...CROSSING THE LINE: IRAN-CONTRA AFFAIR Writing Assignment 2 Chris Benjamin 4513163 HIST102 B025 Fall 14 Marc Wenner American Psychological Association November 16 2014 American Military University Introduction One of the most famous scandals of American history is the Iran-Contra Affair, which took place in 1985, during the Reagan administration. Shortly after taking office, President Reagan found himself facing difficult decisions, as many presidents have done so before and after him. Foreign policy is at the top of every presidents list during their term in office; Reagan’s foreign policy was to achieve “peace through strength”. This policy was put to the test when U.S. government officials became threatened of national security relations with two seemingly unrelated counties Iran and Nicaragua. Tension rose when radical Islamic movement overthrew U.S. backed Iran government in 1979. The U.S. tried bolstering relation with Iran by selling weapons to them, in turn the administration felt with the backing of Iran they could negotiate the release of seven American hostages being held by Iranian terrorists in Lebanon. On the other side of the world was Nicaragua which the U.S. has shown interest since the 20th century, due to the region’s close proximity to America. Relations with Nicaragua, falter after the Nicaragua government was toppled by a revolutionary government, the Sandinista Liberation Front. Tensions worsen, when Sandinistas sought relationship ties with Cuba...
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...Comparison and Contrast between the Evolution of Democracy in Iran and Turkey, from 1900 to the Present. Name: Institution: Date: Please write on top of each of your exams its exact title as its appear below, making sure your answers are itemized (i.e., answer the points ONE BY ONE, and not combine them). ITEMIZE YOUR ANSWERS Mid Term Exam Compare and contrast the evolution of democracy in Iran and Turkey, from 1900 to present. In process of writing your exam, you must provide the following A history of democratization process in (1) Iran (two pages) Comparison and Contrast between the Evolution of Democracy in Iran and Turkey, from 1900 to the Present A History of Democratization Process in Iran Iran has had some important movements that lead towards democracy from the year 1900 to present. At the beginning of the twentieth century, Iran experienced protests and disagreements against the foreign intervention and Qajar. Patriotic opinions of the religious classes established a Constitutional Movement that took place from 1905 to 1911. An alliance consisting of ulama bazaaris and fellow thinkers forced Qajar Shah to pass a constitution to enact a parliament 1906. The introduction of the constitution limited the absolutist rule powers. After the discovery of oil in 1908 in Britain, Qajar Shah Position and military power weakened. Some artists were in Europe to study and master academic paintings and upon their return; they found fine arts academies (Arjomand, 2008). During the...
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...James L. Carter’s Presidential Time in Office In 1976 Americans chose James L. Carter versus Gerald Ford as their new president. The former governor of Georgia was appointed in hopes of defending American interests in the midst of the Cold War. Of President Carters’ administration, one of its most resilient adversities was faced Iran. Former President Dwight D. Eisenhower overthrew the leader of Iran in the 1953 Iranian coup d'etat, and used nuclear threats to conclude the Korean War with China. The New Look policy, the national security policy of the United States during his administration, called the New Look policy gave priority to inexpensive nuclear weapons while reducing the funding for the other military forces; the goal was to keep pressure on the Soviet Union and reduce federal deficits. Carter collaborated in this conquest. In response, Iran installed oppression of fanatical Moslem ayatollahs. This new government seized the American embassy in violation of the diplomatic law, withholding 66 hostages for the rest of the Carter administration. On November 14, 1979 President Carter immobilized the sale of weapons to Iran, banned all oil imports from them, and froze Iranian assets in the United States. The following year conditions for the release of the hostages were announced by the Shah but only in January 20th, 1981 when Ronald Reagan becomes President were they set free. The hostages were released a few hours before his installation in the White House. A new...
