Reagan announces that profits from arms sales with iran were diverted to support the contras nov. It presents a tale of politics, drugs, hostages, weapons, assassinations, covert operations and the ultimate plan to. 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. Iran and israel the extent of iranianisraeli cooperation that came about as a result of the iran contra affair has been seen by some as even more surprising than the u. 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. The irancontra affair involved a secret foreign policy operation directed by white house officials in the national security council nsc under president ronald reagan. Lawrence walshs contribution to history march 26, 2014 iran contra at 25. Mcfarlane sought reagans approval, in spite of the embargo against selling arms to iran. 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. 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. The irancontra affair american experience official. 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. 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.
Draper explains to us that the iranian revolution of 19781979 brought the. This documentary video looks inside the iran contra affair. Apdennis cook the irancontra scandal, 25 years later. 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. 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.
The iran contra affairs by theodore draperjun 1, 1992. Congress or violated the stated public policy of the government. Not simply an important public accounting of an egregiously misconceived policy, but a cautionary tale of power. Apdennis cook the iran contra scandal, 25 years later. 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. The irancontra affair was a clandestine action not approved of by the united states congress. Screening of cover up behind the irancontra affair. Report of the congressional committees investigating the iran. North, oliver oliver north testifying at the iran contra. 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. Bush granted pardons to six defendants in the iran contra affairs. President ronald reagan shortly after the irancontra scandal engulfed his administration in november 1986. Irancontra focuses on the period from fall 1983, when congress first put limits on official u.
Many of these acquisitions are derived from the official bodiesinvestigating the irancontra affair, including the senate intelligence committee, the. 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. 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 even a plan to suspend the constitution. Jun 24, 2001 the iran contra affair has been characterized by u. House of representatives select committee to investigate covert arms transactions with iran. North, oliver oliver north testifying at the irancontra. It is the only film that puts the entire iran contra affair into a meaningful political and historical context. The iran contra scandal, as this video illustrates in the beginning, is probably one of the most ignored events of the 1980s. It began in 1985, when president ronald reagans administration supplied weapons to irana. Senate select committee on secret military assistance to iran and the nicaraguan opposition. 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.
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. In 1985, while iran and iraq were at war, iran made a secret request to buy weapons from the united states. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. There is much controversy surrounding this scandal, including the presidents knowledge of these events. This documentary video looks inside the irancontra affair.
Covered are the allegations of secret governments, drugs, cia involvement, assassinations and. Get premium, high resolution news photos at getty images. 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 iran contra affair trailer youtube. 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.
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. Behind the irancontra affair dvd coverup exposes several of the most disturbing chapters in the history of u. Attorney general edwin meese iii requests that an independent counsel be appointed to investigate the iran contra affairs. 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 cast and crew examines reagans alleged deal with iran that delayed the release of american hostages until after his inauguration. 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. Iran contra affair, 19851990, military assistance, american, military assistance, american, political corruption publisher washington. The defendants were elliott abrams, a former assistant secretary of state for central america. Fourteen people were charged with either operational or cover up crimes. Government operations were publicly exposed, potentially implicating reagan administration officials in illegal activities. President ronald reagan makes his address to the nation on the iran arms and contra aid controversy nov. Iran contra affair 1983 1988 the iran contra affair began as an internal u.
But if fiers is correct, topranking cia officials not only knew about the operation and did nothing to stop it. 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. Behind the iran contra affair is the third featurelength documentary produced by the empowerment project. Irancontra affair legal definition of irancontra affair. 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. In 1984, the boland amendment passed, which said that the cia and department of defense could not give militaristic aid specifically in nicaragua. It presents a tale of politics, drugs, hostages, weapons, assassinations, covert operations and the ultimate plan to suspend the u. Nov 25, 2011 president ronald reagan shortly after the iran contra scandal engulfed his administration in november 1986. With elizabeth montgomery, jack brooks, barbara honegger, david macmichael. The film reveals a shadow government of former cia operatives, drug smugglers, top us military personnel and others, revealing evidence of. The film takes an obvious conspiracy theory approach, which, although sometimes entertaining, sometime relies too much on documents and information that arent actually seen. The film reveals a shadow government of former cia operatives, drug smugglers, top us military personnel and others.
Reagan and bush criminal liability evaluations november 25, 2011 the iran contra affair. 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. 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. Lives, lies and the iran contra affair by ann wroeaug 15, 1992 firewall. Senior administration officials secretly facilitated the sale of arms to the.
Behind the irancontra affair 1988 examines reagans alleged deal with iran that delayed the release of american hostages until after his inauguration. Irancontras affair legal definition of irancontras affair. 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. To fully understand irancontra, you must know the history behind it. 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. Irancontra summary executive summary in october and november 1986, two secret u. 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. 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. These plans were apparently aborted when the irancontra scandal broke in november 1986.
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. Understanding the irancontra affairs the irancontra. 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. An investigation account and american history are mostly used to evaluate reagans role. Reagan appoints a commission, led by former senator john town rtx, to investigate the irancontra affairs dec. The iran contra conspiracy and cover up by lawrence e.
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