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Iran Contra Affair

Iran Contra Affair. Background. 1970s Nicaragua US supported dictator Anastasio Somoza 1979 FSLN overthrow Somoza Frente Sandinista de Liberacion Nacional Sandinista Junta of National Reconstruction. Sandinistas. The Sandinistas. Socialist group from Nicaragua Guerrilla group

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Iran Contra Affair

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  1. Iran Contra Affair

  2. Background • 1970s Nicaragua • US supported dictator Anastasio Somoza • 1979 • FSLN overthrow Somoza • Frente Sandinista de LiberacionNacional • Sandinista Junta of National Reconstruction

  3. Sandinistas

  4. The Sandinistas • Socialist group from Nicaragua • Guerrilla group • Overthrow Nicaraguan dictator • Rule Nicaragua from 1979 - 1990 • Support Marxist revolutionary movements in Latin America • Joined by Cuba and Communist government of Fidel Castro

  5. American Response • Late 1970s • Carter limits aid to Nicaragua • Disagreed with Dictator Samoza’s government • Pulled military funding • Provided $ for humanitarian relief

  6. 1981 • Reagan cuts off aid to Nicaragua • Alleges that the Sandinistas were supported by USSR • Reagan approves $20 million for the CIA to train opposition • Contras – counterrevolutionary guerilla soldiers

  7. Contras • Trained by CIA • Mostly remnants of Samoza’s National Guard • Anti-Sandinista guerillas • Anti-Communist • Operated out of Honduras and Costa Rica • Sandinistas label them terrorists • Frequently attack civilians • World Court condemns some actions as illegal

  8. Boland Amendment • 1982 - 1984 • Outlawed US government assistance to Contras for purpose of overthrowing Nicaraguan gov’t • US can no longer openly support Contras w/$ • Does this give Congress too much power?

  9. The Iran Connection • Despite Congress’ ban on aid to the Contras, Reagan remained determined to help them • Approves weapons sales to Iran • Direct violation of a US arms embargo because of Iran-Iraq War

  10. Members of Reagan’s National Security Council come up with plan • Vice Admiral John Poindexter • Lt. Colonel Oliver North

  11. Israel shipped weapons to Iran • US would resupply Israel and receive $ • Iran would try to help US hostages held by Hezbollah be released • Some $ would go to Contras • Oliver North’s part

  12. The Aftermath • The scheme was revealed to Congress in 1986 followed by an investigation • Reagan admitted authorizing Iranian arms sales, but denied knowledge of the diversion of funds to the Contras • Saw opportunity to further relations with Iran

  13. 2. Other members of the administration engaged in a cover-up • North admitted destroying key documents (let off on a technicality) • Others lied and withheld evidence

  14. Nicaragua sues US before International Court of Justice • Rules in favor of Nicaragua • Mandates monetary compensation • US blocks enforcement as permanent member of Security Council • Operation became seen as hostages-for-arms deal

  15. US foreign relations took a hit • Willingness to engage in concessions with Iran and Hezbollah signaled that hostage-taking was an extremely useful instrument in extracting political and financial concessions for the West • Undermined any credibility of U.S. criticism of other states' deviation from the principles of no-negotiation and no concession to terrorists and their demands

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