The National Security Council - A History

Transcription

1 U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL: IRAN-CONTRA AFFAIR BACKGROUND GUIDE THE 2015 GREATER WASHINGTON CONFERENCEON INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS GWCIA XX NOVEMBER 7, 2015

2 WELCOME FROM THE CHAIR & CD Dear Delegates, Welcome to GWCIA! My name is Cindy Zhang and I will be your chair for the U.S. National Security Council committee. I am a junior at GW majoring in International Affairs and concentrating in Economics. When I m not competing on our college s Model UN team or helping to run committees for GW s conferences, I m living my life out in DC as a writing tutor and interning in various places. I am so excited to be simulating what will be for many of you your first taste of crisis simulations. Will and I hope that you find the contents of this background guide to be helpful and strongly suggest you read every part of this guide, as it will help you greatly during the conference itself. Can t wait to see you there! Best, CINDY ZHANG, CHAIR clzhang0804@gwu.edu Salut à tous! My name is Will Bonnett and I will be your Crisis Director for the National Security Council committee during this year s GWCIA! I am senior at the George Washington University majoring in International Affairs with a concentration in Security Policy. In other words, I m in college to learn to do professionally what you re about to simulate during your stay at our Model UN conference. My father is a US diplomat and I ve spent my entire childhood living abroad and traveling the world, so you can say I live and breathe international diplomacy. I have spent the past three, going on four, years in GW helping the International Affairs Society and going to a variety of MUN conferences on the collegiate circuit and this will be my fourth time chairing or crisis directing a GWCIA committee. Every single committee I ve run has been a runaway success and I expect this one will be the best yet. Get pumped! me any questions at synchronous@gwmail.gwu.edu. Sincerely yours, WILL BONNETT, CRISIS DIRECTOR 2

3 HISTORY OF THE USNSC The National Security Council was created in 1947 under the National Security Act to advise the president on issues pertaining to external and internal threats to the United States. In the shadow of communism s takeover of Eastern Europe, the State Department was deemed insufficient for countering the communist threat. Starting with the war in Korea in 1950, President Harry S. Truman convened the Council every Thursday until his last year in office in From then on, presidents tried to tailor the NSC to their leadership style. The ex- general, Dwight D. Eisenhower, preferred to spread out responsibilities of the NSC between a large number of staff and used it as a counterbalance to Secretary of State, John Foster Dulles, who jealously guarded his position as the chief foreign policy adviser to the President. Later, John F. Kennedy, suspicious of Eisenhower s reliance on the NSC, reduced its size and instead focused on the National Security Advisor, McGeorge Bundy, who would come to prominence as the architect of the Vietnam War. Johnson followed this prescription, and his successor Richard M. Nixon was famous for trusting his National Security Adviser, Henry Kissinger, above all other policymakers. After Nixon s resignation following the Watergate affair, Gerald R. Ford kept on Kissinger as a sign of continuity, relegating the NSC once more. Yet in 1975, Brent Scowcroft, the head of the NSC, signaling a period of prominence for the organization once more, replaced Kissinger as National Security advisor. Liberal democrat James E. Carter followed Kennedy and Johnson in preferring an informal NSC, but Reagan, in 1982, placed William Clark, a personal friend who reported directly to him, significantly enhancing the NSC s power and prestige. 1 1 History of the National Security Council, , United States Department of State, last 3

4 ABOUT THE USNSC The National Security Council is the President's primary advisory committee made up of his senior cabinet officials. The NSC assists the President on all matters such as foreign affairs, economic policy, and national crises. The NSC serves at the bidding of the President and often includes advisors best suited for the crisis at hand. The permanent members of the committee present at every meeting of the council include the Vice President, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, and the National Security Advisor. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs is the military advisor to the council, while the Director of National Intelligence advises the council on intelligence matters. The Chief of Staff, the Counsel to the President, and the Attorney General are regularly invited to attend the council. Additional advisors are invited to attend council meetings depending on the issue at hand, such as the Assistant to the President on Economic Policy during a financial crisis. Purpose of the Council The National Security Council lets the President coordinate policy among the various departments of the Executive Branch. A council meeting allows all the heads of departments such as the Secretaries of State and Defense find a joint policy that best uses their combined resources, as opposed to having the various departments not working together. The council also gives the President an opportunity to discuss with his advisors one particular issue and hear opposing viewpoints from his senior cabinet members. While cabinet officials lead their various departments, the ultimate decision making of the council comes from the President alone. 4

