A Cold War Man, a Hot War and a Legal Gray Area - The Washington Post

A Cold War Man, a Hot War and a Legal Gray Area
Reagan Aide's Dealings Raise Questions on Americans' Involvement With Sudan

By Dan Eggen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, September 30, 2009

The government of Sudan, eager to curry favor with a U.S. government that accused it of genocide, sought help last fall from an unlikely source: a former Reagan administration official known for his role in the Iran-contra scandal.

The approach by Sudanese officials led to a $1.3 million contract for former national security adviser Robert "Bud" McFarlane, who went on to meet with two of the Obama administration's top policymakers on Sudan and its strife-torn Darfur region, according to documents and interviews.

The unusual talks between Sudan and McFarlane featured meetings in Middle Eastern capitals, clandestine communications with Sudan's intelligence service and a final agreement with the government of Qatar, which is employing McFarlane as part of its peacemaking role in the eastern African region. Read more