Nexus - 0404 - New Times Magazine-pages

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Director of Central Intelligence, Department of Defense (DoD), Secord. Following the exposure of Oliver North's role in FBI, NSC staff and others as required* Contragate in 1987, North resigned as head of OSG-2 and his spot Tatum explained that, "The purpose of TIWG is to provide SSG was taken over by Secord. Tatum moved up to command OSG-3 with direct operational support. TIWG then recommended to the _at the same time. President that a Terrorism Task Force be formed and chaired by All three OSGs answered to those individuals who sat on the the head of SSG (the Vice President). Reagan approved NSDD- TIWG. General Colin Powell represented the Department of 138 in April 1984, which extended TIWG's arm and ability to Defense; William Casey, the CIA; and Donald Gregg, the form sub-groups. As a result of NSDD-138 was the formation of — National Security Council. "FBI guys rotated in and out," Tatum the Operations Sub-Group (OSG). The Sub-Group was a select says. "It was like they couldn't get anyone," he concludes. NSC-DoD-CIA-FBI-foreign intelligence agency which operated Representing British Intelligence was Sir Colin Figure. Formerly so as to bypass the regular operations of intelligence/military/law- head of MI6, Sir Colin transferred in 1986 to become "Security enforcement agencies. OSG was Coordinator", one of the top slots at formed in February 1986." the Cabinet office under the premier- Having revealed the framework of ship of Margaret Thatcher. He the authorising presidential directives retired in 1989. Amiram Nir repre- necessary for the conduct of these Amiram Nir represented Israeli sented Israeli interests until his assas- covert operations, Tatum then | jnter ntil hi in ion sination by an "Archer" team led by detailed the nitty-gritty of the OSG: terests unt $ assassinatio by Tatum—at the request of high-level "I was an operative for OSG from an "Archer" team led by Tatum— Israeli individuals—in 1988. Any of April 1986 through January 1992. at the request of high-level Israeli these six could "call a mission". In When I was operating under the addition, George Bush could do like- authority of the OSG I would report individuals—in 1988. wise. Of significance, too, was the directly to the OSG, not to the CIA or occasional representation on the DIA. This 'secret government’ appa- TIWG of Lord Chalfont. The British ratus, built by Bush from 1981 to lord was an adviser on "Mid-East 1986, was able to draw upon assets affairs" between 1986 and 1990. from the CIA, the DoD Special Operations units and the private From the moment Chip Tatum was recruited to the OSG, he sector. Using the private sector clause, Don Gregg, VP Bush's was posted to upstate New York where he established a number National Security Advisor, included a representative from British of cover businesses. One of these was Cedar Shores Estates, Inc.* Intelligence and Israeli Intelligence. To date I have called this This was his base of operations throughout the next six years.° group 'Pegasus' in an attempt not to divulge its true identity until I It may be no more than sheer coincidence that the name of the was on safe ground. Although most of the missions performed by company is similar to Cedar Holdings, a British company that had OSG-2 are classified, the existence of the organisation is now a relationship to former British Conservative Party Treasurer, declassified." Lord (Alistair) McAlpine. Author Peter Jones, in an unpublished Until Tatum forwarded these details, the existence of more than book, looked in some detail at the business activities of this one OSG was unknown. In fact, Tatum has now revealed the Conservative Party "Grey Eminence" and leading Freemason.’ Of existence of three OSGs. OSG-1 was headed by Ted Shackley no little interest was the author's detailed connections of numer- and was "our anti-narcotics group". OSG-2 was the anti-terror- ous companies that he believed were involved in all manner of ism group and OSG-3 was "our ‘alignment’ group". Tatum was dark activities. Interestingly, these included a company called originally posted to OSG-2 which was commanded by Col. Oliver Leisure Circle that has a sinuous connection to Sir John Cuckney, North. The third group, OSG-3, was commanded by Richard one of the central figures of the Scott Inquiry into arms sales to Traq. Whilst these connections are admittedly tenuous, to say the least, it should be noted that Tatum's upstate New York operation was also involved in shipping the most sophisticated weapons across the border to Canada. Not least are the known connec- tions between Oliver North's related gun- running operations that saw dirty money being laundered through the British Channel Islands and the London-based BCCI (Bank of Credit and Commerce International). Money laundering was one of the principal activities of Col. Oliver North. = C4 Ys / (i PINSTRIPE NEEDLESTRIPE THE "SUPERBILLS" STING One operation of which Tatum has knowledge concerns the so-called "Superbills" or "Supernotes" sting. Years earlier, in the late '60s or early '70s, the CIA had secretly provided to the Shah of Iran a perfect set of printing plates that could 20 - NEXUS JUNE - JULY 1997