TT#12 | 13 Facts about the Iran-Contra Scandal

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        ( Photo by Theron Parlin)

The Iran-Contra scandal of the '80s implicated numerous U.S. government officials in illegal schemes and cover-ups.  This summary is based largely on Special Prosecutor Lawrence Walsh's report but includes other sources. Given the scandal's complexity, this summary is hyper-simplified.

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A.  Some Basics About Iran-Contra

1. Controversial "Christmas Eve pardons."  On December 24, 1992, President George H.W. Bush (Bush the elder, who was vice president during Iran-Contra) pardoned six people involved in the scandal -- two officials before they faced trials.

2. What was the scandal about? The scandal involved two illegal government operations designed to implement secret Reagan Administration policies, coordinated by National Security Staff: 

a) The "Contra" component (1984-86):  The Reagan Administration secretly provided illegal aid to a guerrilla group known as "the Contras," which sought to overthrow Nicaragua's Sandista government. 

b) The Iran component (1985-1986):  The Administration secretly tried to get American hostages released from the Mideast by selling embargoed U.S. weapons to Iran.

U.S. operatives funneled to the Contras money from the illegal sale of weapons to Iran.

3. How was the scandal exposed?  On October 5, 1986, Nicaraguan soldiers shot down an American plane carrying supplies to the Contras. The surviving crew member, Eugene Hasenfus, was arrested and said he worked for the CIA.  On November 3, a Lebanese newspaper reported the secret sale of U.S. arms to Iran. On November 25, Attorney General Ed Meese announced that money from the arms sales to Iran had gone to the Contras.

4. The Contras & Drugs.  On July 28, 1988, two DEA agents testified to a House subcommittee about a sting operation against the Medellin Drug Cartel: evidence suggested that the Contras made money via drug trafficking. The agents said that Oliver North (see #8) wanted to give the Contras $1.5 million in bribe money held by a DEA informant, but DEA officials siad "no." A Senate Subcommittee led by John Kerry found that some U.S. officials viewed drug money as a solution to the Contras' funding problems.

 5. The Cover-up.  According to Walsh, from fall 1986 through summer 1987, senior Reagan Administration officials tried to deceive Congress and the public about their knowledge of the Iran-Contra operations.

B. Indictments, Convictions & Pardons

6. Caspar Weinberger, Reagan's Defense Secretary. Weinberger allegedly participated in the transfer of U.S. missiles to Iran.  He was indicted on multiple counts including obstruction and perjury. Ultimately, 4 counts stood, each carrying a maximum of 5 years' prison and $250,000 in fines. President G.H.W. Bush pardoned him 12 days before the trial. Weinberger died in 2006.

7. Duane Clarridge, CIA supervisor/operative. He allegedly helped organize Contra forces to overthrow Nicaragua's government. Clarridge was indicted on seven counts of perjury and making false statements about a secret shipment of U.S. missiles to Iran. President G.H.W. Bush pardoned Clarridge about 3 months before the trial.

8. Oliver North, U.S. Marine officer.  He allegedly coordinated arms sales to Iran.  North was indicted on 16 felony counts and convicted of 3 -- including destruction of documents after major paper-shredding. He got a three-year suspended prison sentence. North appealed, and the case was dismissed on technicalities.  North ran for U.S. Senate in 1994 and lost.  He's a commentator on Fox.

9. Richard Secord, Air Force officer. He allegedly represented U.S. arms dealers before the Shah of Iran. Secord was indicted on 15 counts including 6 felonies. He pled guilty to impeding and obstructing congressional investigations and got 2 years' probation.      

10. Robert McFarlane, Reagan's National Security adviser. McFarlane allegedly helped coordinate weapons transfers to Iran. He pled guilty to 4 misdemeanor counts of withholding information from Congress and was sentenced to probation.  President G.H.W. Bush pardoned him.

11. John Poindexter, Reagan's National Security adviser. He was convicted of multiple  felonies, e.g., defrauding the government, destruction of evidence, and perjury.  The conviction was overturned on technicalities.  Poindexter went on to work for government contractors.  In 2002, President G.W. Bush appointed him as head of the Total Information Awareness Office, a domestic-spying entity.  Poindexter resigned before serving a year.

12. Elliot Abrams, Reagan's Deputy Secretary of State.  Abrams allegedly was involved in the cover-up.  He avoided trial by pleading guilty of two misdemeanor counts of withholding information from Congress and got probation. President G.H.W. Bush pardoned him. As president, Bush later appointed Abrams as a Special Assistant and Senior Director on the National Security Council. 

