Conclusion of the Iran-Contra Hearings

Having lived most of my life in Central America, I can perhaps give a different perspective than the “armchair warrior” that abounds in this country. I don’t like communism and I value my freedom. But I’ve also seen corruption on a grand scale in Nicaragua. Those people really suffered after the last earthquake and they really hated (dictator Anastasio) Somoza. I was really surprised at how nice they were to me even though we were responsible for putting his grandfather in power. His greed seemed to know no bounds. The Guardia was his personal army of cutthroats and murderers.

The only truly democratic contra was Eden Pastora. He was the only one who had the support of the people and had any real chance at making his country democratic. However, since the CIA did not “own” him, they tried to blow him away.

Nicaraguans love freedom but you can’t force it down their throats. If they are in the socialist camp, it’s because they’ve been pushed there. Why don’t we send teachers and doctors instead of death and destruction? They might begin to like us even more.

VIC FORSYTHE

Santa Ana