Robert Parry: 'The Bushes & the Truth About Iran'

[Octafish]

More light from ConsortiumNews.com:

The Bushes & the Truth About Iran

By Robert Parry
September 21, 2006

Having gone through the diplomatic motions with Iran, George W. Bush is shifting toward a military option that carries severe risks for American soldiers in Iraq as well as for long-term U.S. interests around the world. Yet, despite this looming crisis, the Bush Family continues to withhold key historical facts about U.S.-Iranian relations.

Those historical facts – relating to Republican contacts with Iran’s Islamic regime more than a quarter century ago – are relevant today because an underlying theme in Bush’s rationale for war is that direct negotiations with Iran are pointless. But Bush’s own father may know otherwise.

The evidence is now persuasive that George H.W. Bush participated in negotiations with Iran’s radical regime in 1980, behind President Jimmy Carter’s back, with the goal of arranging for 52 American hostages to be released after Bush and Ronald Reagan were sworn in as Vice President and President, respectively.

In exchange, the Republicans agreed to let Iran obtain U.S.-manufactured military supplies through Israel. The Iranians kept their word, releasing the hostages immediately upon Reagan’s swearing-in on Jan. 20, 1981.

Over the next few years, the Republican-Israel-Iran weapons pipeline operated mostly in secret, only exploding into public view with the Iran-Contra scandal in late 1986. Even then, the Reagan-Bush team was able to limit congressional and other investigations, keeping the full history – and the 1980 chapter – hidden from the American people.

CONTINUED...

http://www.consortiumnews.com/2006/092006.html

A must read, IMO.

[FloridaPat]

1. I keep hearing that but no one ever really investigated it. St. Reagan

would loose his halo. Can't have that can we.

:sarcasm:

[acmejack]

2. It would cost a fortune to rename all those public facilities.

After all, every municipality in America has at least one facility named after the good Saint Ronald.

[yellowdogmi]

8. And I hope to deface most of them. eom

[Jackpine Radical]

31. We even have a memorial to Him at home.

The Ronald Raygun Memorial Septic System.

[Octafish]

3. Biggest difference between Reagan and Carter...

In all his years of public service, Carter upheld the Constitution.

[Jade Fox]

9. That would be a dream come true....

The deification of Reagan is so :puke: ......words fail me. Everything we are appalled at in our country now got it's start in the Reagan years. There was an unexpected interruption by Bill Clinton, and then things got back on track.

[Octafish]

15. Corporate McPravda ignored the Truth. Here're a few books...

... for the reading pleasure of the intelligent mind:

Ex-Reagan-Bush White House staffer Barbara Honneger wrote the original eye-witness skinny, "October Surprise."

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0944276466/ref=pd_sim_books_5/104-9929227-0153562?v=glance&s=books


Capt. Gary Sick, a member of the National Security Council staff for Carter, Reagan and Bush, wrote the insider's perspective in "October Surprise: America’s Hostages in Iran and the Election of Ronald Reagan."

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0812919890/ref=pd_sim_books_3/104-9929227-0153562?v=glance&s=books


Abolhassan Bani-Sadr, Speaker of Parliament? of Iran, wrote the Iranian perspective, "My Turn to Speak."

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0080405630/qid%3D1043119215/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/104-9929227-0153562#product-details


Of course, Robert Parry himself reported the story in his "just the facts" manner in "Trick or Treason: The October Surprise Mystery."

http://www.amazon.com/Trick-Treason-October-Surprise-Mystery/dp/187982308X

[blm]

27. Parry's probably going to be needing another fund drive to stay afloat.

Undergod knows the BFEE operatives would like nothing more than to shut him down permenently.

Parry has a great grasp of the historic record and how it connects to today's events and policies - - BFEE doesn't like that in a reporter - - they want stenographers like the NYT and WaPost, and mouthpieces like CNN, FOX and MSNBC.

[burythehatchet]

4. The past couple of days

have been an orgy of "nutjob" comments. I wonder how many of the people who hold such fervent opinions about Iran have a clue about the history of US/Persian issues. We have overthrown their government, supported their death squads, refused to let them seek justice against their puppet Shah who is responsible for innumerable killings, supported Iraq against their war of aggression against Iran, etc etc etc.

Then when the country decides it is going to defend itself we all have a shit fit.

Sometimes I believe our historical span of understanding is about 6 months.

