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The '''Iran-Contra Affair''' ('''Operation Black Eagle''' and also sometimes called '''Iran-gate''') was the result of an arms deal between the [[United States]], [[Iran]] and the Nicaraguan [[Contras]], an anti-communist guerilla group operating against the [[Marxist]] government of [[Nicaragua]]. Essentially, arms were sold to Iran despite an international embargo which was spearheaded just years earlier by the United States. The proceeds from this arms sale were then used to purchase additional arms for the Contras operating in the mountains of Nicaragua.  When these transactions became public, [[Donald Regan]], Chief of Staff to President Ronald Reagan resigned, and a Special Prosecutor Lawrence Walsh was appointed.  Walsh then prosecuted a number of high-level Reagan Administration officials.  Although not generally known at the time, two future Presidents, George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton, were also involved.  The matter ended with President George H. W. Bush pardoning the key players on the eve of their trial.

The '''Iran-Contra Affair''' ('''Operation Black Eagle''' and also sometimes called '''Iran-gate''') was the result of an arms deal between the [[United States]], [[Iran]] and the Nicaraguan [[Contras]], an anti-communist guerilla group operating against the [[Marxist]] government of [[Nicaragua]]. Essentially, arms were sold to Iran despite an international embargo which was spearheaded just years earlier by the United States. The proceeds from this arms sale were then used to purchase additional arms for the Contras operating in the mountains of Nicaragua.  When these transactions became public, [[Donald Regan]], Chief of Staff to President Ronald Reagan resigned, and a Special Prosecutor Lawrence Walsh was appointed.  Walsh then prosecuted a number of high-level Reagan Administration officials.  Although not generally known at the time, two future Presidents, George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton, were also involved.  The matter ended with President George H. W. Bush pardoning the key players on the eve of their trial.

While the [[foreign policy]] of the United States is explicitly the purvue of the President, Congress nonetheless retains the power of the purse. President Reagan wished to actively oppose [[Soviet]] and [[Cuba]]n fomented violent [[Marxist]] [[revolution]] in [[Central America]] and their active material support of the [[communist]] regime of [[Daniel Ortega]] and the Nicaragua [[Sandinista]]s. The [[Boland Amendment]] however, forbid the use of any US federal funds to overthrow the Nicaraguan communist regime. Sources of funding were sought elsewhere.<ref>http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1987-05-06/news/8702030597_1_gen-richard-secord-anxiety-and-ignorance-supply-effort </ref>

While the [[foreign policy]] of the United States is explicitly the purvue of the President, Congress nonetheless retains the power of the purse. President Reagan wished to actively oppose the [[Soviet]] and [[Cuba]]n fomented violence and [[Marxist]] [[revolution]] in [[Central America]], and their active material support of the [[communist]] regime of [[Daniel Ortega]] and the Nicaragua [[Sandinista]]s. The [[Boland Amendment]] however, forbid the use of any US federal funds to overthrow the Nicaraguan communist regime. Sources of funding were sought elsewhere.<ref>http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1987-05-06/news/8702030597_1_gen-richard-secord-anxiety-and-ignorance-supply-effort </ref>

CIA Director William Casey masterminded an arrangement through private, non-governmental entities and international arms sellers to raise funds and arm the Contras. A split-off policy followed to sell arms to [[Iran-Iraq war|Iran in its war]] with [[Saddam Hussein]] which Iran was badly losing. Arms sales to Iran also hopefully would improve US-Iranian relations which hit a low and broke off during the [[Carter administration]].

CIA Director William Casey masterminded an arrangement through private, non-governmental entities and international arms sellers to raise funds and arm the Contras. A split-off policy followed to sell arms to [[Iran-Iraq war|Iran in its war]] with [[Saddam Hussein]] which Iran was badly losing. Arms sales to Iran also hopefully would improve US-Iranian relations which hit a low and broke off during the [[Carter administration]].