WALL STREET JOURNAL ALLEGATIONS OF POSSIBLE CIA OPERATIONS IN ARKANSAS (W/ATTACHMENTS)

• Document Type: FOIA
• Keywords: SEAL BARRY
• Keywords: MENA ARKANSAS
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0001289708
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: June 22, 2015
• Document Release Date: September 30, 2009
• Case Number: F-2002-01499
• Publication Date: June 30, 1994

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FROM:
[bl[11
DATE
30 June 1994
TO: lofricer dssienetion, room rxmba. snd
WIdirvl
DATE
OFFICER'S
COMMENTS lNumber each comment to show from whom
RECEIVED
FORWARDED
INITIALS
to whom. Draw a line across column after each comment.)
1 . DO Registry
2. Special Assistant
Deputy Director for
Operations
3. Associate Deputy Director
for Operations
4. Deput Director for
operations
APPROVED FOR
RELEASE^DATE:
5. Executive Registry
23-Sep-2009
6. Executive Assistant
Director of Central
Intelligence
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
40
cc: EX/DIR
12.
13.
14.
Dom.
15.
1.70 610 (EF) uSEDITO SUS
ROUTING AND RECORD SHEET
3UBJBCT: (Opl(onnl) wall stroot Journal RllsgntlonN of Possible OTA Operations in
Arkansas
v
0
 13:0 JUN IN
MEMORANDUM FOR: Executive Assistant
Director of Central Intelligence
VIA: Deputy Director for Operations
SUBJECT: Wall Street Journal Allegations of Possible CIA
Operations in Arkansas
1. Background: The Wall Street Journal of 29 June 1994
contains an article entitled "Mysterious Mena" by Micah Morrison
which claims possible CIA activities/operations in the mid-80s at
Arkansas' Mena Intermountain Regional Airport. The article
states in the early to mid-80s Rich Mountain Aviation at Mena
was used as a base of operations by a cocaine smuggler, Adler
Seal, who traveled to Nicaragua in 1984 with a CIA equipped
aircraft to photograph Sandanista involvement in drug running.
The article also suggests mid-80s training of Contras at a site
near Mena Airport on land owned by the head of Rich Mountain
Aviation. The author of the article suggests that Seal was
flying drugs into the U.S. and Contras and weapons out. A new
book, according to the article, claims Gov. Clinton, and his
inner circle, along with Oliver North and CIA were involved in a
conspiracy which included training Contras, sending weapons to
Central America, smuggling cocaine into the U.S. and laundering
funds through Arkansas banks.
2. While it is not possible for us in the short period of
time to research the files related to the period of this article,
we can say with certainty that the DO has never had a proprietary
at Mena nor is there any record of dealings with Rich M n ain
Aviation. when a
Mena Air or ac i was use
WARNING NOTICE CL BY
INTELLIGENCE SOURCES DECL OADR
OR METHODS INVOLVED DRV
 SECRET
SUBJECT: Wall Street Journal Allegations of Possible CIA
Operations in Arkansas
to a
ran rom
support in terms of
training operation at Mena Air ie The exercise
and there is no indication Contra
training o any kind was undertaken by CIA at Mena or anywhere in
Arkansas. Because we are dealing with a period ten years ago, a
review of the files would be necessary for
possible documentary conrirmation the Mena area was never used by
the Agency for training.
6. It is believed Mr. Seal had an aircraft equipped by CIA
to photograph Nicaraguan drug lords. Seal was at the time a DEA
asset and the camera was installed at the request of DEA.
Research will be required if additional information on this
operation is required.
7. The book mentioned in the article "Compromised:
Clinton, Bush and The CIA" claims a conspiracy which exists only
in the minds of the authors.
 SUBJECT: Wall Street Journal Allegations of Possible CIA
Operations in Arkansas
(30 June 94)
Distribution:
Orig & 1 - Addressee
1 - Executive Registry
1 - EX/DIR
1 - DO Registry
1 - SA/DDO
1 - ADDO
1 - DDO
1 -
1 -
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 But what, if anything, does Mena have
to do with Whitewater? A small conspir-
acy-theory industry has grown up around
the mysteries of Mena. In a new book,
"Compromised: Clinton, Bush and the
CIA," authors Terry Reed and John Cum-
mings claim that Gov. Clinton and his in-
ner circle, along with Lt. Col. Oliver North
and the CIA, were involved in a conspiracy
that included training Contras at Nella..
sending weapons to Central America.
smuggling cocaine into the U.S. and laun-
dering funds through Arkansas banks. Lit-
tle hard evidence is presented to back up
these startling claims, yet the book should
not be dismissed out of hand. Certainly.
something was going on at Mena and
Nella. And the authors raise the interest-
ing question: What happened to all of
Barry Seal's cocaine money?
Intriguing Coincidence
In an intriguing coincidence. while run-
ning Barry Seal as an agent, the DEA also
was conducting an investigation into the
drug-related activities of Little Rock bond
dealer and Clinton supporter Dan Lasater.
In October 1986, as Mr. Lasater was being
charged in Little Rock with conspiracy to
distribute cocaine, the DEA confirmed
that he was the target of a drug-trafficking
probe involving his private plane and a
small airfield at the New Mexico ski resort
Angel Fire, which Mr. Lasater purchased
in 1984.
Mr. Lasater's bond shop also executed
a mysterious series of trades on behalf of
Kentucky resident Dennis Patrick, who
says he had no knowledge of the millions
in trades reflected in his account in 1985
and 1986. It's unclear what these trades
represent, since Mr. Patrick's confirma-
tion slips show only paper transactions,
with little money in or out. Yet it's inter-
esting to note that the hectic activity in
the account came to an abrupt halt in Feb-
ruary 1986-the month Barry Seal was
killed.
Of course, it all may be just a coinci-
dence, and perhaps Gov. Clinton did not
even know that drug smugglers, the CIA
and the DEA were operating in his back-
yard. Perhaps he did not want to know. Af-
ter all, as we have come to learn, Bill Clin-
ton's Arkansas was a very strange place.
Mr. Morrison is a Wall Street Journal ed-
itorial page irriter.