Abstract
The Iran Contra scandal is one of the greatest scandals in US government in recent memory. It was certainly the biggest foreign policy scandal during the 1980s. It involved at its heart two secret operations conducted by the executive branch of the United States government. The Reagan administration facilitated the sale of military equipment to Iran an enemy of the United States and considered a nation that sponsored terrorism. With the money from that sale a second operation was funded: Military aid was provided to the contra rebels in Nicaragua, aid that Congress had previously banned. This paper details the events surrounding the Iran-Contra scandal that took place during former President Reagan's term in office. The paper discusses why these actions were so scandalous and what it meant in terms of the US government's abuse of its power and its disregard for the Constitution. The paper contends that the scandal represents a major abuse of the constitutional authority afforded the executive branch of the US government, not to mention an affront to the checks and balances system that is supposed to keep each branch of government from amassing too much power.

Tags:iran, contra, scandal

Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to introduce and analyze the topic of the Iran-Contra Affair. Specifically, the paper discusses what the Iran-Contra Affair was, how it developed, how it was discovered, the Congressional hearings, and the aftermath. The Iran-Contra Affair was really a series of covert operations initiated by the Reagan Administration and carried out, first, by the CIA and then the NSC. These affairs were investigated by Congressional committees after they became public and were as detrimental to the government as the Watergate affair because they subverted the Congress and the Constitution.

From the Paper
"The Iran-contra affair is certainly one of the most notorious acts in United States governmental history. Many critics have likened it to the Watergate Scandal of the 1970s Nixon administration in terms of importance and sheer ignorance. One writer noted, "The Iran-contra affair raised serious questions about the nature and scope of congressional oversight of foreign affairs and the limits of the executive branch" (Editors 23448). After the Congressional hearings ended, numerous reports and recounting of testimony were published, including a 690-page report from the Tower and other committees who investigated the affairs. Caspar Weinberger (Secretary of the Defense) and several other participants were pardoned by President George H.W. Bush in 1992, and North and Poindexter's criminal convictions were eventually overturned, so very little actually happened legally to the main participants in the affairs."

Tags:watergate, presidene, government, corrupt, politics, cia, foreign

Abstract
In this paper, the writer argues contrary to popular belief, the Reagan was correct in his motivation behind Iran-contra, though the writer does disagree with some of Reagan's methods. In particular, the writer attempts to show that the Reagan administration's support of the Nicaraguan Democratic Resistance was politically necessary; first because the Sandinista government posed a threat to international democracy, secondly because the administration did not violate the Boland amendment, and finally that the U.S. government sold far too many weapons to Iran to secure the release of American hostages.

From the Paper
"First of all, the Sandinista government posed a threat to international democracy during the 1980's. The decision to aid the Nicaraguan Democratic Resistance was a bold but wise policy decision for two main reasons; its goal of spreading democracy and the elimination of the Sandinista government's ties to communist nations. The "Sandinista" government that had taken over in 1979 immediately consolidated its own power, throwing out the constitution, presidency, congress and all courts on August 22 (Merrill). Governing decisions were made by the Joint National Directorate, a nine-member body which kept sole control until May 4th, with the establishment of the Council of State. Various political groups were responsible for appointing the thirty-three members of the council, at the time the FSLN controlled only twelve seats, though soon after an additional fourteen seats were added, twelve of which went to the FSLN, giving them control of twenty-four out of forty-seven seats (Merrill)."

Tags:Sandinista, government, Boland, amendment, arms, sales, hostages

Abstract
This paper explains that, when Ronald Reagan became president, one of his most crucial goals was to stop the spread of leftist ideologies in Central America especially in Nicaragua. The author points out that, in Reagan's second term, this objective expanded into several separate entities concerning secret arms deals with the nation of Iran for the release of American hostages and the covert shipping of weapons and cash to the Contra rebels in Nicaragua. The paper relates that the amazing details of these allegedly illegal actions were revealed to the public and became part of the American cultural consciousness in the form of "Irangate". The author stresses that a long series of highly-publicized governmental hearings, special investigations and the prosecution of many upper echelon officials of the Reagan and Bush administrations revealed that some kind of clandestine operation had occurred, which would determine U.S. foreign policy for years to come.

