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And [[economics|economically]] speaking, drug addicts essentially and effectively were enlisted into supporting the cause of anti-communism.

And [[economics|economically]] speaking, drug addicts essentially and effectively were enlisted into supporting the cause of anti-communism.

==Iran==

==Iranian involvement==

Contra aid had been authorized by Reagan in 1981, and by 1982 [[Barry Seal]] began operating out of Mena Arkansas. In late 1982, the First Boland Amendment was passed forbidding direct US aid. It was not until Reagan's second term, beginning in 1985, that sales to Iran were even discussed or considered.  

Contra aid had been authorized by Reagan in 1981, and by 1982 [[Barry Seal]] began operating out of Mena Arkansas. In late 1982, the First Boland Amendment was passed forbidding direct US aid. It was not until Reagan's second term, beginning in 1985, that sales to Iran were even discussed or considered.  

Sloppiness, lax security, and plundering the  CIA's cash strained the relationship between the CIA and Bill Clinton's Arkansas machine. The arrests in 1985 of Clinton's brother Roger and the head of the money laundering operation, [[ADFA]] bond trader [[Dan Lasater]], on cocaine charges caused CIA's decision to leave Arkansas and move the operation to Mexico. The shoot-down of Eugene Hasenfus on October 5, 1986 hastened CIA's exit. Not quite 30 days later a story was leaked to the [[Lebanese]] newspaper ''Al-Shiraa'' that the US sold arms to Iran. The cover story quicky became a few weapons shipment deliveries over the previous 18 months to Iran funded the Contra supply operation for the past 5 and a half years. Like the shipment of weapons to the [[Islamic State]] before the [[Benghazi massacre]], the [[Uniparty]] covered up its actions with a politicized Congressional probe.

Sloppiness, lax security, and plundering the  CIA's cash strained the relationship between the CIA and Bill Clinton's Arkansas machine. The arrests in 1985 of Clinton's brother Roger and the head of the money laundering operation, [[ADFA]] bond trader [[Dan Lasater]], on cocaine charges caused CIA's decision to leave Arkansas and move the operation to Mexico. The shoot-down of Eugene Hasenfus on October 5, 1986 hastened CIA's exit. Not quite 30 days later a story was leaked to the [[Lebanese]] newspaper ''Al-Shiraa'' that the US sold arms to Iran. The cover story quicky became a few weapons shipment deliveries over the previous 18 months to Iran funded the Contra supply operation for the past 5 and a half years. Like the shipment of weapons to the [[Islamic State]] before the [[Benghazi massacre]], the [[Uniparty]] covered up its actions with a politicized Congressional probe.

The first direct transfer of arms did not occur until May 1986 when National Securuty Adviser Robert McFarlane and Lt.Col. Oliver North secretly delivered arms and equipment to [[Teheran]] with a diplomatic note to the [[Ayatollah Khomeini]] from President Reagan along with other gifts. Prior to this direct contact, some weapons had been delivered through [[Israel]]i surrogates, in an effort to foster goodwill and relations between Iran and Israel. President Reagan was accused of trading ''arms for hostages'', not ''arms for cash to support the Contras''.<ref>http://blogs.cfr.org/zenko/2016/08/03/revisiting-president-reagans-iran-arms-for-hostages-initiative/</ref> Only after the Hasenfus shoot-down occurred did the official story become Iranian arms sales supported the Contra War for 7 years, thus covering up the Clinton's involvement.

The first direct transfer of arms did not occur until May 1986 when National Security Adviser Robert McFarlane and Lt.Col. Oliver North secretly delivered arms and equipment to [[Teheran]] with a diplomatic note to the [[Ayatollah Khomeini]] from President Reagan along with other gifts. Prior to this direct contact, some weapons had been delivered through [[Israel]]i surrogates, in an effort to foster goodwill and relations between Iran and Israel. President Reagan was accused of trading ''arms for hostages'', not ''arms for cash to support the Contras''.<ref>http://blogs.cfr.org/zenko/2016/08/03/revisiting-president-reagans-iran-arms-for-hostages-initiative/</ref> Only after the Hasenfus shoot-down occurred did the official story become Iranian arms sales supported the Contra War for 7 years, thus covering up the Clinton's involvement.

