McCain Funded Righwing Contra Death Squads

McCain Funded Righwing Contra Death Squads

Many of the "contras" or members of right wing guerrilla groups fighting the Sandinista government in the 1980s were drug smugglers and terrorists. High government officials of the Reagan and Bush, Sr. administrations knew very well about the drug running.

It has been alleged that the Contra drug smuggling sparked the crack cocaine crisis among African-Americans in Los Angeles.

John McCain sent the Contras money from his own pocket. Was that even legal?

'The Associated Press
February 9, 1988

Contras Ask U.S. Citizens For Help
BYLINE: By RICHARD COLE, Associated Press Writer

Contra leaders have postponed peace talks with the leftist Nicaraguan goverment and are asking Americans to donate money to help fund their civil war because Congress rejected military aid.

"We are now faced with the challenge of conserving the integrity and morale of our forces," Azucena Ferrey, a director of the Nicaraguan Resistance, said Monday. "In order to surmount this challenge, we need your financial support and appeal to the generosity which has always characterized the American people.

"This support is essential to overcome the present situation, even though it cannot substitute the aid of the American government nor match the aid received by the Sandinistas from the Soviet Union," she said.

Contributions already have been received from presidential candidate Sen. Bob Dole, R-Kan., and from Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. Dole gave $500 and McCain $400."

posted by Juan Cole @ 10/07/2008 12:05:00 AM