The Iran-Contra Affair Explained

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  • čas přidán 17. 05. 2024
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    Mr. Beat explains the Iran-Contra affair. He really does. Check out the entire #projectmad playlist here: • Project MAD
    Produced by Matt Beat. All images/video by Matt Beat, found in the public domain, or used under fair use guidelines. Music by Electric Needle Room (Mr. Beat's band), Bobby Richards, and Carmen Maria and Edu Espinal.
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    The Iran-Contra Affair was probably the most serious scandal of the Reagan presidency, and hurt his legacy, especially regarding his foreign policy. To this day, many contend that he knew more than he actually said he did. Still, Reagan remained a popular President in his final days in office.
    Once upon a time, a dude named Ronald Reagan was an American President. When he first took office, he was pretty passionate about fighting Communism, with a capital C. In particular, the Soviet Union. Even though the Cold War had been going on for 36 years, tensions were still high between the two countries. It’s safe to say that Reagan escalated those tensions during his first years in office.
    Specifically, Reagan had two ongoing Cold War problems he had to deal with. One, the spread of Communism in Latin America. And two, extremists in the Middle East who kept taking American hostages. During the first hours of his Presidency, Iran released 52 Americans who had been held hostage for more than a year. Militants first kidnapped them after invading the American embassy in Tehran. In the aftermath of what became known as the Iran Hostage Crisis, relations between the United States and Iran remained hostile.
    #apush #ushistory

Komentáře • 1,6K

  • @iammrbeat
    @iammrbeat  Před 2 lety +247

    What other Reagan-era events should I cover?
    Invest in yourself! Use my link and check out the first chapter of any DataCamp course for FREE! bit.ly/3kCUB2Z
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  • @ryangreene50
    @ryangreene50 Před 2 lety +993

    "the cia denied this, however"
    Oh, well case closed then

    • @epicmatter3512
      @epicmatter3512 Před 2 lety +5

      That’s an anti-Semitic conspiracy theory

    • @angryyordle4640
      @angryyordle4640 Před 2 lety +42

      Yeah, you know, Gary Webb also put those two bullets into his brain by himself.

    • @robertortiz-wilson1588
      @robertortiz-wilson1588 Před 2 lety +1

      I don't trust the CIA either, but has anyone ever really pointed out good evidence for this? Yes, beyond that one journalist basically giving his glorified opinion.

    • @Smily-lx5ue
      @Smily-lx5ue Před 2 lety

      @@robertortiz-wilson1588 it was alot of people who said this LOL def not just one

    • @jpheitman1
      @jpheitman1 Před 2 lety +1

      @@Smily-lx5ue Well, that's as good as evidence.

  • @JJMcCullough
    @JJMcCullough Před 2 lety +1390

    I sometimes wonder if scandals actually have much of an impact on a politician's legacy if they are very complicated. Iran-Contra was like the biggest thing in the world at the time, with round-the-clock media coverage, and all the hearings, and all the different characters, and drip-drip-drip of new information, day after day after day. People said it was like Watergate because Watergate was also a big media extravaganza and also very complex and full of characters and intrigue. But I feel like the further we get away from those scandals, the more the complexity of them starts to alienate new generations, who have no memory of their intensity, and are disinterested in learning about their details.
    I also think the fact that a lot of scandals have a kind of underwhelming ending kind of makes them seem less important in retrospect. Like Iran-Contra didn't bring down Reagan, a lot of the top people got pardoned, and Reagan remained (and remains) very popular with Republicans. So I guess it's like... at some point, a scandal's historic power relies very heavily on an ongoing effort to keep a fading memory alive in the minds of the public inclined to forget. Which I guess is what Mr. Beat is doing here!

    • @iammrbeat
      @iammrbeat  Před 2 lety +277

      I wonder the same thing! Russiagate will probably end up being a footnote, especially since it's now overshadowed by the January 6th insurrection.

    • @multiperson86
      @multiperson86 Před 2 lety +58

      Probably a good point, whenever people think of Clinton it always goes to the Monica Lewinsky scandal, whether that's because it's more recent is yet to be determined. I believe it has to do more with the simplicity of it all, I mean it's almost primal in it's simplicity.

    • @JJMcCullough
      @JJMcCullough Před 2 lety +55

      @@multiperson86 Absolutely. To the point where people have largely forget all the more specifically political details (the charges of perjury and obstruction of Congress etc) in favor of the simple narrative that Clinton was revealed to have had an affair while president and this was very shocking.

    • @SaintSteven67
      @SaintSteven67 Před 2 lety +46

      I remember when that happened - and most of Reagan's defenders had one thing in common: they thought we must stop Communism from spreading. To them, the end justified the means - even if the end was never achieved. I think that's why he got a pass because even Democrats at that time agreed that Communism was a serious threat. I contend that the 1980s saw a resurgence of the Red Scare like in the 1950s and 1920s.

    • @DavidNunezPNW
      @DavidNunezPNW Před 2 lety +13

      There are people living in the US who's parents, aunts and uncles were murdered because of Regan's administrations actions, as well as all the people who's lives were ruined with the crack/cocaine boom in the 80's. It's important to know the real history of what happened so administrations never get to do it again.

