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The Iran Contra Affair

The Iran Contra Affair. And the Oliver North Trial. Background – Reagan’s Contribution. “Reagan Doctrine” – Unofficial, made the anti-communist insurgencies out to be “moral equivalent to our Founding Fathers” Pledged support to struggling insurgencies, including financial backing

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The Iran Contra Affair

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  1. The Iran Contra Affair And the Oliver North Trial

  2. Background – Reagan’s Contribution • “Reagan Doctrine” – Unofficial, made the anti-communist insurgencies out to be “moral equivalent to our Founding Fathers” • Pledged support to struggling insurgencies, including financial backing • Led by CIA, several insurgencies were trained and supplied • Boland amendment: 1982 and 1984 • told NSA Robert McFarlane to do whatever necessary.

  3. Background – Beginning of Iranian Deal • 1985 – Iran and Iraq were at war, Iran secretly requested to buy weapons from the US • Embargo • 7 US hostages • campaign promise to never negotiate with terrorists • support of McFarlane, and William Casey of CIA – despite arguments from SecDef Caspar Weinberger and SecState George Shultz • Only 3 hostages were released, and 3 more were captured shortly after

  4. Deal Goes Wrong • November, 1986 - Lebanese newspaper “Al-Shiraa” printed exposé on the covert ops • Reagan denies on TV, week later retracts statement, said it happened, but not negotiation w/ terrorists • Then, AG Edwin Meese poked a little to far, and found that only $12 mil of supposed $30 mil had reached federal coffers

  5. Where did the Money Go? • Lt-Col. Oliver North of the NSC - the missing $18 mil went to Nicaraguan anti-communist insurgents, the Contras, fighting Sandinistas, w/ full knowledge of NSA Adm. John Poindexter and assumed knowledge of Pres. Ronald Reagan • Poindexter resigned, North was fired, and the press tried Reagan: did he know, and was responisble, or didn’t he know, and was still responsible?

  6. Responsible?

  7. Trial by the Press • Press hounded Reagan, so he created the Tower Commission • Said that it was Reagan’s disconnected stance towards the White house that caused this to be allowed to happen • Independent Counsel Lawrence Walsh investigated the affair for the next eight years – resulted in charging 14 people – of which 6 were pardoned

  8. Trial Problems • Graymail • Congressional Immunity • Who would allow the president to go to jail? • Scapegoating

  9. The National Security Staff

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