5 TOPIC: THE IRAN-CONTRA AFFAIR Nicaragua From 1979 until the early 1990s, Nicaragua was stuck in a catastrophic civil war. The Sandinista Junta of National Reconstruction controlled the government of Nicaragua, backed by the communist regime in Cuba. Opposing this government were the Contras, short for la contrarrevolución or the counter- revolution, a collection of different anti- government and anti- communist groups within Nicaragua. The largest amongst these were the Nicaraguan Democratic Force, which unified with the different Contra groups in 1987 under the Nicaraguan Resistance. The United States under the Reagan administration financially and militarily supported these rebels early on as the US government saw the Sandinistas as a threat towards private corporate interests in Nicaragua. Furthermore, the Sandinistas were supporting leftist guerillas in El Salvador and destabilizing Central America 2. The CIA supported the Contras with $19 million in military aid in 1982 and in 1984 Congress approved $24 million in further aid. However, the Contras did not gain much popular support or momentum in their struggles within Nicaragua. In fact, most of the international community, including NGOs funded by the US government like Freedom House, confirmed that the Sandinistas rise to power was mostly fair and democratic. Popular opinion within the US also turned against the Contras as they embarked on wide- scale human rights violations and over 1300 terrorist attacks, killing many civilians in the process. When it was revealed that the CIA placed explosive mines inside Nicaraguan sea ports in 1985, Congress rescinded all support with the Boland Amendment. Though the amendment 2 The Iran- Contra Report, University of California Santa Barbara. 20report%20key%20sections.htm 5

6 was written in 1982, it only blocked support from the Department of Defense and the CIA and in 1984 it was amended further to block support by all US government agencies 3. In an effort to find funding to support the Contras, President Reagan raised $34 million from other countries and $2.7 million in private donations with Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North in charge of these efforts, which became a secret organization under the National Security Council known as The Enterprise. The Enterprise continued its fundraising by selling weapons in Iran, both to get money and untraceable weapons for the Contras but also to secure Iran s support in ending a US citizen hostage crisis in Lebanon by Hezbollah missiles were sent to Iran and the hostages were freed, only to be replaced by three more US hostages. Furthermore, of the $30 million that Iran promised, only $12 million in funding was received. A Lebanese newspaper exposed America s clandestine activities in 1986 and Reagan vehemently denied any wrongdoing in a nationally televised speech. An investigation was conducted known as the Tower Commission, despite the fact that it was not independent and completely appointed by President Reagan. They found no links to the President or Vice President George H.W. Bush and chalked it up to the President disengaging from the goings- on of his administration. Oliver North was discharged, though he was acquitted on a technicality. Fourteen people were charged with trying to cover up the crimes, though President George H.W. Bush later pardoned six 4. 3 The Iran- Contra Report 4 The Iran- Contra Report 6

7 Honduras The Contras were based in Nicaragua s northern neighbor, Honduras. To prevent the Sandinistas from attacking Honduras and the main base of the Contras, Reagan deployed over 3000 US troopers in 1988 under the cover of a training exercise, later asserting that Nicaraguan troops had crossed the border. They were only deployed for a short time, as Honduras did not request troops and had no evidence that Nicaraguan forces actually crossed the border. The CIA also based its anti- Sandinista activities within Honduras, operating training camps for the Contras and organizing clandestine attacks against the Nicaraguan government. Originally, it was Argentina who was going to assist the United States with training and organizing the Contras but they rescinded support after the United States backed the United Kingdom during the Falklands War 5. El Salvador From 1979 to 1992, El Salvador was also consumed by a bloodbath of a civil war. The Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front was an umbrella organization of five left- wing guerilla groups who were opposed to the military- led government of El Salvador. The Sandinista government of Nicaragua and the Castro regime in Cuba supported the rebels, which became one of the chief reasons why Reagan initiated US involvement within the 5 The Contras, Cocaine, and Covert Operations, The National Security Archive The George Washington University. 7

