European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - January 10, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                One of the most influx Anuial White House experts on political and military conflicts in latin America primarily because his message seemed authentic. He had the it Factor 1 was there said f. Andy Messing jr., executive director at the National defense Council foundation in Alexandria and a former Green Berol who became close to North. The briefings introduced North to conservative political activists who invited him to speak at meetings of conservative groups across the country. The members of these groups turned to North to help them gain Access to White House officials and the president. North turned to them for contacts and Money. From late 1984 until he was dismissed according to political group leaders North went to wealthy conservatives for contributions to finance a private Supply operation Lor rebels in Nicaragua. Probably the most important step in North s career on the National Security Council staff according to former staff members occurred in the Spring of 1sb3 when he was appointed to a secret Central America policy group that met regularly at the slate department. The group called the restricted Isle Agency group was formed in 1981 by Thomas 0. In Rojers then assistant Secretary of stale for inter american affairs. Along with Enders the group s members included Duana Clarridge. A Cia official and expert on Covert operations vice adm. Arthur 5. Moreau jr., a representative from the joint chiefs of staff and Nestor Sanchez a representative irom the office of the Secretary of defense. North substituted for a number of notional Security Council officials starting in the late Winter of 1983. In May Enders was removed from his slate department Post and replaced by Langhorne a. Motley. North became a permanent member of the inter Geney group in june 1983, when he was promoted to Deputy director of political military affairs on the National Security Council staff. The change in the committee assignment coincided with a string of events in Central America and the Caribbean in which according to former and current while House officials North was a very Active participant. Among the programs the group considered was a plan to mine nicaraguan harbours with percussion bombs a step meant to hinder shipments of arms and civilian supplies a Nicaragua. During the Winter of 1963, according to Enders the proposal was brought to the group by Clarridge of the Cia. The idea was i i it col Oliver Horth with Lonay Brendan Sulla in Baton Thoutt fatten affix for commit let Tutt Monto. To 1987 rejected endors said in june the mining proposal was made again and approved a Washington source said. North and Clarridge along with Stafl members of the Cia. National Security Council and the military planned the operation the source said. Whon the mining became Public in april 1934. It caused a Luxor in Congress. It was the first time that col. North s name cams across our desks said a former member of the Senate intelligence committee. If you consider How that operation was run the arrogance of it and compare it to the Iran Centra affair there Are  in mid october 1983, the inter Gancy group began to play a crucial role in plans to invade Grenada. Intelligence files coming into to newly modernized crisis management Center indicated that the political stability of the Island was rapidly deteriorating. On oct. 14, the group met at the executive office building and Elmost hourly or the next 10 Days they advised the. President on How to read. The attack occurred oct. 25, the group did t plan the military Man Euver the joint chiefs did that the Washington source said. But the group offered the invasion option and planned for it. Ollie North was one of the four or five people below the Cabinet rank who could be said to live with Grenada trom before people could spell it to when the students kissed the ground in  the source was referring to a group of american medical students in Grenada whom the Reagan administration said in had acted to evacuate. Before the invasion North had been working with state department aides to develop strategies for eliminating death squad activity and holding Iree elections in Al Salvador. After the invasion North returned to that task. In the All of 1983, death squads in Al Salvador were committing an average of boo killings a month and the president s ability to secure funds from Congress for the salvadoran government was being damaged again though he did not direct the Effort North became one of the key advisers in a program. It was managed in Washington by James a Michel the Deputy assistant Secretary for inter american affairs and coordinated in Central America by american embassy officials in san Salvador. The team agreed thai As part of the governments Effort a top . Official had to visit Al Salvador. The state department in a proposal written by Motley asked vice president Bosh arid according to former members of the vice president s staff. Bush agreed. Before Bush embarked North briefed him at length at least once in the White House a former White House assistant said. North also went to san Salvador with Bush on air Force two and briefed him again before they landed. One of North s ideas to use the Fri to conduct surveillance on death squad leaders in Al Salvador and to teach the salvadorans to conduct their own investigations was particularly successful according to National Security Council sources and former officials of the american embassy in Al Salvador. Deals squad activity has dropped to almost nothing since. The other crucial program in Central America that occupied North was helping the nicaraguan rebels it was North knew a program that was vigorously supported by Reagan according to former National Security Council staff members. North and Clarridge of the Cia according to the Washington source worked together on plans to Supply nicaraguan rebels with ammunition weapons and food. The Supply missions operated by the Cia were flown from the Llop Ango air Torce base in san Salvador starting in the late Spring of 1933 and continued until the fall of 1984, when Congress voted to Stop aide for the contras. It was during these operations that North according to while House sources began to work independently on Central America and the Middle East. The Al Salvador elections and the program to assist the contras look most of North s time in 1984 and through 1965. In the Spring of 1984, his name was first linked in published reports to potentially illegal government activity in a new York times article about government sponsored Supply missions to Nicaragua and Honduras. At a time when Congress was t forthcoming to the contras. Ollie was their strongest link in  said Messing of the National defense Council foundation. The stars and stripes Page 15