President Reagan’s special review board on the Iranian-Contra affair said Thursday that while Israel was heavily involved and may have initiated the United States efforts in Iran, the decision to sell arms to Iran was an American one for which the U.S. bears full responsibility.
“There was heavy Israeli involvement,” former Sen. John Tower, chairman of the three-member board, said at a White House press conference. “Of course, the final decision of our own participation was our own.”
The board, which the President appointed last December I, released its findings Thursday. Reagan appeared briefly at the start of the press conference to say that he would read the report carefully and report to the nation on it over television next week.
Former Sen. Edward Muskie, (D. Maine), who was Secretary of State in the Carter Administration, said that it was not clear who originated the idea of the U.S. seeking influence in Iran.
It was an “initiative that began either in Iran, in Israel or in the United States,” he said.
‘NOT FULL PICTURE’ ON ISRAEL
Brent Scowcroft, national security advisor in the Ford Administration and the third member of the board, added that the board did not have the “full picture” on Israel’s involvement.
“There is no question that the Israelis encouraged, if (they) did not initiate this policy, and that they did whatever they could when it appeared to be flagging from time to time to renew its vigor,” Scowcroft said.
“I think the problem is that our goals and the Israeli goals were not synonymous,” he added. “Indeed, in some respects they have been in conflict.”
While Scowcroft did not describe the difference in goals, the report does list them:
“Israel had long-standing interests in a relationship with Iran and in promoting its arms export industry. Arms sales to Iran could further both objectives. It also offered a means of strengthening Iran against Israel’s old adversary, Iraq.
“Much of Israel’s military equipment came originally from the United States, however. For both legal and political reasons, Israel felt a need for U.S. approval of, or at least acquiescence in, any arms sale to Iran.
“In addition, elements in Israel undoubtedly wanted the United States involved for its own sake so as to distance the United States from the Arab world and ultimately to establish Israel as the only real strategic partner of the United States in the region.”
The report added that “Iran badly wanted” the U.S. Tow and Hawk missiles that Israel could provide to counter Iraqi superiority in planes and armor. “Israel was more than willing to provide these weapons to Iran, but only if the United States approved the transfer and would agree to replace the weapons,” the report said.
NOT ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN
Tower said that the board believes that Reagan approved Israel’s first sale of arms to Iran in August 1985, before the shipment took place. Reagan, in his first testimony to the board, said he approved the sale in August, but then later told the board his approval came after the shipment. Since then he has said he cannot remember when his approval came. Tower pointed out that one reason why the board could not come to any conclusions on the extent of Israel’s involvement was that the Israeli government re-
Israeli Premier Yitzhak Shamir, during his visit to Washington last week, promised to cooperate with the Senate and House committees investigating the Iran/Contra affair. But it was not clear whether he would allow the Israelis involved to be interviewed.
Israeli Embassy spokesman Yosef Gal said Thursday that the Embassy received the board’s questions on February 16. He said they were very detailed and it was “impossible” to provide the information in time. But he said “we are cooperating” with all the investigations.
NO CONCLUSION ON CONTRAS
Tower also said the board had not come to any conclusions on the transfer of funds from the sale of arms to Iran to the Contras. He said the board was denied access to the Swiss banks involved, and Adm. John Poindexter, the former National Security Advisor, and Marine Lt. Col. Oliver North, the former National Security Council employee involved in the Iran affair, among others, refused to testify before the board.
However, the report noted, as previously made public, that North, under questioning from Attorney General Edwin Meese, said the diversion of funds “was an Israeli idea.”
Shamir denied in Washington last week any Israeli involvement in the diversion of funds.
He also stressed that Israel acted in the Iran affair as an ally and friend of the U.S.
“Even if the government of Israel actively worked to begin the initiative and to keep it going, the U.S. government is responsible for its own decisions,” the board’s report stressed.
‘NOTHING IMPROPER PER SE’
It added that “Although Israel dealt with those portions of the U.S. government that it deemed were sympathetic to the initiative, there is nothing improper per se about this fact. U.S. decision-makers make their own decisions and must bear responsibility for the consequences.”
Tower said that while the U.S. effort started out as a way to seek influence with moderates in Iran, it “very quickly became an arms-for-hostages affair.” He noted that while Reagan could be faulted for his management style, the fault lay with his advisors who did not provide him with the type of advice needed. The board members specifically blamed Poindexter, former Central Intelligence Agency director William Casey and White House Chief of Staff Donald Regan.
The report details the entire Iranian affair in chronological order, but there was little information not already publicly known.
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