Tuesday, May 6, 2003
Dean Esmay points to this story concerning Peter-Jennings' pro-Sandiinista slant as a way of broaching discussion and a sort of regretful sentimentalism - at least for me. Sounds like Dean was about where I was for part if the 80's - on the left, angry at Reagan, angry at the Contras. The entire arms for hostages, covert support for the rebels and lying to Congress era was still sordid and egregious - but we were wrong to look at the Sandinistas as such victims. At the time, I fell in with the whole Chomskyite vision of America as bully, sticking it to noble Central American reformers for the sake of US business greed. Embarrassing, I know.
Yeah, we've obviously both been in the same place. Although I was never a Chomskyite per se, I was clearly in the thrall of that mindset.
By the way, I have to point out: the facts of Iran/Contra aren't really under dispute anymore. None of the players in that drama were attempting to gain unfair political advantage in an upcoming election, or to make themselves rich. They were trying to free hostages and help Nicaragua. When thinking about anything else in that drama, we should remember that as well.
I think the real shame of Iran/Contra is Reagan and Bush's failure to take responsibility for it. I don't think that the players like North and Poindexter deserve the vilification they've gotten, I honestly don't.
Not that I think they're heroes, either. But we should acknowledge: were they trying to make themselves rich? Were they trying to steal an election? In short, were they engaged in typical political malfeasance? No.
They were trying to... free hostages and free Nicaragua.
I mean, really, in the vast history of political scandals, it's kind of hard to find one that's less reprehensible, isn't it?
I think that's a fair perspective, although I'm not sure I'd let them off the hook quite so easily. The trouble wasn't the intent so much as what they had to do to accomplish what they wanted - the cover-ups and the lying - precisely what Republicans would be all over the Clintonians for a few years later, only for Reagan it was over Constitutional issues and secret wars as opposed to lying about sex in a civil suit.
While I'm all for doing what it takes to help freedom abroad, we'd better be damn carefull not to undermine repect to our own processes here at home or we'll be left with a Pyrrhic victory at best.