| Revision as of 06:37, 19 January 2005 view sourceRadicalsubversiv (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users3,819 edits rv: inaccurate legal commentary; dubious description of iran-contra; downright false "declaring him not guilty of all charges"← Previous edit | Revision as of 06:44, 19 January 2005 view source Ollieplatt (talk | contribs)491 edits will discuss in talk but I reject your characterization, he was declared "not guilty" this is not opinion but fact, the legal issues were complex but summary is about right and am happy to discussNext edit → | ||
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| '''Oliver L. North''' is |
'''Oliver L. North''' is a best-selling author and American political figure best known for his involvement in the ]. | ||
| He was born in ] and attended the ] before attending the ], from which he graduated in ]. | |||
| Colonel North is a combat decorated Marine, serving for twenty-two years. He was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star for Valor and two Purple Hearts for wounds in combat. | Colonel North is a combat decorated Marine, serving for twenty-two years. He was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star for Valor and two Purple Hearts for wounds in combat. | ||
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| He was assigned to the National Security Council staff during the Reagan Administration and served as the United States government counter-terrorism co-ordinator from 1983 to 1986. In that capacity, he co-ordinated the rescue of 804 medical students from Grenada and the raid against the hijackers of the passenger ship Achille Lauro. He also co-ordinated the attack on Libyan terrorist facilities, which some credit with curtailing the Libyan terror threat. | He was assigned to the National Security Council staff during the Reagan Administration and served as the United States government counter-terrorism co-ordinator from 1983 to 1986. In that capacity, he co-ordinated the rescue of 804 medical students from Grenada and the raid against the hijackers of the passenger ship Achille Lauro. He also co-ordinated the attack on Libyan terrorist facilities, which some credit with curtailing the Libyan terror threat. | ||
| Colonel North attracted public attention for the first time due to his participation in the ] which involved his co-ordination of the |
Colonel North attracted public attention for the first time due to his participation in the ] which involved his co-ordination of the sale of weapons via intermediaries to ]. The profits were used to finance the ] in ] who were fighting to overthrow the ] government. Both the sale of weapons and financing the Contras was outside US Government policy and regulation at the time. Politically, it was also damaging in that it contradicted President Reagan's pledge not to negotiate with Iran. | ||
| Oliver North became famous when he was summoned to testify before televised hearings of a joint Congressional committee formed to investigate Iran-Contra related matters. Some saw him as the public scapegoat for many other people in the Reagan administration who were involved in the Iran-Contra affair. Supporters of the administration considered him a hero, both for his passionate defense of his actions and for his military service. | Oliver North became famous when he was summoned to testify before live televised hearings of a joint Congressional committee formed to investigate Iran-Contra related matters. Some saw him as the public scapegoat for many other people in the Reagan administration who were involved in the Iran-Contra affair. Supporters of the administration considered him a hero, both for his passionate defense of his actions and for his military service. | ||
| Colonel North was tried in ] in relation to his activities while at the National Security Council, and convicted |
Colonel North was tried in ] in relation to his activities while at the National Security Council, and initially acquitted on thirteen charges though convicted and sentenced on three: accepting an illegal gratuity, aiding and abetting in the obstruction of a congressional inquiry, and destruction of documents. | ||
| An appeals court over-turned North's conviction and ordered a re-trial based on procedural defects in the initial trial. One of the defects at issue was whether the congressional testimony for which Colonel North had received immunity had unfairly influenced witnesses in the trial because of the large amount of attention it received. Generally witnesses are not meant to hear the evidence of other witnesses so that it does not influence their testimony. Also, defendants are entitled to the right to silence and other rights that Colonel North waived in return for immunity. | |||
| A three-judge appeals panel on ], ], vacated North's conviction for further proceedings to determine whether his immunized testimony influenced witnesses in the trial. The Supreme Court declined to review the case. Judge Gesell dismissed the case ], ], after hearings on the immunity issue, on the motion of the independent counsel. | |||
| The prosecution sought to appeal to the ] but they declined to hear the appeal. The ] re-trial dismissed the charges against Colonel North, declaring him not guilty of all charges. | |||
| In ], North unsuccessfully ran for the ] as a ] Nominee in ], a race he narrowly lost to incumbent ] ], who had the support of his fellow ], Republican ]. | In ], North unsuccessfully ran for the ] as a ] Nominee in ], a race he narrowly lost to incumbent ] ], who had the support of his fellow ], Republican ]. | ||
Revision as of 06:44, 19 January 2005
Oliver L. North is a best-selling author and American political figure best known for his involvement in the Iran-Contra Affair.
He was born in San Antonio, Texas and attended the State University of New York Brockport before attending the U.S. Naval Academy, from which he graduated in 1968.
Colonel North is a combat decorated Marine, serving for twenty-two years. He was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star for Valor and two Purple Hearts for wounds in combat.
He was assigned to the National Security Council staff during the Reagan Administration and served as the United States government counter-terrorism co-ordinator from 1983 to 1986. In that capacity, he co-ordinated the rescue of 804 medical students from Grenada and the raid against the hijackers of the passenger ship Achille Lauro. He also co-ordinated the attack on Libyan terrorist facilities, which some credit with curtailing the Libyan terror threat.
Colonel North attracted public attention for the first time due to his participation in the Iran-Contra Affair which involved his co-ordination of the sale of weapons via intermediaries to Iran. The profits were used to finance the Contra rebel group in Nicaragua who were fighting to overthrow the Sandinista government. Both the sale of weapons and financing the Contras was outside US Government policy and regulation at the time. Politically, it was also damaging in that it contradicted President Reagan's pledge not to negotiate with Iran.
Oliver North became famous when he was summoned to testify before live televised hearings of a joint Congressional committee formed to investigate Iran-Contra related matters. Some saw him as the public scapegoat for many other people in the Reagan administration who were involved in the Iran-Contra affair. Supporters of the administration considered him a hero, both for his passionate defense of his actions and for his military service.
Colonel North was tried in 1988 in relation to his activities while at the National Security Council, and initially acquitted on thirteen charges though convicted and sentenced on three: accepting an illegal gratuity, aiding and abetting in the obstruction of a congressional inquiry, and destruction of documents.
An appeals court over-turned North's conviction and ordered a re-trial based on procedural defects in the initial trial. One of the defects at issue was whether the congressional testimony for which Colonel North had received immunity had unfairly influenced witnesses in the trial because of the large amount of attention it received. Generally witnesses are not meant to hear the evidence of other witnesses so that it does not influence their testimony. Also, defendants are entitled to the right to silence and other rights that Colonel North waived in return for immunity.
The prosecution sought to appeal to the Supreme Court but they declined to hear the appeal. The 1991 re-trial dismissed the charges against Colonel North, declaring him not guilty of all charges.
In 1994, North unsuccessfully ran for the Senate as a Republican Nominee in Virginia, a race he narrowly lost to incumbent Democrat Charles Robb, who had the support of his fellow Senator, Republican John Warner.
Colonel North has written several best-selling books including Under Fire, One More Mission, War Stories - Operation Iraqi Freedom, Mission Compromised and The Jericho Sanction.
He is also a syndicated columnist and the host of a program War Stories on the Fox News Channel. He is married and a father of four children.
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