SMITH@SLACVM.BITNET (10/01/86)
Lynn Gazis says in poli-sci V6 #69 > "Allowing individual groups of citizens to >give military aid to any country or terrorist organization of their >choice would not be acceptable. (I am still only thinking of things >it is now legal for our government to do, and I am not thrilled about >the fact that our government can give any weapons it chooses to any >government or terrorist group it chooses. So don't throw back at me >the argument that individuals have the same rights as the >government.)" Do you know that there are already private groups in this country that are sending military aid (meaning here guns or $) to foreign countries including Nicaragua? There is Singlaub's group for the contras (who are mostly former Sandinista's) and I have read about a fund-raiser for the Sandinista's held by some well known celebrity's in Hollywood. Both sides have access to private funds from the States. I think this would actually be difficult to prevent (unless you are willing to clamp down on everything that happens in this country). Then there are the "mercs" who hire themselves out. My main point is that what you have mentioned is not as hypothetical as implied by the context of your message. John R. Smith smith%slacvm.bitnet@wiscvm.arpa -------