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
The Good Neighbor and the Rise of Somoza | 3 |
322 | 9 |
Human Rights and Dissociation | 27 |
Copyright | |
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According actions administration's advisers agreed agreement American Arias arms army asked assistance attack August beginning believed Bush called campaign Carter Central America Chamorro City committee Congress Congressman conservative Contadora continue contras Costa critics Cruz Daniel December demands Democrats Department Discusses economic effort elections FBIS February fighting forces foreign going guerrillas Honduras hoped House Humberto insisted intelligence interview issue January July June later Latin leaders liberal Managua March meeting ment military million moderate months negotiations Nicaragua North November October officials operation opposition Ortega Panama parties Pastor peace political position President pressure proposal Reagan administration rebels reporters Republicans Robert Salvador Sandinistas Sandino Secretary Senate September Shultz signed Somoza Soviet statement talks tion told United victory vote wanted Washington weapons weeks Wright York