  • @chrisnemec5644
    @chrisnemec5644 Před 2 lety +494

    One thing I remember the most from the time was a comment made by comedian Mark Russell: "For years we've been telling Reagan he's out of touch with what his staff was doing, and he would say 'No, I'm on top of things.' Then Iran-Contra came out, and we said 'Oh, so you were on top of things, right?' and he replied 'No, I was out of touch.'" 🙄

    • @iammrbeat
      @iammrbeat  Před 2 lety +124

      Leave it to comedians to report things better than newscasters.

    • @history-jovian
      @history-jovian Před rokem +1

      Lol

    • @j.dunlop8295
      @j.dunlop8295 Před měsícem +1

      Plausible deniability, is when a high up official tells his or infers they want something done! But doesn't out and out say it!

  • @BassTrombone95
    @BassTrombone95 Před 2 lety +158

    It's kind of insane how US presidents can just pardon whoever they want.
    They don't even need a valid justification, it's as simple as "I like this person and don't want them to get in trouble for extremely illegal activities, so they're permanently off the hook"

    • @rorypaul153
      @rorypaul153 Před rokem +9

      And sometimes they lose their job because of it, such as Gerald Ford. They can also face criminal charges later on for pardoning someone for a favor, etc.

    • @Eddie-ud4bb
      @Eddie-ud4bb Před rokem

      You are absolutely correct. Trump pardoned all kindsa cronie criminals

    • @fighterck6241
      @fighterck6241 Před rokem +17

      ​@@rorypaul153 The latter never happens though. At least not yet.

    • @rorypaul153
      @rorypaul153 Před rokem +3

      @@fighterck6241 bc most the time its simply not the case, and it’s very hard to prove.

    • @cyancat8633
      @cyancat8633 Před 9 měsíci

      Wait a damn minute the can actually face consequences for this. I thought the got Scott free from this like Nixon and a major scandal and the next president just pardon him with no consequences, oh the corruption we live in.

  • @billytompkins6694
    @billytompkins6694 Před 2 lety +394

    As an Englishman I only found about this due to American dad. Its a catchy song

  • @donalny
    @donalny Před 2 lety +141

    Also: George HW Bush was the former head of the CIA. And Bill Barr was the Attorney General who helped Bush run through all those last-minute pardons.

    • @Eddie-ud4bb
      @Eddie-ud4bb Před rokem +22

      Bush pardoning all those scumbags was disgusting

    • @Sceptonic
      @Sceptonic Před rokem

      ​@@Eddie-ud4bb both Bushes did irreparable damage to the country

  • @formeruspresidentharrystru9240

    Anyone else remember Reagan firing lasers from his eyes?

    • @psmsedwinfran501
      @psmsedwinfran501 Před 2 lety +48

      Yeah, i saw it one time on tv. It was amazing actually.

    • @jeffredfern3744
      @jeffredfern3744 Před 2 lety +119

      Thats how Gorbachev got the spot on his forehead.

    • @johanrunfeldt7174
      @johanrunfeldt7174 Před 2 lety +35

      He got those surgically installed when he was Governor of California and the Black Panthers were doing their marches in the late 60s.

    • @revolutionaryape7568
      @revolutionaryape7568 Před 2 lety +7

      @@jeffredfern3744 Nice one😂😂😂

    • @revolutionaryape7568
      @revolutionaryape7568 Před 2 lety +3

      Mr. President please don't bomb

  • @Demons972
    @Demons972 Před 2 lety +131

    As a young Nicaraguan i apreciate the history lesson, they don't teach us about this in schools, 3 of my uncle's 17 year olds by the time were drafted by the FSLN and one of them died in combat.
    RIP uncle David i never meet you but i will never forget you.

  • @mackyprimmy
    @mackyprimmy Před 2 lety +206

    You might’ve caught the CIA’s attention, but the NSA was always watching.

  • @deteon1418
    @deteon1418 Před 2 lety +434

    Say something more American than overthrowing a democracy “for the good of democracy”.

    • @21prik
      @21prik Před 2 lety +6

      The Sandinistas were not a democracy. They had an authoritarian unelected communist dictator and lost the first free election they had in 1990. Now they are back in power destroying the county again.

    • @rockmycd1319
      @rockmycd1319 Před 2 lety +57

      @@21prik Not really, the 1984 election was actually quite clean, and opposition, despite a boycott from major opposing parties, still managed to gain a significant percentage in the popular vote.
      And even if this wasn't the case, the US has helped overthrow plenty of democracies in the past, notably the 1953 Iranian coup and the Pinochet's rise to power in Chile.

    • @dan2178
      @dan2178 Před 2 lety +4

      Usa is not democracy.

    • @deteon1418
      @deteon1418 Před 2 lety +15

      @@dan2178 They are, its just not a very good one.

    • @dan2178
      @dan2178 Před 2 lety +2

      @@deteon1418 no its not. Not at all.

  • @bozo5632
    @bozo5632 Před 2 lety +148

    We used to say "Boycott cocaine, bankrupt the CIA." But they've diversified their portfolio since then.

