Oliver North- Drug Trafficking Hero on
the Lecture Circuit
Should we forgive and forget, or hold him accountable
for his extensive past drug trafficking ties?
by Celerino Castillo 3rd
posted at DrugWar.com
May 22, 2003
Author Celerino Castillo back in the day, working
on anti-drug operations in Central America
Hummers, SUVs, Mercedes, and Cadillac were
arriving for Oliver North and The Salvation Army’s fundraiser.
I could have sworn that it was a Republican fundraiser. As the
vehicles went by, some had the audacity of “shooting the
bird” at us while we were exercising our First Amendment
rights. It was a good thing that the camera was clicking. “Good
old boys” at their best.
According to one member of the Salvation
Army’s advisory board, it had been a done deal before North’s
name was brought to the table for the approval. That same member
further alleged that the real reason that North had been approved
for the lecture was because North had allegedly once saved Captain
Tom Gilliam's father’s life. Therefore, it turned out to
be a pretty good payday for North.
Now, we do not dispute the fact that the
Salvation Army does an excellent job in what they are suppose
to do. Captain Tom Gilliam, a Salvation Army Captain, was quoted
by The Monitor that, “I believe that the actions that the
people (protesters) are upset about took place 20 years ago…”
What the Captain failed to mention was that in 1991, the Drug
Enforcement Administration in Washington D.C opened a General
File (GFGD-91-9139) on Oliver North for selling weapons in the
Philippines with known drug traffickers.
It will surprise many to know that the Nobel
Prize winning President of Costa Rica, Oscar Arias, because of
an in-depth investigation by the Costa Rican Congressional Commission
on Narcotics, found “virtually all [U.S. supported] contra
factions involved in drug trafficking.” The Costa Rican government
banned Oliver North and other America diplomats, by Executive
Order, from ever entering Costa Rica for their roles in utilizing
Costa Rican territory for cocaine trafficking. Former President
Bush once stated, “All those who look the other way are as
guilty as the drug dealers,”
The Captain went on to state that, “We
believe in a God who forgives and forgets…” Once again,
the Captain lost focus on our concerns. And, that it is his poor
judgment in selecting an individual who was tainted by allegations
of drug trafficking, terrorism, and felony convictions. The Captain’s
selection was made for personal reasons.
Several years ago, the extreme right arm
of the Christian Coalition selected to support Oliver North for
U.S. Senate. Their support backfired and North became one of two
Republicans who lost the elections that year. During North’s
campaign, I traveled to Virginia, went out to the “grassroots”
communities and educated them on who Oliver North really was.
I went as far as challenging North for a debate. Of course, he
refused. My first question would had been: Why did you campaign
to obtain the release of Honduran army general Jose Bueso-Rosa
from a federal prison, after his arrest for smuggling 763 pounds
of cocaine and for murder? Bueso-Rosa’s partner in the venture
was international arms dealer Felix Latchinian, who in turn was
an ex-business partner of CIA agent (Cubano) Felix Rodriguez.
During the 70s and 80s, Felix Rodriguez was tied to several terrorist
organizations who terrorize both the United States and Latin America.
Felix Rodriguez, also known as Max Gomez, was in charge of the
Contra’s supply network in El Salvador, which was also involved
in drug trafficking. If this sounds complicated just remember
that all this drug trafficking was paid for with your taxpayer
dollars.
The Captain’s poor judgment, that the
means justifies the end, will hurt the Republican Party. On November
1, 2001, after several months of delays, George W. Bush changed
an Executive Order that prevented the release of papers from the
Reagan presidency, even though the release is mandated by The
Presidential Records Act of 1978. Several years ago I was able
to legally obtain Top Secret government documents, declassified,
from the National Archives. Soon after the release, the government
reclassified them citing National Security. These are some of
the documents that President Bush wants kept secret. Some of these
documents affirm the plans to mine the harbors of Nicaragua. Because
of the Captain’s decision to continue in support of individuals
like Oliver North, I have no choice but to release these documents
to Univision and make the first offer to an American news media,
Mr. North’s employer, Fox News.
We Americans are not hated by other Third
World countries because we practice democracy, value freedom or
uphold human rights. We are hated because our government denies
these things to people in Third World countries whose resources
are coveted by our multinational corporations. That hatred we
have sown has come back to haunt us in the form of terrorism.
War crimes also come easily because the U.S. considers itself
the vehicle of a higher morality and truth and can operate in
violation of law without cost.
This world has become a very dangerous place
to live, not just because of the evil people that control it,
but also because of the individuals who do absolutely nothing
to make it a better place to live. Because of the atrocities that
my government committed in Central America, I’ve renounced
my Bronze Star back to my government at the Vietnam Wall. I am
also now capable of feeling deeply in my blood when an injustice
is being committed. That is why I’ve risked the remainder
of my life to demonstrate what I believe to be real. And that
is that an armed struggle (pen in hand) is in order for those
who are struggling to keep their freedom for telling the truth.
In conclusion, it is interesting to see whom
the Captain will invite for next year fundraiser: Manuel Noriega?
Why not? As the Captain states, “God forgives and forgets.”
Furthermore, in Noriega’s case, it occurred 20 years ago.
According to the Top Secret documents, Lt. Col. Oliver North had
a very close relationship with Noriega.
Celerino “Cele” Castillo, 3rd
2709 North 28 ½ Street
McAllen, TX 78501
956-345-5770
powderburns@prodigy.net
