1980's Arms Deal:Iran-Contra Affair

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Introduction
The Iran-Contra Affair was a highly secret deal that mainly involved the trading of arms between the United States and terrorists in Lebanon. The United States engages in the trading of arms and missiles so that some Americans held hostage by terrorists in Lebanon would be released. Further, the proceeds made from the trade deal were used to support armed conflict in the country of Nicaragua. The Iran-Contra Affair became so big an affair. The political scandal that ensued threatened to unseat Ronald Reagan, who was the then-president of the United States (Taylor Iran-Contra scandal tarnished credibility / But Americans forgave president after he admitted judgment errors). This paper will focus on the Iran-Contra Affair dissecting it so that all appropriate details are captured.
The Boland Amendment
Experts argue that the Iran-Contra Affair would never have seen the light of day were it not for the political climate of the early 1980s. A brief background of this political climate is necessary. President Reagan assumed office in 1980. In his presidential campaigns, he had promised that he would assist anti-communist ideologies around the globe. There was one significant hurdle, however. In the 1982 mid-term elections, most of the seats in both the house of representatives and the senate were occupied by the Democrats. Consequently, President Reagan became a great challenge to propagate his ideologies/ policies (Taylor Iran-Contra scandal tarnished credibility / But Americans forgave president after he admitted judgment errors). Soon after the mid-term elections, the democrats in congress passed Boland Amendment. The amendment restricted the involvement of the central intelligence authority in conflicts happening outside the United States. Further, the defense department was rendered relatively powerless when it comes to involving itself with conflicts happening outside the borders of the United States (Britannica The Iran-Contra Affair). It is helpful to point out that the amendment greatly aimed at Nicaragua, where there was an ongoing conflict between the anti-communist contras and the Sandinista government, which supported the conflict. As noted previously, Reagan had promised to assist the anti-communist movement. In Nicaragua, the anti-communist movement was using proceeds from the sale of cocaine to advance their agendas. This illegal trade was what prompted the US Congress to pass the Boland amendment. Despite the amendment, President Reagan advised his national security advisor to find a way to support the drug-dealing Contras in Nicaragua so that the anti-communist team would win against the Sandinista government.
The Arms Deal
While this was happening, there arose a great conflict in the Middle East. Two countries (Iran and Iraq) were involved in an immense armed conflict. US relations with these countries were not good at the time. Additionally, it happened that just around the same time, some terrorists who were backed by Iran were holding some 7 American citizens as hostages in Lebanon. Reagan issued an ultimatum to his advisors that they must figure out a way of freeing those hostages and bring them back to America. Reagan's national security advisor, McFarlane...