Friday, July 16, 2010

Oliver Twisted

Claim: During the 1987 Iran-Contra hearings, Oliver North warns Congress that Osama Bin Laden was "the most evil person alive" and the "an assassin team [should] be formed to eliminate him and his men from the face of the Earth."

Snopes evaluation: FALSE


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Exerpt of forwarded e-mail:


Subject: Fw: FW: Do you remember 1987........


Thought you might be interested in this forgotten bit of information.........

It was 1987! At a lecture the other day they were playing an old news video of Lt. Col. Oliver North testifying at the Iran-Contra hearings during the Reagan Administration.

There was Ollie in front of God and country getting the third degree, but what he said was stunning!

He was being drilled by a senator 'Did you not recently spend close to $60,000 for a home security system?'

Ollie replied, 'Yes, I did, Sir.'

The senator continued, trying to get a laugh out of the audience, 'Isn't that just a little excessive?'

'No, sir,' continued Ollie.

'No? And why not?' the senator asked.

'Because the lives of my family and I were threatened, sir.'

'Threatened? By whom?' the senator questioned.

'By a terrorist, sir,' Ollie answered.

'Terrorist? What terrorist could possibly scare you that much?'

'His name is Osama bin Laden, sir,' Ollie replied.
...

Read the full report at Snopes including a copy of Col. Oliver North's response to the piece of misinformation:

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