Copy of Iran-Contra
EVIL EMPIRE
Hughes-Ryan Act 1974
Act required the President to report any covert operations executed by the CIA to Congress within a set time.
Clark Amendment 1976
Amendment to the Arms Export Control Act blocking aid to private groups involved in military or paramilitary ops.
Israel became a proxy arms supplier as a result of this. repealed in 1985
Boland Amendment 1982-84
Three amendments made in order to block aid to Nicaragua.
Oliver North
Deputy of National Security Council
Responsible for the diversion of funds from the sale of weapons to Iran to the contras.
Martial Law
Iran
Drugs
Diversion: 'What did he know and when did he know it'
Iran-Contra
December, 19, 1986: Lawrence E. Walsh, appointed as head of Independent Council that oversaw the conviction of all those involved in Contragate
Bill Casey
Director of Central Intelligence from 1981-87
"The Soviet Role in Revolutionary Violence."
Managed Reagan's first election campaign
He used Black propaganda as a tool. records showed in 1990 that the soviets had little to no involvement in terrorist activity.
A great manipulator, took the
Contra affair to his death bed
simply nodding when asked
about his in involvement.
John Poindexter
National Security Adviser
McFarlane's successor overseeing
both the sale arms for hostages and aiding the contras. Convicted in 1990 but was pardoned later by Bush in his first term.
Caspar Weinberger
Secretary of Defense
Chairman of Forbes
Escalated military spending in early 1980's showing a reluctance to use military force in foreign territories initially. Reagan's state of Union address in 1985 offered a new direction. This could only be backed with new CIA to that of Carter's that would be willing to take covert action.
State of Union address: 1985
Robert McFarlane
National Security Adviser 1983-85
Boland Amendment did not prevent
him from continuing to support the
Contras. But before this amendment
it was prohibited rather than
a criminal statute to fund terrorist organizations.
Resigned in late 1985 after he urged Reagan to end arms shipments. Main contribution was Strategic Defense Initiative dubbed later as 'Star Wars'
as it was so ridiculous even for superpower.
Attempted to take his own life in 1987
with an overdose of Valium as he felt
he had been vilified by the admin who proceeded him.
'Our mission is to nourish and defend freedom and democracy, and to communicate these ideals everywhere we can...' said Reagan in 1985, adding that 'Support for freedom fighters is self-defense'.
America was actually going through a recession from the early 1980's. To this end the plaza accord and Baker Plan were organized.
Edwin Meese
Attorney General
Counselor to the President
Had knowledge of the Hawk transaction which raised 'serious legal concerns' amongst the independent counsel for Iran/Contra affairs.
He was also Chairman of the National Drug Policy board...
James Baker
Chief of staff
Secretary of the Treasury 1985-88
Managed Reagan's re-election campaign, 1984
Similar to Meese he had a very influential position as an adviser to the President in terms of domestic policy. Initiated both Plaza Accord in 1985 due to America' s increasing deficit and later the Baker Plane both unsuccessful.
President Ronald Reagan declares "War on Drugs" Oct. 14 1982
Sale of Arms to Iran at a mark up/ for 4 American hostages
Criminal Fact Sheet
- From 1980 to 2008 the number of people incarcerated in American has quadrupled- from roughly 500,000 to 2.3 million people
- African-Americans constitute 1 million of the total 2.3 million
- Huge sentencing disparities between crack and powder cocaine
- In 2002 blacks constituted more than 80% of the people sentenced under federal crack cocaine laws
- There is a huge incentive to keep incarceration rates high. Private corporations reap massive profits.
Iran-Iraq War
American hostage crises
Only one was released
DRUGS
Money from Iranian arms sale
MONEY
The Dark Alliance
- In 1996 Gary Webb, an investigative journalist, reported in the San-Jose Mecury news that the crack cocaine epidemic was directly linked to CIA sponsoring Nicaraguan contra rebels drug trafficking
- The CIA and government never responded to the article, it was dismissed by the LA Times, and was overshadowed by the Clinton scandal
- In 2004, Gary Webb committed "suicide"
Exit Ticket
1. In your own words, what was Iran Contra?
2. What event marked the end of the Cold War?
3. How should Ronald Reagan be remembered?