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...Reagan Analysis George W Ivery III HIS 145 June 16, 2014 Shaun Sullivan Reagan Analysis President Ronald Reagan the 40th President of the United States had certain qualities that made people think of him in several different lights. One of the ways people saw him is overrated and taking credit for what he did not do when he resided at the White House as president. On the other hand some said he is much underrated due to him not getting proper credit for some of the things he did and changed while he was in office. He had quite a few items that are in the history of this country, which include the Principles of the New Right, the Iran Contra Affair, and credit for ending the Cold War between the United States (U. S.) and the Soviet Union (USSR). These are just a few items that will be taken into consideration to see if he was or was not the person that is liked or disliked by the people of the U. S. The election of President Reagan in 1980 saw the emergence of what was considered the “conservative cause known as the “New Right” movement, partly in response to counter-cultural protests of the 1960’s-evangelical Christian groups, social issues” (The resurgence of conservatism 1980-2000, 2014). The Reagan Doctrine; “A strategy orchestrated and implemented by the United States under the Reagan Administration to oppose the global influence of the Soviet Union during the final years of the Cold War” (The resurgence of conservatism 1980-2000, 2014). It is also known as...
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...win—unless gigantic changes are made.”1 * If we are willing to learn-history has some very valuable and powerful lessons to teach us. For example, it teaches us that we cannot win our war against terrorism. * As history has proven, there are some essential lessons to be learned about the future of our nation. History is a wonderful teacher. We will start with that and then move on to a greater teacher of why we can’t win and conquer this beast of we call “terrorism” unless there are some massive and drastic changes made-if it isn’t already too late! Especially within the leadership of government and we as an American people and nation. We will be destined to simply accept it as the norm and just continue to prepare for the next extremist group to attack. UNLESS…. changes are made quickly!! Terrorisms Roots In order to understand this war, we have ourselves in, we must first understand where it all came from and how it began. Iraq has been a major player in America’s global war on terrorism. They are and have been an extremely dangerous part of the equation. But, they are not the head of the terrorist snake. To see the roots of terrorism, we must go back in history. It’s not nearly enough to just destroy the branches of the tree, we must pull up the terrorist tree by the roots. That is the only way to win this war. In 1979, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini overthrew the shah. Khomeini established Iran as the world’s number-one state sponsor of terrorism. When Khomeini...
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...Reagan an Overrated President Tami Arreguin HIS/145 July 15, 2013 Nancy Fraleigh Ronald Reagan an Overrated President Ronald Reagan, the nation's 40th president, only recently became one of the most revered men in history. Reagan's ratings were higher than the averages of his three immediate predecessors Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford, and Richard Nixon (Newport, Jones, & Saad, 2004) . How and why would so many Americans too soon forget all of the dishonesty and broken promises that came out of the White House while Reagan was in office? It is clear that many factors came into play that goes to show that Ronald Reagan is highly overrated as not only the president, but also an individual. One of the first situations that occurred, as Reagan was sworn in, was the release of the 51 hostages from the American Embassy in Tehran. It seemed that the projected win of the future President Reagan triggered some fear in the Iranians. However, there were a few incidences that occurred, prior to the inauguration of Reagan, that actually set the stage for the emanate release of the hostages. (United States History, n.d.) In July, near the last leg of the presidential race, The Shah of Iran died. The return of the Shah, being one of the many requests in negotiations with the Iranian’s, was now neutralized. This brought the negotiations one step closer to closure (United States History, n.d.). Also, shortly after the death of the Shah, Iraq invaded Iran which created a need...
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...against there will. The living conditions and time spent in captivity took a mental and physical toll on the Americans involved. The hatred among the United States and Iran grew significantly during the time of the crisis. The Iranian Hostage Crisis was the greatest contributor to negatively impacting the economy and US's realtionship with Iran. The Iranian Hostage began on November 4, 1979 and lasted for four hundred forty-four days until January 20 1981. In 1977 the stage was set for the revolution and the virtual severance of ties between Iran and the United States (Gorman 1181)The seizure of the American embassy was initially planned in September 1979 by Ebrahim Asgharzadez (“Iranian Hostage Crisis” weebly). The takeover was orginally suppose to be short-term but US didnt follow the demands of Iran. In the words of Asgharzades, “We intented to detain.... for a few days, ,aybe one week, but no more.”(Gorman 1184) Asgharzadez consulted with the heads of the Islamic associations of Tehran's main universities. “Our aim was to object the American government by going to their embassy and occupying it for several hours” (“Background and Causes of Islamic Revolution”). In February of 1979 less than a year before the crisis began, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi the Shah of Iran had been overtaken in the revoultion of Iran (“Iranian Revoultion” Wikipedia). “Months before the revolution... Jimmy Carter angered anti-Shah Iranians with a...
