Senior administration officials secretly facilitated the sale of arms to the. The iran contra affair the tower commission was named after its chair, former senator john tower, and was established by reagan to investigate the iran contra affair. President ronald reagan shortly after the irancontra scandal engulfed his administration in november 1986. The film reveals a shadow government of former cia operatives, drug smugglers, top us military personnel and others, revealing evidence. 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. Nov 25, 2011 president ronald reagan shortly after the iran contra scandal engulfed his administration in november 1986.
Jun 24, 2001 the iran contra affair has been characterized by u. Many of these acquisitions are derived from the official bodiesinvestigating the irancontra affair, including the senate intelligence committee, the tower commission, the joint select. It presents a tale of politics, drugs, hostages, weapons, assassinations, covert operations and the ultimate plan to suspend the u. Cover up behind the iran contra affair trailer youtube. Coverup was released in theaters in 80 cities across the united states in 1988 89. Apr 06, 2020 iran contra focuses on the period from fall 1983, when congress first put limits on official u. Congress is learning the lessons of iran contra third. Behind the iran contra affair posted october 1, 1988 if this countrys electorate cared more about truth and honesty, this 1988 film, which was released just before the election, would have gotten more media attention than the bushdukakis debates. The irancontra affair was a clandestine action not approved of by the united states congress. Behind the iran contra affair 1988 and its academy awardwinning sequel the panama deception 1992. 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.
North, oliver oliver north testifying at the iran contra. Attorney general edwin meese iii requests that an independent counsel be appointed to investigate the iran contra affairs. 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. This documentary video looks inside the iran contra affair. Irancontra focuses on the period from fall 1983, when congress first put limits on official u. Government operations were publicly exposed, potentially implicating reagan administration officials in illegal activities. Iran contra affair 1983 1988 the iran contra affair began as an internal u. Behind the irancontra affair 1988 examines reagans alleged deal with iran that delayed the release of american hostages until after his inauguration. Montgomerys mother was a native of kentucky and her father was from new york.
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. The film takes an obvious conspiracy theory approach, which, although sometimes entertaining, sometime relies too much on documents and information that arent actually seen. To fully understand irancontra, you must know the history behind it. Draper explains to us that the iranian revolution of 19781979 brought the. Behind the iran contra affair 1988 the story of fausta 1987 ligia elena 1983. Institutionally, congress tur congressmen timidly pursued t tigations even when it became c to coverup. Apdennis cook the irancontra scandal, 25 years later. Irancontra scandal tarnished credibility but americans. 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. Behind the iran contra affair is the third featurelength documentary produced by the empowerment project.
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. Covered are the allegations of secret governments, drugs, cia involvement, assassinations and even. Like the us, israel hopes to gain influence with iranian moderates who will presumably take power after the aged, ailing. The irancontra affair, the latest in a line of disturhing american foreign. 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. Professionally, she lent her voice as narrator to two political documentaries which were critical of us foreign policy, cover up. Apdennis cook the iran contra scandal, 25 years later. A season of inquiry 1985 describing church committee investigations. The film reveals a shadow government of former cia operatives, drug smugglers, top us military personnel and others, revealing evidence of. From the phoenix program, secret teams, ncs and more there were many illegal and horrible things that happened inclucing the mystery death of my associate jerry hog daniels, whom.
Reagan and bush criminal liability evaluations november 25, 2011 the iran contra 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 congress and the press. 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. These operations were the provision of assistance to the military activities of the. But if fiers is correct, topranking cia officials not only knew about the operation and did nothing to stop it. Understanding the irancontra affairs the irancontra affairs. This documentary video looks inside the irancontra affair. The reagan administration was found doing what during the iran contra affair. 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. Kimches outreach is the final piece in the complex. 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. Irancontra was one of the many clandestine operations under the guise of s.
The 1988 film is updated with information from recent court cases and events. 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. 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. Reagan announces that profits from arms sales with iran were diverted to support the contras nov. It began in 1985, when president ronald reagans administration supplied weapons to irana. Coverup was released in theaters in 80 cities across the united states in 198889.
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 popularized in iran as the mcfarlane affair, the iran contra scandal. President ronald reagan makes his address to the nation on the iran arms and contra aid controversy nov. Mark leighton bettmann corbis david kimche, the director general of israels foreign ministry, meets secretly with national security adviser robert mcfarlane to advise him that israel may be able to use its influence with iran see 1981 to engineer the release of american hostages currently held by hezbollah.
