NBC Today co-host Matt Lauer asked New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine about whether hedge-fund managers were "out of touch with America," given their astronomical salaries.
Some are, some aren't," said the governor, who made a fortune on Wall Street. "Good risk managers and portfolio [managers] are people that don't lose track of what the real world is about." Then, after a pause, he added, "I think some people, based on the size of the houses I see built and the automobiles and the things that people accumulate, there are some who might be drifting away from reality."
It was another example of how the heated politics of wealth and inequality are creating new public-relations problems for today's rich. With their numbers exploding -- along with information about their private lives -- wealthy people are increasingly becoming targets of ridicule, forcing them to come up with ever-more creative ways to defend their image in the media.
The problem is made worse by the growing awareness of inequality. (One typical recent newspaper headline: "Filthy rich own half of world's wealth," from the Grand Rapids [Mich.] Press.) The richest 1% of Americans now control 33% of the nation's wealth, up from 30% in 1989. During the last wealth boom, in the 1980s, the rich were largely celebrated. Gordon Gekko, the memorable tyrant of the 1987 film "Wall Street," declared that "greed ... is good," and CEOs proudly flashed their expensive toys on the cover of Forbes magazine.
People with money have become more defensive, with most avoiding any press (Donald Trump and Paris Hilton excepted). Some argue that their windfalls are reasonable and portray themselves as folksy, ordinary people. Many have turned to philanthropy as their saving grace.
A client recently described the media environment as "like Marie Antoinette's France," says Allan Mayer, a PR specialist who's worked with wealthy families around the world. "There is a kind of class warfare going on, and it's becoming far more noticeable," he says. "In the 1980s, every CEO wanted to show the press their new yacht or big mansion. Now there is a sense that maybe discretion is the better part of valor. Unless you're oblivious, or a complete megalomaniac, you know that while you're doing great, most people are not."
Here are some suggestions that top public-relations executives are making to their wealthy clients:
1. STAY QUIET
Hedge-funders have learned this lesson perhaps better than anyone. Never mind interviews -- just trying to get official photos of Paul Tudor Jones II or Steve Cohen is next to impossible. Hedge-funders, of course, argue (through their representatives) that their silence is for security reasons. Sean Cassidy, president of New York-based Dan Klores Communications, says he discourages his Wall Street clients from giving interviews since, "once you start granting access, it just fuels" more coverage of their personal wealth. "In many cases, our job is to keep them out of the press unless there's a business reason," Mr. Cassidy adds.
If a rich individual or family is forced into the public spotlight -- say, through a lawsuit -- they should do an interview but downplay their wealth as much as possible, some PR experts say. "The last thing you want to be today is boastful," says Marcia Horowitz, with New York's Rubenstein Associates.
But for clients who are out of touch with the rest of the world and live in a "bubble" of wealth and privilege, Ms. Horowitz advises against interviews. "Some people don't understand that reporters and their audience may not be sympathetic to the problems of millionaires," she adds.
One case in point might be an interview that Larry Ellison, Oracle's famously ostentatious CEO, did in 2005 for Vanity Fair on his 454-foot yacht, Rising Sun. In the piece, he complained that he didn't enjoy his first vacation on the boat. "I didn't know whether it was the scale or the newness that was the problem," he said. "Turns out, it was only the newness. It's really only the size of a very large house."
2. ACT MIDDLE CLASS
Since so many of this era's wealthy people made their money themselves, PR specialists advise them to play up their middle-class roots. Dress casual, they're told. Talk about your old Ford pickup truck, rather than your convertible Bentley, and about your "simple" life, even if you have a household staff of 12. For instance, both before and after her jail term, homemaking maven Martha Stewart made a habit of talking about her pets, her gardening, and her folksy upbringing in many of her interviews. She has downplayed any discussion of her multiple vacation homes and private yacht.
Ms. Horowitz cautions clients to use the "everyman" strategy only if it's true.
3. THERE'S ALWAYS PHILANTHROPY
If other strategies don't work, clients can always turn to philanthropy. Bill Gates and Warren Buffett may be the most prominent givers, but the Chronicle of Philanthropy says 21 people last year gave $100 million or more to philanthropic causes, about double the year-earlier level.
But with so many philanthropists vying for attention, it's harder to get noticed. Mr. Cassidy recommends that clients focus their energies on "one charity that is meaningful to them." What's more, Mr. Mayer warns that in today's polarized society, overly visible giving "can be seen as showing off."
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Democrats’ first debate is void of Africa
Related to country: United States
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By Harry C. Alford
-NNPA Columnist-
We cannot overestimate the importance of the Presidential Campaign for 2008. The world is in a big mess. China throws all the rules to the wind as they develop into a massive economic monster. Russia is yearning for the days of old, The Cold War. Genocide and suffering is bigger now then ever before, while a corrupt United Nations (UN), International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank seem to be useless.
The United States leadership role in the world is being questioned like never before. Now is the time for a true leader to step forward. We need someone to present a vision that addresses all the major problems, with solutions that can quickly turn around fear, death, and horror with hope, progress and prosperity.
On the evening of April 26, at the HBCU campus of South Carolina State University, the Democratic Party held its first debate involving eight declared candidates. In essence, it was quite cordial. All the candidates held mutual respect for each other and there were no personal attacks. They concentrated on various issues. The biggest issue was, naturally, the Iraq civil war. There is no textbook approach to it, but they all agreed that we must get out as soon as possible—some way, somehow. Then, came the usual issues such as ethics, abortion, guns, healthcare, taxation, immigration, education, fuel costs, international relations (generally speaking), gay marriage, global climate change and Cuba. We waited and waited but never heard the issue of Africa addressed for the whole 90 minutes. There were a quick “half sentences” about Darfur mixed in with other matters by Senators Biden and Edwards and Governor Richardson. There was no statement of substance given to the continent at all. There is just no way this campaign can go on and ignore 1 billion people who are suffering from the intrusion and adverse policy of Europeans, Americans, et al.
Africa should be at the top of every political agenda. People are dying by the millions as a result of war, HIV/AIDS, corruption and meddling from the first world operatives. The Western Hemisphere has over 200 million descendents of Africa and we want the current state of affairs to dramatically change for the better. How can anyone striving to become the President of the United States, leader of the free world, omit or ignore the state of affairs on the African Continent? Who are the advisors and managers of these campaigns that think they can get away with this? Are they trying to assume the Black Vote again?
I am extremely disappointed in Barack Obama who is the son of an African. How can he stand there for 90 minutes and not mention the problems and plight of this whole continent? He is even on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, but when asked, “What are the three most serious international problems?” he mentioned Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Is he so presumptuous, that he need not address our concerns? It reminds me of a statement he made about Michael Steele, a Black running for U.S. Senate, “Don’t vote for a person solely because of his race.” That applies to you, too, Senator Obama. We want to know what you will do for the Diaspora. Say it and say it loud! Of course, you must first start thinking about it. As one pundit stated, “He was the most abstract politician I have ever watched.” Remember Senator, it is not what you are, but what you stand for and believe.
