European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - December 10, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Inside stripes d Acle challenges Christmas Cross display on Public building Page 5 d lend defeats Becker in masters sports Page 21 d today s Dollar still buys 1.99 Marks rates Page 27 ripes au1hdaiied unofficial publication Foft the . Atm tuft Ponce vol. -15, no. 236 wednesday december 10, 1986 0 6693 a Poindexter North remain silent refuse to answer panel s questions on Iron Deal vice my. John Point attn is sworn in before the House foreign affairs committee on Capitol Hilt. A Prototo Washington a two key former Reagan administration officials cited fifth amendment right tuesday and regretfully and respectfully refused to answer questions before a House committee about secret arms sales to Iran and diversion of profits to con tra rebels in Nicaragua. Appearing at a nationally televised hearing first vice adm. John Poindexter. President Reagan s for Mer National Security adviser and then it. Col. Oliver North Poindexter s Farmer aide rejected the panel attempts to Leam the precise events that led to he administration s worst crisis. On the advice of my attorneys i must decline to answer thai question. Because of my constitutional rights Point Jiler replied when the House foreign affairs committee chairman rep. Dante Fascell d fla., sought to question him about his knowledge of the Iran Contra connection. He pledged to cooperate fully with investigations at an unspecified Date. Pain Deriter s attorney. Richard Buckler told the committee we arc of source concerned As attorneys by the department of Justice s recent request for appointment of a special counsel to probe the Iran con tra connection. We want to be sure he Poindexter. Does not waive any of his constitutional  North appearing in his crib boned Marine uniform said he too wanted to provide a full exposition of the facts Al a later Date. I Don t think there is another person in America who wants to Tell the Story As much As i do he said. But when rep. Acc Hamilton and. Sought to question him. North replied on the advice of coun Sel 1  and regretfully decline to answer the question based on my constitutional  the drama unfolded in Congress As Reagan welcoming president Mobutu sese seko of Zaire to the while House said he was watching  on television now and then when i can t find a Ball  White House spokesman Larry Speaks said re cent Public comments by White House communications director Patrick Buchanan do not reflect the see refusal on Page 2b Nixon Colls Iron Contra controversy a sideshow9 Parsippany . A former president Ninon monday described the Iran Contra controversy As a sideshow and said in is time for critics of president Reagan to gel off his  Nixon s comments were made during a closed door meeting with Republican governors that lasted More than an hour he said we should t weaken the president said gov. Victor Atiyeh of Ore gon. John Taylor Nixon s administrative assistant said the former president has talked to Reagan As recently As last sat urday. He did not give details of the conversation other than that Ninon urged Reagan to Root for the new York giants in their game the next Day with the Washington redskins the session with Nixon who lives in Saddle River was arranged before the disclosures of the secret arms sales to Iran and the tunnelling of Money to the Contra forces fighting to overthrow Nicaragua s leftist government. After their session with Nixon Many of the Gover nors planned to Fly to Washington to meet with  monday s meeting Nixon referred to watergate telling the governors he had noted in his memoirs that the scan dal that forced him from office in 1974was handled  gov Richard Thornburgh of Pennsyl Vania said the former president indicated he thought Reagan was doing a better Job handling the current Contro Versy than was done in the watergate scandal. He left that impression definitely said Thorburgh adding he was handing out report cards. Most of the session was devoted to Nixon s views on relations Between the United Stales and the soviet Union a presentation described by several Gover nors As "brilliant."gov. John Sununu of new Hampshire said Iran came up Only in passing and Nixon expressed concern that the Contro Versy could impair Reagan s ability to Deal with More important issues. Roger Stone a Washington political consultant associated with Nixon briefed reporters on the meeting and said Nixon told the governors this can be viewed like a circus. We must not look atthe sideshow we must look instead at the main ring which is the question of Sovi it american relations and peace in the  said Nixon also said it was Lime to gel off his Reagan s Back so that the president not lose two precious years in the quest for  monday Mitchell Daniels presidential assistant for political affairs told the governors they should feel free to ask Reagan about the Iran Contra controversy. There will be no cover up he  a reference to watergate Daniels said Many americans Are troubled that we May relive the events of 1974, that somehow this Nightmare hassle will re see Nixon on Page 28 launch mishaps delay some Tow missile firings by Chuck Vinch Washington Bureau Washington the army has suspended firing of some of its Tow anti Lank missiles following the rupture of two . Models when launched an army spokesman said. The suspension will continue until an investigation into the ruptures is Complete said it. Col. Craig Mac Nab a Public affairs officer in the Pentagon. The ruptures occurred during separate exercises Macnab told the stars and stripes. The first involved elements of the 25th inf div on sept 11 at Makua military reservation Oahu Hawaii. The gunner a specialist four suffered superficial injuries. The Sec Ond rupture occurred sept. 13 at Yakima firing Cen Ter wash., and involved an army National guard unil. The gunner a private first class was unhurt. Macnab said the firing ban is in effect for Allex posed launches those in which the gunner is not under Armor. That includes firings from jeeps hum mers m-113s, cobra gunships and ground tripods. Most firings from the Bradley and the improved to vehicle Are still permissible. But missiles from the two lots thai contained the missiles that ruptured in sep tember cannot be fired at All. Tow stands for lube launched optically tracked wire guided missile. The firing ban began oct. 14. The army missile come in Huntsville. Ala., is investigating the Inci see Tow on Page 28