New yorker, 1121992 israel is a logical conduit for arms to iran, as it has been selling arms to iran periodically since 1979, originally as part of its efforts to get iran to allow iranian jews to emigrate to israel. 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. In 1985, while iran and iraq were at war, iran made a secret request to buy weapons from the united states. The plan was for israel to ship weapons to iran, for the united states to.
The irancontra affair involved a secret foreign policy operation directed by white house officials in the national security council nsc under president ronald reagan. Reagan and bush criminal liability evaluations november 25, 2011 the irancontra affair. Mcfarlane sought reagans approval, in spite of the embargo against selling arms to iran. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The iran contra scandal, as this video illustrates in the beginning, is probably one of the most ignored events of the 1980s. Understanding the irancontra affairs the irancontra. In 1987, amid the irancontra inquiry, investigators found that the scandal fit within a larger republican scheme for manipulating. Iran contra affair legal definition of iran contra affair. Jun 06, 2004 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 american experience official.
North, oliver oliver north testifying at the irancontra. Elizabeth montgomery, jack brooks, barbara honegger, david macmichael, george bush, sam. Armitage, carlucci and friends posted on april 8, 2012 by kevin ryan dick cheney and donald rumsfeld are among the leading suspects in the crimes of september 11, 2001. 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. Behind the irancontra affair dvd coverup exposes several of the most disturbing chapters in the history of u. Covered are the allegations of secret governments, drugs, cia involvement, assassinations and even a plan to suspend the constitution. These plans were apparently aborted when the irancontra scandal broke in november 1986. Congress or violated the stated public policy of the government. Despite the damage to his image, the president arguably got off easy, escaping the ultimate political sanction of impeachment. Irancontra summary executive summary in october and november 1986, two secret u.
Behind the iran contra affair is the third featurelength. Reagan appoints a commission, led by former senator john town rtx, to investigate the irancontra affairs dec. The irancontra scandal, as this video illustrates in the beginning, is probably one of the most ignored events of the 1980s. Special activities division under the command and control of the cias ncs. Congress established another investigation, which issued its. Irancontra affair larry gilman in october and november of 1986, it was discovered that for several years, agents of the united states government had been running an illegal operation to sell weapons to iran and funnel the profits to the contras, a military organization dedicated to overthrowing the leftist government of nicaragua. In the end, norths conviction was overturned on a technicality, and president bush issued six.
That clash continues under the presidency of george w. It is the only film that puts the entire iran contra affair into a meaningful political and historical context. It was the subject of 200 local radio shows and 150. In 1984, the boland amendment passed, which said that the cia and department of defense could not give militaristic aid specifically in nicaragua. It had limited time, and could not question two key agents, north or poindexter. Lawrence walshs contribution to history march 26, 2014 iran contra at 25. Behind the iran contra affair is the third featurelength documentary. She had an elder sister, martha bryan montgomery named after her aunt marthabryan allen, who died as an infant. Congress established another investigation, which issued its more. Knowledge of drug trafficking and the contras the national security archive obtained the handwritten notebooks of oliver north, the national security council aide who helped run the contra war and other reagan administration covert operations, through a freedom of information act lawsuit filed in 1989. Reproduces on microfiche over 20,000 pages of documentation, much of it highlyclassified, pertaining to the iran contra affair,1983 1988. President reagan and national security adviser robert mcfarlane. 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 irancontra affair was a vast and convoluted scandal during the 1980s that involved members of reagans national security council illicitly funding nicaraguan rebels. Under the boland amendment, further funding of the contras by the. The irancontra affair 20 years on the national security archive. Behind the iran contra affair or read the iran contra connection. Secret teams and covert operations in the reagan era by peter dale scott and judge for yourself. Lawrence walshs contribution to history march 26, 2014 irancontra at 25. Reagan makes his address to the nation on the investigation of the iran arms and contra aid controversy. Iran contra affair larry gilman in october and november of 1986, it was discovered that for several years, agents of the united states government had been running an illegal operation to sell weapons to iran and funnel the profits to the contras, a military organization dedicated to overthrowing the leftist government of nicaragua.
With elizabeth montgomery, jack brooks, barbara honegger, david macmichael. Fourteen people were charged with either operational or coverup crimes. 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. The irancontra affair the tower commission was named after its chair, former senator john tower, and was established by reagan to investigate the irancontra affair.
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