Nicaragua+Contras

Contra: is a label given to the various rebel groups opposing the Sandinista Junta of National Reconstruction government in Nicaragua that were active from 1979 through to the early 1990s. The contras were against the the ideologies of implementing communism in Nicaragua

Russia dealt the arms to these opposing forces.

In July 1979, the pro-U.S. Somoza Government was overthrown by a revolution in Nicaragua. Within months, the broad coalition that had opposed Somoza had lost influence, and the best armed revolutionary group, the Sandinista Front for National Liberation (FSLN) led by Daniel Ortega, had consolidated power. Pres. Carter attempted to continue cordial U.S. relations with the Sandinistas, but his successor, Ronald Reagan came to office convinced that Sandinista Nicaragua represented a Soviet beachhead on the North American mainland. Consistent with the broad aims of the Reagan Doctrine, the US gave support for guerrillas committed to the overthrow of the FSLN regime in Nicaragua throughout the 1980s. It primarily was directed toward the Nicaraguan Democratic Front (FDN) and its political front organization, the United Nicaraguan Opposition (UNO). Commonly, these groups were known as "the Contras." This web page traces the main steps in the war between the Contras and the government of Nicaragua, 1981-90. Throughout the conflict, however, the US continued to maintain formal diplomatic relations with Managua. In January 1981, the US suspended all aid to Nicaragua; these Carter-era financial commitments were fully terminated, and all US aid spending was ended by the Reagan administration in April 1981. From August to October 1981, CIA officials and former Somoza National Guard leaders held a series of meetings in Guatemala City. There the CIA pressed for the formation of the Contras (Chamorro: pp. 18-23). About 500 anti-Sandinista fighters existed at this time. In November 1981, Pres. Reagan approved secret aid to the Contras.In March 1982, US covert contra aid ($19 million) became public. By the Fall of that year, a force of from 2000 to 3500 former National Guardsmen and others was present in Honduras. They were led by "Commander" Enrique Bermudez, who previously had served the Somoza regime as military attachment in Washington DC, 1978-9. These forces received military training and advice from Argentine military men who urged them to adopt a "dirty war" versus communism, saying: "We're the only people in Latin America who've beaten the communists in a war. The way to win is to fight a 'dirty war' like we did in the 1970s". At the time, Bermudez' security chief was Ricardo "Chino" Lau. Salvadoran Military Intelligence Chief Roberto Santivanez since has stated that Sr. Lau, in 1980, received in Guatemala $120,000 for his part in the assassination of Salvadoran Roman Catholic Archbishop Oscar Romero. According to Chamorro, Lau formally was fired by the Contras in mid-1982. Finally, in a reflection of the Cold War, the USSR discontinued all aid to Nicaragua and its Cuban ally withdrew all personnel by the end of 1990.

Our opinion is that the democratic policies supporter known as the Contra will become as corrupt and as useless as modern democratic society. Do you as an educated student believe that this is true?

Resources:
http://www.mbc.edu/faculty/gbowen/contras.htm