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Iran/Contra

Iran/Contra. The link between secret arms sales to Iran and covert military aid to rebels in Nicaragua. Story Begins in 1979: Nicaragua elects “Sandanista Government”. U.S. Pres. Reagan supports “Contra rebels”. The rebels, aka “freedom fighters” were supported by US Military & CIA.

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Iran/Contra

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  1. Iran/Contra The link between secret arms sales to Iran and covert military aid to rebels in Nicaragua. Story Begins in 1979: Nicaragua elects “Sandanista Government”

  2. U.S. Pres. Reagan supports “Contra rebels” • The rebels, aka “freedom fighters” were supported by US Military & CIA

  3. Congress Opposed • Boland amendment banned CIA & Dept. of Defense from aiding the rebels

  4. Conspiracy Developed • National Security Council, an advisory unit in EOP, “went operational”, aiding the Contras • NSC Dir. Robt. McFarlane spearheaded effort • Separate Initiative: Secret sales of missiles to Iran (illegal because Iran was a “terrorist nation”) • Used profits to help the Contras

  5. Scandal exposed in 1986 • Reagan initially denied accusations • Later appeared on TV to admit that his staff had illegally aided the rebels

  6. North & NSC Defiant with Congress

  7. Criminal Convictions of NSC staff & directors • Lt. Col. Oliver North • Convicted 1988 • Destroying and falsifying documents • Illegally receiving personal gifts • Obstructing Cong’l investigation • Conviction reversed on technical grounds

  8. NSC Director: Adm. John Poindexter • Convicted 1988 • Criminal Conspiracy • Obstructing Criminal investigation • Obstructing Congress • Conviction Reversed on Technical grounds "I made a very deliberate decision not to tell the president so that I could insulate him from the decision…”

  9. CIA indictments • Clair E. George, CIA, chief of covert operations • Duane R. Clarridge, chief of operations for the C.I.A., • 1991: indicted for perjury

  10. Alan D. Fiers • Head of C.I.A. Latin America task force • 1991: pleads guilty (withholding evidence from Congress) • 1 yr probation & community service

  11. Elliott L. Abrams • Assistant Secretary of State • 1991, pleads guilty withholding info from Congress

  12. Defense Secretary Indicted • Caspar Weinberger • 1992: indicted, lying to Congress

  13. Pres. George Bush pardoned Weinberger McFarlane Abrams George Clarridge Fiers Bush said the "common denominator of their motivation -- whether their actions were right or wrong -- was patriotism." Pardoned Dec. 24, 1992

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