Iran-Contra Scandal Analysis

In 1985, President Ronald Regan and his administration began what is now known Iran-Contra Scandal. This scandal dealt with the United States selling weapons to Iran, via Israel, to attempt to help free Americans hostage held in Lebanon. They then used the money made from these sales to finance guerilla fighters in Nicaragua, who were fighting against their communist government. President Regan may have felt that he and his administration were doing the greater good in the fight against communism and to try and free our hostages, but this choice was unethical and dramatically overstepped his authority.
The biggest issue with these transactions were that they were all done without the approval of Congress. By bypassing Congress in these trades completely violated the United States Constitution and what our forefathers intended when they created our country based on the separation of powers.
The Export Administration Act of 1979 clearly states that the United States cannot sell weapons to a country who is on the Secretary of States list of countries who sponsor Terrorism. In 1985 Iran was one of these countries. By selling these weapons to Iran, the Reagan administration not only broke the law, but they provided a means of war to an enemy country. This is not only unethical, but should have been seen as treason.
The last ethical issue we will discuss is the aid provided to the Contra Guerillas in Nicaragua. In 1984 after several brutal murders of Catholic Priests and Nuns, Congress passed the Boland Amendment which prohibited any American agency from providing aid to the Contra’s. Once again the Regan Administration broke the law. Even though these guerillas were fighting communism, the murder of innocent civilians and parishioners cannot be overlooked. Winning a small battle against Communism, isn’t worth the lives that were