Contras: Difference between revisions

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|crimes = [[War crimes]] [[Terrorism]] Human rights violations [[Kidnapping]] [[Torture]] Destruction of property Rape Extrajudicial [[murder]] [[Arson]]

|type of villains = Terrorists}}

The '''Contras''' were an anti-[[Communist]] organization in Nicaragua. Their tactics involved the destruction of civilian areas. The United States sent them funds until their deadly activities were discovered. Not long after, the [[Iran-Contra affair]] occurred, in which the Reagan Administration sold weapons to Iran and paid the Contras with the funds from the sales. However, the sales were discovered, and the people involved, particularly [[Oliver North]], were tried and acquitted for their involvement. The Contras disbanded in 1990 after the failed election of their rivals, the Sandanistas.

The '''Contras''' were an anti-Communist organization in Nicaragua. Their tactics involved the destruction of civilian areas. The United States sent them funds until their deadly activities were discovered. Not long after, the [[Iran-Contra affair]] occurred, in which the Reagan Administration sold weapons to Iran and paid the Contras with the funds from the sales. However, the sales were discovered, and the people involved, particularly [[Oliver North]], were tried and acquitted for their involvement. The Contras disbanded in 1990 after the failed election of their rivals, the Sandanistas.

==Background==

The United States began to support Contra activities against the Sandinista government by December 1981, with the CIA at the forefront of operations. The CIA supplied the funds and the equipment, coordinated training programs, and provided intelligence and target lists. While the Contras had little military successes, they did prove adept at carrying out CIA guerrilla warfare strategies from training manuals which advised them to incite mob violence, "neutralize" civilian leaders and government officials and attack "soft targets" — including schools, health clinics and cooperatives. The agency added to the Contras' sabotage efforts by blowing up refineries and pipelines, and mining ports. Finally, according to former Contra leader Edgar Chamorro, CIA trainers also gave Contra soldiers large knives. "A commando knife [was given], and our people, everybody wanted to have a knife like that, to kill people, to cut their throats"

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 |crimes = [[War crimes]]<br>[[Terrorism]]<br>Human rights violations<br>[[Kidnapping]]<br>[[Torture]]<br>Destruction of property<br>Rape<br>Extrajudicial [[murder]]<br>[[Arson]]
 |type of villains = Terrorists}}
-The '''Contras''' were an anti-[[Communist]] organization in Nicaragua. Their tactics involved the destruction of civilian areas. The United States sent them funds until their deadly activities were discovered. Not long after, the [[Iran-Contra affair]] occurred, in which the Reagan Administration sold weapons to Iran and paid the Contras with the funds from the sales. However, the sales were discovered, and the people involved, particularly [[Oliver North]], were tried and acquitted for their involvement. The Contras disbanded in 1990 after the failed election of their rivals, the Sandanistas.
+The '''Contras''' were an anti-Communist organization in Nicaragua. Their tactics involved the destruction of civilian areas. The United States sent them funds until their deadly activities were discovered. Not long after, the [[Iran-Contra affair]] occurred, in which the Reagan Administration sold weapons to Iran and paid the Contras with the funds from the sales. However, the sales were discovered, and the people involved, particularly [[Oliver North]], were tried and acquitted for their involvement. The Contras disbanded in 1990 after the failed election of their rivals, the Sandanistas.
 ==Background==
 The United States began to support Contra activities against the Sandinista government by December 1981, with the CIA at the forefront of operations. The CIA supplied the funds and the equipment, coordinated training programs, and provided intelligence and target lists. While the Contras had little military successes, they did prove adept at carrying out CIA guerrilla warfare strategies from training manuals which advised them to incite mob violence, "neutralize" civilian leaders and government officials and attack "soft targets" — including schools, health clinics and cooperatives. The agency added to the Contras' sabotage efforts by blowing up refineries and pipelines, and mining ports. Finally, according to former Contra leader Edgar Chamorro, CIA trainers also gave Contra soldiers large knives. "A commando knife [was given], and our people, everybody wanted to have a knife like that, to kill people, to cut their throats"