From the Paper
"The ultimate findings of the Tower Commission were not good for Oliver North who continued his covert operations with Iran for at least another year, all the while transferring arms and cash to his beleaguered Contra amigos in Nicaragua and shredding thousands of documents with the able assistance of his beautiful and loyal secretary Fawn Hall. When Oliver North was given complete immunity by the joint congressional hearings, he made it crystal clear to everyone involved that he was only carrying out his orders so as to defend his self-proclaimed "Operation Democracy"."

Tags:shah, khomeini, arms-for-hostages, north, ghorbanifar, cynicism

Abstract
This paper analyzes intelligence cycle focusing on processing and exploitation in the involvement of the Contras.

Abstract
This paper examines the reason why President Ronald Reagen may have considered getting involved in toppling the Sandinista government of Nicaragua. It looks at the domestic and foreign policies of the administration and questions the possible motives for such a potential scandal. It looks at what the government thought it could benefit from involvement in this matter.

From the Paper
"High-ranking members of the administration of President Ronald Reagan and President Ronald Reagan himself were amongst the people who violated United States laws during the Iran Contra Affair. The reasons for doing this may be speculative, it is certain that these people arranged the secret sales weapons to the terrorists of Iran. Why did Reagan do this? How did the government allow such actions by members of Reagan's Administration? Who was the Nicaraguan "contra" rebels? Was Reagan's hatred of communism so great that he placed America in danger?"

Tags:sandinista, nicaragua, america, government, communism, cia, cobra, middle, east, national, security, lebanon

Abstract
Specifically, this paper will address one of the primary means in the philosophy of mind for testing machine intelligence. The focus of this analysis will be toward understanding 1) the Turing Test, and 2) John Searle's 'Chinese Room Argument' which argues that the manipulation of symbols is not sufficient for a measure of thinking. 18 pgs. 20 f/c. 3b.

Tags:SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY / TECHNOLOGIES AND SOCIETY, artificial intelligence

From the Paper
"The first week of November, 1986, was possibly the worst week of Ronald Reagan's Presidency. It began on an upbeat note, on Monday, with the release of an American hostage by radical Shiites in Lebanon. But this hostage release failed to provide any "November surprise" for Reagan's and the Republican cause the next day: On Tuesday, November 4, the midterm congressional elections returned control of the Senate to the Democrats. Practically all of the Republican candidates for whom Reagan had personally campaigned were defeated. And, on that same day, an obscure Lebanese weekly newspaper, Al Shiraa, published a report which made a bizarre allegation: that the Reagan Administration, which had vowed never to negotiate with terrorists, had in fact sold arms to Iran in turn for the release of hostages (Johnson, 1991, pp. 295-96)..."

Abstract
This paper explains that Oliver North, notorious participant in the Iran-Contra Crisis of the 1980s, represents a low time in American history and a shows how even the strongest and most secure governments can fall to scandal, mistrust and misuse of their power and influence. The author points out that North's years as a Marine in the 1970s helped form his conservative outlook and dedication to duty that served him so well in his governmental career. The paper relates that, even through the Iran-Contra affairs were scandalous, North did not seem to see his part in them as wrong, called the contras "freedom fighters" and thought funding them was a "neat idea".

From the Paper
"Oliver North was born on October 7, 1943 in San Antonio, Texas. He was raised in Philmont, New York, and after he graduated from high school he attended the State University of New York at Brockport, and then the U.S. Naval Academy, where he graduated in 1968. After he graduated from the Naval Academy, he served as a U.S. Marine for twenty-two years. During this time he fought in the Vietnam War, and was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star for valor, and two Purple Hearts for wounds in combat. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant Cornel during his time with the Marines. He actually only spent a short time in Vietnam during his career. Later, he was an instructor in basic training at Quantico Marine Base from 1969 to 1973. Then in the late 1970s he was posted at the Naval War College in Newport, R.I.."

Tags:scapegoat, funding, orders, convicted, testimony

Abstract
Nicaragua is the largest of the Central American republics. U.S. imperialism has done a lot of harm to this Central American country, especially through the reality of the Contra war, which the U.S. supported and conducted throughout the 1980s. To be sure, the Contra war left an indelible mark on the Nicaraguan personality. The history of Nicaragua is a story about American supported authoritarianism and civil war. The violence that has been exported from the United States in this effort has had a drastic impact on the Nicaraguan people.

Tags:nicaragua