What about Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton? She and her husband resided at the White House when the atrocious horror of Rwanda took place. They just stood by and watched it happen. Afterwards, her husband, President Bill Clinton, issued an apology. After millions of deaths it was too little, too late. She should be particularly interested in the genocides of Darfur and the Congo, plus the wars in Somalia and other regions. What is her opinion on Zimbabwe, among other hotbeds? Does she or the rest of them have a concern?
It is clear. The Democratic Campaign is void of a concern for Africa and it is the responsibility of the citizens of the United States, particularly the 40 million plus African Americans, to raise the issue and demand proposed solutions with stipulated action. America can do something about the dire state of this continent and, as God is our Witness, we (African Americans) must demand it. Let’s make this a major issue in this campaign. Candidates from both sides must become adept at the status of Africa and must provide viable solutions that can be readily carried out. Those who don’t, must not get our vote or support.
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Thousands flee upsurge in violence in Diyala province
Related to country: Iraq
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DIYALA, (UFJ) - Thousands of Iraqis have been fleeing Diyala province – and others fleeing villages from within the province - over the past week after an increase in attacks by armed groups and a major offensive by US and Iraqi troops.
Diyala province is a volatile but religiously mixed governorate to the northeast of Bagdhad.
“In the past six days more than 900 families, about 5,000 individuals, have fled Diyala governorate. Some of them were forced out by militants and others were scared of the clashes,” said Faris Abdallah, media officer for Diyala governorate office.
The villages of Khalis and Ambugiya have seen considerable sectarian violence and the number of internally displaced people is greatest there, Abdallah said, adding that most are Shi’a. Most of the families which have fled Diyala have headed to places outside the province such as the southern provinces of Najaf, Kerbala or Basra. Some have moved to outskirts of the capital, Baghdad, where camps those displaced from Diyala have been set up. Few families have also been internally displaced within the province.
According to the Iraq Red Crescent Society (IRCS), local people are facing an imminent humanitarian tragedy. Most fled their homes with only the clothes they were wearing. The IRCS said it was trying to help the newly displaced but volunteers were having access problems owing to the continued violence.
Religious extremists
According to Abdallah, Sunni insurgents have been establishing a Taliban-style rule over the local population in Diyala province and this has caused the death of dozens of residents, including women and children.
“They banned smoking and the consumption of any kind of product that might have been imported. Also, in some areas girls are prohibited from going to school as it is considered unnecessary; men cannot wear Western clothes and the Internet has been banned,” Abdallah noted.
No food, water
Other humanitarian workers say the situation in Diyala is desperate.
“In some districts, people have been without food and water for more than five days as clashes continue and militants have forbidden them from leaving their homes. We have spoken by phone to some locals and they are desperate since they are looking after sick children and a heavily pregnant woman,” said Fatah Ahmed, a spokesperson for the Iraq Aid Association (IAA).
“We cannot get close to the area for security reasons and are being forced to witness the start of a new catastrophe for hundreds of families who were already living in poverty and who have nothing to eat or drink. If they don’t find a solution soon, we will start finding the bodies of people who have starved to death in their homes,” Ahmed added.
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KENYA: Hundreds displaced in cattle-rustling clashes
Related to country: Kenya
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MARSABIT, 14 May 2007 (UFJ) - Clashes sparked by a cattle-rustling incident in the Marsabit district of northern Kenya have left about 15 people dead and displaced hundreds more in the past week, aid workers said.
Fighting between the Gabra and Turkana communities erupted on 8 May when members of one group raided villages inhabited by the other and stole about 1,000 cattle, sheep and goats, prompting revenge attacks by the livestock owners.
An estimated 1,000 people have fled Moite and Komote villages in the Loyangalani division of Marsabit, the scene of the clashes, according to David Timado, a social worker and peace activist in the area, which is mainly inhabited by livestock-herding communities and has a history of ethnic animosity caused by competition for pasture land and water.
"The situation in Loyangalani is bad. Tension is high and residents are leaving," said Timado. "So far, many people, almost 1,000, have moved away, walking long distances," he said. Some of the displaced families from the affected villages had arrived in Loyangalani trading centre, about 100km away, after walking for more than two days with little food and water, he added.
Families were still fleeing, despite the deployment of more police officers in the affected area.
The Kenya Red Cross Society's disaster management office in Marsabit said it had registered 27 displaced families. The officer in charge, Ahmed Mohamed, said those registered had already received food rations and shelter material. "We have given food and tents to those displaced, many of whom ran away without food and only took a few belongings," he said.
Local police said 11 civilians and four raiders had died in the violence.
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California’s new secret death chamber
Related to country: United States
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LOS ANGELES (UFJ) - Politicians and death penalty opponents are outraged over revelation that the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) began construction on a new death chamber at San Quentin State Prison, without notifying state lawmakers or the public.
Activists charge that the problem is three-fold: 1) The “secret” construction occurs during a federal review of California’s execution process and San Quentin Death Chamber facilities; 2) It is shrouded beneath a high-profile issue; and 3) The CDCR is using prisoners to build the chamber.
Seth Unger, CDCR Press Secretary, said that the $399,000 edifice is being built in an effort to comply with a federal judge’s mandate that the facility and its lethal injection protocols be revamped, and that it is part of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s plan to present a remodeled lethal injection facility by a May 15 deadline. Late last year, Judge Jeremy Fogel placed a moratorium on all California executions, ruling that the current method of lethal injection is a violation of a constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment.
Judge Fogel’s decision stemmed from a lawsuit filed by Michael Morales, a San Quentin Death Row inmate, convicted of raping and stabbing 17-year-old Terri Winchell in 1981. After the December 2005 lengthy torture and execution of Stanley “Tookie” Williams, a Nobel Peace Prize nominee and reformed founder of the Crips street gang, Mr. Morales’ lawyers argued that lethal injections violate the Constitution’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment.
The cost to build the death chamber fell just below the $400,000 quota, which would require legislative approval. “Something this big and this controversial should never be hidden,” Senator Gloria Romero (D-Los Angeles) stated. At press time, she was set to convene a hearing for CDCR officials to detail the project and its cost estimates.
Mr. Unger stated that the construction price falls under a minimum capital outlay plan, which gives the state flexibility. Although the outlay permits the Department to forego the typical budget process, which includes presentations, revisions and early summer debates, he said the issue is still slated for a quarterly report to the legislature.
Minister Keith Muhammad of Muhammad’s Mosque No. 26B in Oakland, Calif. said that the process of building the new death chamber bears serious implications for the masses—primarily Black and Latino people—incarcerated.
“This demonstrates, once again, the state’s desire to incarcerate and kill, rather than educate and cultivate. If they can find it in the budget to build new death chambers; then it certainly would be good if they could find it in the budget to repair our schools,” he stated.
