Not So Secret
Reagan was a reliable president. It wasn’t until he got associated with the Iraq-Iran war that America’s trust for him began to get hazy. This led to the Iran-Contra affair, and the American people felt lied to. The Iran-Contra affair had two objectives: one was to deal with the Iranian government to release American hostages held by pro- Iranian groups in Lebanon, and the other to aid Contras against the Nicaraguan government. Although details were uncertain, the feelings of doubted trust for Reagan were real.
“The deal was that on July 1985 the United States would send 508 American-made TOW anti-tank missiles from Israel to Iran for the safe exchange of a hostage, the Reverend Benjamin Weir” (Iran-Contra Affair). The transfer was successful, but there were still a few hostages held in Lebanon. More air missiles were shipped, and thus the rest of the hostages were released. That was until more hostages were taken. Thus more missiles were sold. Robert McFarlane (an assistant for National Security Affairs) and Reagan were of the few to approve of the transactions of missiles and hostages. McFarlane thought the transaction of arms would help bring peaceful ties with Lebanon. The U.S. Congress had actually instated an embargo to prevent the shipping of arms to Iran. So the secret trade of man and weapons was no in the government’s best interest. Reagan had “gone against his campaign promise” (PBS) and made deals with terrorists.
During Reagan’s presidency the Sandinistas were in power over Nicaragua. The communist Sandinistas were thought to be backed by the Soviet Union, so Reagan thought it would be smart to aid anti-communist groups in the guerilla war that was present in Nicaragua. Thus, the money gained by selling missiles to Iran was used to aid the Contras against the Sandinistas. McFarlane and National Security Advisor John Poindexter as representatives of the National Security Council, “which was not explicitly covered by the law” (Ronald Wilson Reagan), was in charge of military aid for the Contras. One of the most crucial people for the transaction of funds for the Contras was Lt. Colonel Oliver North. It was not until 1986 that the word had gotten out about the arms being transferred to Iran. The information was published in a Lebanese magazine called “Ash-Shiraa” (Iran-Contra Affair). Reagan first denied that the whole transaction was false, but later “insisted that the sale of weapons had not been an arms-for-hostages deal” (PBS).
“It was finally found out that National Security Advisor Poindexter had personally authorized the diversion of money to the Contra rebels; all the while withholding the information from President Reagan” (Iran-Contra Affair). It had also been found out that North had been a main “negotiator” to the aid for the Contras. Both men were convicted, but a problem was still untouched. People wondered if Reagan knew about the aid for the Contras, and whether or not he approved of the aid. Reagan was well known for his anti-communism, and Nicaragua just happened to have a communist government at the time. It may have only been a coincidence. The aid given to the Contras can also be described as done “under the table” for its secrecy. Maybe the aid would have gained additional acceptance from the government if McFarlane, Poindexter, and North had not been so furtive about the situation.
Today American soldiers fight terrorist groups in middle-eastern countries such as Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan. They often find that the weapons that the terrorist groups use are also American. The Iran-Contra affair may be over, but the effects still linger. Reagan did what he thought was right because his concern was to bring the hostages back home. Although the process of aid given to the Contras may or may not have been illegal, government administrators wanted to eliminate the communist government in Nicaragua (that might have had ties with the Soviet Union). No matter how hard Reagan tried to keep the selling of arms to Iran confidential, people eventually found out. Americans were mad that Reagan made deals with terrorists, but were happy to have the hostages home. Peaceful ties may have been made with Lebanon. The money made from selling missiles may have been spent wisely. Over all, the secret was let out. Perspective depends on which side of the story that you hear because it turns out that the story is not so secret at all.
