President Ronald Reagan?

Question

It was discussed that the U.S. supplied arms to help rebel forces fight communist forces in Nicaragua. The U.S sold arms to Iran. How do you feel about the U.S. giving money and arms to other countries to help them fight their battles? Do you think other government agencies suh as the CIA should become involved in this activities?

Answer 1

I think we should stop trying to be the world's policeman. Our best bet would be to try to encourage all members of the conflict to sit down, discuss the issues, and try to come to some solution that, though it may not satisfy everyone, is at least workable. It's called diplomacy, and we need to use it more.

Answer 2

We have been giving arms and aid to other countries and factions for well over a century.

Not sure why you singeled out Reagan, all presidents have been involved in this since probably Grover Cleveland.

Sure, we gave guns and aid to Anti-Communist forces in many countries. Considering the hundreds of MILLIONS of people Commies murdered in the 20th Century, we should have given a lot more.

We also sold arms to Iran and Iraq so that those savages could kill each other with them. That was a good plan, I thought.

Answer 3

The U.S. did not fund or equip the Nicaraguan Democratic Front (a.k.a. the "Contras"). That was done by private individuals with the assistance of the Deputy Director for Political and Military Affairs in the Office of the National Security Advisor. His name was Lieutenant Colonel Oliver Lawrence North, Jr. and he was a Marine. If the U.S. had ever done so it would have violated U.S. law, specifically the Boland Amendment to the Defense Appropriations Act.
Military assistance to other nations has been a standard bit of operations since the inauguaration of President Kennedy. At one point we even had military assistance and advisory groups in over thirty countries during the Cold War. All perfectly legal. Private individuals can also get involved in these activities provided Congress issues them letters of marque and reprisal under its authority contained in Article One, Section Eight of the Constitution. The only barrier is the permitted arming of privateers, forbidden by a treaty we ratified some years ago.
North and his private business co-conspirators never did ask Congress for those letters. So, they violated Federal law.
The arms were sold to Iran to assist them in fighting a war against Iraq. In that, we violated a common sense rule: The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Iran had held Americans hostage for 444 days during the Carter administration. We should have sold those weapons to Iraq.

Answer 4

Nicaragua are our allies, I have no problem giving aid to our allies. I have a problem with us selling military stuff to people that will ultimately go to war with us.

I think the government agencies should withdraw their collective noses from other country's businesses for a decade or so and take care of our own.

Answer 5

the government supplies arms to 2 types of people.

people that oppose things that the US opposes (aggressive dictators, terrorists, drug lords that import drugs into the US...)

and people that are in danger from things that the US opposes (a stable peaceful government trying to avoid a military coup that would result in an aggressive dictatorship...drug lords corrupting a government...)

We do this for 2 reasons.
1. We're not particuarly interested in becoming the United World of America
2. We like living in a safe neighborhood.

It's like joining a neighborhood watch, you're really just worried about the safety of your own stuff, but you're not willing to go the distance to buy up every house in the neighborhood and create a gated community.

Answer 6

Intelligence is a messy business.

Answer 7

Assassins would be more effective.