Officials at the highest level had been detected organizing international terrorism i. The cia, the contras, and the crack cocaine explosion. Cia involvement in contra cocaine trafficking wikipedia. House of representatives select committee to investigate. The iran contra affair operation black eagle, later operation screw worm. These operations became linked when funds generated by the sale of weapons to iran were diverted to help finance the socalled contra war in nicaragua. Mar 17, 1988 from the late spring or early summer of 1985 through november 1986, the defendant oliver l. The irancontra affair, like the ciaorganized invasion of the bay of pigs in cuba in 1961, struck a global blow to american credibility. Mar 18, 20 let hiphughes accompany you through a basic understanding of the reagan era scandal iran contra.
Knowledge of drug trafficking and the contras the national security archive obtained the handwritten notebooks of oliver north, the national security council aide who helped run the contra war and other reagan administration covert operations, through a freedom of information act lawsuit filed in 1989. Money from the iran weaponssale then was used to fund the contras, a group of guerrilla freedom fighters opposed to the marxist government of nicaragua. When journalists exposed what was going on, congressional opposition to the funding of the contras grew. Irancontra affair timeline created by brandonfrank2015.
Understanding the irancontra affairs the legal aftermath. Senior administration officials secretly facilitated the sale of arms to iran, which was the subject of an arms embargo. Understanding the irancontra affairs the irancontra affairs. Can someone explain the irancontra affair and why it wasnt bigger than it was. A number of writers have alleged that the united states central intelligence agency cia was. North, a marine major, is assigned to the national security council at the white house. The iran contra affair the iran contra affair was a secret arrangement to provide funds to nicaraguan contra rebels from profits accumulated by selling arms to iran in the 1980s. On march 16, 1988, a federal grand jury indicted north, poindexter, and two other persons on a number of charges including conspiracy to defraud the u.
The voluminous report of congress irancontra committees could serve as a virtual outline for the indictments expected over the next few months against key figures in the affair, although the. In the irancontra affair, the reagan administration secretly sold weapons to iran to effect the release of american hostages held in lebanon. The irancontra affair, also referred to as irangate, contragate or the irancontra scandal, was a political scandal in the united states that came to light in november 1986. In october 1979 president jimmy carter made the decision to allow the exiled shah into america for medical treatment. The iran contra affair involved a secret foreign policy operation directed by white house officials in the national security council nsc under president ronald reagan. North, oliver oliver north testifying at the irancontra. I guess that makes them contras, and so it makes me a contra too. An august, 1996, series in the san jose mercury news by reporter gary webb linked the origins of crack cocaine in california to the contras, a guerrilla force backed by the reagan administration that attacked nicaraguas sandinista government during the 1980s. Not only did the iran contra affairs occur entirely during his presidency, but the affairs began only after president ronald reagan told his national security adviser robert mcfarlane to keep the contras alive body and soul after the boland amendments had passed. According to the report of the congressional committees investigating the iran contra affair issued in november 1987, the sale of u. To get funds for the contras, the white house sold tow antitank missiles to iran then at war with iraq, possibly also hoping to encourage a military coup in iran. December president ronald reagan signs an executive order that authorizes a covert operation by the c. Nov 25, 2016 on this day in 1986, attorney general edwin meese revealed that, on white house orders, the proceeds of secret arms sales to iran were illegally diverted to fund the contras.
Caso irancontra, popularized in iran as the mcfarlane affair, the irancontra scandal, or simply irancontra, was a political scandal in the united states that occurred during the second term of the reagan administration. Bbc news americas reagan and the irancontra affair. Learn about the irancontra affair under president reagan who secretly supported an anticommunist group in nicaragua and funneled weapons to iranian terrorists in. Mcfarlane sought reagans approval, in spite of the embargo against selling arms to iran. Oct, 2003 additionally, he also helped orchestrate a secret deal later known as irancontra to send arms through honduras to help the contras overthrow the sandinista government. Ronald reagans efforts to eradicate communism spanned the globe, but the insurgent contras cause in nicaragua was. Irancontra affair legal definition of irancontra affair. Irancontra, crack cocaine, and the transformation of hip. In 1985, officials in the national security council sold military weapons to iran so it would help in freeing us prisoners in lebanon. Key sections of conspiracy indictment in irancontra affair.