[Jcrowley]

14. You Got It

The vast majority of Iran's crude oil reserves are located in giant onshore fields in the southwestern Khuzestan region near the Iraqi border and the Persian Gulf. Iran has 32 producing oil fields, of which 25 are onshore and 7 offshore. Major onshore fields include the following: Ahwaz-Asmari (700,000 bbl/d); Bangestan (around 245,000 bbl/d current production, with plans to increase to 550,000 bbl/d), Marun (520,000 bbl/d), Gachsaran (560,000 bbl/d), Agha Jari (200,000 bbl/d), Karanj-Parsi (200,000 bbl/d); Rag-e-Safid (180,000 bbl/d); Bibi Hakimeh (130,000 bbl/d), and Pazanan (70,000 bbl/d). Major offshore fields include: Dorood (130,000 bbl/d); Salman (130,000 bbl/d); Abuzar (125,000 bbl/d); Sirri A&E (95,000 bbl/d); and Soroush/Nowruz (60,000 bbl/d).

According to the Oil and Gas Journal (1/1/04), Iran holds 125.8 billion barrels of proven oil reserves, roughly 10% of the world's total, up from 90 billion barrels in 2003. In October 1999, Iran announced that it had made its biggest oil discovery in 30 years, a giant onshore field called Azadegan located in the southwestern province of Khuzestan, a few miles east of the border with Iraq. Reportedly, the Azadegan field contains proven crude oil reserves of 26 billion barrels. In July 2004, Iran's oil minister stated that the country's proven oil reserves had increased again, to 132 billion barrels, following new discoveries in the Kushk and Hosseineih fields in Khuzestan province.

Iran's energy generation capacity has risen to about 26,000 megawatts. The share of Khuzestan in total amount of energy produced in the country was 3,800 mega watts. The figure is expected to increase following operationing of three dams in Khuzestan province. Water resources are unevenly spread; 30 percent of surface water resources are concentrated in one province (Khuzestan), while many other populated provinces fully exploit their scarce available resources.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/oplan-1002.htm

Khuzestan is the most important pivot of Iran's economy. The existence of such huge resources as oil, gas and water in Khuzestan have changed the economic appearance of Iran. Oil first erupted from a well in the Massjed e Soleyman area, located in the southern Khuzestan province.

[Octafish]

34. That Iraq-Iran War was the worst.

The reporting from the front was most horrible. At one point, Ayatollah Khomeini was spreading out battalions of 5-year-old boys to clear mine fields. I remember a photograph where each kid had been given a plastic "key." If you had any kids then, you might recognize the keys were taken from popular teething rings of the time. Around his neck, each little boy would have a navy blue or bright yellow or sharp red key on a little string. Anyway, the key was supposed to get them into heaven.

Some say more than a million lives were lost for a few hundred miles of land.



The prick Hussein started the war. Somebody somewhere advised him to do it.

[BeHereNow]

45. You are far too generous: Your assessment of the "murikkan attention span

Try six nano seconds as far as the American recollection
of history goes...
Sad, but oh too true.
BHN

[Blaze Diem]

5. similarily, then, were secret negotiations taking place behind

Pres Clintons back by GHW Bush & pals, to create an element of terror and fear on American soil, to take place after GW Bush's pre-destined selection took place?

GHW Bush has, like Dick Cheney, WAY too much power via the CIA and secret dealings with his oil patch pals in the Middle East.

My theory says their secret negotiations worked in the Carter administration, of course they would repeat the process with Clinton as President.
They are all about secret negotiations for complete self-benefit.
Ya like the mofia, only worse.

[Octafish]

16. Joseph Trento: ''The Safari Club''

Joseph Trento absolutely pegs the connection between US Intel -- meaning Theodore Shackley and Poppy Bush's secret team -- and the Safari Club -- meaning petrobigbucks. Trento explains how the Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI) was used to finance terror, launder drug money and build the Pakistani H-bomb.

The other players at their "level" are the Mossad, ex-KGB/GRU and the Mafya narco-warmongers. And by now, some or all have probably done a pretty good job of blackmailing Poppy Doc and Baby Doc Bush.

Interesting connection in this area: All these groups are hell-bent on world domination. The arch-conservative movement ties them together. This is embodied in the offices of Grover Norquist and Jack Abramoff. The former handles the Islamic accounts and the latter the Israeli accounts. Norquist has been tied to the Islamic terror financing network. Abramoff has been tied to a mob murder in Florida. Both report to the crazy monkey who reports to Poppy who reports to the real money.

[AntiFascist]

19. The blackmail factor is the scary part....

it's as if the Republican party goes along and has rolled on its back and given in, enjoying the petro-profits along the way. Consequently the entire nation is at their mercy.

A much deserved K&R, btw.

[H2O Man]

24. I'm curious ....

if you are familiar with John Ranelagh's 1986 book, "The Agency: The Rise and Decline of the CIA"?

[Octafish]

33. Is Ranelagh the guy who thought Poppy was a 'good steward'?

Thanks for bringing him up, H20 Man. I was not familiar with his work, but I'd like to learn more.

Here's a bit I found via the Internets:

Ranelagh, John. "The Good Steward of the CIA." National Review, 7 Nov. 1988, 37.


