Reagans role will be looked at while aiding the nicaraguan contras, releasing american hostages, both which led to the iran contra affair, and during the cover up, in america and partly in iran. Irancontra focuses on the period from fall 1983, when congress first put limits on official u. Nov 25, 2011 president ronald reagan shortly after the iran contra scandal engulfed his administration in november 1986. Iran contra affair 1983 1988 the iran contra affair began as an internal u.
Caso iran contra, popularized in iran as the mcfarlane affair, the iran contra scandal, or simply iran contra, was a political scandal in the united states that occurred during the second term of the reagan administration. These plans were apparently aborted when the irancontra scandal broke in november 1986. Report of the congressional committees investigating the iran. The defendants were elliott abrams, a former assistant secretary of state for central america. They would both see the coverup as a necessary way to preserve the political and economical structure inside and outside america and a necessary way to maintain, in their opinion. Reagan appoints a commission, led by former senator john town rtx, to investigate the irancontra affairs dec. Behind the iran contra affair is the third featurelength documentary produced by the empowerment project. The foreignpolicy scandal known as the iran contra affair came to light in november 1986 when president ronald reagan confirmed reports that the united states had secretly sold arms to iran. In 1984, the boland amendment passed, which said that the cia and department of defense could not give militaristic aid specifically in nicaragua. Reagans administration was embroiled in scandal when it came to light that the united states had sold weapons to iran and funneled the money to nicaraguan rebels. President ronald reagan makes his address to the nation on the iran arms and contra aid controversy nov. Understanding the irancontra affairs the irancontra. The iran contra scandal, as this video illustrates in the beginning, is probably one of the most ignored events of the 1980s.
Many of these acquisitions are derived from the official bodiesinvestigating the irancontra affair, including the senate intelligence committee, the. The iran contra conspiracy and cover up by lawrence e. It is the only film that puts the entire iran contra affair into a meaningful political and historical context. The film reveals a shadow government of former cia operatives, drug smugglers, top us military personnel and others. The irancontra scandal, as this video illustrates in the beginning, is probably one of the most ignored events of the 1980s. Senate select committee on secret military assistance to iran and the nicaraguan opposition. Attorney general edwin meese iii requests that an independent counsel be appointed to investigate the iran contra affairs.
It began in 1985, when president ronald reagans administration supplied weapons to irana. 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. Twenty years later, the irancontra 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. President ronald reagan shortly after the irancontra scandal engulfed his administration in november 1986. The film reveals a shadow government of former cia operatives, drug smugglers, top us military personnel and others, revealing evidence. Reagan makes his address to the nation on the investigation of the iran arms and contra aid controversy. These operations were the provision of assistance to the military activities of the.
Covered are the allegations of secret governments, drugs, cia involvement, assassinations and. Cover up behind the irancontra affair is a thorough investigation into information suppressed during the iran contra hearings in 1987 where it was found that senior officials in the united states government secretly facilitated the sale of arms to iran. Through the eighties, iraq attempted to sue iran for peace, but it wasnt until 1988 that iran accepted a ceasefire, and in 1990 final terms to end the war were agreed upon. The shadow government of assassins, arms dealers, drug smugglers, former cia operatives and top us military personnel who were running foreign policy unaccountable to the public, revealing the reaganbush administrations plan to.
But if fiers is correct, topranking cia officials not only knew about the operation and did nothing to stop it. Apr 06, 2020 iran contra focuses on the period from fall 1983, when congress first put limits on official u. Reagan announces that profits from arms sales with iran were diverted to support the contras nov. Mcfarlane sought reagans approval, in spite of the embargo against selling arms to iran. President reagan and national security adviser robert mcfarlane. Bush granted pardons to six defendants in the iran contra affairs. 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. 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. Behind the iran contra affair a tangled tale of politics, drugs, hostages, weapons, assassinations, covert operations and the ultimate plan to suspend the constitution of the united states. The irancontra coverup marked the restoration of a cold war status quo in which crimes, both domestic and international, could be committed by the executive while the. The film takes an obvious conspiracy theory approach, which, although sometimes entertaining, sometime relies too much on documents and information that arent actually seen.
Screening of cover up behind the irancontra affair. Lives, lies and the iran contra affair by ann wroeaug 15, 1992 firewall. Jose bueso rosa reagan administration officials interceded on behalf of jose bueso rosa, a honduran general who was heavily involved with the cias contra operations and faced trial for his role in a massive drug shipment to the united states. Understanding the irancontra affairs the irancontra affairs. With elizabeth montgomery, jack brooks, barbara honegger, david macmichael. The irancontra affair american experience official. Apdennis cook the irancontra scandal, 25 years later.
North, oliver oliver north testifying at the irancontra. Irancontra affair legal definition of irancontra affair. This documentary video looks inside the irancontra affair. The iran contra affairs by theodore draperjun 1, 1992. North, oliver oliver north testifying at the iran contra. Many nationalist and neoconservatives would see the entire irancontra affair not as a coverup but a good use of political power, an end that justifies the means. They would both see the cover up as a necessary way to preserve the political and economical structure inside and outside america and a necessary way to maintain, in their opinion. Draper explains to us that the iranian revolution of 19781979 brought the.
