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Why Taint the New Bush Administration? John LeBoutillierYesterday I detailed one of a series of news reports about Richard Armitage, the nominee to be deputy secretary of state. Syndicated columnist Jack Anderson extensively reported in 1986 about Armitage's alleged connection with a Vietnamese woman. Armitage had written a letter on behalf of the woman during the time she was being investigated for participating in an organized crime gambling ring. That report contributed to Armitage twice having to withdraw from consideration for high-ranking positions in the first Bush administration. He simply could not get past Senate confirmation. But that was not all that helped derail Armitage back then. As the Associated Press reported on June 4, 1987, "A drug warlord in Burma accuses Assistant Secretary of Defense Richard L. Armitage and others of drug trafficking to fund anti-communist operations, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reported Thursday." The AP story then stated, "In a three-hour videotape interview smuggled out of Southeast Asia within the past week, Khun Sa said high-ranking American officials were involved in drug trafficking between 1965 and at least 1979." This three-hour videotape was made by retired Army Green Beret Lt. Colonel James "Bo" Gritz and then smuggled out of Burma. I have seen part of this tape – and it is chilling. It is now being sent to the FBI and to the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee to be used during Armitage's confirmation process. Mr. Armitage denied any involvement in the drug trade. He called the allegations, according to AP, "ludicrous and baseless." He also was never charged with any crime based on these or other allegations. But Khun Sa, according to the AP story, "said Armitage controlled the finances of the alleged American drug operation." On the tape, one of Khun Sa's aides says, "After the Vietnam War, Richard Armitage was a prominent trafficker in Bangkok. Between 1975 and 1979 he was a very popular trafficker. He was one of the embassy employees." Armitage, in his denial, also denied being an "embassy employee." However, he does claim to have worked as a 'consultant' to the Defense Department working on Iran naval programs. An allegation of participation in 'drug trafficking', reported by AP, and another allegation of using his Pentagon office to help an alleged gambler, reported by Jack Anderson. No wonder he could not be confirmed by the U.S. Senate! Now, however, Colin Powell wants his "best friend in the world" in the super-powerful position of deputy secretary of state. Why, if Armitage was not able to pass muster 12 years ago, should he make the grade this time? We have just witnessed eight years of the Clintons and their horrific conduct, capped off with pardons and commutations for convicted drug figures and even for a New York lawyer for the Cali Drug Cartel. The new Bush administration does not need even the taint of these types of associations. A man like Richard Armitage should withdraw his nomination and spare the new administration even the whiff of scandal. If you agree that it is our duty to stop a figure like Armitage from holding a key position, then here are three people you can contact to provide your views or information on Armitage: Here is the name and information of the FBI agent in charge of this new background check of Armitage. Call him, fax him - let him know your objection to Armitage. If you have any information about Armitage, give it to this agent:
Special Agent David Caskey Also, please call or fax or contact the two key staffers on the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, listed below. The Senate must confirm Armitage in order for him to assume this high-ranking position. If enough senators hear negative things about Armitage, they will not want to vote for him.
Chief Counsel Richard Douglas
Minority Counsel Brian McKeon Next: Armitage's pro-Hanoi and anti-U.S. POW positions and how the POWs' families and Vietnam vets oppose him.
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