    • @marcusdonahue7124
      @marcusdonahue7124 Před 2 lety +16

      Heroin Fentynal methamphetamine and and children

    • @19Pyrus70
      @19Pyrus70 Před rokem +3

      ​@@marcusdonahue7124
      Don't forget military consultation services.

    • @EthanNiedorowski
      @EthanNiedorowski Před měsícem

      The also skim

  • @hippoking4307
    @hippoking4307 Před 2 lety +207

    I feel like all mr. beat videos start with something he’ll never do again

  • @Token_Nerd
    @Token_Nerd Před 2 lety +1086

    I will never understand why Raegan was able to wash off Iran Contra while Carter is still stuck with the Iranian Hostage Crisis.

    • @JustJimmyGD
      @JustJimmyGD Před 2 lety +9

      Reagan actually succeeded at beating back an enemy (regardless of what you think about how).

    • @Token_Nerd
      @Token_Nerd Před 2 lety +52

      @@JustJimmyGD the hostages were returned via the Carter administration (it just happened to be at a bad time). Iran is still a problem so Reagan did not solve anything.

    • @kauswekazilimani3736
      @kauswekazilimani3736 Před 2 lety +143

      People did not care. The culture war was/is more important.

    • @curtisthomas2670
      @curtisthomas2670 Před 2 lety +29

      The h0stages could've actually been released before the election and under Carter, but backdoor negotiations prevented that because it probably would've helped Carter win reelection. Political games were played with the lives of the h0stages.

    • @JustJimmyGD
      @JustJimmyGD Před 2 lety +52

      @Dan2314 Wonderluck Dude, the Soviet economy basically collapsed under him. While Star Wars was expensive and did nothing, it was the greatest bluff in all of geopolitical history. The Soviets basically WASTED themselves.

  • @christophercambra3754
    @christophercambra3754 Před 2 lety +56

    Love that the American Dad explanation of the event was in this video!

    • @iammrbeat
      @iammrbeat  Před 2 lety +8

      I couldn't resist to put it in there. lol

  • @woodarts9240
    @woodarts9240 Před 2 lety +22

    I'm Iranian and I didn't know about this incident, thanks for the explanation

  • @meysamghahremaninejad6809
    @meysamghahremaninejad6809 Před 2 lety +19

    One of a few you-tubers who pronounce "IRAN" correctly! I salute you sir.

    • @IcecreamMcGuy
      @IcecreamMcGuy Před 2 lety +1

      Is it ee-ron ih-ran or ih-ron

    • @meysamghahremaninejad6809
      @meysamghahremaninejad6809 Před 2 lety +1

      @@IcecreamMcGuy Irân is pronounced as "E-Run" to be exact! (the way "E" and "Run" sound in English)

    • @IcecreamMcGuy
      @IcecreamMcGuy Před 2 lety +1

      @@meysamghahremaninejad6809 ok thanks that honestly sounds a lot better than what I was saying

  • @WiloPolis03
    @WiloPolis03 Před 2 lety +777

    Ah yes, *American Margaret Thatcher,* the most president in US history

    • @dr.s8972
      @dr.s8972 Před 2 lety +16

      What

    • @nicoislazy
      @nicoislazy Před 2 lety +45

      She’s my favorite American president, it’s sad she passed away a while ago :(

    • @smokyondagrass2353
      @smokyondagrass2353 Před 2 lety +159

      Margaret Thatcher is in hell because god didn't want heaven privatized.

    • @WiloPolis03
      @WiloPolis03 Před 2 lety +25

      @@smokyondagrass2353 I'm a weird Christian that doesn't believe in just heaven or hell but that sounds about right

    • @iammrbeat
      @iammrbeat  Před 2 lety +234

      Thank you for confusing all of us.

  • @HistoryandHeadlines
    @HistoryandHeadlines Před 2 lety +127

    It's great that both history and edu-CZcamsrs have joined forces for this collaboration ... rather than face off in an epic cold war! P.S. Congratulations on 375,000 subscribers! That is some serious growth!

  • @destinymfletcher
    @destinymfletcher Před 2 lety +74

    SNL made a skit in the 80s called President Reagan, Mastermind. It makes fun of the Contra and the skit is my favorite from SNL. It's still here on CZcams if you're interested! :)

    • @lewiskazinsky7334
      @lewiskazinsky7334 Před 2 lety +4

      Omfg yes! Reagan threatening to kill Jimmy Stewart 😂 *”This is the part of the job I hate!”*

    • @iammrbeat
      @iammrbeat  Před 2 lety +6

      It's a great one!

    • @peggygeren4169
      @peggygeren4169 Před 2 lety

      How Al Franken went from writing many of those hilarious political SNL sketches in the late '80s-early '90s, to being the worthless neolib senator that he was until recently is a great mystery. I imagine that the ghost of Paul Wellstone, when he is not haunting Norm Coleman, must be trying to disturb Franken.

    • @Sebman1113
      @Sebman1113 Před 2 lety +1

      That skit is funny.

