Iran/ContraThe link between secret arms sales to

Iran and covert military aid to rebels in Nicaragua.

Story Begins in 1979: Nicaragua elects “Sandanista Government”

U.S. Pres. Reagan supports “Contra rebels”The rebels, aka “freedom fighters” were supported by US Military & CIA

Congress Opposed

Boland amendment banned CIA & Dept. of Defense from aiding the rebels

Conspiracy Developed

National Security Council, an advisory unit in EOP, “went operational”, aiding the Contras

NSC Dir. Robt. McFarlane spearheaded effort

Separate Initiative: Secret sales of missiles to Iran (illegal because Iran was a “terrorist nation”)

Used profits to help the Contras

Scandal exposed in 1986

Reagan initially denied accusations

Later appeared on TV to admit that his staff had illegally aided the rebels

North & NSC Defiant with

Congress

Criminal Convictions of NSC staff & directors

Lt. Col. Oliver NorthConvicted 1988 Destroying and

falsifying documents Illegally receiving

personal gifts Obstructing Cong’l

investigation

Conviction reversed on technical grounds

NSC Director: Adm. John Poindexter

Convicted 1988 Criminal Conspiracy Obstructing Criminal

investigation Obstructing Congress

Conviction Reversed on Technical grounds

"I made a very deliberate decision not to tell the president so that I could insulate him from the decision…”

CIA indictments

Clair E. George, CIA, chief of covert operations

Duane R. Clarridge, chief of operations for the C.I.A.,

1991: indicted for perjury

Alan D. Fiers

Head of C.I.A. Latin America task force

1991: pleads guilty (withholding evidence from Congress)

1 yr probation & community service

Elliott L. Abrams

Assistant Secretary of State

1991, pleads guilty withholding info from Congress

Defense Secretary Indicted

Caspar Weinberger

1992: indicted, lying to Congress

Pardoned Dec. 24, 1992

Pres. George Bush pardoned

Weinberger

McFarlane

Abrams

George

Clarridge

Fiers

Bush said the "common denominator of their motivation -- whether their actions were right or wrong -- was patriotism."