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...collectively make up our nations history. In that history we see change, growth and experience loss. These events make us the people, that make up the country that love and contribute to. I chose five events in time that brought about a tremendous change across the world, and making life as we know it today, a walk in the park. MONTGOMERY BUS BOYCOTT Montgomery Alabama, 1955 and 1956 was an extremely volatile time for African-Americans and Whites, but the events of that year made history and changed the way of life for every Montgomery resident. The Montgomery Bus Boycott was a peaceful protest that lasted one year. Its main goal was to put an end to racially segregated seating on buses, but by the end it accomplished much more (Toonari). A Walk on the wild side Prior to the Supreme Court 1956 decision, African-Americans were forced to ride at the back of the bus. They suffered ridicule and racial slures at the hands of the bus drivers and the White passengers. In the early 1950’s two teenagers, Claudette Colvin and Mary Louise Smith were both arrested for refusing to give their seats to white passengers (Allen, R. 2000). Although this created some tension within the African-American community it tool the arrest of Rosa Parks, a former NAACP secretary who refused to give up her seat on the bus, on December 1, 1955 to set the wheels in motion for what would be known as the largest, most organized, non-violent protest in history (Allen, R. 2000). Support...
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...born February 6, 1911, and died June 5, 2004; Severed two terms as the 40th President of the United States of America from 1981 to 1989, succeeding President Jimmy Carter. Know as conservative Republican, hard-line anticommunist and skilled orator that earned him the nickname “the Great Communicator” (Ronald W. Reagan, 2013). Remembered for his foreign policies and is credited with the demise of the Soviet Union and ending the cold war and the Iran-Contra affair. Reagan is often credited with the release the remaining 51 American hostages that had been held captive in Iran for 444 days. During the Jimmy Carter administration on November 4, 1979 Islamic revolutionaries stormed the United States Embassy in Tehran and captured 66 American hostages. The hostage crisis the most significant issue facing Americans in the final year of Carters final year as president and played a crucial roll in Carter not winning re-election (Iran hostage crisis. 2013). A political war was taking place in Iran with the left and right wing revolutionaries and their new leader, the Ayatollah Khomeini. The hostages were caught in the middle of the struggle. Iran issued the demand that as a condition of the hostage’s release, the shah who had entered the United States to seek medical treatment be extradited back to Iran. Iran also insisted that the United States stopped interfering in Iranian affairs. 13 days into the crisis Iran ordered the release of 13 hostages; all of the hostages were either women or...
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...The Iran-Contra Affair In 1980, Ronald Reagan won the presidential election, and despite his efforts to keep the Republican majority in Congress, the Democrats swept both houses in the midterm elections. This democratic majority would complicate President Reagan’s agenda, specifically in regard to the Reagan Doctrine, a policy that promoted American support for nations resisting communism. One example of a complication would be the Boland Amendment. The Reagan Doctrine laid the foundation for monetary and military assistance to “freedom fighters” all over the world who were fighting against communism. It was the basis for not only America’s support for the Contras in Nicaragua, but also for Afghanistan against the Soviet Union and for the...
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...defined as the ability to influence other people’s life and behavior. It has been common since thousands years ago that a group of people chooses someone to lead them and make important decisions that affect everybody’s life, as today people elect president and senates or before they chose kings and advisors. Usually leaders make up rules and regulation to control the people’s behavior, solve the problems and move towards a goal that a society is seeking. For instance, in the “lord of the flies” novel, one of the first things that kids, who were stuck in an island, did was to choose a leader. After that the leader, who was Ralph made a goal, which was being rescued form the island and made a rule for talking, that was “whoever wanted to talk should have hold the conch”(Golding 43). People who have the power and lead a society, basically directly or indirectly influence everyone’s life, even people who didn’t choose them as a leader or even people of other countries. For example the conflict between Iran’s and U.S or U.S and Russia’s government affects civilians of these countries, as U.S puts economic sanctions against Iran or Russia, it influences the income of these counties citizens. It was only a simple example that how a U.S president can affect an Iranian civilian’s business. I believe in our century people should get selected to have power, which are not thirsty of having power. Wise people who really care about human being and care about future of human’s life should be in...