Danielle Heck, a spokesperson for the Campaign to End the Death Penalty, opined that the fact that a new death chamber could be built without public, legislative or media knowledge at a time when the death penalty is being called into question demonstrates the lack of transparency or accountability within the criminal justice system.
“Everything about [Gov.] Schwarzenegger’s administration building the new death chamber under a veil of secrecy illustrates how the whole criminal justice system is rotten to the core. Death penalty activists like myself hear about the mistreatment of inmates all the time, but they have little to no recourse,” Ms. Heck stated.
Ms. Heck called the CDCR’s actions the administrations’ rush to crank up its death machine, rather than reviewing the constitutionality of the way the death penalty is administered in California. She further positioned that the new chamber is Gov. Schwarzenegger’s push against Judge Fogel’s ruling, which foiled plans to speed up the number of executions they wanted to carry out starting with Mr. Williams.
Unfortunately for the administration, she said, the campaign built around Mr. Williams caused many people to examine their views about the death penalty, expose its numerous hypocrisies, and turn against it.
“It further exposed the disgusting reality of the execution process as witnessed and reported on by the people that viewed the execution of Stan ‘Tookie’ Williams. The point is that the death penalty is broken and can’t be fixed. It doesn’t matter if California builds a new execution chamber, finds the right concoction of drugs, or gets the right certified people to carry out the executions. The State of California needs to get out of the business of killing people and quit wasting our taxpayer money to do it,” Ms. Heck insisted.
San Quentin is the oldest prison in California and houses 5,222 prisoners, 619 of them condemned inmates, who have moved beyond conditions of rehabilitative confinement to California’s concentration camp tactics, stated activist Barbara Becnel, who worked with Mr. Williams for 13 years and helped organize an international campaign for his clemency.
“Utilizing the prisoners to build the death chamber to kill other prisoners is every bit as bad as the people who were imprisoned during World War II at concentration camps, who were asked to build the apparatus that would kill either themselves or family members, because many of the people who are imprisoned in San Quentin are in fact the friends or family members of the people on Death Row,” Ms. Becnel charged.
A long time friend, publicist and advocate of Mr. Williams, Ms. Becnel added that it is stunning that prisoners were made to work on the project at slave wages. “This is not only cheap prison labor, but this truly harkens back to World War II, and as many know, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s father was a Nazi. That’s part of the factual historical record, and here he is resorting to Nazi tactics. That’s pretty astonishing and horrific,” she said.
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Bomb blast mars UN Somalia visit
Related to country: Somalia
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The highest-ranking United Nations official to visit Somalia for 10 years has arrived in the capital, Mogadishu.
John Holmes, the UN's emergency relief co-ordinator, said he was there to pressure the Somali government to let humanitarian aid reach its people.
A car bomb killed four people near the UN compound in the south of the city as Mr Holmes' convoy left the airport.
The visit comes two weeks after Somalia's government declared victory over a bloody Islamic insurgency.
Senior intelligence official Ibrahim Mohamed Ahmed was one of those killed in the blast, a security source told Reuters news agency.
The source said the explosion was unrelated to Mr Holmes' visit.
'Protect civilians'
Mr Holmes said the government had to look after its civilians, who have borne the brunt of years of fighting.
"It is their responsibility to look after civilians, to protect civilians and at the very least not to obstruct aid," he said.
But he said the African Union could not boost its peacekeeping forces in the capital until the government improved security.
On arrival in Mogadishu, Mr Holmes visited a cholera treatment centre next to the UN compound before meeting President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed.
The capital has been mostly calm since the government declared victory over the insurgents and many residents are starting to return to their homes.
Some 1,600 people were killed in six weeks of clashes between Ethiopian government-backed troops and Islamist and clan fighters, local aid groups say.
Up to 400,000 of Mogadishu's 2m residents fled to squalid camps or makeshift bush shelters.
Somalia has not had a working government since a civil war erupted 16 years ago.
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Wild Tiger Mauls Girlfriend as Kids Watch in Horror
Related to country: Canada
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100 MILE HOUSE, British Columbia (UFJ) -- A 32-year-old woman was mauled to death by a captive tiger at an exotic animal farm in British Columbia while at least three children watched in horror.
The woman , Tanya Dumstrey-Soos, even spoke with her fiance, Kim Carlton, the owner of the farm, by cell phone as she lay dying after the attack, her employer said in an interview Friday.
"Before she passed away Kim did say that he did have a chance to talk to Tanya," said Scott Nelson, who employed Dumstrey-Soos as a receptionist and saleswoman at the 100 Mile House Advisor newspaper.
"He said the two were able to say they loved each other and he was obviously horrified."
Nelson, who is also the mayor of Williams Lake, British Columbia, said that Dumstrey-Soos and Carlton had recently become engaged to be married.
The woman was found outside the cage when emergency services arrived at the farm Thursday evening, said Royal Canadian Mounted Police Cpl. Scott Ksionzyk in 100 Mile House, British Columbia.
"There is no indication that at any point the tiger was outside of the cage; nor is there any indication that the victim entered the cage," Ksionzyk said.
Nelson said that Carlton described a bizarre, freak accident involving a tiger named Gangus.
Carlton "didn't think the tiger had bit her. It's that she had a dress on and she was standing there and he was playing with the dress and grabbed her legs. She was standing outside the cage and talking to Gangus, the cat swatted at the legs," Nelson said.
He said Gangus was the only one of the three tigers on the farm that had not been declawed.
A number of youngsters, including one of Dumstrey-Soos' children, witnessed the attack, said Constable Annie Linteau of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Nelson believed that Carlton's children, Dakota, 12, and Kodiak, 15, also saw her being maulted.
"We were obviously horrified, more horrified that the young kids saw it, that they were there and obviously our hearts are with them," Nelson said.
Regional coroner Bruce Chamberlayne said Dumstrey-Soos was taken to a hospital in the town of 100 Mile House after the attack but could not be revived.
The farm in the interior of British Columbia is called Siberian Magic. Carlton puts on exotic and magic shows and also sells services such as photos with the big cats.
The RCMP said all the animals remained secured on the premises, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) east of 100 Mile House. Among the animals at the farm are three tigers, a lion and a lemur.
After the incident, British Columbia Agricultural Minister Barry Penner said authorities would determine whether there is a need to change regulations that allow private citizens to keep exotic animals. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has called for legislation to ban the practice.
Siberian Magic's Web site invites people to visit the Bridge Lake, British Columbia, facility to experience "the wonderful worlds of magic and exotic animals." The farm is about 400 kilometers (250 miles) northeast of Vancouver.
"Visit our animals up close and personal. Capture the memories and have your photo taken with our amazing Siberian tiger , Kisa, or our African lion, Sarmoti, as well as many other wonderful animals."
The site claims the company educates people about exotic animals in a "safe and enjoyable way."
Marcie Moriarty, general manager of cruelty investigations for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, described the facility housing the animals as a "public safety catastrophe."
"The tigers are being kept in 12-by-12-foot (3.6-by-3.6-meter) chain-link enclosures with a mere padlock on the enclosure. The animal owner had admitted to walking the tigers, his kids feed them," she said.
