American Notes IRAN-CONTRA

Among the witnesses at congressional hearings on the Iran-contra scandal, former National Security Adviser John Poindexter was the only one "who didn't hang Oliver North out to dry." So says North, who last week sought to convince Federal Judge Harold Greene that he should not be forced to testify at Poindexter's upcoming trial. North claimed that his memories of the secret arms sale to Iran had become so intertwined with the account Poindexter gave Congress that he could no longer distinguish between them. The implication was that he could not give evidence against Poindexter without violating an immunity agreement under which the Iran-contra defendants' congressional testimony cannot be used against them.

Judge Greene skeptically told North that "it seems pretty farfetched to rely on Poindexter's version of events when you were there yourself." But even if North is compelled to testify, the case against his former boss faces other hurdles. Poindexter has subpoenaed Ronald Reagan's diaries to support his claim that many of his actions were ordered by the former President. He also wants to use classified Government documents. If he is denied the right to use either as evidence, the case against him could be dismissed.