8 region. Under a collective defense agreement, Reagan asserted the US had an obligation to defend El Salvador which included opposing Nicaragua. However, support actually began with the Carter administration and $10 million in military aid in response to the murder of four American nuns. The Salvadoran government committed widespread human rights violations and massacred thousands of its citizens, including suppressing the Catholic Church via violent methods 6. POSITION LIST AND DESCRIPTIONS National Security Advisor Robert McFarlane Robert Bud McFarlane graduated from the National Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1955 and served two tours during the Vietnam War as a Lieutenant in the Marine Corps. McFarlane began his career in national security when he was appointed to serve as Henry Kissinger's Military Assistant at the National Security Council. Once Reagan was elected President, he appointed McFarlane as a Counselor to the State Department and later as Special Representative to the Middle East before becoming the National Security Advisor, which gave him experience in Middle Eastern matters though McFarlane was criticized for getting the United States involved in the Lebanese Civil War. 7 As National Security Advisor, McFarlane has considerable influence in coordinating policy between the various departments to make a united plan to present to the President. While the National Security Advisor has little formal powers, a strong NSA can wield considerable influence over the various departments and play a pivotal role in enforcing the president's plans. 8 Chief of Staff Donald Regan 6 El Salvador 12 Years of Civil War, The Center for Justice & Accountability. 7 Robert C. MacFarlane, Partnership for a Secure America, 8 Interviews: Robert C. MacFarlane, Public Broadcasting Service, 8

9 Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Regan dropped out from Harvard Law in 1940 to join the Marine Corps and served in the Pacific Theater during World War Two. After the war, Regan joined Merrill Lynch and worked at the New York Stock Exchange until President Reagan appointed him Secretary of the Treasury in As head of the treasury, Regan was essential in implementing Reagan's "Reaganomics" economic policies during his first term. In 1985, President Reagan unexpectedly had Regan switch jobs with Howard Baker and made Regan his Chief of Staff. 9 As Chief of Staff, Regan is responsible for the day- to- day schedule of the President and the running of the White House and also negotiates on the President's behalf in many matters, such as with members of Congress. In addition, the Chief of Staff decides who can and cannot meet with the President.10 Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff William J Crowe Born in Kentucky, Crowe graduated the US Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1947 and soon after served as Assistant to the Naval Aide of the President. He later served as an officer on various submarines. After serving as an advisor to the South Vietnamese Government during the Vietnam War, Crowe rapidly rose through the ranks to Admiral and served in various posts, such as Commander in Chief of the US forces in the Pacific. Reagan appointed Crowe as CJCS in As Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Crowe is the second highest- ranking military official after the Secretary of Defense. The CJCS is responsible for advising the President on all military matters and for devising all military plans. 12 White House Counsel Fred Fielding 9 About: Donald T. Regan, United States Department of Treasury, last modified 20 November 2010, 10 Donald Regan, The Economist, 19 June 2003, accessed 20 July 2015, 11 Adm. William Crowe dies at age 82; Led Joint Chiefs, New York Times, 19 October 2007, accessed 20 July 2015, 12 Oral History Admiral William J. Crowe Jr., USN, Naval Historical Foundation, 9

