European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - November 16, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 10 the stars and stripes sunday. November 16,1986 Susanne m. Schafer Many questions left unanswered by president president Reagan who Lold the american people in his televised address they would hear the facts about his is months of secret dealings with Iran left Many questions unanswered. Reagan who harshly criticized his predecessor Jimmy Carter for his handling of the iranian Revo Lution and the 1979 seizure of american diplomats in Tehran spoke of Iran s importance to the United slates and the importance of re establishing ties with the strategically located nation. But it was just last year that Reagan referred Toiran As in outlaw state run by the strangest collection of misfits Looney tunes and squalid criminals since the Advent of the third Reich hours before Reagan delivered his Oval office address thursday White House spokesman Larry Speakes had warned there would be certain things thai he can t talk  that Promise was fulfilled. Here Are a few things the president did not address the president said the United Stales did not Swap boatloads or plan loads of american weapons for the return of the hostages. Although Reagan said Small amounts of defensive weapons and Span parts for defensive systems were delivered to the iranians he did not say what Type of weapons were delivered and How. The president argued that the amount of arms shipped was Small and would uni affect the outcome of the Iran Iraq War and that whal he did was i compliance with Federal Law. But the president did not discuss the . Embargo against shipping Armsto inn and Why his action did not contradict that ban. The president did nol discuss Why the United Stales asked other nations to hold to the embargo even As it was secretly shipping weapons. The president said the iranians with whom Contact was being established had asked for a Sig Nal of our serious intent but he did not explain whether something other than weapons might Nave fulfilled that request. The president said various countries handmade overtures to stimulate direct Contact Between the United state and Iran. Yet he did not address the Many reports that Israel has played a Central Rote in the Transfer of weapons to Iran the president argued it was widely reported that Congress and top Federal officials were  the president said All appropriate Jim Fain Cabinet officers were briefed but he failed to say congressional leaders were not told about the opera Tion until last week. The president repeatedly has said he would no pay Terra Risu Ransom for hostages. Even though he said there had been no evidence of government complicity in acts of terrorism against the United tales following the renewal of contacts with Iran he did not explain Why Iran remains on the state department list of nations that promote terrorism. A senior administration official briefing report ers on condition he not be identified argued that the administration was usable to be More forthcoming about the situation because of the internal tur Moil in Iran. If we reveal actually what went in amount dates specifics then the factions that Are not operating in our interest in Iran will use that information against those factions that Are More Moder ate and that Are trying to help the official said. The official argued that members of Congress were not notified in Advance because of Tim Susi Livitz of the operation and the safely of the hostages the lives that were involved both our own plus  whether it went against Reagan s principles to argue for an arms embargo against Ira while secretly shipping weapons the official to Pipit that Reagan secretly authorized some Pecil waivers of that embargo to Send weapons Umrao and added we never said we weren t shipping arms to Iran. That would be a Nutter of principle if we never shipped any. We Haven t commented on it atthe same time we be worked to Stop uncontrolled arms shipments to fuel the Wari Don t tee any thing inconsistent with that at All 1 1s� Reagan s lies caused most damage at Home As much As Ronald Reagan s duplicity on Iran Cost us abroad the greater damage was at Home. Many americans gave their utmost Trust to this ear nest voiced actor president. After Nixon watergate lbs Vietnam and Carter malaise we desperately wanted to believe again. When equity shipped us a celluloid hero with a Boyish Grin and firm Chin who wanted to Carp about credentials the ease with which television can manipulate imagery helped. With Public relations technicians shield ing him from human exposure our leading Man was Able to exploit his histrionic Talent without dilution. For six years this worked amazingly Well reaching its apogee in a publicity Blitz last month that transformed a Bol fixed Iceland Summit from failure to Triumph in 48 hours. Star wan. The Lebanon rout Grenada and tax Cut Prosperity arc other examples of How the while House hype factory fabricated fantasy into reality. All this was abetted sad to say by sycophant press celebrities though not by hundreds of hard working reporter less addicted to the Glitz of White House social favor. A recent example admiring nones about spin doctors whose Job u to deceive Hie Public by distorting information. The result is Likely to be widespread disillusionment. Anyone who watched the Gipper tight Jawed by vowing never to negotiate with terrorist while slipping arms under the table to Iran May be pardoned for thinking All politicians Are liars and hypocrites. We cannot afford to give up on the system however. Churchill said it Best democracy is the worst form of government on Earth except for All the  s no Choice except to find ways of making ii work. Confidence men always play on their victim weak Nesses whether greed fear or simple Ite Stiie to believe things Are better Loon they Are. Ronald Reagan us be Way Robert Piston s music Man River City using sandinista As the menacing table and thu Olbik system to convince us we play Happy Days Are Here again on the Taa without studying music. We were standing tall be  was morning in America. Never mind deficits farm ers the homeless and a growing fear abroad of our insouciant swashbuckling with such fourth Rale Powers As Libya Grenada and Nicaragua. To keep it from happening again we need to under stand our proclivity for Wishful thinking and to Redou ble our scepticism when anyone offers us something for nothing. We also need to appreciate the limitations ofte Levi Sion. To is now almost the exclusive Arena of poetics. We have to recognize that its focus is As narrow As h intense. With a zoom Lens the wart on a note can become the universe.  rewards actors and smoothies. It is a powerful tool for truth but it has Little memory and its messages limited to where the camera is pointed and Zenft started rolling. Always ask what s not shown and.  your hand on your Wallet when the race  screen offers a free lunch. Reagan s betrayal of Trust is a Bard lesson but can be a valuable one. Sure be lied to a Bui there s no Point sitting around wailing say it  scepticism u not the same As cynicism. You can believe in True love without taking up with every ban some stranger who comes Down the Pike Harry to vigilance is still a big part of Freedom s once. Cat wet a we