Irancontra affair definition of irancontra affair by the. In 1986 its spokesman acknowledged that funds from sales of cocaine smuggled into the us had helped fund the contra rebels, but said that the smuggling was not authorized by the us. The first was a commitment to aid the contras who were conducting a guerrilla war against the sandinista. The irancontra affair 19861987 the washington post. The major elements of the irancontra story were well known long before the 1986 exposures, apart from one fact. The iran contra affairs of the 1980s stemmed from the reagan administrations foreign policies toward two seemingly unrelated countries, nicaragua and iran. Irancontras affair article about irancontras affair by. The irancontra affair involved a secret foreign policy operation directed by white house officials in the national security council nsc under president ronald reagan. The lasting effects of irancontra are primarily these, and they are related to our national reputation.
Cia involvement in trafficking is usually alleged to be connected to the contra war in nicaragua and the irancontra affair during the reagan. The cia planes brought guns, washing machines, gourmet food, and fancy furniture intto colombia and took drugs back to the u. Can someone explain the irancontra affair and why it wasn. Understanding the irancontra affairs the irancontra. The administration believed that changes to these countries that occurred in the 1970s threatened u. The scandal involved the united states government selling weapons to iran in exchange for hostages and to fund the nicaraguan contras.
There are many comparisons between the irancontra affair in the 1980s and the iran ransom scandal of today. The boland amendments, the international security and development cooperation act of 1985 that prohibited arms sales to the contras, and the intelligence oversight act. Nicaragua since irancontra as tension and fighting continued between the sandinista government and the contras, the nicaraguan government attempted to make peace. Hezbollah, an iranian backed militia in lebanon had taken several american hostages. The theory has it that muttawa members, frustrated at not being able to crack. Jun 05, 2004 in 1986, the reagan government, secretly and illegally, transferred to the contras the proceeds of clandestine sales of military equipment supplied to iran.
The irancontra affairs of the 1980s stemmed from the reagan administrations foreign policies toward two seemingly unrelated countries, nicaragua and iran. The irancontra affair american experience official site. The iran contra scandal had a big effect on the united states but it had a huge effect on nicaragua. This was a scandal called irancontra back during the reagan administration, 19801988. October 10, 1984 the second boland amendment outlaws the use of the cia or third parties in aiding the contras in nicaragua. Irancontra affairthe irancontra affair involved a secret foreign policy operation directed by white house 1 officials in the national security council nsc under president ronald reagan. North and others took steps to assist the contras in opening the southern front, in part by secretly. In 1979, a bitter war broke out in nicaragua between the sandinista junta of national reconstruction, the nicaraguan government, and the contras, a vicious rebel group. Let hiphughes accompany you through a basic understanding of the reagan era scandal irancontra. One day in the early 1980s, wanda palacio watched a hercules cargo plane roll to a stop on the tarmac of barranquilla international airport, located in the andean foothills just off the azure waters of colombias northern coast. There were no us hostages held by iran in spite of claims that this was a. The iran contra affair leila alidoost exposing the affaircont. It began in 1985, when president ronald reagans administration supplied weapons to irana. The reagan administration, undeterred, conspired to sell arms to iran in exchange for hostages, using some of the proceeds to illegally fund the contras.
Irancontraaffare regierung bush 500 beitrage pro seite. Along with a leading role in the irancontra scandal in which north helped. Oliver north worked with cocaine traffickers to arm terrorists. Previous investigations concerning allegations of contra drug trafficking. Congress or violated the stated public policy of the government. Sep 08, 2006 the irancontra affair, 1986 noam chomsky chomskys brief account of the us selling arms to iran via israel in order to fund farright paramilitary contras in nicaragua. Between 1982 and 1984, congress restricted funding for the contras, and by 1985 cut it off entirely. The money received for these was then given to the contras, military groups who wanted to defeat the sandinista government in nicaragua.
