Iran Contra Affair

Iran Contra Affair

Iran Contra Affair

Introduction

This paper will be discussing over the Iran-Contra Affairs between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States. This paper will also be discussing over an overview on at how the covert actions of the United States and later lack of action, despite warning, affected Iranian territory, and how did Israel have a role in the Iran Contra Affair, along with what was their role and did we act in their behalf?

The Iran Contra Affair was revealed on November 3, 1986 as the scandal broke when reports in Lebanese newspapers(Al Shiraa, published on Nov.3,1986) enforced the Reagan government to reveal the arm deals between the United States and Iran and the amount earned to be given to the Nicaraguan armed rebels (Marshall, 1987).

Overview of the Iran-Contra

Iran-contra affair, as the history of United States demonstrates, was a secret arrangement in the 80s to provide funds to the Nicaraguan contra rebels; this fund was to be generated from profits gained by selling arms to Iran. The Iran-contra affair was the product of two separate initiatives during the administration of President Ronald Reagan. The first was a commitment to aid the contras who were conducting a guerrilla war against the Sandinista government of Nicaragua. The second was to placate moderates within the Iranian government in order to secure the release of American hostages held by pro-Iranian groups in Lebanon and to influence Iranian foreign policy towards a Western supportive direction (Mark, 1987)

Iran-contra case

In late 1986, a political scandal broke in Washington. High-ranking official under President Ronald Reagan were exposed for having secretly violated foreign and domestic policy of the United States. The support of U.S. Anti-communist Nicaragonians in Nicaragua was revealed to the public when the Nicaraguan Sandinista government brought down a U.S. Plane carrying supplies on Oct. 5 and captured one of the crew the next day. A month later, on November 3, a monthly magazine published the story of Lebanon's top secret sale of U.S. Arms to Iran. Weeks later, President Reagan and attorney general Edwin Meese presented a memorandum to the American people written by Lt. Col. Oliver north, explaining that a portion of the proceeds from the sale of weapons of nearly $ 48 million would be used for Iran assisting the Nicaragonians in Nicaragua. Reagan also announced that national security adviser John Poindexter had resigned and that Oliver North, a member of the National Security Council, had been dismissed. During the following months there were several congressional hearings and the American media investigating the story trying to find the truth (Lisa, 2008).

Background: Iranian Hostages, Nicaraguan Nicaragonians

In 1985, Iran desperately needed weapons to ensure victory in its war against Iraq. United States began providing arms to Iran, believing that his gesture of good will allow the release of American hostages held captive in Tehran. The plan to exchange weapons for hostages was extremely controversial because it contradicted President Reagan's policy of not negotiating with terrorists, and the official policy of the United States not to venerate arms to ...