The Boland Amendment was unconstitutional. In any event, its spirit, but not letter, was violated, since the National Security Council was not prohibited from taking actions to fund the Contras. In the end, before it could be litigated, the Boland Amendment was repealed.
Iran was a hostile regime, but not formally an enemy. The Administration understood itself to be dealing with a moderate faction, trying to strengthen its hand. The Iranians had influence over Hezbollah, which had kidnapped the Americans. The mistake was primarily to provide an incentive for more hostage taking, if the Hezbollah and Iran acted in tandem.
The Contras were not terrorists, but were guerrillas, some reputable, some not, but all useful in putting pressure on the Sandanistas to hold elections, and to derail the sponsorship of insurgencies in other territories. The strategy worked.
Yes, Iran is considered a rogue nation. It is not the only one, and, in any case, the primary reason for SDI is to supercede MAD and allow strategic build- down.
When one considers how much he did for the country and the free world over all, I agree, we should name another airport after him....... |
