Former US Defence Secretary Weinberger dies

Caspar Weinberger, who oversaw a massive US military buildup as Ronald Reagan's defence secretary, died on Tuesday at the age of 88.

Weinberger, who was a central figure in the Iran-Contra scandal during the Reagan administration, had been suffering from pneumonia and high fever for about a week.

President George W. Bush said in a statement that his fellow Republican was an "American statesman and a dedicated public servant" who as defence secretary "worked to strengthen our military and win the Cold War."

As head of the Pentagon, Weinberger was Reagan's zealous Cold War ally, presiding over an unprecedented peacetime military buildup costing more than US$1 trillion.

Weinberger became caught up in the Iran-Contra scandal that plagued the Reagan administration.

He resigned as defence secretary in 1987 and afterward was indicted on felony counts of lying to the independent counsel investigating the administration's programme for selling missiles to Iran and giving the proceeds to the right-wing Contra forces fighting Nicaragua's leftist Sandinista government.

Pardoned by first Bush

He was pardoned by the first President George Bush in 1992, days before he was to go on trial.

In 1985 Weinberger had called the Iran missile plan "absurd" but supported Reagan a year later after the president decided to send missiles and spare parts to Teheran.

"He was someone who encouraged me throughout my career when I was a young academic and a young member of government," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told reporters.

"He was a wise man and a great public servant. He will be missed. His advice was sought even in recent times," said Rice.

Despite his reputation as a big spender at the Pentagon, Weinberger began his Washington career as a cost-cutting budget director under President Richard Nixon.

But when he took the defence job under Reagan in January 1981, he soon got rid of that image and the nickname of "Cap the Knife" that came with it.

He persuaded the US Congress to spend more than US$1 trillion on arms in Reagan's first term and billions more after that.

Reagan's long-time supporter

A long-time member of Reagan's inner circle of California friends, Weinberger was one of the president's strongest supporters in the Cabinet.

"He was just a great American," Caspar Weinberger Jr. said. "He was a respected world diplomat."

Weinberger also served as secretary of health, education and welfare under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford.

Weinberger was a Harvard-educated lawyer and served on Gen. Douglas MacArthur's intelligence staff during World War Two, his family said.

At the time of his death he was chairman of Forbes Inc. and before that had been publisher of the magazine.

Last year he debuted as a thriller writer. "Chain of Command," which Weinberger co-wrote with Peter Schweizer.

It is the story of a staged presidential assassination and the desperate efforts of a Secret Service agent to thwart the vice-president who takes the reins and declares martial law.

Weinberger's funeral will be held at Arlington National Cemetery.

Source: China Daily