She said Carlton has been investigated by the SPCA since November 2005 when he moved his tigers to the 100 Mile House area.
After notifying regional authorities about their concerns, the SPCA tried for months to seize the animals but there was not any room at any facility, including the Calgary Zoo, to take the exotic animals, Moriarty said.
"The use of exotic animals in entertainment is simply playing with fire," Moriarty said.
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O.J.
Related to country: United States
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O.J. Simpson attends the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, the day after the owner of an upscale Louisville restaurant refused to serve him.
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IS O.J. SIMPSON A VICTIM OF AMERICA’S BIAS MEDIA NEW AGE STYLE LYNCHING?
Related to country: United States
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Former Football Star O.J. Simpson
On July 17, 1994 O. J. Simpson was arrested and charged with the murders of his estranged wife Nicole and her friend Ron Goodman after leading the LAPD on a televised car chase throughout Los Angeles. Simpson, seen in this police mugshot, pleaded not guilty to both murders, and the subsequent murder trial received huge international publicity from the news media. On October 3, 1995, the jury returned a verdict of 'not guilty'.
Simpson, known commonly as "O.J." or "The Juice," was one of the most famous running backs in American football history. After retiring from football, Simpson spent time working as a sports commentator, acting, and golfing. His film debuts included the comedy "Naked Gun" where he played the part of a dim-witted assistant detective.
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Drug dealers peddling new kid-friendly mixes
Related to country: United States
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Meth, heroin laced with candy and strawberry flavoring to appeal to youth
DALLAS (UFJ)- their quest to lure new, younger clientele, drug dealers are mixing their wares with over-the-counter pain remedies and other familiar products — even candy — and peddling them under non-threatening names.
One such concoction, a blend of black tar heroin and Tylenol PM that goes by the name “cheese,” has been linked to the deaths of 19 teenagers in Dallas, including two 15-year-olds.
“If you’re a drug dealer you have to target a new audience all the time,” said Garrison Courtney, a U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency spokesman. “It’s Marketing 101 for drug dealers.”
Examples of the drug-mixing strategy also include candy laced with marijuana and, in several states, flavored methamphetamine. In Arkansas recently, a mix of meth and strawberry-flavored powder normally used to create a children’s milk drink turned up under the name “Strawberry Quick.”
“They’re calling it ‘cheese,’ they’re not calling it ‘heroin,”’ said Dr. Collin Goto, a toxicologist at Children’s Medical Center Dallas. “It becomes much more appealing to younger kids because it doesn’t have the stigma, they’re not as afraid to get started.”
Dallas school district police first became aware of the heroin-mixing trend in 2005, and its become a disturbing local phenomenon since.
“Cheese is just a different makeup for mixing with heroin, but it’s still heroin,” said Dr. Jeffrey Barnard, chief medical examiner for Dallas County. “It’s the heroin that’s the problem.”
Cheap and needle-free
Beyond the innocuous name, several other factors appear to be driving the popularity of cheese. Kids often buy the drug from other kids. It’s affordable, selling for about $2 a dosage. And it is snorted rather than injected.
During the 2005-2006 school year, the Dallas school district police arrested 90 students for possession of the heroin-Tylenol PM mixture. The number has soared during the current school year. Through February, 122 have been arrested. The average age of those arrested: 14.
“The resurgence of heroin in society in 11- to 16-year-olds — that’s unprecedented,” said Julian Bernal, deputy chief of narcotics for the Dallas police, who makes six to 12 arrests a month for possession of cheese heroin.
“Hopefully we can try to contain it,” said Dr. Sing-Yi Feng, another toxicologist at Children’s Medical Center Dallas. “The concern is that the stuff is pretty cheap. It’s easy to use.”
Experts say cheese usually has about 2 percent to 8 percent heroin mixed with the Tylenol PM — which contains acetaminophen and diphenhydramine — or similar over-the-counter drugs.
‘Cheese’ arrests rising
Gary Hodges, deputy chief of the Dallas school district police, said cheese arrests in the district have nearly equaled those for marijuana, still the leading substance involved in drug arrests.
Authorities say they are just now beginning to understand how widespread the mixture has become and the toll it is taking on Dallas area youth. Even the exact number of cheese heroin-related deaths was not known until The Dallas Morning News analyzed medical examiner records and published the results last month.
Most of the victims are male, and involve nearly equal numbers of white and Hispanic youth.
Dave Cannata’s 16-year-old son, Nick, died in June 2005, with heroin and diphenhydramine in his system. Nick Cannata, who had been in rehab for a drug problem the summer before, was found dead in his bed in Coppell, just outside of Dallas.
He had spent the day building a deck with his father before going to a friend’s house. Dave Cannata said he knew something was wrong when his son returned home that night, but he decided to delay a confrontation.
“If I had to do it over again, I wouldn’t hesitate to pick up the phone and call 911,” said Cannata. “It’s alarming the epidemic proportion of kids that are messing with this stuff.”
Olga Sanchez agrees. She thought her 15-year-old son had stopped using the mixture. But this spring, Oscar Gutierrez’s brother found the eighth-grader at a Dallas middle school dead in bed.
“He was very purple. He was very cold, cold,” said Sanchez, who had been attending drug counseling with her son since discovering his cheese habit last fall.
“I would like for kids to realize that lots of other kids have died, that they should look for help, that they could lose their life,” she said.
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Toxic Chemicals in Everyday Products
Related to country: United States
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Dying To Be Beautiful
The average American household is a toxic chemical dump. Are you aware that most of the shampoos and personal care products used today have cancer-causing agents? The following identifies many of the ingredients commonly found in shampoos and skin care products and their possible side effects.
ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL: Isopropyl alcohol is found in hair color rinses, body rubs, hand lotions, after shave lotions, fragrances and many other cosmetics. This petroleum derived substance is also used in antifreeze. According to a Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients, inhalation or ingestion of the vapor may cause headaches, flushing, dizziness, mental depression, nausea, vomiting, narcosis and coma.
PROPYLENE GLYCOL (PG): As a "surfactant" or wetting agent and solvent, this ingredient is actually the active component in antifreeze. It is used in industry to break down protein and cellular structure (what the skin is made of) yet is found in most forms of make-up, hair products, lotions, after shave- deodorants, mouthwashes and toothpaste. It is also used in food processing. Because of its ability to quickly penetrate the skin, the EPA requires workers to wear protective gloves, clothing and goggles when working with this toxic substance. The Material Safety Data Sheets warn against skin contact, as PG has systemic consequences such as brain, liver and kidney abnormalities.
SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE (SLS) & SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE (SLES): Used as detergents and surfactants, these closely related compounds are found in car wash soaps, garage floor cleaners and engine degreasers. Yet both SLS and SLES are used more widely as one of the major ingredients in cosmetics, toothpaste, hair conditioner and about 90% of all shampoos and products that foam. According to the American College of Toxicology, both SLS and SLES can cause malformation in children's eyes. Other research has indicated SLS may be damaging to the immune system, especially within the skin. Skin layers may separate and inflame due to its protein denaturing properties. It is possibly the most dangerous of all ingredients in personal care products. According to the American College of Toxicity report, SLS stays in the body for up to five days. Other studies have indicated that SLS easily penetrates through the skin and enters and maintains residual levels in the heart, the liver, the lungs and the brain. This poses serious questions regarding its potential health threat through its use in shampoos, cleansers and toothpaste.
DEA (diethanolamine) MEA (momoethanolamine) TEA (triethanolamine): DEA and MEA are usually listed on the ingredient label in conjunction with the compound being neutralized. Look for names like Cocamide DEA or MEA, Lauramide DEA, etc. These are hormone disrupting chemicals and are known to form cancer causing nitrates and nitrosamines. These are commonly found in most personal care products that foam, including bubble baths, body washes, shampoos, soaps and facial cleansers. A recent government report shows DEA and MEA are readily absorbed in the skin. Repeated skin applications of DEA-based detergents resulted in a major increase in the incidence of two cancers - liver and kidney cancers.
FD & C COLOR PIGMENTS: Many color pigments cause skin sensitivity and irritation. Absorption of certain colors can cause depletion of oxygen in the body and even death according to a Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients. Colors that can be used in foods, drugs and cosmetics are made from coal tar. There is a great deal of controversy about their use, because animal studies have shown almost all of them to be carcinogenic.
FRAGRANCE: Fragrance is present in most deodorants, shampoos, sunscreens, skin care, body care and baby products. Fragrance on a label can indicate the presence of up to 4,000 separate ingredients. Most of all of them are synthetic. Symptoms reported to the FDA have included headaches, dizziness, rashes, skin discoloration, violent coughing and vomiting and allergic skin irritation. Clinical observation by medical doctors have shown that exposure to fragrances can affect the central nervous system, causing depression, hyperactivity, irritability, inability to cope and other behavioral changes.
IMIDAZOLIDINYL UREA and DMDM HYDANTOIN: These are just two of the many preservatives that release formaldehyde (formaldehyde-donors). Nearly all brands of skin, body and hair care, antiperspirants and nail polish found in stores contain formaldehyde releasing ingredients. Exposure to formaldehyde may cause joint pain, allergies, depression, headaches, chest pains, ear infections, chronic fatigue, dizziness and loss of sleep. It can also aggravate coughs and colds and trigger asthma. Serious side effects include weakening of the immune system and cancer.
PESTICIDES: Pesticides are directly released, indoors and outdoors, to get rid of insects, weeds and molds. They are also incorporated into soaps and household cleaning products, paints and wallpapers and applied to carpets, textiles and other products prior to sale. Many pesticides are linked to disruption of the hormone and reproductive system as well as being suspected carcinogens. Over 4 billion pounds of toxic chemicals are released by industry into the nation's environment each year, including 72 million pounds of recognized carcinogens.
You could be arrested if you dumped these same chemicals into a river -- that would be a violation of federal law. And yet, you put them into your body every single day, and that's not only legal, it's actually encouraged by media coverage, advertisements, department stores and retailers. It is perfectly possible, by the way, to live a life free of these toxic products. All you have to do is stop buying the toxic products, throw them out, and start buying products that actually protect your health.
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Brain Scans, Genes Provide Addiction Clues
Related to country: United States
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Positron emission tomography scans reveal that low activity levels in the cerebral cortex, as measured by metabolism of radiolabeled glucose, are positively correlated (yellow areas) with depression in individuals
Scientists using advanced brain imaging and genetic testing to probe the physiological basis of addiction are gleaning new insights into these disorders and how to treat them.
A symposium sponsored by Brookhaven National Laboratory (Upton, NY), held in conjunction with the American Association for the Advancement of Science's annual meeting in San Francisco in February, highlighted several advances in addiction science made over the past year. Researchers presented findings from brain imaging studies revealing the importance of memory and drug-related cues in addiction, the role of monoamine oxidase–inhibiting compounds in cigarette smoking, the damage to inhibitory controls caused by methamphetamine use, as well as results from studies suggesting that genomics could be used to better tailor addiction therapies.
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Jet With 114 Aboard Crashes in Cameroon
Related to country: United States
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A Kenya Airways 737-800 crashed in Cameroon Saturday
YAOUNDE, Cameroon (UFJ) - A Kenya Airways jet with 114 people on board crashed early Saturday after sending out a distress signal over a remote rainforest in southern Cameroon, officials said. Nearby villagers reported hearing a loud boom.
The jet bound for the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, went down near the town of Lolodorf, about 155 miles south of the coastal city of Douala, where it had taken off after midnight, said Alex Bayeck, a regional communications officer.
There was no word on survivors, said Bayeck, speaking by telephone en route to the crash site. He said search planes were flying over the forested area where the airliner gave off a distress signal, but no wreckage had been spotted.
He said residents in the area, which has few roads and is dotted by small villages, reported hearing a "large boom" during the night. "Searchers have gone out looking in this area," he said.
Kenya Airways CEO Titus Naikuni said the plane, which was almost new, took off an hour late because of rain. He said the distress call was issued automatically - "from a machine, not a pilot."
Kenya's transport minister, Ali Chirau Makwere, said it was too early to determine what caused the crash.
"We need to get information from the technical experts as to whether it was occasioned by the weather or pilot error or mechanical fault," he said in Nairobi. "We really don't know. It's too early to make any conclusions."
The Boeing 737-800 was carrying 114 people, including 105 passengers, from at least 23 countries, Kenyan airline officials said. A Nairobi-based Associated Press correspondent, Anthony Mitchell, was believed to be among the passengers. Mitchell had been on assignment in the region for the past week.
Kathleen Carroll, the AP executive editor, said Mitchell "contacted his family before boarding the flight to let them know he was headed home."
"We hope for the best," she said.
Relatives waiting at Nairobi's airport began wailing as news reports of the crash filtered in. Dozens of family members collapsed in the airport terminal.
Janet Mwema said she believed her daughter, Vicky, a cabin crew member, might have been on the flight but said counselors could not confirm that for her.
"We trust God that he will strengthen his people," Mwema said. "Because we all go one day, whether it is accident or what."
The flight departed Douala at 12:05 a.m. and was to have arrive in Nairobi at 6:15 a.m. The flight originated in Ivory Coast but stopped in Cameroon to pick up more passengers, the airline said.
"The last message was received in Douala after takeoff and thereafter the tower was unable to contact the plane," Kenya Airways' Naikuni said earlier Saturday.
The Douala-Nairobi flight runs several times a week, and is commonly used as an intermediary flight to Europe and the Middle East.
Kenya Airways - considered one of the safest airlines in Africa - said most passengers were planning to transfer to ongoing flights in Nairobi.
Naikuni said the plane was only six months old.
U.S. aviation officials are standing by, expecting to head to Cameroon and help with the investigation if asked.
