Bush's "October Surprise" File in Dispute

[LeighAnn]

From Truth-Out.org:

The enduring October Surprise mystery – whether Ronald Reagan’s 1980 campaign sabotaged President Jimmy Carter’s efforts to free 52 American hostages in Iran – has reached a possible turning point, whether details of George H.W. Bush’s activities on a key day will be released, reports Robert Parry.

The National Archives is reconsidering its initial refusal to release Secret Service records regarding the whereabouts of George H.W. Bush on Oct. 19, 1980, when the then-Republican vice presidential candidate is alleged by some witnesses to have secretly traveled to Paris for illicit meetings with Iranian officials.

Gary M. Stern, general counsel for the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), told me that a “serious review” is under way regarding my complaint that an earlier decision – to withhold that information out of concern for the safety of Secret Service agents – made no sense.

Stern said a decision is likely in the next couple of weeks, a time frame that suggests that Bush’s approval is being sought before any final decision is reached. Under existing rules, Bush could assert executive privilege to prevent a release, but that could be overturned by President Barack Obama or the White House counsel’s office.

Read more here:

http://www.truth-out.org/bushs-october-surprise-file-dispute/1315852680

[Kingofalldems]

1. K and R for the truth coming out

[arcane1]

2. If there's anything worth knowing, Bush will surely assert executive privilege

Any bets on what happens next? :shrug:

[LeighAnn]

3. but...

but "that could be overturned by President Barack Obama or the White House counsel’s office"

What are the odds?

[beac]

8. I am puzzled that he could exert "executive privilege" over something he

did BEFORE he was a member of the Executive Branch. :shrug:

edited for typo

[rfranklin]

4. Now we know why Bush Junior signed that executive order about Presidential papers...

Presidents' papers can be kept secret
/ Bush signs executive order
November 02, 2001|By Mike Allen, George Lardner Jr., Washington Post


(11-02) 04:00 PST Washington — 2001-11-02 04:00:00 PST Washington -- President Bush signed an executive order last night allowing either the White House or former presidents to veto release of their presidential papers, drawing criticism from former President Bill Clinton and several historians.

The order reinterprets the Presidential Records Act of 1978, which put papers of future presidents in the public domain, following a court fight over President Richard Nixon's papers. It envisioned the release of most sensitive records 12 years after a president had left office.


http://articles.sfgate.com/2001-11-02/news/17626062_1_vanderbilt-university-historian-presidential-records-act-white-house

[markpkessinger]

5. I wouldn't count on President Obama to overrule a block by Bush n/t

[Rageneau]

6. Bush was in Paris, meeting with the Ayatollah's people -- according to the man who FLEW him there.

Ross Bienerke, a CIA part-time pilot, has testified under oath (more than once) that he personally flew Bush, then the VP candidate, to Paris to meet with Iranians in order to arrange keeping our hostages locked up in Iran in exchange for an agreement with Reagan to sell the terrorists stinger missles after the election.

That fact has been well-documented. The only people who don't know about it are national reporters and those who depend upon them for information.

[leveymg]

7. Don't you mean Gunther Russbacher? FYI, "Ross Bienerke" doesn't even show up on GOOGLE.

?????????????