Behind the Bastards Cracktoberfest Part Three: The Iran-Contra Affair
Oct 5, 2022
Dive into the intricate web of the Iran-Contra Affair, exploring the covert operations that shaped U.S. foreign policy. Discover how a Wisconsin native ended up in Nicaraguan jungles amidst the chaos. The conversation blends humor with serious critiques on colonialism and the crack epidemic. Unravel the dense intersection of cocaine culture and Cold War complexities, while weighing the moral ambiguities and personal narratives of those involved in this controversial period of American history.
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Iran-Contra's Broader Impact
- Iran-Contra sits in the middle of a larger story linking Cold War geopolitics to the crack epidemic.
- Understanding this scandal helps explain much of gang violence and drug trade history in the U.S.
Cold War: Turf Wars and Ideologies
- The Cold War was a fight over ideological control, symbolized by turf wars even on the streets.
- The U.S. opposed communism very close to home and fought proxy wars to maintain dominance.
American Pilot Caught in Nicaragua
- Gene Hossenfoss from Wisconsin was caught flying a Soviet-made weapons plane over Nicaragua.
- He admitted on TV he was working for the CIA to supply weapons to the Contras in Nicaragua.
