Iran Contra Hidden Policy
In 1922 President Franklin Roosevelt introduced the "Good Neighbor" Policy. This policy was created to keep the United States from getting involved in problems that could and would occur in Central America. This policy, however, did not stop many government agencies from interfering and creating a few new problems for United States neighbors. Of course, all of this was done in an aim to better the political position of the United States. In 1953, the Central Intelligence Agency created a rumor of an assassination attempt in Guatemala to run the corrupt government out of the country. This is a perfect example of the United States sidestepping policy and becoming entangled in Latin American affairs. History of course, was destined to repeat itself. Only this time, it would be a scandal that would shake the very foundation of a nation. When President Reagan was elected in 1980, he came into office promising to restore America's military and moral prestige in the world. Voters responded when he pledged to be tough on terrorists, a vow he repeated time and time again: "Let me further make it plain to assassins in Beirut and their accomplices, wherever they may be, that America will never make concessions to terr
In 1970 in Nicaragua, President Anastasio Somona Debayle fled the country. A civil war had been devastating the nation's economy. The Nicaraguans were tired of the Somonzas ruling their tiny country. They wanted change. They wanted the Sandinistas. The Sandinistas promised free enterprise but what they brought was political oppression. The United States tried to form an alliance with them but the Sandinistas grew closer to the USSR. Many Nicaraguans rejected this government. They decided to fight back. The rebel Nicaraguans groups that formed was known as the contras. The largest of these rebel groups were the Nicaraguan Democratic Force (NDF). President Reagan had long ago taken a stand against the Sandanistan regime. He "embraced " the opponents of the Sandinistas. Originally; they received aid from the Argentinean government. The rebels, however, eventually needed "big money" and it was then that they turned to the United States. In 1981, the United States began to fund the contras. The Central Intelligence Agency, which was headed by William Casey at the time, was the agency most involved. However, public protests over this aid were very vocal. Many Americans were uneasy about this aid because they were concerned the situation might develop into another Vietnam. In the wake of the Boland I Amendment and the cap on spending, Robert C. McFarlane, Reagan's National Security Advisor, suggested soliciting support from other third world countries. CIA director, William Casey agreed and made several suggestions as to who should be approached. Contact was then made to solicit said funds. When a one million-dollar contribution was received in 1984, McFarlane turned to Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North of the National Security Council to set up bank accounts to move these monies into contra hands. Later when the Reagan's Administration was unable to convince Congress to do away with the twenty-four million-dollar cap on contra aid, North was informed that President Reagan wished "the NSC staff had to keep the contras alive body and soul." North was instrumental in setting up a covert network, which provided support to the contras.
Some common words found in the essay are:
President Reagan, Congressional Committees, Immediately Administrative, NSC Neither, United Constitution, Sultan Brunei, Persian Gulf, Iran North, Iraq United, Congress American, arms sales, president reagan, national security, nsc staff, kornbluh byrne, told tower board, tower board, intelligence agency, boland amendment, central intelligence, support contras, central intelligence agency, kornbluh byrne 338-339, tower board approved, national security advisor,
Approximate Word count = 2796
Approximate Pages = 11 (250 words per page double spaced)
|