It presents a tale of politics, drugs, hostages, weapons, assassinations, covert operations and the ultimate plan to suspend the u. The tower commission finds that the president had not been told enough about the affair to cover it up michael white in washington thu 27 feb 2014 02. Lawrence walshs contribution to history march 26, 2014 iran contra at 25. The iran contra affair, also referred to as irangate, contragate or the iran contra scandal, was a political scandal in the united states that came to light in november 1986. An investigation account and american history are mostly used to evaluate reagans role. Many nationalist and neoconservatives would see the entire iran contra affair not as a cover up but a good use of political power, an end that justifies the means. Mar 27, 2014 the iran contra affair, also referred to as irangate, contragate or the iran contra scandal, was a political scandal in the united states that came to light in november 1986. Government operations were publicly exposed, potentially implicating reagan administration officials in illegal activities. Iran and israel the extent of iranianisraeli cooperation that came about as a result of the irancontra affair has been seen by some as even more surprising than the u.
Behind the irancontra affair 1988 examines reagans alleged deal with iran that delayed the release of american hostages until after his inauguration. It presents a tale of politics, drugs, hostages, weapons, assassinations, covert operations and the ultimate plan to. Reagan and bush criminal liability evaluations november 25, 2011 the iran contra affair. The film reveals a shadow government of former cia operatives, drug smugglers, top us military personnel and others, revealing evidence of. Senior administration officials secretly facilitated the sale of arms to the. Iran contra affair larry gilman in october and november of 1986, it was discovered that for several years, agents of the united states government had been running an illegal operation to sell weapons to iran and funnel the profits to the contras, a military organization dedicated to overthrowing the leftist government of nicaragua. Whenever president reagan shows up in the irancontra pop culture, it is always in the context of questioning the credibility of his stated knowledge of actions of his subordinates. Iran contra affair, 19851990, military assistance, american, military assistance, american, political corruption publisher washington. Behind the iran contra affair 1988 what you saw in the iran contra hearings was the exposure of the beginnings of a national security state which believes it has the right to override the constitution of the united states in the name of national security. Coverup was the first film to reveal the october surprise hostage deal the reaganbush campaigndeal with iran to delay the release of the 52 american hostages until after the 1980 election, and is the only film which presents a comprehensive overview of the most important stories suppressed during the iran contra hearings. Behind the irancontra affair dvd coverup exposes several of the most disturbing chapters in the history of u. Praise for the iran contra affair, 1983 1988 the national security archive represents an idea so obviousonce you think of itthat it instantly makes the transition from novelty to necessity the desirability of collecting in one location all the declassified documentation on us. Irancontra summary executive summary in october and november 1986, two secret u. The irancontra affair was a clandestine action not approved of by the united states congress.
Fourteen people were charged with either operational or cover up crimes. This documentary video looks inside the iran contra affair. This documentary of the iran contra affair consolidates the evidence and conspiracy theories of the incident after the week congressional hearings proved inadequate, acting merely as damage control and failing to show any sincere effort to get to the real truth of the matter. 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. Behind the irancontra affair 1988 cast and crew examines reagans alleged deal with iran that delayed the release of american hostages until after his inauguration. Get premium, high resolution news photos at getty images. Apdennis cook the iran contra scandal, 25 years later. The foreignpolicy scandal known as the irancontra affair came to light in november 1986 when president ronald reagan confirmed reports that the united st. Cover up behind the iran contra affair trailer youtube. 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. Iran contra affair legal definition of iran contra affair. Jun 24, 2001 the iran contra affair has been characterized by u.
Irancontras affair legal definition of irancontras affair. 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. There is much controversy surrounding this scandal, including the presidents knowledge of these events. August richard norton, boston globe we would never have known the truth about irancontra without the tenacious sevenyear struggle by the independent counsel in the affair, lawrence walsh, to get to the bottom of itof firstrate historical importance. Behind the iran contra affair 1988 live leak by lasrever what you saw in the iran contra hearings was the exposure of the beginnings of a national security state which believes it has the right to override the constitution of the united states in the name of national security. In 1985, while iran and iraq were at war, iran made a secret request to buy weapons from the united states. The irancontra affair involved a secret foreign policy operation directed by white house officials in the national security council nsc under president ronald reagan. To fully understand irancontra, you must know the history behind it. Covered are the allegations of secret governments, drugs, cia involvement, assassinations and even a plan to suspend the constitution. The iran contra cover up marked the restoration of a cold war status quo in which crimes, both domestic and international, could be committed by the executive while the congress and the press. Cover up behind the irancontra affair is a thorough investigation into information suppressed during the irancontra hearings in 1987 where it was found that senior officials in the united states government secretly facilitated the sale of arms to iran. Not simply an important public accounting of an egregiously misconceived policy, but a cautionary tale of power.
What we saw in the irancontra hearings, was the exposure of the beginnings of a national security state which believes it has the right to override the constitution of the united states in the name of security. Kris kristofferson and wife lisa meyers attend the screening of cover up behind the iran contra affair on june 24, 1988 at the directors guild theater in hollywood, california. Feb 27, 2014 the tower commission finds that the president had not been told enough about the affair to cover it up michael white in washington thu 27 feb 2014 02. House of representatives select committee to investigate covert arms transactions with iran.
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