Et Cetera

Former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger has won a big one in the legal wrangles leading toward his trial in connection with the Iran-contra affair. Federal Judge Thomas Hogan in Washington dismissed a critical count charging Weinberger with obstruction of Congress in concealing the existence of more than 1,700 pages of handwritten notes taken during key meetings in 1985 and 1986. Weinberger still faces counts of lying to Congress about Saudi financial support for the contras and delivery of U.S. missiles to Iran.