Changes

==Mena Arkansas==

==Mena Arkansas==

The Mena Airport in Arkansas became the logistical point for implementation of US Central American policy. On 5 October 1986 a transport aircraft delivering weapons to the Nicaraguan Contras was shot down by a surface-to-air shoulder launched missile. Two U.S. pilots and a Nicaraguan radio operator died while [[Eugene Hasenfus]], the "kicker" responsible for pushing cargo out of the aircraft, survived. The aircraft was carrying "60 collapsible [[AK-47]] rifles, 50,000 AK-47 rifle cartridges, several dozen [[RPG-7]] grenade launchers and 150 pairs of jungle boots". The plane had been owned by Barry Seals and based in Mena, Arkansas.<ref>http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB920421328276427000 </ref>

The Mena Airport in Arkansas became the logistical point for implementation of US Central American policy. On 5 October 1986 a transport aircraft delivering weapons to the Nicaraguan Contras was shot down by a surface-to-air shoulder launched missile. Two U.S. pilots and a Nicaraguan radio operator died while [[Eugene Hasenfus]], the "kicker" responsible for pushing cargo out of the aircraft, survived. The aircraft was carrying "60 collapsible [[AK-47]] rifles, 50,000 AK-47 rifle cartridges, several dozen [[RPG-7]] grenade launchers and 150 pairs of jungle boots".<ref name=Lange>Timothy Lange, ''Daily Kos'', 27 December 2009, [http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/12/27/819675/-Blast-from-the-Past-Gene-Hasenfus-December-1986 Blast from the Past. Gene Hasenfus: December 1986]</ref> The plane had been owned by Barry Seals and based in Mena, Arkansas.<ref>http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB920421328276427000 </ref>

The scandal was first discovered by an assistant to Attorney General Ed Meese, who found a memorandum written by Lieutenant Colonel [[Oliver North]], which documented the diversion of funds to the Contras. After the discovery of the memorandum, President [[Ronald Reagan]] met with both houses of Congress to disclose their findings; he then asked for the appointment of an independent counsel.<ref>''An American Life, The Autobiography of Ronald Reagan, pg. 530''</ref>

The scandal was first discovered by an assistant to Attorney General Ed Meese, who found a memorandum written by Lieutenant Colonel [[Oliver North]], which documented the diversion of funds to the Contras. After the discovery of the memorandum, President [[Ronald Reagan]] met with both houses of Congress to disclose their findings; he then asked for the appointment of an independent counsel.<ref>''An American Life, The Autobiography of Ronald Reagan, pg. 530''</ref>