It was the presidents policy not an isolated decision by north or poindexter to sell arms secretly to iran and to maintain the contras body and soul, the boland amendment notwithstanding. In 1986 its spokesman acknowledged that funds from sales of cocaine smuggled into the us had helped fund the contra rebels, but said that the smuggling was not authorized by the us government or resistance leaders. Oct 25, 2004 how john kerry exposed the contracocaine scandal. The irancontra affair was the product of two separate initiatives during the administration of president ronald reagan. Reagans people negotiated a deal where the iranians, who were fighting a. The report shows that israels involvement was stimulated by separate overtures in 1985 from iranian arms merchant manucher ghorbanifar and national. The iran contra affair was the product of two separate initiatives during the administration of president ronald reagan reagan, ronald wilson. Nov 24, 2006 twenty years later, the iran contra affair continues to resonate on many levels, especially as washington gears up for a new season of political inquiry with the pending inauguration of the 110th congress and the seeming inevitability of hearings into a range of bush administration policies. When 1,500 missiles were shipped three hostages were released but those three hostages were soon replaced with three. The irancontra affair was a political scandal that exploded in 1986, during president ronald reagans second term, when it came to light that senior administration officials had secretlyand in violation of existing lawsarranged for the sale of arms to iran in return for irans promise to help secure the release of a group of americans being held hostage in lebanon.
Remote work advice from the largest allremote company. Jan 11, 2017 the lasting effects of irancontra are primarily these, and they are related to our national reputation. Cia involvement in trafficking is usually alleged to be connected to the contra war in nicaragua and the iran contra affair during the reagan administration. Report of the congressional committees investigating the irancontra affair, u. The irancontra affair american experience official. Akten zur irancontraaffare veroffentlicht telepolis heise. He also helped orchestrate a secret deal later known as irancontra to send arms through honduras to help the contras overthrow the. Caso iran contr a, popularized in ira n as the mcfarlane affai r, the ira n contra scanda l, or simply ira n contr a, was a political scandal in the united states that occurred during the second term of the reagan administration. In september 1984, nicaragua signed a draft of the contadora treaty, which was an attempt by its four sponsors mexico, venezuela, colombia, and panama to stem the armed. Reagan said that he would name a commission to examine the role of the national security council staff, which directed the iran operation, and that the justice department would undertake a fullscale investigation of how the money was handled to determine whether federal crimes were committed in channeling money to the contras at a time. The cia, the contras and crack cocaine albion monitor. Feb 11, 2017 crack babies, the contras, and the cia duration.
Through out 198586, the reagan administration was selling weapons to iran illegally in order to encourage iran to free hostages in the middle east. The irancontra affair may be only part of a broader and previously undisclosed pattern of illegal activities by intelligence agencies during the. In 2007, thencia analyst valerie plame wilson will describe. Irancontra affair article about irancontra affair by the. It was a secret arrangement led by us president ronald reagan to. During the reagan administration, senior reagan administration officials secretly facilitated the sale of arms to iran, the subject of an arms embargo in hopes of securing the release of hostages and allowing u.
The mena connection drugs guns money cover up cia iran. The irancontra affair popularized in iran as the mcfarlane affair, the irancontra scandal. The san jose mercury news articles spurred renewed interest in the subject of drug trafficking in support of the contras, particularly the allegation that certain contra supporters described in the articles trafficked drugs with the knowledge and support of the cia and were responsible for the crack explosion in southern california and throughout the united states. North, oliver oliver north testifying at the iran contra. Ciacontracrack cocaine controversy doj oig department of. Titled dark alliance, the series linked drug smuggling by ciatrained contras to the crack epidemic that has ravaged america. Allegations of cocaine trafficking by contras also arose during the investigation conducted by independent counsel lawrence walsh into the irancontra affair. Both the sale of arms to iran and the military aid to the contras were illegal, and colonel oliver north and others in the presidents administration were dismissed and charged with breaking the law. President ronald reagan holds a news conference and takes question on the iran arms and contra aid c duration. The irancontra affair was a clandestine action not approved of by the united states congress. Former government officials and other sources confirm that the cia stashed money in a number of b.
