Jose Bueso Rosa was a Honduran general and [[Central Intelligence Agency]] collaborator on the [[Contras|Contra]] project who was convicted in 1984 for plotting to assassinate Honduran president Roberto Suazo Cordova and stage a coup financed by a giant cocaine sale. Despite the severity of his crimes, he received extraordinary leniency through [[Oliver North]]'s intervention.[^1] ### The Cocaine Coup Plot Bueso Rosa, a top aide to fanatical anti-Communist General Gustavo Alvarez, plotted to restore the deposed Alvarez to power by assassinating President Suazo and financing the coup with 764 pounds of cocaine valued at $10 million to $40 million wholesale. The plot unraveled when the two American military officers hired to murder Suazo went to the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]]. In October 1984, Cubans and Honduran arms merchants were arrested at a remote Florida airstrip with the cocaine. The plot was publicly hailed by the State and Justice Departments as a triumph against terrorism and narcotics.[^1] ### CIA Collaboration Bueso Rosa was one of the CIA's main collaborators in [[Honduras]] on the Contra project, working closely with the agency on Contra bases, supply lines, aircraft repairs, and other classified activities. When he was indicted, his lawyers subpoenaed Oliver North, [[Dewey Clarridge]], Ambassador John Negroponte, and General Paul Gorman as defense witnesses. North wrote to NSC chief John Poindexter: "The problem with the Bueso case is that Bueso was the man whom Negroponte, Gorman, Clarridge and I worked out arrangements [censored]. Only Gorman, Clarridge and I were fully aware of all that Bueso was doing on our behalf."[^1] ### North's Intervention North and other officials launched an aggressive campaign to get Bueso Rosa lenient treatment. "Justice is justifiably upset that none of this info was made available to them prior to indictment," North complained. State Department official Francis McNeil testified that Colonel Nestor Pino "assert[ed] an American intelligence interest in Bueso Rosa, in getting Bueso Rosa off." An all-star collection of officials including Pino, William Bode, and the former DIA head appeared as character witnesses or sent glowing letters. North wrote that the objective was "to keep Bueso from feeling like he was lied to in legal process and start spilling the beans." Associate Attorney General [[Stephen Trott]] claimed he didn't know why he intervened, other than North telling him about possible release of "sensitive" information. McNeil testified he suspected "a narcotics angle" behind the frantic machinations. Bueso Rosa received five years and was deported after three years at Eglin Air Force Base. He later disclosed the CIA had equipped and trained the Honduran army's death squad, the 316 Battalion.[^1] ### Footnotes [^1]: Gary Webb, *Dark Alliance*, Chapter 19: "He reports to people reporting to Bush"