Ronald Reagan Testimony Part 1: Iran-Contra Affair / Poindexter Trial (1990)

February 16, 1990 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312219822?ie=UTF8&tag=doc06-20&link... Watch the full testimony: http://thefilmarchived.blogspot.com/2010/10/ronald-reagan-testimony-at-iran-c...

The Iran--Contra affair (Persian: ماجرای مک‌فارلین, Spanish: caso Irán-contras) was a political scandal in the United States that came to light in November 1986. During the Reagan administration, senior U.S. figures, including President Ronald Reagan, agreed to facilitate the sale of arms to Iran, the subject of an arms embargo. At least some U.S. officials also hoped that the arms sales would secure the release of hostages and allow U.S. intelligence agencies to fund the Nicaraguan contras.

The affair began as an operation to improve U.S.-Iranian relations. It was planned that Israel would ship weapons to a relatively moderate, politically influential group of Iranians, and then the U.S. would resupply Israel and receive the Israeli payment. The Iranian recipients promised to do everything in their power to achieve the release of six U.S. hostages, who were being held by the Lebanese Shia Islamist group Hezbollah, who in turn were unknowingly connected to the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution. The plan deteriorated into an arms-for-hostages scheme, in which members of the executive branch sold weapons to Iran in exchange for the release of the American hostages. Large modifications to the plan were devised by Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North of the National Security Council in late 1985, in which a portion of the proceeds from the weapon sales was diverted to fund anti-Sandinista and anti-communist rebels, or Contras, in Nicaragua.

While President Ronald Reagan was a supporter of the Contra cause, no conclusive evidence has been found showing that he authorized the diversion of the money raised by the Iranian arms sales to the Contras. Handwritten notes taken by Defense Secretary Casper Weinberger indicate that Reagan was aware of potential hostages transfers with Iran, as well as the sale of Hawk and TOW missiles to "moderates elements" within that country. Oliver North, one of the central figures in the affair, wrote in a book that "Ronald Reagan knew of and approved a great deal of what went on with both the Iranian initiative and private efforts on behalf of the contras and he received regular, detailed briefings on both." Mr. North also writes: "I have no doubt that he was told about the use of residuals for the contras, and that he approved it. Enthusiastically." North's account is difficult to verify because of the secrecy that still surrounds the affair.

After the weapon sales were revealed in November 1986, Reagan appeared on national television and stated that the weapons transfers had indeed occurred, but that the United States did not trade arms for hostages. To this day, it is unclear exactly what Reagan knew and when, and whether the arms sales were motivated by his desire to save the U.S. hostages. Notes taken December 7, 1985, by Defense Secretary Weinberger record that Reagan said that "he could answer charges of illegality but he couldnt answer charge [sic] that 'big strong President Reagan passed up a chance to free hostages.'" Investigations were compounded when large volumes of documents relating to the scandal were destroyed or withheld from investigators by Reagan administration officials. On March 4, 1987, Reagan returned to the airwaves in a nationally televised address, taking full responsibility for any actions that he was unaware of, and admitting that "what began as a strategic opening to Iran deteriorated, in its implementation, into trading arms for hostages."

Several investigations ensued, including those by the United States Congress and the three-man, Reagan-appointed Tower Commission. Neither found any evidence that President Reagan himself knew of the extent of the multiple programs. In the end, fourteen administration officials were indicted, including then-Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger. Eleven convictions resulted, some of which were vacated on appeal. The rest of those indicted or convicted were all pardoned in the final days of the George H. W. Bush presidency; Bush had been vice-president at the time of the affair.

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[zooooooperdooooooper]

The amazing hairpiece of Ronald Reagan, the most believable thing about this appearance.

[darrick1972]

That lying bastard Reagan sold drugs to Americans.

[xanicom]

He hid what was then called the "Gay cancer" from the poeple of the united states, but had been known for a very long time by himself and the government. Yes, this is yet another legacy which Ronald Reagan can claim during his illustrious career . So glad this ass is dead!

[xanicom]

Yes, this idiot, who had to have everything scripted for him without any form of original thought on his part, took the funding away from any prograam which would teach children to think for themselves. Yes, when this lousy actor died, I did throw a party celebrating the death of the ass that hid Aids from the people of the United States,

[xanicom]

I, being the old age of 49 now, remeber all too well what it was that Reagan "DID" to the people of California. I would have to say that the worst thing he did to califonia was a litle thing known as the "Jarvis-Gann" bill. Amongst many other horrible side effects of this bill, it removed the funding of anything involving the arts in public schools and boosted that of the sports or what I like to call the "Group mentality" activities.career

[xanicom]

While watching this and reading the comments left by others, I ran across a comment by a person that claims "photographic memory". Well, if your memory is so accurate, do you happen to remember which state it was that this "B" movie character relief actor to a monkey named Bonzo , was the governor was? the answer, California..

[howlinwolfcustoms]

We should be seeing this with Bush.........

[1984History]

Reagan didn't lying



[StanwoodSpartans]

People love Reagan because of stupid childish hulk mimics such as

"reagan smash"

or

simply because he requested the demolition of the berlin wall.

[MIKESOWELL]

@hucklebuckle1990 How can you blame the entire collapse of the American economy in the 2000s and now on one man from the 1980s? You act like he was a dictator or something. Some of his policies may have had some negative consequences, but he was far from the major factor for today. If you want to blame someone for today's problems, put some of the blame on Clinton for signing that stupid deregulation bill (Financial Services Modernization Act) in 1999.

[RockyBalboa211]

Great man! :D 

[doris780]

I wanted to comment...uh...I know it sounds silly but I just can't remember...uh... but that planes...uh, bombs...uh...drugs...I can't remember... terrorists...uh, drugs...more time with the family,uh,... I know it seems strange but I can't seem to...uh, drugs...planes...bombs...terro­r...uh, ha ha ha... our country, our freedoms are, uh, terror... drugs...uh, more time with, with, uh... I know it seems unlikely but I can;t remember what someone said to me my number one I had a plan a plan.......