Study Document
Iran Contra Term Paper
Pages:1 (386 words)
Sources:1+
Subject:World Studies
Topic:Iran Contra Affair
Document Type:Term Paper
Document:#698141
Iran Contra Affair is the name commonly given to a secret arrangement that sold arms to Iran in exchange for funds that were given to Contra rebels in Nicaragua under U.S. President Reagan in the 1980s. The Iran Contra Affair had its roots in the President's commitment to help the contra rebels, who Reagan saw as "the moral equivalent of our Founding Fathers" (cited in Wolf). Unfortunately for Regan, Congress, under control of the Democrats disagreed, and passed the Boland agreement that prohibited any government agency from giving military aid to the contras. At the same time, Reagan was faced with the problem of American hostages held in Lebanon by pro-Iranian groups.
The Reagan administration tried to solve both problems with one act: the sale of arms to Iran (which was suppose to result in the release of hostages), with funds going to help the contras. Limitations of the Boland Act were circumvented by using the National Security Act (NSC) to take charge of the operations. From 1983-1986, and under the direction of National Security Advisers Robert McFarlane and John Poindexter, the operation raised funds for the contras.
Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger…
Sample Source(s) Used
References
Infoplease.com. Iran-contra affair. Source: The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2003, Columbia University Press. 07 June 2004. http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/history/A0825447.html
Wolf, Julie. The Iran-Contra Affair. PBS Online. 07 June 2004. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/reagan/peopleevents/pande08.html
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