"Generally, other governments don't have the same accident investigation expertise that we have," said Laura Brown, a spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration.
In 2004, the United States helped investigate the crash of a Flash Airlines Boeing 737 that killed all 148 on board minutes after taking off from the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt.
Boeing spokesman Jim Proulx said there have not been any safety concerns with the Chicago-based company's fleet of 737-800s. About 2,000 737-800s are in use around the world.
"We express our profound concern for the passengers and crew on board on the Kenyan Airways flight that went missing," Proulx said Saturday. "We stand ready to assist the authorities if they ask us to do so."
The last crash of an international Kenya Airways flight was on Jan. 30, 2000, when Flight 431 was taking off from Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on its way to Nairobi. Investigators blamed a faulty alarm and pilot error for that crash, which killed 169 people.
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WHAT ABOUT AIDS?
Related to country: South Africa
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USA 1 MILLION
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO 1.1 MILLION
TANZANIA 1.3 MILLION
ZIMBABWE 1.5 MILLION
KENYA 2.1 MILLION
NIGERIA 2.7 MILLION
ETHIOPIA 3 MILLION
SOUTH AFRICA 4 MILLION
Do you really realize the horror AIDS has visited on Africa, with more than 70% percent of the world’s AIDS population on one continent and of the more than 70% of the world’s AIDS population is Africans.
The global community and their families with HIV, AIDS and Sickle Cell Anemia Disease must increase educational awareness now. This will help improve the quality of life for those living with HIV, AIDS and Sickle Cell Anemia Disease through raising the level of awareness for education, medicine and the nutritional needs for those in Africa, the United States, and around the the world.
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African American Drivers Searched More Often, Feds Say
Related to country: United States
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(UFJ) - Police are more likely to search African American and Hispanic drivers than white drivers, according to a Justice Department study released Sunday.
African American drivers are three times as likely and Hispanic drivers are twice as likely to be searched as white drivers, the study shows. The data show that a similar percentage of drivers of each ethnicity was stopped, 8%-9% in 2005.
Police stopped 18 million drivers in 2005 and found evidence of a crime in about 12% of the searches, according to the report by the Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Statistics.
"It tells us that there are a lot of things that need closer examination," says Dennis Parker, director of the racial justice program for the American Civil Liberties Union.
"People of all races and ethnicities are stopped at the same rate. It is after the stop that disparities appear."
Matthew Durose, the author of the study, said the survey did not address the reason why police conducted the searches.
"There are countless reasons or circumstances that could lead police to conduct a search after making a traffic stop," Durose said. "There's really no way for us to say this is clearly evidence of racial profiling."
The findings are based on interviews with 63,943 people as part of the Police-Public Contact Survey conducted in 2005 for the Justice Department by the Census Bureau. The people surveyed were asked whether they had face-to-face contact with police in the past year.
The study found that 19% - nearly 1 in 5 people - had personal contact with a police officer in 2005, down from 21% in 2002, the first year of the study.
Young, white men were most likely to have contact with police, the survey found.
More than half the people surveyed said their contact with police involved a traffic stop or accident.
In both 2002 and 2005, police stopped white, black and Hispanic drivers at similar rates.
Police action taken after the initial stop differed among genders, and among African American, Hispanic and white drivers.
Male drivers were three times more likely than female drivers to be arrested, the study found.
African American drivers were twice as likely to be arrested, at 4.5%, than white drivers, at 2.1%, the study showed.
About 3.1% of Hispanic drivers were arrested after a traffic stop.
More Hispanic drivers received tickets than white or black drivers: two thirds, compared with 56% of white and African American drivers.
African American and Hispanic drivers were less likely than white drivers to say police behaved properly during a traffic stop, the survey found.
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Ebola-Like Virus Kills Fish in Great Lakes
Related to country: Canada
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(UFJ) -- A deadly Ebola-like virus is killing fish of all types in the Great Lakes, a development some scientists fear could trigger disaster for the USA's freshwater fish.
Because of a lack of genetic resistance to viral hemorrhagic septicemia, fish populations could be damaged in the same way the smallpox virus struck Native Americans and Dutch elm disease decimated elm trees, says Jim Winton, chief of fish health at the U.S. Geological Survey in Seattle.
The disease has been found in Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, Lake Huron, the St. Lawrence Seaway, the Niagara River and an inland lake in New York. The aggressive virus, which causes fish to hemorrhage, was unexpectedly found in the Great Lakes in 2005. Last year, it resulted in large fish kills that struck at least 20 species. Scientists are watching to see whether the disease returns in mid-May when water in the lakes warms to temperatures at which the virus attacks.
"VHS is the most important and dangerous fish virus known worldwide," Winton says. "Its discovery in our fresh water is disturbing and potentially catastrophic."
The United States and Canada try to contain the virus by restricting the transporting of fish and live bait and telling boaters to wash their boats when moving them between lakes. Michigan's Department of Natural Resources has taken the most dramatic action: closing hatcheries that produce three important sport fish - walleye, northern pike and muskellunge.
"The last thing you want to do is get the virus into the hatcheries and become a vehicle for spreading the virus," says Gary Whelan, who runs the state's hatcheries and chairs the multistate Great Lakes Fish Health Committee.
"What's so disturbing is that it's killing fish from so many species and with amazingly high mortality levels," says Paul Bowser, professor of aquatic animal medicine at Cornell University. The virus does not threaten humans, Bowser says. "If you cook the fish, heat will kill the virus," he says.
How VHS got into the Great Lakes is unclear. The dumping of ocean water from an international cargo ship is a suspected cause. Also not ruled out: spawning fish swimming upstream or a bird carrying a diseased fish.
Genetic tests show that the strain of VHS found in the Great Lakes probably originated in the Atlantic Ocean, near New Brunswick, Canada. That places the virus' origin near the start of the St. Lawrence River shipping route that leads to the lakes.
VHS thrives in water of 40 to 59 degrees. Most water in the Great Lakes, which contain about 20% of the world's fresh water, has not hit that temperature yet this year.
"The best-case scenario is that the virus becomes something that lurks in the background and attacks only when conditions are ripe," Whelan says. "I'm not expecting that, but I am hoping."
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U.S. CONSTITUTION
Related to country: United States
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An Act Declaring the So-Called Negro, Mulatto, and Indian
slaves within this dominion, to be real estate
October 1705
I. FOR the better settling and preservation of estates within this dominion,
II. Be it enacted, by the governor, council and burgesses of this present general assembly, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same; That from and after the passing of this act, all negro, mulatto, and Indian slaves, in all courts of judicature, and other places, within this dominion, shall be held, taken, and adjudged, to be real estate (and not chattels;) and shall descend unto the heirs and widows of persons departing this life, according to the manner and custom of land of inheritance, held in fee simple.
