Rare DANIEL SHEEHAN speech: Iran-Contra, Covert Operations, CIA

To understand American foreign policy, one must have an appreciation for the history of covert operations, drug running and extra-Congressional authority. A major chapter of this history came with the breaking of the Iran-Contra scandal. The attached speech by Daniel Sheehan sheds considerable light on the players. But Sheehan also traces the roots of the career of such notables as Theodore Shackley, from the early 1960s to the Contra war against Nicaragua. By listening, you will find insights into not only Iran-Contra, but also the FEMA-administered Rex84 program, Vice President Richard Nixon's participation in setting up the anti-Castro Cuban covert operations in 1959, and perspective on what became the Bay of Pigs and then operation Mongoose under John F. Kennedy. Sheehan also discusses the "October Surprise," the deal with Iran to release hostages on the inauguration of Ronald Regan. But the core of the discussion focuses on Iran-Contra. Sheehan weaves a tight narrative, jam-packed with information. The speech sets in context the Iran-Contra players, including Richard Secord, Oliver North, John Singlaub, Robert C. McFarlane, Theodore Shackley, Frank Carluchi, Rafael "Chi Chi" Quintero, Thomas Cline, Robert Owen, John Hull, Ronald Regan, George H. W. Bush and many others.

The speech was recorded on February 1, 1987, at Beverly Hills High School. To the best of my knowledge, it isn't on the Internet. I'm uploading it here for the benefit of the Indymedia community and researchers hitting search engines in the future. It's a rare speech -- very hard to come by. It runs for one hour and 27 minutes. Download it and keep it in your archives. If you are interested in this stuff you will find that you'll appreciate having a copy. It's an astounding speech.

You may ask why this is important today. Simple, past is prologue. If you understand the dark recesses of the 1960s-80s period, you'll have considerable insight for analyzing the geopolitics of today. And for that matter, some of the same cast of characters associated with the Iran-Contra scandal have resurfaced in the George W. administration. They include John Negroponte, the current U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, who during the Iran-Contra scandal was ambassador to Honduras. Negroponte was associated with CIA programs to develop assassination teams, trained at the School of the Americas.

Daniel Sheehan was the chief counsel to the Christic Institute in the 1980s, which represented Martha Honey and Tony Avirgan in their suit against 27 Iran-Contra associated defendants. Sheehan was one of the five lawyers representing the New York Times' defense over the Pentagon Papers. He also was chief counsel in the Karen Silkwood case against the nuclear industry. In the 1970s and 80s, he was one of the most prominent social justice lawyers in the nation.

Today, the only work I know Sheehan is involved in concerns the Disclosure Project ( http://www.disclosureproject.com ). Some have scoffed at this, given that the Disclosure Project is documenting the testimony of over 400 military personnel, industry executives and other prominent people that have experience with the U.S. government's cover-up of extraterrestrial contact and technology. However, to anyone that has researched the underbelly of the power structures in the United States and the shadowy elements of the Military Industrial Complex, it's clear that whatever is going on with respect to UFOs and alien intelligence, the "official story" of the U.S. government is highly suspect at best. Skepticism of the subject is fine, but ridicule and ignorance is unacceptable. Such critics have no sound argument against letting an investigation take place, and the Disclosure Project has assembled high ranking and highly credible witnesses that are willing to testify before Congress (when given immunity against the 1947 National Security Act they would violate without direct Congressional subpoena).