April actions target U.S. war drive

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Every day, new evidence comes to light revealing the U.S. government's headlong drive toward war.

The White House brought this country to the brink of war in Libya, government officials admitted last month. Early last year, President Reagan approved a secret directive authorizing American military strikes in support of a "pre-emptive" Egyptian attack on Libya.

According to The New York Times, the Joint Chiefs of Staff were asked to draw up several contingency plans to support an Egyptian invasion of Libya. One of the plans. called for the landing of thousands of American troops. But Egypt was unwilling to participate in the action, reports said.

Forced to proceed on its own, the White House ordered U.S. warplanes to bomb the Libyan capital in April 1986. The primary goal of the bombing was the assassination of Col. Muammar Qaddafi, according to the Feb. 22 New York Times. Secret plans for an even deadlier attack on Libya are still in the hopper, CBS television reports.

At the same time, the administration is considering sending U.S. troops to Nicaragua if the contras prove incapable of overthrowing the Nicaraguan government.

In a major policy statement delivered before the American Bar Association last month, Secretary of State George Shultz urged Congress to release $105 million in additional aid to the contras so that "we may avoid direct military involvement by the United States in the future."

But the Iran/contra arms scandal has made it difficult for Congress to justify granting any more military aid. Noting that the contra leaders are tied to numerous reports of atrocities, drug-running, and corruption, Washington has urged them to revamp their image.

The American people, however, are not easily fooled by the government's coverups and lies. According to the latest polls, the (continued on page 3, in “Twin Cities”)