The "Boland Amendment" stipulated that no "appropriated funds" could be used to support the Contras.
While various legal beagles on Reagan's staff indicated that the Boland Amendment was probably un-constitutional - the Reagan administration tried to find LEGAL ways to get money to the Contras. They encouraged other countries to donate to the Contras (and the Democrats claimed that any administration official - paid by appropriated funds - in soliciting donations - would be in violation of the Boland Amendment.)
Ollie and the NSA came up with a plan to sell at inflated prices spare parts to Iran (remember that Iran and Iraq were waging a long 8+ year battle that we didn't want to see either side totally win and defeat the other side.) So to keep Iraq from defeating Iran when Iran was loosing, we sold parts ... paid the "book cost" of parts back to the U.S. Treasury, and the remaining money went to the Contras.
Maybe it was a scam ... but Ollie didn't send appropriated monies to the Contras. Since the administration reimbursed the Federal Government for the cost of spare parts that were sold ... the U.S. government wasn't cheated.
Ollie's crime - the one he wasn't charged with - was aiding and abetting opponents of a Communist regime, and actions that lead to the overthrow of a Communist regime. This crime is a serious one (to Democrats).
Ollie was charged with lying to Congress ... but his conviction was overturned because what he told Congress when he was under oath was proven to be true, and other items that the Democrats wanted to charge him with were covered under the grant of immunity that the Democrats granted him.
Bottom line - Ollie led an effort to find a LEGAL LOOPHOLE to aid Contras. It is not illegal to find legal loopholes, in the same way that people can use loopholes to lower their taxes. Doing so doesn't make someone a tax cheat.
The Democrats wanted to strangle the Contras and keep Danny Ortega and his Communists in power in Nicarauga ... just because the "intent" of the legislation was to prevent aid to the Contras ... But it is not illegal to violate THE INTENT of a Law; it is illegal to violate the Letter of the Law. The Reagan administration is guilty of pissing of the Democrats, who tried to aid the Communists.
As such ... Ollie is to be admired, not condemned!!
And remember - guilty people who commit heinous crimes get turned loose on technicalities .... why should we not offer the same "letter of law vs. intent of law" release on a technicality to someone whose only "crime" was to help spread liberty and freedom in a Central American country?
Mike?
Thanks for that lecture. All of this does not change at all my original point. A huge segment of the country doesn't pay any attention to Ollie North so putting him out as a spokesman is preaching to the choir. It won't convert a soul.
Agreed.
Another Thought set the terms, legality, not a popularity contest, and he should have the decency to acknowledge that you are right.