harelb@cabot.dartmouth.edu (Harel Barzilai) (06/14/91)
[Joan Mower, Associated Press] WASHINGTON -- Eight Americans who were held hostage at the U.S. Embassy in Iran asked Congress today to investigate allegations that [The Reagan/Bush] presidential campaign worked to delay their release until after the 1980 election. The ex-hostages joined a chorus of critics, including former President Carter, who want Congress to look into events leading to the election in which Reagan ousted Carter. The 52 hostages were freed minutes after Reagan was inaugurated in January 1981 -- after 444 days in captivity. "For the last 10 years there have been rumors, reports and allegations of foul play in the 1980 presidential election," the hostages said in an open letter to members of Congress. "Until recently, these allegations have been dismissed as unsubstantiated," the letter said. "But substantial enough information ha been presented by respected and persistent investigators to warrant a thorough examination of this matter." Recently, Gary Sick, a respected expert on Iran and a member of Carter's national Security Council staff, said he determined the [Reagan/Bush] campaign promised weapons to the Iranian government in exchange for postponing the hostage release. [In fact it is substantiated that weapons were shipped to Iran many years before Iran-Contra; see the article from Z magazine posted to misc.activism.progressive, for example --HB] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - [From: Valley News, June 13, 1991. See page 13 small box under the title "Ex-Hostages Seek Inquiry." By Joan Mower, Associated Press] ################################################################## Misc.activism.progressive is currently running a "theme" -- a group of related posts over 1-2 week -- on the October Surprise. Allow half a week after the official posting date for the articles to show up: Mon 10th Z article (part 1) ; Z article (part 2) "A quick introduction to the October Surprise" Tues 11th Wed 12th Convergence article ; Convergence ACTION Thu 13th "Coverup: Behind the Iran/Contra Affair" video Fri 14th Sat 15th ITT May 1-7 (part 1) ; (part 2) Sun 16th Mon 17th WHEREWAS GEORGE (as archived) Tue 18th Call Congress/Media ACTION ; some Tels/Adrs Wed 19th More Tels/Adrs, for ACTION Thu 20th Post/archive Ben-Menashe (40K) article and post/mention archived OCTOBER SURPRISE and VERDICT TREASON Ex-CIA agent's acquittal is Bush's indictment (The Brenneke trial) Fri 21st ################################################################## Other upcoming themes on misc.activism.progressive: -- Health Care -- "Free" Trade / Env. disaster in Mex / Pesticides/Hzrd Waste (Stay tuned for announcement on alt.activism and elsewhere) -- Drug War: Christic stuff; studies and stats; plus articles on Tobacco (pushing it in Thailand) and Marijuana (myths from PN and "Medical Victims of Drug War" ITT article) etc -- U.S. "Spends too much" on Social Programs series of educational posts/stats ##################################################################