NP>But if you like, next time there is a military exercise conducted in a
NP>civilian area, I suggest you try to enter it and do whatever you feel.
NP>Then you to can learn what martial law is.
NP>---
THE NEW AMERICAN VOL. 12 NO. 15
JULY 22, 1996
PG. 12
INSIDE REPORT
STRASSMEIR, OKC, AND THE CIA
In the June 24th issue of The New American ("More Pieces to the
OKC Puzzle"), we reported on Andreas "Andi" Strassmeir, a former
lieutenant in the German army and son of one of Germany's leading
politicians, and his links to Timothy McVeigh and a bizarre
"Christian Identity" commune in rural Oklahoma. In that article
we revealed that Strassmeir had been involved in negotiating a
multi-million-dollar deal to purchase Boeing 747s for one Vincent
Petruskie of Petruskie Associates in Manassas, Virginia.
 Strassmeir told investigator John Michael Johnston that
Petruskie is "a former CIA guy who my father had known since he
[Petruskie] was stationed in Berlin during the Cold War." The New
American tried repeatedly, but without success, to contact
Petruskie before publishing the story. Subsequently, however, we
did connect with him. Petruskie confirmed parts of Strassmeir's
story and disputed others. Yes, Strassmeir did write some letters
for him to help purchase 747s from Germany's Lufthansa Air Lines
for a client of Petruskie Associates who was starting an air
cargo service in South America. But the Lufthansa deal never
panned out, Petruskie said.
 As for the CIA connection, "That's totally wrong," insisted
Petruskie. "I'm a retired Air Force officer, that's all."
According to Petruskie, he was a special agent for the Air Force
Office of Special Investigation (OSI), and retired as a colonel
after serving from 1954 to 1975. Was he a friend of Andreas'
father? "I've never met his father; we've only spoken over the
phone."
 How had Petruskie cone to know the younger Strassmeir? Andreas
arrived in the late 1980s with some other German lads for the
reenactment of the Battle of Gettysburg. The German visitors had
authentic period uniforms, rifles, bayonets, etc. and an
amazingly detailed knowledge of the battle. But they apparently
had not done their homework concerning economic realities of
contemporary America and so were short of cash for living
accommodations and had no credit cards with which to rent a
vehicle. That is when a mutual friend put them in touch with
Petruskie, who put them up for a while at his home.
 Strassmeir was "a mixed-up kid, a very immature 34-year-old when
he came over here," recalled Petruskie. "Andi wanted to work for
the U.S. government - DEA, Justice - undercover. [He] thought his
background with military and German government would help. I
explained he'd need a green card, education, and set him down
with some people in Washington who explained that it wasn't that
simple. I think he went down to South Carolina and then to Texas
to go to school."
PHOTO INSET:  Andreas Strassmeir: Was former German soldier just
"mixed-up kid"?
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 þ SLMR 2.1a þ Ain't no problem mobius wads of cash can't fix....
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