One of the most complicated and intriguefilled scandals in recent decades. Key figures in ciacrack cocaine scandal begin to come forward. North said he had diverted money from the arms sales to the contras. Ciara sarao born in february 6, 1911 in tampico, illinois. According to the report of the congressional committees investigating the irancontra affair issued in november 1987, the sale of u. Subscribe to hiphughes history, its stupid easy and. Irancontra and armsforhostages scandals after effects. A political scandal in the united states that came to light in november 1986. Under ronald reagans presidentskap hade hogre regeringstjansteman i hemlighet underlattat forsaljning av vapen till iran, som var foremal for ett vapenembargo. Iran contras affaren, aven kallat irangate var en politisk skandal i usa som uppdagades i november 1986.
More often than not, the president reigned supreme. The irancontra affair may be only part of a broader and previously undisclosed pattern of illegal activities by intelligence agencies during the tenure of ronald reagan and. A a sworn enemy a in hopes of securing the release of american hostages held in lebanon by hezbollah terrorists loyal to the ayatollah khomeini, irans leader. Florida who never mentioned contras or the white house until the iran contra affair broke in november. On 19 october 1986, the house judiciary committee sent a letter to attorney general edwin meese, asking that he appoint an independent counsel to investigate the roles of. In a larger sense, the irancontra hearings, like the celebrated senate watergate hearings 14 years earlier, addressed fundamental questions about the governments accountability to the public, and the proper balance between the executive and legislative branches of government. May 05, 2017 the former national security aide, oliver north, the man at the heart of the 1986 iran contra affair, was yesterday found guilty on three counts including deceiving congress and receiving an. A scandal from 1986 over secret deals to sell arms to iran and divert the proceeds to fund contra rebel forces in nicaragua. It happened under president ronald reagans government. Oliver north guilty of tricking congress archive, 5 may.
Thus the present study aims to quantify the chemical combination of this drug. Irancontra affair simple english wikipedia, the free. Key figures in ciacrack cocaine scandal begin to come. There is much controversy surrounding this scandal, including the presidents knowledge of these events.
Crack only nominally resembles crack cocaine as it is widely different in its clinical signs. But those regulations were ruled inapplicable to the contra affair, because they. The ap contracocaine story had run in december 1985, almost a year before the irancontra story broke. Secret teams and covert operations in the reagan era paperback by. The irancontra affair is a telling illustration of how the executive branch related to congress regarding national security. The history of the irancontra affair has a deeprooted connection to the crack.
What is the connection between iran and the contras in the. Special reports cocaine, conspiracy theories and the cia in. When new york times reporters conducted their own interview with palacio, she immediately. The irancontra affair was a scandal that happened from august 1985 to march 1987. Iran contra affair synonyms, iran contra affair pronunciation, iran contra affair translation, english dictionary definition of iran contra affair. As tension and fighting continued between the sandinista government and the contras, the nicaraguan government attempted to make peace. The irancontra affair was originally sparked by the iran hostage crisis, which began on november 4, 1979 when a group of iranian students called the muslim student followers of the imams line took over the american embassy in iran, taking hostage 52 diplomats and civilians staying at the embassy in tehran. July 25, 1984 cia secures manucher ghorbanifaras, an iranian businessman, as a broker between israel and iran in the armsforhostage deal. Oliver north is sworn in july 7, 1987, before the congressional committee investigating the irancontra affair. According to the stories, the cia and its operatives used crack cocainesold via. Irancontra affairs, the linkage in the mid1980s of two separate and distinct u.
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