  • @robertfranklin8522
    @robertfranklin8522 Před 2 lety +18

    I teach about this scandal in college-level US history classes and I think you did a good job with a couple caveats:
    1. The Contras did more than just move cocaine. As someone else said they were outright terrorists - blowing up roads, schools, and massacring villagers in order to sap the resources of the Sandinistas.
    2. Just because congressional investigations found no outright link between the CIA and cocaine trafficking doesn't mean it didn't happen - it's well known the CIA used Heroin to fund covert operations in Laos during the Vietnam War, and investigative journalism in the 80s put forward several credible links between the CIA and cocaine trafficking. It's a great way to raise money for your terrorists buddies when selling arms to our supposed enemies just doesn't raise enough cash.

    • @robertortiz-wilson1588
      @robertortiz-wilson1588 Před 2 lety

      Yes, like the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong did.

    • @ahmedhussain9095
      @ahmedhussain9095 Před 2 lety

      Can you put sources for those journalists I find this information very intriguing.

    • @forests.9597
      @forests.9597 Před rokem

      Source please.

    • @robertfranklin8522
      @robertfranklin8522 Před rokem

      @@forests.9597 I recommend Mahmood Mamdani's book "Good Muslim Bad Muslim" for information on CIA use of drugs to fund covert operations.

    • @forests.9597
      @forests.9597 Před rokem +1

      @@robertfranklin8522Thanks, though I'm more interested in sources for the Contra's alleged war crimes

  • @SeanMacadelic
    @SeanMacadelic Před 2 lety +94

    I’ve always wanted to learn about this! Feel like we never talked about it in U.S. History, or World History. Definitely swept under the rug. Thanks Beat

    • @iammrbeat
      @iammrbeat  Před 2 lety +18

      I think part of the reason why might be since that's toward the end of most American history curriculums, so often American history teachers are rushing through to attempt to cover 9/11

    • @chipwalter4490
      @chipwalter4490 Před 2 lety +3

      The crimes of the CIA are not covered in general by American culture. The government to this day has millions of dollars it awards to media producers to create projects where the CIA and FBI are portrayed as heroes in television, news media, movies, and books. Americans are deliberately culturalized from the cradle to the grave to not look very far into these issues.

  • @arman4440
    @arman4440 Před 2 lety +70

    I must admit, as an Iranian, watching this hurt a bit too much. A little part of me dies whenever I see the amount of praise Reagen gets, so this was like a breath of fresh air. By the way, great job as always!

    • @s0meguy0ny0utube2
      @s0meguy0ny0utube2 Před 2 lety +8

      He did give thousands of illegal immigrants/refuges amnesty and not deporting them. Some of which were Iranians in America after the Iranian 1979 revolution.

    • @robertortiz-wilson1588
      @robertortiz-wilson1588 Před 2 lety +3

      What does you being an Iranian have to do with anything? Are you in Iran making that comment? Also, what about this exactly makes you mad and also specifically relates to you being Iranian?!

    • @marcoarellano6361
      @marcoarellano6361 Před rokem

      @@s0meguy0ny0utube2 just goes to show how much to the right republicans have moved since Reagan. Rn if any reps even uttered the word amnesty they’d be immediately disowned by the party.

    • @souvikrc4499
      @souvikrc4499 Před rokem +16

      @@robertortiz-wilson1588 Likely because it shows how two-faced and hypocritical Iranian political leadership has been and continues to be.
      I mean, denouncing the U.S and Israel, while simultaneously accepting weapons and training from both countries though a corrupt political deal - how is this not two-faced?
      Also, why are you so triggered about an Iranian speaking their mind?
      Stop gatekeeping.

    • @robertortiz-wilson1588
      @robertortiz-wilson1588 Před rokem +1

      @@souvikrc4499 I guarantee you they were blind concerning any of the faults and hypocrisy of the Iranian government. That would have been too refreshing to be true.
      Save me your drivel that has anything to do with the word "triggered" attached to it. I asked them a question, not you, and I can speak my mind anyway I want as well.

  • @dawsonlindahl7427
    @dawsonlindahl7427 Před 2 lety +22

    I remember my junior year history textbook had a section titled “Iran-Contra” but then only talked about the Iran part

    • @iammrbeat
      @iammrbeat  Před 2 lety +14

      The history textbooks tend to leave a lot out about it, unfortunately.

    • @forests.9597
      @forests.9597 Před rokem +3

      It's the only part of the affair which had U.S wrongdoing imo.

    • @dawsonlindahl7427
      @dawsonlindahl7427 Před rokem +6

      Idk where you’re getting that from, funding terrorist death squads is bad, but it’s even worse to weasel your way into funding them after congress has refused to authorize funding them.

  • @Hj-vh1he
    @Hj-vh1he Před 2 lety +44

    I just learned while being entertained!

    • @iammrbeat
      @iammrbeat  Před 2 lety +6

      Then my goal has been achieved. Thanks for the kind words. :D

    • @Hj-vh1he
      @Hj-vh1he Před 2 lety +2

      Haha, I was actually referencing what Steve says at the end of the Ollie North song, but none the less, I really did learn while being entertained. Keep up the great work Mr. Beat! :)

  • @nerdtalk1789
    @nerdtalk1789 Před 2 lety +27

    An incredibly independent and fact based look into Ronald Reagan’s Presidency during this time. Well done!

