I knew back in February that when I wrote this diary I was on to something.
Associated Press, today:
GOP presidential nominee John McCain has past connections to a private group that supplied aid to guerrillas seeking to overthrow the leftist government of Nicaragua in the Iran-Contra affair.
McCain's ties are facing renewed scrutiny after his campaign criticized Barack Obama for his link to a former radical who engaged in violent acts 40 years ago.
The U.S. Council for World Freedom was part of an international organization linked to former Nazi collaborators and ultra-right-wing death squads in Central America. The group was dedicated to stamping out communism around the globe.
Back in August, I authored another diary describing McCain's ties to an assortment of shady individuals and groups. I'm glad that the story of McCain's extremist anti-communist friends is finally hitting the MSM in a big way. I think my August diary is worth a repost:
G. Gordon Liddy: Convicted felon who helped plan the infamous Watergate break-in. He also advocated war crimes against the Vietnamese people and called for shooting ATF agents in the head. His house was the site of a McCain fundraiser in 1998 and, just recently, McCain appeared on his radio show. McCain then got a little giddy over his dear friend Liddy:
Last November, McCain went on his radio show. Liddy greeted him as "an old friend," and McCain sounded like one. "I'm proud of you, I'm proud of your family," he gushed. "It's always a pleasure for me to come on your program, Gordon, and congratulations on your continued success and adherence to the principles and philosophies that keep our nation great."
Roberto Martin Perez: Cuban exile who signed a 1997 statement advocating any and all terrorism against Castro-ruled Cuba. Also a long time coordinator of the Cuban American National Foundation, which was named by notorious terrorist Luis Posada Carriles as a source of funding for an operation in 1997 that bombed numerous hotels and killed an innocent Italian tourist. Perez did an official radio ad for the McCain campaign that attacked Obama for suggesting negotiations with the Castro regime.
Robert Adam Mosbacher: Commerce Secretary under George HW Bush who helped to cover up the export of sensitive technology to Saddam Hussein's regime just before he invaded Kuwait. According to an invetigative piece by the LA Times, Mosbacher planned to "risk a criminal contempt charge by refusing to turn over material [to Congress]." Mosbacher is currently the chairman of McCain's campaign.
International Republican Institute (IRI): Right-wing "civil society" group that works to undermine leaders (including democratically elected ones) that are not compatible with US business interests. Colluded with former death squad members in overthrowing the democratically elected government of Jean-Bertrand Aristide and stood by as rightist militias and gangs massacred thousands of Haitian civilians. McCain is currently the chairman of the IRI, a position he has had since 1993.
Carl H. Lindner: CEO of Chiquita Brands International from 1984 to 2001 who "oversaw the payment of roughly $1.7 million to a Colombian paramilitary group that is today designated a terrorist organization by the United States." Co-hosted a $25,000-per-person fundraiser for the McCain campaign and the GOP.
Charlie Black: Former lobbyist for numerous foreign dictators. Ran a PR campaign for Ferdinand Marcos and received $1 million-per-year from Mobuto Sese Seko. Currently serves as McCain’s Senior Adviser.
Nicaraguan Contras: Terrorist group made up of former National Guardsman from the deposed regime of Anastasio Somoza Debayle. Implicated in numerous atrocities, such as "murder, rape, torture, maiming children, cutting off arms, cutting out tongues, gouging out eyes, castration, bayoneting pregnant women in the stomach, and amputating genitals." Accused by Human Rights Watch of disregarding "the rights of civilians" as a "a de facto policy." McCain donated $400 to this group in 1988 after Washington stopped giving them US tax dollars due to their abuses.
Bill Ayers was certainly a despicable person, but he never really killed anybody. McCain's friends succeeded in helping to end tens of thousands of human lives. Keep that in mind.