13. Clair George, CIA Deputy Director of Operations. As a supervisor, George allegedly had extensive knowledge of both the Iran and Contra components.  He was indicted on seven counts of perjury and making false statements re: a secret shipment of U.S. missiles to Iran.  President G.H.W. Bush pardoned him.

Bonus: Did President Reagan Break the Law? Oliver North repeatedly testified that he believed Reagan approved of North's activities, but North did not offer direct proof. Walsh could not conclude concluded that Reagan violated criminal statutes but believed that Reagan had created a climate in which senior officials felt free to disregard the nation's laws.

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Sources

CNN Cold War:  Interview with Oscar Manuel Sobalvarro

Independent Prosecutor's Final Report : Table of contents (links to other parts)

George Washington Univ. (GWU):  The Contras, Cocaine & Covert Operations

Time Magazine:  But What Laws Were Broken? (1985)

Wikipedia:  Iran-Contra Affair  (has many internal links)

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BN-Politics' Posts

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    * Blackwater Investigated re: Illegal Arms Smuggling in Iraq

    * Have U.S. Officials Protected Blackwater?

 

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Comments

[This Girl Remembers]

Wow, what a reminder about how our government has been operating for YEARS. Reminds me of a great book I read years ago - should read it again because I've fotgotten most of it - "Lies My Teacher Told Me."

[SandyCarlson]

I read through this and realize how many shadows are cast over reality by the government so that we think we're voting over issues, but those issues are really just dust jackets covering the ugly truth of corruption and special interest.

Great post.

Mine's up at http://slcthoughts.blogspot.com

[Michael Schurmann]

Quite informative! You guys do a great job sharing important facts!

Thanks for stopping by!

[David]

"As it was in the beginning
Is today official sinning,
And shall be fore ever more."

[Mathew James Didier]

The "Hyphenated Horror" of Iran-Contra... thanks for actually making it easy to comprehend... trying to explain it often leads me to confuse people more than before they asked about it! (I'm takin' notes!)

[katskrackerbox]

Wow, those are some amazing facts. No wonder the U.S. is in the mess it is now.

[Celticangel]

And that was the most straightforward list of information about that whole debacle that I have ever seen. Thank you.

[Nicholas]

I didn't know the half of this! Will we ever know for sure how dirty Reagan's hands were?

[Elisa]

Thanks for stopping by my TT. You have quite a bit of information here. I'm never surprised by governmental weirdness anymore. Le Sigh.

[.: mar]

Very informative TT, thanks!!

[Terri]

Wow, I'll admit I'm not up on current political scandals much less past political scandals. This post makes me want to brush up on my history.

Very thought provoking.

[Jendi]

Your site is a great history resource.
I like the way you just give the facts.

[J. Lynne]

I know I lived through all of this, but the only thing about Ollie's trial that I really really remember is that he got really pinged for buying some danced tights for his daughter using his government credit card. It always seems to me that the media and the investigators super focus on the teeniest of things and lose sight of the big picture. Kind of like whether or not Bill Clinton had consenting adultry instead of whether or not he committed an actual crime.

Great history lesson.

[Thorne]

Another great TT. Wow. You grrrlllz/guyz are amazing. Even though I'm currently kinda hiding out and licking my political wounds, I love coming by this blog. In one way, it breaks my heart to see another TT like this and be reminded so clearly that all this GWB crap is nothing new... The more I learn, the more I wonder: "Was America ever the place of shining dreams and 'liberty' that we all believed?" I should have included Dave Matthews "American Baby" in my TT of songs that break my heart. Thanks for being strong enough to keep blogging the truth.

[Kara]

Thanks so much for visiting my site - your link worked fine. Your TT was a great reminder to me about some past events that I was either unclear of or had trouble remembering everything. Get site!!!!

[Mallory]

What I remember most was everyone involved having a "convenient" memory whilst testifying. I have never heard the words, "I do not recall..." so many times. Oh yeah, when Alberto Gonzales testified recently I thought I was having a flashback.

[Kendra]

that was really interesting... thanks for sharing that!

and thanks for stopping by my TT again this week too!

[Mark Caldwell]

Thanks for visiting my TT.

I'd say something incisive about this terrible mess but my head's imploded with cold and I'd probably say something offensive or stupid instead :-(