A Twilight Struggle: American Power and Nicaragua, 1977-1990"Kagan contends that the Carter administration's halfhearted intervention in Nicaragua was in response to American feelings of guilt for Washington's longtime support of the Somoza dynasty. The Reagan-era intervention, on the other hand, originated in American anxiety over Soviet encroachment in the Western hemisphere. Kagan recounts how American popular aversion to the employment of U.S. military muscle in Central America led to the administration's covert support of the contras and goes on to explain how the clash between the Reagan White House and Congress over "freedom fighter" funding led to the Iran-contra affair in 1987. Although the surprising electoral victory of Violeta Chamorro over the Sandinistas was widely recognized as a success for American policy, the U.S. remains caught in a continuous cycle of intervention and withdrawal in Nicaragua, according to Kagan. As a member of the State Department's Policy Planning Staff, Kagan was a direct participant in many of the events described in this authoritative and definitive account of U.S."--Publisher's description. |
Contents
Occupation and Its Consequences | 3 |
The Rise of Sandino | 12 |
The Good Neighbor and the Rise of Somoza | 20 |
Copyright | |
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administration's agreement American April Arias arms Arturo Cruz attack August Author's interview Bermúdez Boland Borge Bush Calero campaign Carter administration cease-fire Central America César Chamorro Congress Congressman conservative Contadora Contadora Group contras Costa Rica covert Cruz Cuban Daniel Ortega declared Democrats dinistas economic El Salvador elections Enders FBIS February fighters forces Gutman Honduras Humberto Ortega Ibid insisted istas January José July June junta Latin liberal Managua March McCurdy McCurdy's McFarlane meeting ment military aid moderate negotiations Nicaragua Nicaraguan government November October opposition leaders Panama City Panama City ACAN parties peace Pezzullo political Prensa President Reagan proposal Reagan administration Reagan officials rebels Republicans revolution Robelo Salvador Salvadoran guerrillas Sandin Sandinista army Sandinista leaders Sandinistas Secord Secretary Senate September Shultz Somoza Soviet Union strategy talks tion told reporters Tomás Borge troops United Vaky victory vote wanted Washington weapons Wright