Summary: The Iran Contra Affair

The Iran Contra affair was a significant political crisis in the 1980 on several levels. First, let's understand what was happening back in those days. On several levels, the Cold War was still in effect. That's the war between the East and the West, Capitalism (US) and Communism (USSR), good verses evil. The US was busy protecting itself against advances from the USSR. The USSR was in an expansionist phase. They would befriend smaller poorer countries with their support, their money and the idea that communism would be good for their people. A skeptic would say it was never about what is best for the people, it is all about power. USSR had a communist hold and ally in Cuba. Cuba is only 100 miles from Florida. Cuba as a puppet of USSR was a threat to the US. In 1979 Cuban forces …show more content…
Islamic militants called Hezbollah took Americans hostage and held them in Lebanon. Thee was pressure to provide a political answer. Hezbollah as loyal to the religious leader of Iran, Ayatollah Khomeini. Iran was warring with Iraq. Both Iran and Iraq were enemies of the US. But a Lt Col named Oliver North came up with a plan to use the situation to create money needed to fund the anti-socialist rebels in Nicaragua. That plan included funneling weapons Iran needed, through our ally Israel, to Iran in exchange for under the table money. That money was used to fund the Nicaraguan Rebels until it was uncovered in 1986. As things became known, even our President Reagan was unaware. But eventually as the facts became public, President Reagan shared with the American Public what happened. The trials were conducted at congress before the whole world. Oliver North, depending on how you view the whole ordeal, was either a hero or an enemy to the people. He was a hero to those who believed we had no choice but to continue to fight communism in our hemisphere. He was a goat to those who saw his action as subversive and

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