George Bush chaired the Administration's 1985 Task Force on Combatting Terrorism, which condemned the payment of ransom for hostages.1/ At the same time, top Reagan Administration officials were secretly selling weapons to Iran in return for the release of US hostages.

George Bush says he was unaware the Iran initiative was an arms-for- hostages swap because he was "out of the loop." He says he did not get the full story until Sen. David Durenberger briefed him in December 1986. "If I had a lot more knowledge of what was going on, I would have said, 'Don't do this.' " Bush says.2/

But the record shows that Bush knew what was going on. . .

Bush attended at least 15 meetings in which the Iran initiative was discussed,3/ including:

• the January 17, 1986 meeting when President Reagan approved a Finding I authorizing arms sales to Iran;3/ and

• a July 29, 1986 meeting between Bush and the Israeli middleman in the arms-for-hostages deal, Amiram Nir, who discussed "whether we would continue to press for the release of the hostages" before delivering arms to Iran and stated that "we are dealing with the most radical elements fin Iran]," according to notes taken by Bush's chief of staff.5/

George Bush says, "I think the key players around there know I expressed certain reservations on certain aspects" of the Iran arms sales.6/

But the key players count Bush as a supporter...

• National Security Advisor Robert McFarlane told the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence that Bush supported the initial shipment of arms to Iran in August-September 1985.7/

• Secretary of State George Shultz testified to the Tower Commission that "it was clear" from a January 7, 1986 meeting on the Iran arms sales that Bush supported the plan.8/

• Three weeks after that meeting, National Security Advisor John Poindexter wrote to his predecessor Robert McFarlane, "Most importantly President and VP are solid in taking the position that we have to try" an arms-for- hostage deal.9/