III. Provided always, That nothing in this act contained, shall be taken to extend to any merchant or factor, bringing any slaves into this dominion, or having any consignments thereof, unto them, for sale: But that such slaves, whilst they remain unsold, in the posession of such merchant, or factor, or of their executors, administrators, or assigns, shall, to all intents and purposes, be taken, held, and adjudged, to be personal estate, in the same condition they should have been in, if this act had never been made.
IV. Provided also, That all such slaves shall be liable to the paiment of debts, and may be taken by execution, for that end, as other chattels or personal estate may be.
V. Provided also, That no such slaves shall be liable to be escheated, by reason of the decease of the proprietor of the same, without lawful heirs: But all such slaves shall, in that case, be accounted and go as chattels, and other estate personal.
VI. Provided also, That no person, selling or alienating any such slave, shall be obliged to cause such sale or alienation to be recorded, as is required by law to be done, upon the alienation of other real estate: But that the said sale or alienation may be made in the same manner as might have been done before the making of this act.
VII. Provided also, That this act, or any thing therein contained, shall not extend, nor be construed to extend, to give any person, being owner of any slave or slaves, and not seized of other real estate, the right or privilege as a freeholder, meant, mentioned, and intended, by one act of this present session of assembly, intituled, An act for regulating the elections of Burgesses, for settling their privileges, and for ascertaining their allowances.
VIII. Provided also, That it shall and may be lawful, for any person, to sue for, and recover, any slave, or damage, for the detainer, trover, or conversion therof, by action personal, as might have been done if this act had never been made.
IX. Provided always, That where the nature of the case shall require it, any writ De Partitione facienda, or of dower, may be sued forth and prosecuted, to recover the right and possession of any such slave or slaves.
X. Provided, and be it enacted, That when any person dies intestate, leaving several children, in that case all the slaves of such person, (except the widow's dower, which is to be first set apart) shall be inventoried and appraised; and the value therof shall be equally divided amongst all the said children; and the several proportions, according to such valuation and appraisement, shall be paid by the heir (to whom the said slaves shall descend, by virtue of this act) unto all and every the other said children. And thereupon, it shall and may be lawful for the said other children, and every of them, and their executors or administrators, as the case shall be, to commence and prosecute an action upon the case, at the common law, against such heir, his heirs, executors and administrators, for the recovery of their said several proportions, respectively.
XI. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid,, That if any widow, seised of any such slave or slaves, as aforesaid, as of the dower of her husband, shall send, or voluntarily permit to be sent out of this colony and dominion, such slave or slaves, or any of their increase, without the lawful consent of him or her in revesion, such widow shall forfeit all and every such slave or slaves, and all other the dower which she holds of the endowment of her husband's estate, unto the person or persons that shall have the reversion thereof; any law, usage or custom to the contrary notwithstanding. And if any widow, seized as aforesaid, shall be married to an husband, who shall send, or voluntary permit to be sent out of this colony and dominion, any such slave or slaves, or any of their increase, without the consent of him or her in reversion; in such case, it shall be lawful for him or her in reversion, to enter into, possess and enjoy all the state which such husband holdeth, in right of his wife's dower, for and during the life of the said husband.
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| April 30, 2007 | 11:52 PM |
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Killer Algae Haunts California's Shores
Related to country: United States
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LOS ANGELES (UFJ) -- A bloom of ocean algae that produces a toxic acid has sickened and killed hundreds of birds, sea lions and dolphins in California, environmentalists said.
Birds and animals have been washing up on shores from San Diego to San Francisco Bay.
In the past week, 40 birds have been taken to the International Bird Rescue Center in San Pedro with symptoms of domoic acid poisoning, which attacks the brain and can cause seizures.
In previous seasons, the center might see seven birds a week, director Jay Holcomb said.
"I have been doing this work for 35 years and I have never seen anything like this as far as the number of species affected, other than an oil spill," Holcomb said Thursday.
Domoic acid is produced by microscopic algae. Birds and sea mammals ingest the acid by eating fish and shellfish who dine on the algae.
The algae population increases or "blooms" every year as the ocean waters warm but this year's bloom seems early, extensive and "very, very thick," said David Caron, who teaches in the biological sciences department at University of Southern California.
"In five years of study I have not seen a bloom this large at this particular time of year," Caron said. "It's having an extraordinary impact on pelicans and many other species."
"There are conceivably thousands of animals being affected," Caron said.
The Wetland and Wildlife Care Center in Huntington Beach had received 73 sick or dead birds since Sunday, assistant director Lisa Birkle said.
The toxin has been swifter and deadlier than usual, she said.
"The concentration of the toxin is so great this year that we haven't had a chance to react to it," Birkle said. "Normally we're able to flush out the toxin with a treatment regimen ... This year they're just coming in dead."
Fourteen sea lions have been treated for domoic acid poisoning at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach. Seven died, said Michele Hunter, the center's director.
Humans can't be harmed by swimming in algae blooms but consuming fish and shellfish tainted with the acid can cause nausea, seizures and even death.
The state Department of Health Services issued a warning against eating sport-harvested shellfish, anchovies, sardines, and both sports-harvested and commercially caught lobsters and crabs.
The warning came early this year. The advisory usually runs from May 1 to Oct. 31.
A domoic outbreak in 2002 and 2003 sickened or killed more than a thousand sea lions and 50 dolphins, said Joe Cordaro, a biologist with the National Marine Fisheries Services.
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What is West Nile virus?
Related to country: United States
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West Nile virus (WNV) is a virus that is spread by mosquitoes. The virus usually infects birds, but it can be spread to humans by mosquitoes that feed on infected birds and then bite humans. The virus cannot be spread by person-to-person contact.
Historically, West Nile virus has been found in parts of Africa, West Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East. The virus was identified in the United States for the first time during 1999. West Nile virus is closely related to the virus that causes St. Louis encephalitis (SLE), which has caused illnesses in Georgia residents in the past.
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| April 30, 2007 | 12:08 AM |
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Attacks a Threat Abroad, Iraqi Leader Says
Related to country: Iraq
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Car Bomb Kills Over 68 Near Shiite Shrine
BAGHDAD (UFJ) - Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki told an Iranian envoy Sunday that the persistent attacks in Iraq are also a threat abroad, a pointed warning amid U.S. accusations that the government in Tehran is stoking the violence by supporting Shiite militias.
Al-Maliki met with top Iranian envoy Ali Larijani in Baghdad as Iran agreed to attend a major U.S.-backed regional conference on Iraq set for this week in Egypt, raising hopes that bringing Iraq's neighbors together will help stabilize the country.
"Terrorist operations targeting Iraq will affect all countries in the world that are supposed to be supporting the Iraqi government in its war against terrorism ," al-Maliki said in a statement issued by his office, adding that the prime minister also thanked Iran for agreeing to participate in this week's conference in Sharm el-Sheik.
Larijani said that "countries that want security and stability in the region have no choice but to support Iraq's elected government."
Iran has considerable influence among Shiite parties in Iraq, who now lead the country's government. It is alleged to have links with Shiite militant groups, which is why numerous American politicians and analysts have urged Washington to engage Iran in talks designed to curb the violence in Iraq.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she would not rule out the possibility of a bilateral meeting with Iran at the gathering in Egypt but stressed the focus would stay on Iraq. The Americans have refused to hold one-on-one talks over Iran's disputed nuclear program.
