Newsgroups: misc.headlines,talk.politics.misc,talk.politics.mideast,alt.activism,alt.conspiracy
Subject: EX-HOSTAGES TO CONGRESS: Investigate "October Surprise"
References: 
Followup-To: talk.politics.misc,talk.politics.mideast,alt.activism.d,alt.conspiracy
Distribution: world
Organization: ACTIV-L (Activists Mailing List -- See bottom)

				[Joan Mower, Associated Press]

WASHINGTON -- Eight Americans who were held hostage at the U.S.
Embassy in Iran asked Congress today to investigate allegations that
[The Reagan/Bush] presidential campaign worked to delay their
release until after the 1980 election.

The ex-hostages joined a chorus of critics, including former President
Carter, who want Congress to look into events leading to the election
in which Reagan ousted Carter.

The 52 hostages were freed minutes after Reagan was inaugurated in
January 1981 -- after 444 days in captivity.

"For the last 10 years there have been rumors, reports and
allegations of foul play in the 1980 presidential election," the
hostages said in an open letter to members of Congress.

"Until recently, these allegations have been dismissed as
unsubstantiated," the letter said. "But substantial enough information
ha been presented by respected and persistent investigators to
warrant a thorough examination of this matter."

Recently, Gary Sick, a respected expert on Iran and a member of
Carter's national Security Council staff, said he determined the
[Reagan/Bush] campaign promised weapons to the Iranian government in
exchange for postponing the hostage release.

	[In fact it is substantiated that weapons were shipped to Iran
	many years before Iran-Contra; see the article from Z magazine
	posted to misc.activism.progressive, for example --HB]
 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[From: Valley News, June 13, 1991. See page 13 small box under the
title "Ex-Hostages Seek Inquiry." By Joan Mower, Associated Press]
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Misc.activism.progressive is currently running a "theme" -- a group of
related posts over 1-2 week -- on the October Surprise. Allow half a
week after the official posting date for the articles to show up:

Mon  10th	Z article (part 1) ; Z article (part 2)
		"A quick introduction to the October Surprise"
Tues 11th
Wed  12th	Convergence article ; Convergence ACTION
		
Thu  13th	"Coverup: Behind the Iran/Contra Affair" video
Fri  14th
Sat  15th	ITT May 1-7 (part 1) ; (part 2)
Sun  16th
Mon  17th	WHEREWAS GEORGE (as archived)
Tue  18th	Call Congress/Media ACTION ; some Tels/Adrs
Wed  19th	More Tels/Adrs, for ACTION
Thu  20th	Post/archive Ben-Menashe (40K) article
			and post/mention archived
			OCTOBER SURPRISE and 
  VERDICT  TREASON   Ex-CIA agent's acquittal is Bush's indictment
	(The Brenneke trial)
Fri  21st
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Other upcoming themes on misc.activism.progressive:

	-- Health Care

	-- "Free" Trade / Env. disaster in Mex / Pesticides/Hzrd Waste
	(Stay tuned for announcement on alt.activism and elsewhere)

	-- Drug War: Christic stuff; studies and stats; plus articles
	on Tobacco (pushing it in Thailand) and Marijuana (myths from
	PN and "Medical Victims of Drug War" ITT article) etc

	-- U.S. "Spends too much" on Social Programs series of
	educational posts/stats
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