那時加州許多人家突然院子裏都插個十字架，寫著 Iran-Contra
我啥都不懂，問了我的English conversation partner，一個基督教老太太，民主黨人士。她給我講了一大堆時事政治，從McArthy, Richard Nixson 到 Ronald Reagan。Iran-Contra發生在裏根總統年間，但泄露是已是 Georg H Bush年間。
老太太講起尼克鬆、麥卡錫聲淚俱下，說她丈夫就是被他們迫害的。
具體什麽事情大家隨便問一下AI就都有了。當然還有WikiPedea
The Iran-Contra affair was a political scandal during the Reagan administration where senior officials secretly facilitated the sale of arms to Iran, a nation under an arms embargo, and then used the profits to fund the Contras, a rebel group in Nicaragua, despite a Congressional ban on such funding
Here's a more detailed explanation:
Key Elements:
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.The arms sales to Iran violated the US arms embargo, and the funding of the Contras directly contradicted a Congressional ban on such aid.
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.The operation was conducted in secret, and officials involved engaged in dishonesty and deception when questioned about their actions.
Background:
- The US had a complex relationship with Iran, marked by the 1979 hostage crisis and ongoing tensions.
- The Reagan administration was committed to fighting communism, particularly in Central America, and the Contras were seen as a key force against the Sandinistas.
- Congress had previously prohibited US aid to the Contras, leading to the covert operation.
Consequences:
- The affair became a major scandal, raising serious questions about presidential power, the role of Congress in foreign policy, and the ethics of US foreign policy.
- Several officials were indicted and convicted, though some convictions were later overturned on appeal.
- The scandal damaged the Reagan administration's reputation and led to increased scrutiny of presidential actions.
Key Figures:
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.A National Security Council aide who played a central role in the operation, including the diversion of funds.
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.National Security Advisor who initially proposed the arms-for-hostages deal.
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.CIA Director who was involved in the planning and execution of the operation.
The Iran-Contra affair remains a significant event in US history, highlighting the potential dangers of unchecked executive power and the complexities of foreign policy decision-making.
