‘Impossible’ Casey Gave North Suicide Pills, CIA Aide Says
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WASHINGTON — A top CIA official told the Iran- contra committees it was “absolutely impossible” that CIA Director William J. Casey gave Oliver L. North suicide pills in preparation for his secret trip to Iran, testimony released today showed.
CIA Director of Operations Clair George contradicted North’s contention that he was given the pills in case he was taken hostage during his secret mission in May, 1986, to try to win freedom for the American hostages in Lebanon.
“That’s absolutely impossible,” George said in private testimony to the select House-Senate committees investigating the foreign policy scandal. “The rules, regulations, controls, signing procedures for such an activity are absolutely ironclad. It’s like the controls on nuclear weapons.
“William Casey would not suggest or give Oliver North suicide pills.”
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