  • @andrewmartin9948
    @andrewmartin9948 Před 2 lety +10

    I remember meeting Ollie north when I was like 15 in boy scouts. Had no idea at the time what his story was but the man was the one that showed me how to fire a musket.

  • @hugo52_
    @hugo52_ Před 2 lety +4

    Amazing video Mr Beat. I've been waiting for this video for a long time.

  • @carytodd7211
    @carytodd7211 Před 2 lety +7

    Thanks for this clear and objective explanation of the Iran-Contra affair, which I never understood well as a teen when it was going on.

  • @osberswgaming
    @osberswgaming Před 2 lety +87

    CIA: *exist*
    Mr Beat: I mustn’t move a muscle, they are after me, I can feel it
    CIA: nah we’re just after the guy who knows Obama’s last name

    • @pw7772
      @pw7772 Před 2 lety +4

      I KNOW OBAMA'S LAST NAME ITS *dies*

    • @johanrunfeldt7174
      @johanrunfeldt7174 Před 2 lety +3

      Mr Beat: Mustn't move a muscle, they are after me, I can feel it.
      CIA Agent1: That guy in Kansas stopped moving.
      CIA Agent2: Is he dead?
      CIA Agent1: No, he just stopped moving, keep an eye on him in case he's up to something.

    • @iammrbeat
      @iammrbeat  Před 2 lety +10

      I TOLD YOU THEY WERE WATCHING

    • @timelapsesofsingapore5674
      @timelapsesofsingapore5674 Před 2 lety +1

      Wait till they realise Obama is his last name.

    • @johanrunfeldt7174
      @johanrunfeldt7174 Před 2 lety

      @Fuck CZcams That's his middle name, and everybody knows that.

  • @BradyPostma
    @BradyPostma Před 2 lety +6

    1:20 - "I'm sorry about that and I'll never do it again" was my first literal lol of the M.A.D. playlist.

  • @azgh4742
    @azgh4742 Před 2 lety +11

    Greetings from Saudi Mr. Beat. Enjoying the content, keep it up man!

    • @iammrbeat
      @iammrbeat  Před 2 lety +2

      So great to see viewers from all around the world

    • @peggygeren4169
      @peggygeren4169 Před 2 lety

      One startling fact is that the Saudi Adnan Khashoggi - the erstwhile "Richest Man in the World" - was right smack in the middle of Iran-Contra. The $4 million that North skimmed and put in his "B Button" Swiss bank account was part of the $16 million Khashoggi supplied to make it appear that the Israelis had paid the Pentagon for a batch of TOW missiles sent to Iran.

  • @historyking9984
    @historyking9984 Před 2 lety +1

    Love the collaboration with all these great youtubers

  • @ThePoolshark86
    @ThePoolshark86 Před 2 lety +6

    Mr. Beat presents another great, and informative video

  • @eldorados_lost_searcher
    @eldorados_lost_searcher Před 2 lety +16

    Surprised Phil Hartman's President Reagan didn't make an appearance.
    "Jimmy. Don't make me kill you."

  • @MeesterTweester
    @MeesterTweester Před 2 lety +20

    My legendary history teacher showed the American Dad song of this in class

  • @revolutionaryape7568
    @revolutionaryape7568 Před 2 lety +42

    Please make video on Richard Nixon's rapprochement with China.

  • @Friendlyfarter
    @Friendlyfarter Před 2 lety +5

    I loved the map bit and your general quirky vibe. Thanks for covering this serious, and kinda messed up topic in your classic, dorky way. It makes the medicine easier to take!

  • @newaddress456
    @newaddress456 Před rokem +4

    Mr. Beat you do a good job and with style.

  • @tomdegan6924
    @tomdegan6924 Před rokem +1

    Always excellent, Mr. Beat!

  • @yoursemexpert
    @yoursemexpert Před měsícem +1

    I hope you reach 1M subs soon Mr Beat! ❤️

  • @BrianH1313
    @BrianH1313 Před 2 lety +9

    We may not see eye to eye on every issue, but overall I trust you Mr. Beat. Nice vid.

  • @johann7476
    @johann7476 Před 2 lety +6

    I know its a bit unrelated here but through your Videos on the elections I now have memorized every US president and what time they were in office (as a german). So I Thank you for teaching me so much about american history.

  • @profoundpronoun4712
    @profoundpronoun4712 Před rokem

    I love that you referenced the American Dad episode! Great episode by the way! Here’s lookin’ at you GOLD!

  • @yusufgazi7
    @yusufgazi7 Před 2 lety +2

    I respect your views on foreign policy and intervention, Mr Beat

  • @synthsauce
    @synthsauce Před 2 lety +12

    I was not expecting the Map from Dora The Explorer to get political, but I'm not complaining

  • @johanrunfeldt7174
    @johanrunfeldt7174 Před 2 lety +27

    I remember this being breaking news. That's how old I'am.

    • @Blaqjaqshellaq
      @Blaqjaqshellaq Před 2 lety +5

      When I first heard the Iran-Contra revelations, I cynically predicted that they'd let Reagan get away with it. (It gave me NO pleasure to be proved right!)

