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| − | The '''Contras''' were a collection of former soldiers from the Samoza regime opposed to communism in [[Nicaragua]] in the 1980s. They were dubbed "counter-revolutionaries" by the leftist [[Sandinista]] government of [[Nicaragua]] in the 1980s. The [[United States of America|United States]] under Presidents [[Jimmy Carter]] <ref> "After the Sandinistas took power, Carter authorized the CIA to provide financial and other support to their opponents." [http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Blum/Nicaragua_KH.html] </ref> | + | The '''Contras''' were a collection of freedom fighters and political activists opposed to [[communism]] in [[Nicaragua]] in the 1980s. They were dubbed "counter-revolutionaries" by the leftist [[Sandinista]] government of [[Nicaragua]] in the 1980s. The [[United States of America|United States]] under Presidents [[Jimmy Carter]] <ref> "After the Sandinistas took power, Carter authorized the CIA to provide financial and other support to their opponents." [http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Blum/Nicaragua_KH.html] </ref> |
| | and [[Ronald Reagan]] covertly supported the Contras. | | and [[Ronald Reagan]] covertly supported the Contras. |
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| | Revelations of this covert funding fueled the [[Iran-Contra_Affair|Iran-Contra affair]]. [[Oliver North]], who was intimately involved with the funding, is currently a senior correspondent at the [[Fox News Channel]]. No one was ever convicted of violating any law by finding the Contras. Convictions for other aspects of the covert operation were overturned on appeal. | | Revelations of this covert funding fueled the [[Iran-Contra_Affair|Iran-Contra affair]]. [[Oliver North]], who was intimately involved with the funding, is currently a senior correspondent at the [[Fox News Channel]]. No one was ever convicted of violating any law by finding the Contras. Convictions for other aspects of the covert operation were overturned on appeal. |
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| − | Communist propaganda portrayed them as even more notorious brutes than the [[Sandinistas]]. According to this portrayal, the Contras "regularly destroyed health centers, [[school]]s, agricultural cooperatives, and community centers-symbols of the Sandinistas' social programs in rural areas." [http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Blum/Nicaragua_KH.html]
| + | Leftist propaganda portrayed them as even more notorious brutes than the [[Sandinistas]]. According to this portrayal, the Contras "regularly destroyed health centers, [[school]]s, agricultural cooperatives, and community centers-symbols of the Sandinistas' social programs in rural areas." <ref>[http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Blum/Nicaragua_KH.html www.thirdworldtraveler.com, a Leftist website]</ref> |
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| | President [[Ronald Reagan]] honored the Contras by describing them as the "Moral Equivalent of our Founding Fathers." | | President [[Ronald Reagan]] honored the Contras by describing them as the "Moral Equivalent of our Founding Fathers." |
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| | ==Notes== | | ==Notes== |
| | <references/> | | <references/> |
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| | [[category:International Politics]] | | [[category:International Politics]] |
| | + | [[Category:Nicaragua]] |