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One reason is because the United States government publicly supported Iraq in the Iran-Iraq War. The secret sale of arms to Iran made it appear as if the Reagan Administration was propping up both sides of an extremely bloody war that lasted almost eight years and cost approximately 500,000 military casualties and 100,000 civilian deaths. The other major reason is that this sale was both for the release of hostages in Lebanon, as well as to make money to help fund the Contras in Nicaragua, a right-wing terrorist group that committed numerous human rights violations while trying to overthrow the socialist party in charge, the Sandinista National Liberation Front. Both of these motives were criticized heavily in the media, and the overall scandal is known as the Iran-Contra Affair.

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Kevin Stringer

Lvl 13
4y ago

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