    • @iammrbeat
      @iammrbeat  Před 2 lety +6

      It's ok, I'm old, too.

  • @astrolonim2032
    @astrolonim2032 Před 2 lety +1

    Not Mr. Beat commenting on the other project MAD videos? Goat.

  • @jtsg464
    @jtsg464 Před 2 lety +10

    A great video, and ditto approval of using the American Dad clips :) I love that episode LOL I do wonder if Reagan's legacy would have shaken off the Iran Contra scandal as well, had the Cold War not come to an end in the following years? It seems like the legacy of those events and Reagan then Bush's role in them, help sort of shove Iran Contra under the rug...pardons help too lol

    • @robertortiz-wilson1588
      @robertortiz-wilson1588 Před 2 lety +2

      And rolling back communism in Grenada, restoring American prestige, overall economic prosperity, a continued long-awaited sense of optimism, etc.

  • @wadyz
    @wadyz Před 2 lety +7

    This is awesome! All my favorite youtubers on one big project!

  • @xyzaxy230
    @xyzaxy230 Před 2 lety +8

    Every time someone says "They're watching you right now", I start making ridiculous grimaces

  • @jonathansykes4986
    @jonathansykes4986 Před 2 lety +19

    "I might have committed some light treason" - Ronald Reagan.

  • @jakubpociecha8819
    @jakubpociecha8819 Před 2 lety +27

    11:25 Someone needs to make a green screen version of this clip

    • @iammrbeat
      @iammrbeat  Před 2 lety +6

      I actually have it already if you want it lol

    • @WiloPolis03
      @WiloPolis03 Před 2 lety +2

      @@iammrbeat Do it, greenscreen memes are like a publicity goldmine

  • @sriyasodharmma4021
    @sriyasodharmma4021 Před 2 lety +1

    It's a nice day when Mr. Beat uploads !

  • @funchable212
    @funchable212 Před 2 lety

    Another classic from the Beat man!

  • @jonathangasana
    @jonathangasana Před 2 lety +2

    The Talented Mr. Beat!

  • @Zac15Setter
    @Zac15Setter Před 2 lety +28

    man if i had you as a history teacher, i never would have dropped out haha. Thanks for the lesson as always!

  • @patrickrowan6001
    @patrickrowan6001 Před 10 měsíci +1

    Thank you mr beat for explaining the Iran contra affair

  • @cstnfacu
    @cstnfacu Před 2 lety

    I love your videos, Mr. Beat. Greetings from Argentina, South America.

  • @CeeJay____
    @CeeJay____ Před 2 lety +28

    "He's a soldier, and a hero, and a novelist - and now he's on Fox News!"

    • @peggygeren4169
      @peggygeren4169 Před 2 lety +9

      He was also briefly President of the National Rifle Association. Grifters are gonna grift!

    • @dan2178
      @dan2178 Před 2 lety +4

      @@peggygeren4169 whats wrong with supporting gun rights?

    • @erinmac4750
      @erinmac4750 Před 2 lety

      The one thing I'll give him is that he he served his Cmdr in Chief by taking one for the team.

    • @coletongross7951
      @coletongross7951 Před 2 lety +2

      @@dan2178 regardless of anyone’s opinion on the 2nd amendment the NRA has grifted tons of money from its members. Look up the recent lawsuit by the state of NY against the NRA

    • @dan2178
      @dan2178 Před 2 lety

      @@coletongross7951 who cares. Everyone does. Biden. Harris. Soon trump.
      They only care because they want any excuse to take down a movement to protect rights

  • @UNPACKED
    @UNPACKED Před 2 lety +9

    Great video! We love videos about bricks, and totally not about the CIAbreakingthelawwedon'tknowwhatyou'retalkingabout.

    • @iammrbeat
      @iammrbeat  Před 2 lety

      lol thank you, I still need to watch yours

  • @matthewhedrichjr.5445
    @matthewhedrichjr.5445 Před 2 lety

    5:23 I like how you added the 15th episode of Season 3 in American Dad, The Legend of Ollie’s Gold. Clever idea you did!

  • @miloscott5630
    @miloscott5630 Před rokem

    Good job explaining the whole thing.

  • @aidangodfrey300
    @aidangodfrey300 Před 2 lety +8

    Another good video Mr Beat, Still waiting on some canadian provinces compared with eachother.🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦

    • @iammrbeat
      @iammrbeat  Před 2 lety +3

      Oh I definitely plan on it, just don't know when yet. Which two do you suggest I cover first?

    • @aidangodfrey300
      @aidangodfrey300 Před 2 lety +2

      @@iammrbeat BC/Alberta or Quebec/ Ontario. I think the Quebec vs Ontario would be easier to do as they have the highest population and a language differential .

  • @erinmac4750
    @erinmac4750 Před 2 lety +4

    I think you should go into more detail on this scandal/event, especially it's fueling the crack/cocaine epidemic. Gary Webb, RIP, exsent gave his life to cover the story.