As DCI, George Bush showed himself "to be more capable than he looked, with that strong sense of obligation downward which energizes and renews battered institutions, and generates strong personal feelings. He proved to be a classic custodian: making sure all was ship-shape on his watch. His people knew that they would not be served up piecemeal to posturing politicians and excitable journalists. He did more for Agency morale than any DCI since Allen Dulles."

MORE...

http://intellit.muskingum.edu/alpha_folder/R_folder/ranelagh.html

Sorry this is so late in reply, my Friend. I've been busy at the rabbit where the grandest server is about to buy the bit farm and I got tasked with creating PDFs of the really important shtuff. The last week's been like a trip through the time tunnel.

[H2O Man]

37. I had found

mention of the book in a couple footnotes in "Sons & Brothers," by Richard Mahoney. I think that Mahoney's book, while it has some parts that aren't exactly right, has some value. He said that the book in question is "the best" on the Agency. I found that a curious statement. The "good steward" business seems telling.

[blm]

26. Norquist also taps Dana Rohrabacher for covert dealings - Dana slips under

the radar on his excursions to the region over the years, claiming his congressional duties require him to check out the region.

Yeah.....and report to Norquist? Don't think so, Dana.

[H2O Man]

6. I would strongly

recommend that DUers read as much of Robert Parry as possible. He did the best reporting on the Iran-Contra crimes in the 1980s. I have always thought very highly of this man's work.

I think DUers should buy his new book, "Secrecy & Privilege: Rise of the Bush Dynasty from Watergate to Iraq." We can get it, along with "Lot History," at a 30% discount at this time. I cannot stress enough how important his books are at this time. See:

secrecyandprivilege.com

[Octafish]

35. When we get time, I'd like to read your library, H20 Man.

We are most lucky indeed to have Robert Parry as a journalist. Much of what we know regarding The October Surprise, BushCo, the secret team and NAZI CIA are due to his work.

I've got Parry's books and a whole bunch more that I bet you also have. And I always appreciate learning from the works that have long been in your library and the finds you make at book sales or from our contemporaries. You help us find gold in the gravel field. Moreover, you have a great way of connecting the nuggets and how the puzzle comes together. As with Parry, we are lucky to have you as a resource for Truth, H20 Man.



In a democracy, truth is the most important natural resource. In a time of tyranny -- or war --, truth is hidden and rationed.

[H2O Man]

38. I think that in

order to understand what a tragic set of errors this administration's Middle East policy is, on must read Robert Parry. As has been mentioned on several of the best DU threads, we are where we are today, as a direct consequence of yesterday. And the issues with Iran, which are very complex, can most easily be understood by reading RP's works.

I also would encourage DUers to get a fairly new book (which I admit I do not have yet!) by Bill Gertz. It's called "Enemies," and covers some cases of espionage that also help us understand what we are dealing with today. When we look at the Cheney/Rumsfeld operations, which have been found under names such as WHIG/OSP, we find that they are absolutely part of a "shadow government." And it's far more than just the Plame and Franklin/AIPAC cases. It would be bad enough if these people were limiting their efforts to intelligence gathering and analysis -- which they are not supposed to be doing. But more, they have become "operational." And that, in my opinion, is what Parry showed, not only about Iran-Contra, but even before then .... going against President Carter.

I have been collecting some information on some other operations this group of people have been doing. Hopefully, I'll get something up on DU within a few days. I think that if people were to combine Parry, and your and my writings, they would be coming very close to the truth on this subject. I think that makes DU a pretty valuable resource.

[enough]

7. k&r

[oncall247]

10. Not only hiding history but pardoning all the felons. Some in current adm

Not only that, the history of our arming, supporting, and encouraging Saddam throughout the 80's is well hidden.

[bvar22]

11. This IS HIGH TREASON.

The "Official Policy" of the United States at that time was NO NEGOTIATION.
That Poppy Bush would go behind the back of a sitting President and enter into negotions with the Iranians is a clear case of HIGH TREASON.

It also implies that Poppy Bush had the hostages held longer than necessary so that their release would have the right Theatrical Impact. I wonder how much sooner the captives could have been released?
I wonder what America would say if they were told that an American told the Iranian terrorists to hold the hostages a little longer so that they could make political hay?

[blm]

12. The truth on that WAS found by Lawrence Walsh, but Clinton came into

office and wanted all pursuit of Bush1 dropped quietly.

THAT is the reason we sre suffering Bush2 today and why a 9-11 happened. Bush1 had been dealing with and protecting terrorists for decades, and Clinton knew it and said NOTHING.

[Hawkowl]

18. Clinton is WEAK

That is the reason he was persecuted by the wingnuts. When someone wants your lunch money, you knock him down, you kick him in the nuts. You don't negotiate how much of your lunch money you get to keep. He is alwasy trying to accommodate and find common ground with people who want to stick a knife in him. His third way is BULLSHIT. Enough with the appeasment and the pardons. It just encourages these organized, murderous criminals! They need to be tried, convicted and imprisoned without parole for treason. It is the only way to stop this nonsense that has been going on since Nixon (Cheney & Rumsfeld).

