POINDEXTER ASSURED BRITISH ON U.S. POLICY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91-00587R000100240022-3
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 24, 2011
• Sequence Number: 22
• Publication Date: November 23, 1986
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Approved For Release 2011/02/24 :CIA-RDP91-005878000100240022-3
WASHINGTON POST
23 November 1986
Poindexter ~-~~?~~ured
Rriti~~~h on. Lr S. Policy
1 Rv Walter Pincus
iational securtty advrser John 1LI.
Poindexter assured a top British
diplomat on iVlay 'L8 that the United
States stood firmly by its policy of
nut making deah for hostages. On
that same day, Vice Adrn. Poindex-
ter's predecessor, Robert C.
McFarlane, landed in Tehran in a
plane loaded with U.S. arms, ex-
pectcng that all U.S. hostages in
Lebanon were about to be released.
The British were particularly
concerned that Washington adhere
to its processed policy of refusing to
make concessions to hostage-
takers, informed sources card.
Prime iVlinister Margaret Thatcher
had not only refused to bargain for
release of two Brimns held by pro-
Lrbyan forces in Lebanon, ahe had
ignored the danger to the hostages
and, ur a show of solidarity with
President Reagan, allowed U.S.
warplanes based in Britain to he
used in the :1pri1 l;i bombing of
Tripoli.
In reta!iahon for that raid, the
two Britons and one .American were
executed by~ their captors. Thatcher
has heen rrihrized for her position.
Poindexter, according to these
~urrrce