10 constitution. 13 Born in Philadelphia, Fielding was a senior partner at Wiley & Rein Fielding law firm before serving as associate counsel to President Nixon during the Watergate scandal. As White House Counsel, Fielding advises the president on all legal matters, in particular on any matter concerning constitutional legality. The counsel is responsible for ensuring any executive actions by the President are within the legal bounds of the Ambassador to the UN Vernon Walters Born in New York City, Walters joined the Army in 1941 and served in North Africa. After the war, he served as an interpreter for President Truman and Eisenhower on diplomatic trips and served as a military attaché during the Vietnam War. In 1972, President Nixon appointed Walters to become Deputy Director of Central Intelligence. 14 As Ambassador to the UN, Walters is the President's representative to the United Nations and responsible for bringing his proposals to the UN Security Council. With a long career spent in other countries, Walters also has contacts abroad. 15 Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger Born in San Francisco, Weinberger served in the Pacific Theater during World War Two. After the war, he entered politics and served two terms in the California State Legislature, where he became friends with Ronald Regan when he served in his cabinet during Reagan's governorship. President Nixon appointed Weinberger Director of the Office of Budget and Management before becoming Reagan's Secretary of Defense. While Weinberger lacked a background in the military, he was appointed due to his history of being an able administrator and for sharing Reagan's views on the Soviet Union. 16 As Secretary 13 Fred Fielding, Morgan Lewis, Lieutenant General Vernon Walters, The Guardian, 17 February 2002, accessed 30 July 2015, 10

11 of Defense, no individual has more power over the US military than Weinberger except for the President. Weinberger is responsible for running the military and enacting the President's military plans. 17 Deputy NSA John Poindexter Born in Odon, Indiana in 1936, he received a Bachelor s from the US Naval Academy in 1958 and an M.S. and a Ph.D. from Caltech in 1961 and 1964 respectively. From he commanded a destroyer, paving his way to becoming a Vice Admiral. In 1981, Poindexter became assistant to then National Security Adviser Richard Allen. He later became Deputy National Security Adviser in There, he headed the Crisis Pre- Planning Group, among the first NSC units to grapple with the spread of Islamist terrorism. Poindexter was a leader in the organizing of the transfer of weapons to Iran and oversaw others involved in the affair, including Oliver North. They communicated through a channel, known as the "Private Blank Check," that Poindexter set up on a National Security Council (NSC) computer. They were able to send messages back and forth without interception by other NSC staff members. Secretary of State George P. Schultz George Schultz received his undergraduate degree from Princeton and his Master s and Ph.D. from MIT. He was on active duty in the Marines from He later became Nixon s Secretary of Labor from , where he resolved the Longshoremen s Union Strike by forcing negotiations. He also implemented the Philadelphia Plan which forced unions to have a set number of blacks by a specific deadline, thereby implementing the first racial quota by the US government. In 1970, he became the first head of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). From 1972 to 1974, he was the Treasury Secretary. As Secretary of State he was an outspoken opponent of the arms- for- hostages deal which later escalated into 16 Caspar Weinberger: Biography, Biography.com, last modified

12 the Iran- Contra Affair. However, he is also an outspoken opponent of the Sandinistas and refused to negotiate with them, stating that "negotiations are a euphemism for capitulation if the shadow of power is not cast across the bargaining table." 18 Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) William J. Casey From Elmhurst, Queens, NYC, he graduated from Fordham (B.S, 1934) and received a law degree from St. John s University New York in He served in Europe from with the OSS. He later worked on Nixon s election campaign in 1968 and was chair of the SEC from Casey became Reagan s presidential campaign manager and was subsequently awarded the directorship of the CIA in Under his leadership covert action increased in such places as Afghanistan, Central America, and Angola. He set up Operation Cyclone, which aided the Afghan Mujahedeen secretly. As Director of the CIA he had control over the Agency s assets and operatives, including numerous front organizations such as Air America and Brewster Jennings to name a few. He was also Reagan s liaison to the Vatican, briefing the Pope on various developments. 19 Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) Leonard H. Peroots Born in Morgantown, West Virginia, he graduated from St. Francis High School in He received a Bachelor of Science degree in History from West Virginia University in 1955 and a Master's Degree in International Affairs from The George Washington University in In June 1969 he was assigned as Chief of the Combat Analysis Division of the US Air Force while stationed in Vietnam. From September 1980 to May 1985 he was assigned to the Headquarters of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe in Ramstein Air Base, West Germany, first as Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations Intelligence and later as Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence. He became Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence at the Air Force Headquarters and Commander of the Air Force Intelligence Service in Washington, D.C in October He controlled the Air Force 18 ( 19 ( 12