[AntiFascist]

20. There's more to it than that....

I have a feeling much of the current economy depends upon this bullshit. The Third Way is a compromise and kowtows to the neocons.

[blm]

25. Exactly - the economy is being held hostage. They threatened Blair, too,

as soon as they took office - play ball or we'll collapse your economy.

Had Clinton stayed tough and let the economy take a hit, we still could have recovered in a few years working TOGETHER as a civilization, with the actual numbers.

Better a few years of struggling to FIX the economy based on REAL numbers, than the generations it will take to correct what BushInc has been destroying around the world.

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

32. There is more to Clinton's problems than weakness

He was faced with the same RW smear machine that is running the media today.

The RW came after Clinton because their policies are such shit all they have is personal attacks going for them. This shit has been going on since McCarthy and Richard Nixon started it in the 1950s.

If you ever want another viewpoiont on Clinton's problems, read Conason's The Hunting of the President."

Paid "witnesses" and RW publications supported by people like Richard Mellon Scaife led the charge.

What was 42 supposed to do, have Scaife killed by the CIA?

[fooj]

21. Evil. Maniacal.

Treasonous, rat bastards! I've long relished the possibility of Little Lord Pissypants DESTROYING his father while he tries to save himself. :smoke: You can bet Poppy is crapping his pants right about now. If Junior goes down he's taking Poppy with him. Take that one to the bank.

[Toucano]

13. You'll never pin it on him.

No paper trail, no death bed confessions. It can't be proven.

Just like we'll never prove that Bush gave Saddam the green light to invade Kuwait.

[slipslidingaway]

17. K&R, one of the few independent media sources that has

received my contributions.

The Original Eight-Part Series -- 'October Surprise X-Files'

http://www.consortiumnews.com/archive/xfile.html

[Swamp Rat]

22. Here ya go:

:kick:

[Disturbed]

23. The Clintons are part of the Oligarchy.

It's a serious game played on a grand scale.

[Wiley50]

44. I'm beginning to believe the Big Dog is in it up to his eyeballs

Just way to cozy with Poppy

[Neecy]

28. you really wonder....

If the senior Bush criminal indeed did negotiate behind Carter's back in 1980, promising to provide weapons via Israel to a country that had just held our embassy staff for a year - and I do believe this to be the case - then I have one question: Why doesn't the Iranian government release the files on this, offer witness interviews, build a damning case against Bush Sr. NOW in an effort to discredit the son? Wouldn't that damage the chimps' credibility as he whips up a case for war against Iran?

I'd love to see this happen.

[nam78_two]

29. Bob Parry rocks!!! His kind is almost extinct now

Actual investigative journalists...yeah there are a few but who knows if they will be around for long.

[endarkenment]

30. "behind President Jimmy Carter’s back"

In retrospect, this was the beginning of the silent coup that replaced our democratic republic with a neofascist regime. This was the first act of the cabal.

[burythehatchet]

41. or so it would seem

The reality is that what we know amounts to a small portion of what there is to know. The one thing the Bush's do better than anyone else is they leave no fingerprints of their own with the crimes in which they are involved. We do not have the slightest idea concerning the depths of their depravity and criminal enterprise.

[bobthedrummer]

42. "We do not have the slightest idea concerning the depths of their

depravity and criminal enterprise."

I, for one, respectfully disagree with that statement since a much clearer picture is emerging-the truth is horrible because it involves admission that basically we have become dominated by a culture of death and evil.

That previously compartmentalized knowledge is being shared despite the secrecy contracts, corruption and structural barriers-even the powerful internalized ones of denial.

That's all I wanted to remark on.

[bobthedrummer]

36. BFEE extended the "national emergency" for another year on 9-21-2006.

The tortured language of the unelected decider's Executive Order 13224 makes everyone a terrorist, suspected terrorist, potential terrorist, terrorist supporter, etc.

While Robert Parry and many others were putting out the truth about the most likely theatre in the war pResident's war the BFEE quietly extended the "national emergency" that makes everyone a "terrorist" which can be decided on by the decider and his treasonous criminal co-conspirators.
http://cryptome.org/pn092106.htm

[Rex]

39. There was no closure in the Iran -Contra scandal.

The S&L scandal came along and we have been watching the Repukes get caught in scandal after scandal after scandal, to this very day with the newest outrage the media won't report on.

Kick!

[Karenina]

40. Kick!

:kick:

[blm]

43. They get their talking points from their masters. "It's too complicated to

report, and the public won't understand it anyway, so let's just drop it. Besides, the guys who write our paychecks want it brushed under the rug."

[Rex]

46. Kick

Another kick for The Truth!