  • @taajrai1799
    @taajrai1799 Před 2 lety +1

    thank you for doing this video. I have had this explained to me bunch of times but I never understood it

    • @iammrbeat
      @iammrbeat  Před 2 lety

      Well sure thing, and hopefully this video helped!

    • @Kingjulian3606
      @Kingjulian3606 Před rokem

      Do you know ishowspeed Mr. Beat?

  • @shawndiesel007
    @shawndiesel007 Před 2 lety

    Excellent video! Almost turned it off at the map part 😅 but glad I stuck around. Subscription well-earned.
    Refreshing to get just the facts these days without someone telling you what you should think about it. Granted I don't know if certain things were intentionally included/omitted to paint a certain picture, but I didn't get that impression at all.

  • @dhand34
    @dhand34 Před 2 lety +5

    Bush most likely ran the Iran contra show. I heard a long interview with Paul Craig Robert’s years ago

  • @beardymcj2026
    @beardymcj2026 Před 2 lety +2

    Ah yes, the Iran-Contra Natalie Imbruglia. As far as this issue goes, I'm...Torn
    Anyone? Is this thing on???

  • @grovercleveland6303
    @grovercleveland6303 Před 2 lety

    Thank you great sir, this was very helpful!

  • @dev1458
    @dev1458 Před 2 lety +14

    Imagine your social studies teacher telling you he has a CZcams channel and you check it out later thinking it has maybe a hundred followers or so but find out it has almost 400k subscribers and commonly gets 100k views on videos.

    • @iammrbeat
      @iammrbeat  Před 2 lety +3

      Yeah, most of them are a bit surprised lol

    • @dev1458
      @dev1458 Před 2 lety

      @@iammrbeat I'm sure haha. They're really fortunate to have such a knowledgeable and passionate teacher. Love the videos and the great content you put out!

  • @MikeBNumba6
    @MikeBNumba6 Před 2 lety +7

    I honestly never get tired of learning about this subject and the cold War in general.
    Idk, I think it's fascinating how the superpowers go to these countries, learn their language and find specific groups (militias) to help overthrow governments.
    Like think about it. These countries like nicaragua picked up communism ideas from somewhere. Idk. Its kind of cool how all this works

    • @randomnerd2332
      @randomnerd2332 Před 2 lety +5

      An overlooked part of the cold war was how much Cuba played a role in helping communist efforts. They would usually send forces/help to Nicaguara, Congo, & Angola to help those groups out. It was well known the Soviets & Cuba had a different (public) stance on how to go about things.

  • @mackjohnson7302
    @mackjohnson7302 Před 2 lety +3

    The Iran-Contra affair was discussed in Greg Grandin’s book Empire’s Workshop, an excellent book on the history of U.S. interference in Latin America. It definitely helps to explain today’s political climate!

    • @GoodlySumVideos
      @GoodlySumVideos Před 2 lety +1

      You should read, The Killing Zone by Stephen Rabe

    • @mackjohnson7302
      @mackjohnson7302 Před 2 lety

      @@GoodlySumVideos Thanks for the recommendation! I’ll check it out.

  • @curtpiazza1688
    @curtpiazza1688 Před rokem

    Great historical perspective!

  • @Luna.3.3.3
    @Luna.3.3.3 Před rokem

    Thank You So Much! No wonder I've been confused all this time re: Iran-Contra. It was the MAPS! that helped. I'm watching "The Last Thing He Wanted" and this also explains another movie "American Made"
    This was great, you could re-name it 'Iran Contra For Dummies' 😊

  • @kxrv6629
    @kxrv6629 Před 2 lety +8

    Thanks for pointing me to this video on the Contra part. Somehow, it seems like their needs to be limits on Presidential pardons against pardoning people you know/cronies. What is the legitimate intent of Presidential pardons anyway?

    • @ChevyChase301
      @ChevyChase301 Před rokem

      The idea is that if trump was president than theoretically the democrats could audit, investigate, and subpoena all his friends and make his life hell and vice versa. By eliminating this the president theoretically has more time to focus on national defense

  • @LoremasterLiberaster
    @LoremasterLiberaster Před 2 lety +3

    USSR owning Mongolia triggered the everliving fuck out of me

    • @SWNerd
      @SWNerd Před 2 lety +1

      Plus forgetting to include Turkmenistan

  • @ChaseBoytim
    @ChaseBoytim Před 2 lety

    Your videos are so great! 😀 So funny too

  • @Googledeservestodie
    @Googledeservestodie Před 2 lety +2

    *I loved the selling-weapons-to-Iran level from CoD Cold War*

  • @gregm766
    @gregm766 Před 2 lety +3

    I was in the Marine Corps at the time and I couldn't stand Ollie North but there were some of my fellow Marines that liked him.

  • @DavidNunezPNW
    @DavidNunezPNW Před 2 lety +8

    I have friends from Central America who have relatives that were devastated by the brutality of the CIA backed death squads. These decisions affect real lives. I hope all those involved suffer and can't sleep at night for their actions

    • @superboy4738
      @superboy4738 Před 2 lety +1

      There were no good guys in the Cold War.

    • @kauswekazilimani3736
      @kauswekazilimani3736 Před 2 lety

      @@superboy4738 Depending on the circumstances some bad guys are better than others. Then again if you are the rope in a tug of war you are screwed.