13 Intelligence, which works closely with the CIA and other members of the intelligence community. They provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) products, applications, capabilities, and resources, including cyber and geospatial forces and expertise. Additionally, they control the service cryptologic component (SCC) responsible to the National Security Agency and Central Security Service for Air Force cryptographic activities. 20 Attorney General Edwin Meese III Edwin Meese III was born Dec. 2, 1931 to Edwin Jr. and Leone Meese in Oakland, California. He graduated from Yale University in 1953 and holds a law degree from the University of California- Berkeley. During the Reagan governorship, Meese served as an executive assistant and Chief of Staff from 1969 through 1974 and as Legal Affairs Secretary from 1967 through From January 1981 to February 1985, Meese held the position of Counsellor to the President and functioned as Reagan's chief policy adviser. He later became Attorney General on February 25, He has a close relationship with the Heritage Foundation, a respected conservative think- tank with great power to influence public opinion. As the administration s chief legal analyst he has great input into the message given by Reagan and his advisors and will be indispensable if the crisis results in a trial or any other kind of legal action. 21 Ambassador to Nicaragua Harry E. Bergold, Jr. After graduating from Yale in 1953, Harry E. Bergold, Jr. served in the US Army. He returned to Yale in 1957 to pursue a Master s degree. That same year, Bergold joined the Foreign Service and served in Honduras, Mexico, Spain, and Panama. He moved on to work in the U.S. Defense Department, first as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and NATO Affairs and later as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs. From 1977 to 1979, Bergold worked in the White House as Assistant Secretary of Energy for International Affairs. Although he initially started out as the Ambassador to Hungary in the early 1980s, in 1984 President Reagan made the surprising decision to move him to Nicaragua at the suggestion of Secretary of State George Schultz. Both the President and Schultz have reasoned that Bergold s experience in 20 ( 33&page=1) 21 ( 13

14 dealing with Communist governments and convincing officials to loosen ties with the Soviet Union made him a suitable fit for working in Nicaragua. Bergold is sharp and politically savvy with a wit that has earned him friends in both Europe and Latin America. He is particularly close with Nicaragua s interior minister, Tomas Borge. However, conservatives in Congress distrust Bergold as he is not as against the Sandinistas as his peers in the National Security Council. As Ambassador to Nicaragua, he is one of the first points of American contact with Nicaragua and he may be aware of occurrences in Nicaragua before the rest of the committee. 22 Ambassador to El Salvador, Edwin Corr Ambassador Edwin Corr received both his undergraduate and graduate degree from the University of Oklahoma; in between his university studies, Corr served in the Marine Corps from 1957 to He joined the Foreign Service immediately afterwards and has been stationed mainly in Latin America he has most recently been reassigned as Ambassador to El Salvador. Because the Contras are conducting key operations in El Salvador, Corr has become a key guest member of the National Security Council. Corr is also particularly close with Colonel Oliver North, who will on occasion share classified and secretive information with Corr. 23 Ambassador to Honduras: John Negroponte John Negroponte, a British- American diplomat of Greek decent, was born in the UK but moved to the US to attend the prestigious Phillips Exeter Academy. He graduated from Yale and later attended Harvard Law School but left partway through in order to join the Foreign Service. In 1964 he was sent to Vietnam and served as an aide to Henry Kissinger, shuttling between Saigon, Paris, and Washington. In 1981, President Reagan appointed Negroponte as the Ambassador to Honduras at a crucial time the President had just authorized paramilitary operations against the leftist government of Nicaragua. Because Honduras has become the base of the Contras in opposition to the Sandinistas, Ambassador Negroponte has been invited to the National Security Council as a key guest member. His communications with the Honduran government and the US Embassy in Honduras 22 ( 63.html) 23 ( 14

