The Mostly Unnoticed Death of Richard Secord

https://www.yahoo.com/news/richard-secord-retired-air-force-155848925.html

For those of us who remember the Iran-Contra Scandal and followed and studied the story of American clandestine operations during Vietnam and after - the name Richard Secord is well known. He was the consummate spook, an intelligence operative that was involved in some pretty amazing if sordid stuff.

I caught the press release of his death back in October 2024 and marveled that it received little attention. He's been mostly forgotten and yet his life reads like a movie.

Vietnam was a pack of lies from the beginning and Secord was part of it in the early days - before Johnson sent in actual 'combat' troops. Secord must have laughed at the political narratives and media distinctions made at the time. The Pentagon Papers would later tell the real story - that the US was involved in backing the French as they sought to reclaim their colony in 1945 and up to their final defeat and withdrawal in 1954. The US created South Vietnam and through anti-democratic means, the very conditions that led to the war.

Secord was also deeply involved in the Secret War in Laos, a war financed by drugs and connected to many dark deeds. It remains the most bombed country in history.

From a Christian standpoint he was a wicked and lost man and I certainly don't lament his passing. I think his life is instructive and he's one of those people that makes you pause, reflect, and wonder - what motivated him? At what point was his conscience simply turned off? Did his understanding of patriotism really involve a belief in freedom and democracy? He must have known it was all a farce. His life illustrates how far consequentialist ethics can take you. When the end justifies the means - does that imply all means are on the table? If you're consistent it certainly does and men like Secord followed through on that.

His behaviour was absolutely immoral and criminal but because he did it wearing a uniform or under the aegis of state sanction - suddenly it becomes not only acceptable but 'good and heroic' in many quarters. That's something to really think about. It is sad and tragic that many professing Christians get pulled down this road, participating in all manner of evil, and yet can justify it by means of this twisted ethical compass. Figures like Oliver North and Jerry Boykin immediately come to mind but in reality we can say the same about all the supposed Christians in the Congress as well. There are none by the way. The only reason they're able to maintain the facade is because the apostate Church supports them and won't call them to account.

Secord left a long trail of carnage behind him - untold numbers of dead, broken and destroyed families, and whole nations torn apart. He was a faithful servant of the American Empire and every bestial power (and aspiring one) needs men like this. The historical record is full of them - though many die without having received recognition. The world lauds such men for they do the dirty work that people don't want to think about - the work that makes their wealth and prestige possible. I always thought of Secord in connection with John Singlaub who died at 100 in the year 2022. They always seemed to be joined at the hip and involved in all the terrible things the US was doing in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

At this point only a few of the Iran-Contra criminals are left - Oliver North, Elliot Abrams, Robert Gates and John Poindexter being probably the best known. William Barr also played a significant role in facilitating the cover-up.

I count it tragic and even sick that North receives so much praise and admiration in Christian circles. Had he engaged in the same deeds even for another sovereign nation he would be considered an arch-criminal and rightly so. The label certainly applied to Richard Secord as well.