Charges Dropped Against North

National security could be in jeopardy if certain sensitive documents are made public. I respect that. However, I wonder if the country would be better served if some secrets were made known.

President Truman created the CIA to assist the executive branch in gathering intelligence information. Before the end of his term in office, the CIA had already expanded into unauthorized covert activities. In “The Marcos Dynasty,” author Sterling Seagrave states that the CIA has been involved with the shipment of arms, money, and gold since the early 1950s with the full knowledge of the White House. President Carter was the only one who tried to clean it up.

Our government of checks and balances has Congress to establish laws and policies. How can these laws be enforced with so much protection under the guise of national security by the executive? How can another “off-the-shelf” activity by the CIA be prevented? Are CIA expenditures audited? Are North and President Reagan really protecting only the tip of 35 years of unauthorized actions? If the history of these operations saw the light of day, Seagrave suggests that Iran-Contra money would look like chicken feed in comparison.

National security cannot be used as a screen to hide behind by men who think they are above the law. Because it has been going on for 35 years, doesn’t make it right. President Nixon found that out.

MARY LAUGHNEY

Rancho Palos Verdes