 1970s Nicaragua ◦ US supported dictator Anastasio Somoza  1979 ◦ FSLN overthrow Somoza  Frente Sandinista de Liberacion Nacional  Sandinista Junta of National Reconstruction

 Socialist group from Nicaragua  Guerrilla group ◦ Overthrow Nicaraguan dictator  Rule Nicaragua from  Support Marxist revolutionary movements in Latin America ◦ Joined by Cuba and Communist government of Fidel Castro

 Late 1970s ◦ Carter limits aid to Nicaragua ◦ Disagreed with Dictator Samoza’s government ◦ Pulled military funding ◦ Provided $ for humanitarian relief

 1981 ◦ Reagan cuts off aid to Nicaragua  Alleges that the Sandinistas were supported by USSR ◦ Reagan approves $20 million for the CIA to train opposition  Contras – counterrevolutionary guerilla soldiers

 Trained by CIA  Mostly remnants of Samoza’s National Guard  Anti-Sandinista guerillas  Anti-Communist  Operated out of Honduras and Costa Rica  Sandinistas label them terrorists ◦ Frequently attack civilians ◦ World Court condemns some actions as illegal

  Outlawed US government assistance to Contras for purpose of overthrowing Nicaraguan gov’t  US can no longer openly support Contras w/$  Does this give Congress too much power?

 Despite Congress’ ban on aid to the Contras, Reagan remained determined to help them ◦ Approves weapons sales to Iran ◦ Direct violation of a US arms embargo because of Iran-Iraq War

 Members of Reagan’s National Security Council come up with plan ◦ Vice Admiral John Poindexter ◦ Lt. Colonel Oliver North

 Israel shipped weapons to Iran ◦ US would resupply Israel and receive $ ◦ Iran would try to help US hostages held by Hezbollah be released ◦ Some $ would go to Contras  Oliver North’s part

 The scheme was revealed to Congress in 1986 followed by an investigation 1.Reagan admitted authorizing Iranian arms sales, but denied knowledge of the diversion of funds to the Contras  Saw opportunity to further relations with Iran

2. Other members of the administration engaged in a cover- up  North admitted destroying key documents (let off on a technicality)  Others lied and withheld evidence

 Nicaragua sues US before International Court of Justice ◦ Rules in favor of Nicaragua ◦ Mandates monetary compensation ◦ US blocks enforcement as permanent member of Security Council  Operation became seen as hostages- for-arms deal

 US foreign relations took a hit ◦ Willingness to engage in concessions with Iran and Hezbollah signaled that hostage-taking was an extremely useful instrument in extracting political and financial concessions for the West ◦ Undermined any credibility of U.S. criticism of other states' deviation from the principles of no-negotiation and no concession to terrorists and their demands