15 will be crucial in order for the NSC to carry out specific goals and missions. Negroponte is considered to be a key player in many US cover missions in supporting the Contras. While this makes him a trustworthy ally with President Reagan and Oliver North, he is the target of deep scrutiny and suspicion by US liberal opposition. Many critics, particularly previous Ambassador to Honduras Jack Binns, claim that Negroponte has been untruthful in reporting human rights abuses by the Contras in Honduras in order to focus more on aiding the Contras. 24 Secretary of Treasury: James Baker James Baker graduated from Princeton University in 1952 and later attended law school at the University of Texas at Austin. In between his formal education Baker served in the Marine Corps for two years from 1952 to For most of the following two decades up into the 1970s, Baker worked in the private sector practicing law at the law firm of Andrews & Kurth. He first became involved in politics because of his late wife, who was very active within the Republican Party. After working with figures such as George H.W. Bush and Gerald Ford, Baker was eventually named Chief of Staff for Reagan during the first term of his presidency, where he had a lot of influence over Reagan s domestic policy. In 1985, Reagan swapped jobs between Baker and Don Regan and Baker received the position of Secretary of Treasury, which he currently holds. As Secretary of Treasury, Baker oversees all economic decisions in regards to supporting the Contras. US Trade Representative Clayton Yeutter Growing up in the Nebraska Dust Bowl during the Great Depression, Clayton Yeutter went to college close to home, working his way up to a Ph.D from the University of Nebraska in Agricultural Economics. After switching back and forth between the public and private sector, he was most recently confirmed as the US Trade Representative in While competent in the fields of trade and economics, he is perceived as an outsider because he is inexperienced in working with Congress and is not very close to President Reagan. However, because of how the potential crisis in Nicaragua threatens to negatively affect the US economy and trade in Latin America, Dr. Yeutter s expertise in trade has become a valuable asset. As a result, he has been welcomed in the NSC as a key guest 24 ( 15

16 member. His role as US Trade Representative will involve keeping a close eye on the trade market in Latin America and drafting policies that will avoid economic disaster. 25 TIPS TO CONSIDER 1. Part of the American intelligence and covert operations framework involves absolute deniability. How can you ensure President Reagan is insulated from any possible fallout in case the public catches you? 2. Winning can take many different forms. Does one merely win if they obliterate their opposition or can you gain more concessions by subtly manipulating people and events? 3. Always have more than one plan chances are they will fail for any number of reasons. 4. In the world of covert operations, trust is an illusion. Believe no one; do whatever it takes to complete the objective. HELPFUL RESOURCES About the US National Security Council: Encyclopedia Brittanica Iran- Contra Affair: Contra- Affair History of the National Security Council, : The Official Iran- Contra Report: ional%20report%20key%20sections.htm 25 ( 16

17 WORKS CITED About: Donald T. Regan, United States Department of Treasury, last modified 20 November 2010, Adm. William Crowe dies at age 82; Led Joint Chiefs, New York Times, 19 October 2007, accessed 20 July 2015, Caspar Weinberger: Biography, Biography.com, last modified weinberger The Contras, Cocaine, and Covert Operations, The National Security Archive The George Washington University. Donald Regan, The Economist, 19 June 2003, accessed 20 July 2015, El Salvador 12 Years of Civil War, The Center for Justice & Accountability. Fred Fielding, Morgan Lewis, History of the National Security Council, , United States Department of State, last modified August 1997, Interviews: Robert C. MacFarlane, Public Broadcasting Service, The Iran- Contra Report, University of California Santa Barbara. 20report%20key%20sections.htm Lieutenant General Vernon Walters, The Guardian, 17 February 2002, accessed 30 July 2015, Oral History Admiral William J. Crowe Jr., USN, Naval Historical Foundation, history- admiral- william- crowe/. 17

18 Robert C. MacFarlane, Partnership for a Secure America, 18