The-Super-Cool-Iran-Contra-Affair-Cory-Krieger

Iran-Contra Affair  Summary

The Iran-Contra Affair was a secret arrangement to provide funds to Nicaraguan Contras by selling arms to Iran. This scandal was done during the Reagan Administration. The first part that began the whole affair was the U.S. commitment to the Nicaraguan Contras who were currently in a war against Sandinista. The second part of the affair was to appease Iran moderates in the Iranian government. The reason the U.S. needed to appease the Iranian government was because they wanted to have hostages released who were being held by Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon. The U.S. also decided to sell the weapons to direct Iran into a more positive Western view and to add an influence of Western culture to the Middle East.

Transactions

The transactions of the Iran-Contra Affair was a long line of sales of arms directed to Iran. These funds were then used to fund the Contras in Nicaragua who were anti-communists. The arms were able to be shipped to Iran with the help of Israel. The United States would ship these arms to Israel. Here Israel would sell the arms to Iran with the designated price the United States and Iran agreed with. Here Israel would then give the funds to the United States would use that to fund the Nicaraguan Contras. Israel would also help to the United States ship these weapons to the Iranians.

Main Points for- Transactions:
 * The U.S. was selling arms to Iran who were known enemies of the United States.
 * The U.S. used these funds to help the Nicaraguan Contras.
 * The Contras were anti-communists.
 * Israel was basically a middleman for the trades.

Exposing the Scandal

The affair was not exposed until November 1986 still during the Reagan Presidential Administration. This was due to the Lebanese magazine, Ash-Shiraa, publishing articles exposing the weapons-for-hostages sales that the United States and Iran were going through. As the scandal was found out, many higher officials felt that it was up to the president to hold full responsibilities for these sales. Throughout the next year, there were various investigations on many different higher officials. These officials included Lt. Colonel Oliver North, former CIA chief William J. Casey, National Security Advisor John Poindexter, and former defense secretary Casper Weinberger. It was later found that National Security Advisor John Poindexter was enabling the funding the Nicarguan Contras without President Reagan's consent. Former CIA William J. Casey had played a role in the scandal, but he died during the hearings. Lt. Colonel Oliver North had also played a part in the scandal as the main negotiator. North was convicted, but not due the negotiations. North was convicted of unlawfully destroying government documents and obstructing of the constitution. North's convictions were lated expunged during George H. Bush's administrations for the reason being he was acting strictly out of patriotism. In April of 1990, Poindexter was convicted of five counts of deceiving Congress and was sentenced to six months in prison. Two years later, Weinberger was also convicted for decieving Congress. Both of these convictions were overturned. What put an end to the scandal was George H. Bush's pardons for each of the convictions.  Main Points for- Exposing the Scandal
 * The affair was exposed in November of 1986.
 * The affair was exposed during the Reagan Administration
 * Lt.Colonel Oliver North - Convicted of unlawfully destroying government documents and obstructing of the constitutions
 * Former CIA chief William J. Casey - Died during hearings
 * National Advisor John Poindexter - Convicted of five counts of deceiving Congress in April of 1990
 * Former Defense Secretary Casper Weinberger- Convicted of five counts of deceiving Congress in 1992
 * George H. Bush pardons all convictions