This documentary video looks inside the irancontra affair. 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. Reagan appoints a commission, led by former senator john town rtx, to investigate the irancontra affairs dec. Irancontra affair definition of irancontra affair by. Irancontra affair timeline for reference and background information. North, oliver oliver north testifying at the irancontra. There are many comparisons between the irancontra affair in the 1980s and the iran ransom scandal of today. In 1987, amid the irancontra inquiry, investigators found that the scandal fit within a larger republican scheme for manipulating. The iran contra affairs were covert operations managed by a member of the national security council staff. In 1987, amid the iran contra inquiry, investigators found that the scandal fit within a larger republican scheme for manipulating. President ronald reagan makes his address to the nation on the iran arms and contra aid controversy nov. 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. In the end, norths conviction was overturned on a technicality, and president bush issued six. Covered are the allegations of secret governments, drugs, cia involvement, assassinations and even a plan to suspend the constitution.
The irancontra affair as seen through american, middle eastern, and soviet news sources in early november 1986 a small local newspaper in lebanon broke a scandal that would cast dark shadows of suspicion on the reagan administration, call into question american global. 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. Irancontra affair synonyms, irancontra affair pronunciation, irancontra affair translation, english dictionary definition of irancontra 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. It is the only film that puts the entire iran contra affair into a meaningful political and historical context. Apdennis cook the iran contra scandal, 25 years later. The report shows that israels involvement was stimulated by separate overtures in 1985 from iranian arms merchant manucher ghorbanifar and national. Each of these termsirancontra affairs, covert operations, the national security council and its socalled staffneeds some explanation, because they are not what they may seem. The irancontra affair, 1986 noam chomsky chomskys brief account of the us selling arms to iran via israel in order to fund farright paramilitary contras in nicaragua. Senior administration officials secretly facilitated the sale of arms to the. Top nasa images solar system collection ames research center. This documentary video looks inside the iran contra affair. The iran contra affair has been characterized by u.
The irancontra affair american experience official. Reagans presidency, came into the open in the fall of 1986 with the disclosure of two intertwined secret operations. The triumph of conservatism 19801992 flashcards quizlet. Irancontra affair definition of irancontra affair by the. 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. President reagan and national security adviser robert mcfarlane.
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 irancontra affair dvd coverup exposes several of the most disturbing chapters in the history of u. President reagan to investigate the iran contra affair. Worldwide english title informal short title coverup.
Irancontra affair legal definition of irancontra affair. Understanding the irancontra affairs the irancontra. It presents a tale of politics, drugs, hostages, weapons, assassinations, covert operations and the ultimate plan to suspend the u. Behind the iran contra affair or read the iran contra connection. 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. The iran contra scandal, as this video illustrates in the beginning, is probably one of the most ignored events of the 1980s.
A scandal from 1986 over secret deals to sell arms to iran and divert the proceeds to fund contra rebel forces in nicaragua. Behind the iran contra affair is the third featurelength documentary produced by the empowerment project. 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. Worldwide english title alternative spelling cover up.
Understanding the irancontra affairs the irancontra affairs. The film takes an obvious conspiracy theory approach, which, although sometimes entertaining, sometime relies too much on documents and information that arent actually seen. 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. With elizabeth montgomery, jack brooks, barbara honegger, david macmichael. According to the report of the congressional committees investigating the irancontra affair issued in november 1987, the sale of u. What we 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 security. The irancontra affairs were covert operations managed by a member of the national security council staff. What are quality books about the irancontra affair. Learning objective c, wor theme 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. 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. 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. Sep 08, 2006 the iran contra affair, 1986 noam chomsky chomskys brief account of the us selling arms to iran via israel in order to fund farright paramilitary contras in nicaragua. Nov 25, 2011 president ronald reagan shortly after the iran contra scandal engulfed his administration in november 1986. Lawrence walshs contribution to history march 26, 2014 irancontra at 25.
To fully understand irancontra, you must know the history behind it. President ronald reagan shortly after the irancontra scandal engulfed his administration in november 1986. 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 congress and the press. Reagan announces that profits from arms sales with iran were diverted to support the contras. President ronald reagan makes his address to the nation on the iran arms and contra aid controversy. Apdennis cook the irancontra scandal, 25 years later. Mcfarlane sought reagans approval, in spite of the embargo against selling arms to iran. The major elements of the iran contra story were well known long before the 1986 exposures, apart from one fact. Examines reagans alleged deal with iran that delayed the release of american hostages until after his inauguration. Bush pardons 6 in iran affair, aborting a weinberger trial.
Irancontra scandal tarnished credibility but americans. Prior to 1979s iranian revolution, iran and israel had been on civil terms, but this took a dramatic turn in the opposite direction following the revolution. 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. 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. The iran contra affair, like the ciaorganized invasion of the bay of pigs in cuba in 1961, struck a global blow to american credibility. Officials at the highest level had been detected organizing international terrorism i. Reagan announces that profits from arms sales with iran were diverted to support the contras nov. Congress or violated the stated public policy of the government. December 19, 1986 at the request of attorney general meese, a three judge panel appoints lawrence walsh, a former judge and deputy attorney general in the eisenhower administration, to be the independent counsel. Cover up behind the iran contra affair trailer youtube. 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. During the early 1980s nicaragua was led by a newly established government known as the sandanistas. 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.
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. August 2, 1986 a secret meeting with the sultan of brunei takes place to acquire funds for the contras. The 1988 film is updated with information from recent court cases and events. Jun 24, 2001 the iran contra affair has been characterized by u. But if fiers is correct, topranking cia officials not only knew about the operation and did nothing to stop it. Surprisingly, given the bad taste left in the nations mouth by the iran contra affair, particularly in the televised oiliness of its leading characters and the 14 criminal prosecutions mounted. The irancontra affair the most critical special operations mission we havetoday is to persuade the american people that the communists are out to get usif we win the war of ideas, we will win everywhere else.
The coverup begins to crack a former cia official admits the agency lied about its knowledge of the secret plan to fund the nicaraguan rebels. The cover story quicky became a few weapons shipment deliveries over the previous 18 months to iran funded the contra supply operation for the past 5 and a half years. 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. The irancontra affair involved a secret foreign policy operation directed by white house officials in the national security council nsc under president ronald reagan. Like the shipment of weapons to the islamic state before the benghazi massacre, the uniparty covered up its actions with a politicized congressional probe. Fourteen people were charged with either operational or coverup crimes. 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. 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. Reagan appoints a commission, led by former senator john town rtx, to investigate the iran contra affairs. The major elements of the irancontra story were well known long before the 1986 exposures, apart from one fact. North, oliver oliver north testifying at the iran contra. Worldwide english title informal short title cover up. Irancontra summary executive summary in october and november 1986, two secret u. Reagan and bush criminal liability evaluations november 25, 2011 the irancontra affair.
Iran contra affair synonyms, iran contra affair pronunciation, iran contra affair translation, english dictionary definition of iran contra affair. The funds are not transferred because an incorrect account. 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. Draper explains to us that the iranian revolution of 19781979 brought the. 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. The film reveals a shadow government of former cia operatives, drug smugglers, top us military personnel and others, revealing evidence of.
The irancontra scandal, as this video illustrates in the beginning, is probably one of the most ignored events of the 1980s. Behind the irancontra affair 1988 examines reagans alleged deal with iran that delayed the release of american hostages until after his inauguration. The irancontra affair, like the ciaorganized invasion of the bay of pigs in cuba in 1961, struck a global blow to american credibility. To understand the irancontra scandal, two nations must be understood and contextualized.