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...The support of these groups was a way to perpetuate the containment policy. Chile: The Other 9/11 (2003), color, 60 minutes. British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).:d Nicholas White; p Nicholas White; c Chris Openshaw Chile: The Other 9/11 is a documentary by the BBC which details the hour-by hour events of the military coup that led General Augusto Pinochet to power during the Cold War. On September 11th, 1973 President Salvador Allende was warned of a possible rebellion but continued on to the Presidential Palace of La Moneda in Santiago, Chile. That day President Allende sent out a broadcast that he will not step down. Allende was the first Marxist to be democratically elected. He put into place reforms that raised wages, lowered prices, and advocated for free education and healthcare. He nationalized banks and industries such as American-owned copper mines which really infuriated President Nixon (White 2003). On September 11th, the military, led by the Commander of the Army General Augusto Pinochet, surrounded the palace demanding that President Allende transfer power to the military and police because of inflation, shortages, and inability to keep the peace. Weeks before this there was a failed coup because many members of the military did not support it. With the military surrounding the palace, General Pinochet orders the air force to destroy radio transmitters that broadcasted on behalf of Allende (White 2003). Pinochet offers Allende a safe...
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...Mostafavi Moosavi Khomeini became the leader of Iran and opposed alliance with the United States. Medical treatment of the Shah and U.S. intervention lead to the Iranian...
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...Carole Lormand September 28, 2013 The Overrated Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan, the nation’s 40th president is one of the most overrated men in history. Americans did not forget all the broken promises and dishonesty they dealt with while Reagan was in office. For many reasons he would be considered a good President but there are many more reasons that he would not. Reagan’s ratings were higher than the averages of his three immediate predecessors, Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford, and Richard Nixon (Frank Newport, 2004). When rating Reagan, many factors show that he is indeed overrated, not only as a president but an individual as well. During Reagan’s term in office Americans faced recession, debt, high unemployment, questionable foreign policy and wasteful spending among other things. As Reagan was sworn, one of the first incidents, which were the release of the 51 hostages from the American Embassy in Tehran, occurred. It seemed as if the Iranians feared the win of future President Ronald Reagan. However, there were a few incidents that occurred prior to the inauguration of Reagan that actually set the stage for the emanate release of the hostages (United States History). The Shah of Iran died right before the presidential rae was over. Shah’s return, one of the requests in negotiations with the Iranians, was neutralized. The negotiations were now closer to closure. Iraq then invaded Iran which caused them to need weapons. Iranians negotiatiated arms-for-hostages once again. However...
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...Rebecca Teixeira Paper #2 United States – Iran Relations According to The New York Times Iran’s leader finally spoke out on July’s nuclear agreement. After decades of less than amicable relations between Iran and the United States, this agreement could mean the potential for peace at last. An article in The New York Times from July laying out the basics of the agreement states after 20 months of negotiations, the United States and Iran along with five other nations, came to a long awaited nuclear agreement for the next 15 years. The agreement limits Tehran’s nuclear power in exchange for lifting the sanctions on international oil and finance. Iran agreed to limit its current stock pile of low-enriched uranium by 98%, most likely shipping much of it to Russia. Also, the nation agreed to turn the Fordo plant into a center for science research as well as limit the enrichment percentage from 5% to 3.7% in Natanz (another large uranium plant in Iran). It is important to understand these restrictions because it will allow the amount of time it takes to put a nuclear bomb together from two to three months to a year. In order to secure that Iran will follow through with these limitations, the nation has agreed to allow the International Atomic Energy Agency access to information on its nuclear program and investigations of nuclear sites. In turn, Iran has asked that the embargo on imports and exports of conventional arms and ballistic missiles put in place in 2006 be lifted (2)...
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