"Well, I think we all know that if in fact everybody believes a secure Iraq is important, then we need to stop the flow of foreign fighters," she said on CNN's "Late Edition."
"A stable Iraq is one in which its neighbors are doing the things that they need to do to help the Iraqis deal with the violent people who are trying to destabilize them, not to encourage and support those violent people."
Iraq has found itself in a difficult position since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, with the government trying to maintain good relations with its predominantly Shiite neighbor while not angering the Americans.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said earlier Sunday that Larijani would raise "some questions and ambiguities about the agenda" in his talks with the Iraqi government.
He wasn't more specific.
The Iranian government has demanded the release of five Iranian officials detained in the northern Iraqi city of Irbil by U.S. troops in January, but Hosseini denied his country had linked its participation at the conference to that demand.
Rice also insisted there was no deal made regarding the detained Iranians in exchange for Iran's participation.
"There was no guarantee. We've talked to the Iraqi government and informed them that the detainees will be dealt with in the normal course," she said.
Iran says the official were diplomats who should not have been detained. The U.S. military has said the Iranians are suspected of links to a network supplying arms to Iraqi insurgents — an accusation that Iran has denied.
The head of the Iranian parliamentary committee on national security and foreign policy, Alaeddin Boroojerdi, also said Iran's failure to participate in Sharm el-Sheik would lay the Islamic republic open to criticism from the United States.
"Iran should attend the conference, actively and powerfully," Boroojerdi was quoted as saying by Iran's official Islamic Republic News Agency.
Separately, Britain said one of its soldiers was shot to death Sunday while on patrol in southern Iraq. The death brings to 146 the number of British troops killed in Iraq since the 2003 invasion — 12 of them this month.
In Baghdad, U.S. forces fired an artillery barrage in southern Baghdad Sunday morning, rocking the capital with loud explosions.
The size and the pattern of the explosions, which began after 9 a.m. and lasted for at least 15 minutes, suggested they were directed at Sunni militant neighborhoods along the city's southern rim. Such blasts have been heard in the evenings but are rare at that time of day.
In a brief statement to The Associated Press, the U.S. military said it fired the artillery from a forward operating base near Iraq's Rasheed military base southeast of Baghdad, but provided no other details.
Iraqis in the southern region of the city said American and Iraqi forces had stepped up their operations in the Dora area of southern Baghdad starting Saturday night.
Elsewhere in Iraq, the death toll from a suicide car bomb attack in the Shiite holy city of Karbala rose to 68 as residents dug through the debris of heavily damaged shops.
American troops also detained 72 suspected insurgents and seized nitric acid and other bomb-making materials during raids on Sunday targeting al-Qaida in Iraq in Anbar province, a Sunni insurgent stronghold west of the capital, and Salahuddin province, a volatile Sunni area northwest of the capital, the U.S. military said.
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U.S. cites difficulty deporting detainees
Related to country: Cuba
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82 inmates cleared but still held at Guantanamo
LONDON (UFJ)-- More than a fifth of the approximately 385 prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, have been cleared for release but may have to wait months or years for their freedom because U.S. officials are finding it increasingly difficult to line up places to send them, according to Bush administration officials and defense lawyers.
Since February, the Pentagon has notified about 85 inmates or their attorneys that they are eligible to leave after being cleared by military review panels. But only a handful have gone home, including a Moroccan and an Afghan who were released Tuesday. Eighty-two remain at Guantanamo and face indefinite waits as U.S. officials struggle to figure out when and where to deport them, and under what conditions.
The delays illustrate how much harder it will be to empty the prison at Guantanamo than it was to fill it after it opened in January 2002 to detain fighters captured in Afghanistan and terrorism suspects captured overseas.
In many cases, the prisoners' countries do not want them back. Yemen, for instance, has balked at accepting some of the 106 Yemeni nationals at Guantanamo by challenging the legality of their citizenship.
Another major obstacle: U.S. laws that prevent the deportation of people to countries where they could face torture or other human rights abuses, as in the case of 17 Chinese Muslim separatists who have been cleared for release but fear they could be executed for political reasons if returned to China.
'Not their problem'
Compounding the problem are persistent refusals by the United States, its European allies and other countries to grant asylum to prisoners who are stateless or have no place to go.
"In general, most countries simply do not want to help," said John B. Bellinger III, legal adviser to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. "Countries believe this is not their problem. They think they didn't contribute to Guantanamo, and therefore they don't have to be part of the solution."
A case in point is Ahmed Belbacha, 37, an Algerian who worked as a hotel waiter in Britain but has been locked up at Guantanamo for five years. The Pentagon has alleged that Belbacha met al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden twice and received weapons training in Afghanistan. His attorneys dispute the charges and say he was rounded up with other innocents in Pakistan in early 2002.
On Feb. 22, without explanation, the Pentagon notified Belbacha's lawyers in London that he had been approved to leave Guantanamo. Despite entreaties from the State Department, however, the British government has refused to accept Belbacha and five other immigrants who had lived in the country, because they lack British citizenship.
This month, Clint Williamson, the State Department's ambassador for war crimes, visited Algiers to discuss possible arrangements for the return of two dozen Algerians who remain at Guantanamo, including Belbacha, but no breakthroughs were reported. That country has been slow to accept its citizens.
'Holdup is a mystery'
Zachary Katznelson, a lawyer who represents Belbacha and several other prisoners who have been cleared, said defense attorneys have tried to speed up the process by contacting foreign governments to see if there are any specific obstacles to the return of their clients. In many cases, he said, the prisoners and officials in their home countries are willing to approve the transfer, but the delays persist.
"The holdup is a mystery to me, frankly," said Katznelson, senior counsel for Reprieve, a British legal defense fund. "If the U.S. has cleared these people and they want to go back, I don't understand why they can't just put them on a plane."
Other prisoner advocates said the Bush administration has made its task more difficult by exaggerating the threat posed by most Guantanamo inmates -- officials repeatedly called them "the worst of the worst" -- and refusing to acknowledge mistaken detentions.
Foreign governments have also questioned why U.S. officials should expect other countries to pitch in, given that Washington won't offer asylum to detainees either.
"This is a problem of our own creation, and yet we expect other countries to shoulder the entire burden of a solution," said Ben Wizner, staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union. "There needs to be a worldwide solution here. The U.S. has to bear some of that burden. It can't simply expect its partners and allies to absorb all its detainees."
The 82 cleared prisoners who remain stuck in limbo come from 16 countries in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia, according to defense attorneys who have received official notification of their clients' status.
The 17 Chinese Muslim separatists make up the largest contingent. Other countries with multiple prisoners awaiting release include Afghanistan, Sudan, Tunisia, Uzbekistan and Yemen.
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| April 29, 2007 | 10:20 AM |
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