[[File:Handshake300.jpg|right|750px|thumb|[[Rumsfeld]] arranges weapons sales to [[Saddam]] during the [[Iran-Iraq war]]; the [[Contras|Contra war]] was exclusively funded by dope smuggling through Bill Clinton's Arkansas political machine at this time.]]

[[File:Handshake300.jpg|right|750px|thumb|[[Rumsfeld]] arranges weapons sales to [[Saddam]] during the [[Iran-Iraq war]]; the [[Contras|Contra war]] was exclusively funded by dope smuggling through Bill Clinton's Arkansas political machine at this time.]]

This same contradiction in the narative was revisited in 2003 when the US invaded Iraq to oust [[Saddam Hussein]]. A much publicized photo from 1982 of [[Donald Rumsfeld]] shaking hands with Saddam was circulated, recalling a time when the US sided with Iraq in its war with Iran. Critics of Reagan and Bush swallowed the CIA Iran/Contra cover story hook-line-and-sinker, that after the US quit supporting Saddam in 1985, a few belated arms shipments to Iran in 1986 had funded the entire Contra War from its beginning 1981, and not the Clinton's Arkansas drug running operation which had been ongoing since 1981.

This same contradiction in the narrative was revisited in 2003 when the US invaded Iraq to oust [[Saddam Hussein]]. A much publicized photo from 1982 of [[Donald Rumsfeld]] shaking hands with Saddam was circulated, recalling a time when the US sided with Iraq in its war with Iran. Critics of Reagan and Bush swallowed the CIA Iran/Contra cover story hook-line-and-sinker, that after the US quit supporting Saddam in 1985, a few belated arms shipments to Iran in 1986 had funded the entire Contra War from its beginning 1981, and not the Clinton's Arkansas drug running operation which had been ongoing since 1981.

After the US dropped Saddam as a client in 1985, the first transfer occurred covertly on August 20 of the same year when Israel sent 100 TOW missiles to Iran through an arms dealer named Manucher Ghorbanifar. The US agreed in advance to resupply Israel's stockpile, so the sale was indirect. Subsequently, on September 14, 1985, 408 more TOW missiles to use against Saddam's airforce were delivered. Payment by Ghorbanifar was made through the [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International]] (BCCI).<ref>http://www.umsl.edu/~thomaskp/khashoggi.htm</ref> As part of the deal, Iran supposedly would use their "good offices" to influence [[terrorist]] groups holding 7 American hostages. On September 15, 1985, following the second delivery, Reverend Benjamin Weir was released by his captors, the Islamic Jihad Organization.<ref>[http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/PS157/assignment%20files%20public/TOWER%20EXCERPTS.htm#PartII luence "Excerpts from the Tower Commission's Report"], January 26, 1987.</ref> Ultimately two hostages in total were released, but two more were taken, with net gain of zero being released.

After the US dropped Saddam as a client in 1985, the first transfer occurred covertly on August 20 of the same year when Israel sent 100 TOW missiles to Iran through an arms dealer named Manucher Ghorbanifar. The US agreed in advance to resupply Israel's stockpile, so the sale was indirect. Subsequently, on September 14, 1985, 408 more TOW missiles to use against Saddam's airforce were delivered. Payment by Ghorbanifar was made through the [[Bank of Credit and Commerce International]] (BCCI).<ref>http://www.umsl.edu/~thomaskp/khashoggi.htm</ref> As part of the deal, Iran supposedly would use their "good offices" to influence [[terrorist]] groups holding 7 American hostages. On September 15, 1985, following the second delivery, Reverend Benjamin Weir was released by his captors, the Islamic Jihad Organization.<ref>[http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/PS157/assignment%20files%20public/TOWER%20EXCERPTS.htm#PartII luence "Excerpts from the Tower Commission's Report"], January 26, 1987.</ref> Ultimately two hostages in total were released, but two more were taken, with net gain of zero being released.