FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Posted by Clinton/Gore Email OCTOBER 31, 1992 STATEMENT BY FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE EDMUND S. MUSKIE ON PRESIDENT BUSH'S ROLE IN THE IRAN-CONTRA AFFAIR Five years ago, I served with the late Senator John Tower and National Security Assistant Brent Scowcroft on President Reagan's Special Review Board, which was appointed to assess the National Security Council system and investigate the arms-for-hostages deal with Iran. At the very outset of the investigation, then Vice President Bush asked to speak with the Tower Board. My recollection is that nothing emerged from that meeting to suggest that the Vice President was well aware of or significantly involved in the Iranian arms transfers. In short, Vice President Bush presented himself then as President Bush likes to characterize his role now--as being "out of the loop." But President Bush's repeated claims of ignorance about the arms-for-hostages deal now conflict directly with the personal notes from a key meeting taken by former Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger. This latest revelation, combined with the public statement by former NSC staffer Howard Teicher that he personally briefed Mr. Bush on the Iran initiative on numerous occasions, appears to confirm that the Vice President was actively involved in the decision making loop and clearly supported the arms-for-hostages deal. This revelation also calls into question President Bush's judgement about the critical implications of a major foreign policy initiative. If he was "in the loop" -- if he was present at key meetings and was briefed in detail on the arms-for-hostages swap, if he knew of the Secretary of State's and Secretary of Defense's opposition -- then his performance in the Iran- Contra affair takes on a whole new light. The Vice President was, after all, the official in charge of U.S. counter-terrorism efforts. He was the former Director of Central Intelligence who touted his expertise in foreign policy. President Bush could have stood up and headed off what was ultimately a foreign policy disaster. Given the new evidence that has surfaced in recent weeks, President Bush owes the American people a forthright explanation of his role in, and knowledge of, the Iran-Contra affair. The nation would benefit from his doing so. -30-30-30-