Barry wasn't "completely amoral." Escobar et al would have shot Barry had he refused to run drugs into the US. It's not like he had a choice. Similarly, the CIA had the goods on Barry, too, and could have destroyed his career as a TWA pilot.
Of course, you are correct about the hypocrisy of the US. Nancy Reagan's "Just Say No" campaign was idiotic and everyone knew it. And it was her husband, President Reagan, who absurdly called marijuana "probably the most dangerous drug in the United States today."
After Iran Contra became public, Reagan gave a public address saying “A few months ago I told the American people I did not trade arms for hostages. My heart and my best intentions tell me that's true, but the facts and evidence tell me it is not.” Hard to believe anyone admires him today.
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Misty (221)
6 months ago
Nancy Reagan's Just Say No campaign was a PR exercise to change the perception of her in the media. There was a lot of coverage of her liking expensive designer dresses and her getting people fired from her husband's Administration.
The crack epidemic happened almost at the same time that Congress cut off funding for the Contra War in Nicaragua. Coincidence?
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Corbell (8535)
6 months ago
1. Just say No, was a fine anti-drug message. Simple slogans are good ways to make strong statements.
2. Let's recall that goal of trading arms for hostages was to rescue AMERICAN civilians. That is Reagan letting his desire to save people get him into trouble. That is hardly reason to hold him in contempt.
3. And why did Congress cut off funding to the contras? Because Reagan and America were WINNING against the communists and the DEMS in congress did not like that. They would rather have had the commies win, then having America win, if it might reflect well on Reagan's policies.
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mannerism (74)
6 months ago
1. A strong statement, yes, but recognizably absurd and everyone knew it.
2. Yes, rescuing Americans is a good goal but when done illegally - and stupidly - the film made the point that most of the guns went to the cartels which used them for more illegal acctivities, and that was just one of the examples where American intrusion into other countries backfired.
3. Congress cut funding off after the illegal program became public and an embarrassment.
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Corbell (8535)
6 months ago
1. No we didn't. It was fine. Sure some people talked shit about it, but they were mostly people that hated Reagan just for being a republican.
2. First I heard that claim. The contras seemed to get a lot of guns and did quite well with them. The cartels got MONEY. Eventually the marxist were forced to hold an election, that they LOST. How is that a backfire?
3. Nope. Congress cut off funding because the anti-communists were winning. Everyone knew about the program WAY before they cut the moeny. But the assumption was that the contras would lose. But then they started winning, and that was BAD for the dems. Good for America, bad for the dems.
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