Explain how members of the Reagan administration acted illegally to sell arms to Iran and aid the Contras in Nicaragua. In 2 sentences give reasons for and against these actions, and evaluate their impact.

Answer 1

Members of the Reagan administration illegally sold arms to Iran and diverted the profits to aid the Contras in Nicaragua in violation of U.S. laws and policies. The reasons for these actions included a desire to secure the release of American hostages in Lebanon and support anti-communist forces in Nicaragua, while the arguments against them included concerns about undermining U.S. foreign policy objectives and violating congressional restrictions. Ultimately, these illegal actions damaged the credibility of the Reagan administration, led to several convictions and investigations, and exposed the complexities and ethical dilemmas of U.S. foreign policy in the 1980s.