    • @matheusvillela9150
      @matheusvillela9150 Před rokem

      @@kauswekazilimani3736 Yeah and the US always chooses the worst and most fascist of bad guys

  • @johnbradley7385
    @johnbradley7385 Před 11 měsíci

    Tbh loved the MAP section

  • @19Pyrus70
    @19Pyrus70 Před rokem +1

    It was called the Iran-Contra scandal when I listened to the news in the 80's.
    Also, in junior high, several schools in the Philadelphia school district had it's best history students take part in a role-playing game called Bullets and Ballots which was about some of the aspects of what was going on.

  • @martinhall932
    @martinhall932 Před 2 lety +13

    30 years later.... "Hey, let's canonize Reagan!"

  • @GillisLowry
    @GillisLowry Před 2 lety +7

    Thanks for helping organize the project :) Great video! the CIA is definitely after mine too--

    • @iammrbeat
      @iammrbeat  Před 2 lety

      Thanks Gillis. Your video was super creative as well!

  • @brandonboys9005
    @brandonboys9005 Před rokem

    the opening scene featuring map was electric

  • @jimwoods2180
    @jimwoods2180 Před 2 lety

    unrelated to your interesting video but i'm just curious - when you were in school (and college) were you on your schools wrestling team, or maybe gymnastics or maybe even a coach? i think i'm right - we don't know each other - i've never met or heard of you - it's just a feeling that struck me about you while watching this/you - thanks! :)

  • @just_radical
    @just_radical Před 2 lety +4

    Great video, but you missed the opportunity to remind us that the Attorney General advising Bush to pardon the US officials imprisoned for Iran-Contra was our good friend William Barr.

    • @peggygeren4169
      @peggygeren4169 Před 2 lety

      It is incredible how many figures involved in Iran-Contra or its coverup later turned up in Repug administrations - W's especially. Even Clinton got in on the coverup by pardoning Marc Rich and Al Schwimmer on the last day of his administration.

  • @tellthemborissentyou
    @tellthemborissentyou Před 2 lety +14

    Who was that guy in charge of the Sandinistas that the right wing Americans hated so much? And who is the President of Nicaragua now? Chalk it up in the losses column USA.

    • @francoisleung9330
      @francoisleung9330 Před 2 lety

      Daniel Ortega was the head of the Sandinistas during the civil war, if I am not mistaken he was reelected as president after Violeta Chamoro.

    • @albertoe8740
      @albertoe8740 Před 2 lety +3

      @@francoisleung9330 Arnoldo Aleman was elected after Violeta Chamorro and after him was Enrique Bolaños, Ortega was reelected in 2007 only because the Liberal Constitutionalist party was divided and so the anti sandinista vote was split in two, added to this was the fact that through a series of shady political dealings the percentage to win an election on the first round was lowered from 45% to 35% (Ortega’s popular support never exceeded 39%). So that is how Ortega unfortunately returned to power in 2007, he is now again ruling Nicaragua along with his despicable wife who believe it or not is his Vice president, they both rule with an iron fist imprisoning and killing anyone who opposes them. They have committed electoral fraud in the last two elections and they are ready to steal the presidential election that’s taking place in November of this year too. Ortega has already imprisoned all the other 6 presidential candidates that could easily defeat him.

    • @Reagan1984
      @Reagan1984 Před 2 lety +1

      The real losers are the people under Ortega's regime.

  • @burden9809
    @burden9809 Před 2 lety

    Things everyone should be aware of keep it up. 👍

  • @lunesnieves
    @lunesnieves Před 2 lety +2

    Jackson Browne captured this nicely:
    “A man stands up before his God and country
    Raises his right hand and takes an oath
    Swears he has acted in the line of duty
    And he more than anyone wants to tell the truth
    But there is a need to keep some things a secret
    Some weapons shipments--some private wars
    In the future democracy will be defended
    Behind closed doors”

  • @coreyhurley7515
    @coreyhurley7515 Před 2 lety +4

    Your video's are amazing

  • @mingfanzhang4600
    @mingfanzhang4600 Před 2 lety +7

    Good grief the first part had me dying of laughter XD

  • @austinhedman3499
    @austinhedman3499 Před 2 lety

    Please do more videos like this!

    • @iammrbeat
      @iammrbeat  Před 2 lety

      Sure thing! Thanks for watching.

  • @Aboyrune
    @Aboyrune Před 2 lety

    I saw your comment under the American Dad Ollie North video and I knew a video about it would be coming out soon

  • @barney6888
    @barney6888 Před 2 lety +6

    Thank you for this video Mr. Beat. It takes courage to look under rocks and analyze the the ugly insects that live under there.

  • @Refpuck
    @Refpuck Před 2 lety

    مرسی واسه تحلیلت، لحظه مهمی تو تاریخ است

  • @hansselgadea3108
    @hansselgadea3108 Před rokem

    This is interesting to see your pov since I am from Nicaragua

  • @Lrix
    @Lrix Před 2 lety +5

    The song was a little rough, but I really do like the idea of pulling up a map to pretext what you're about to talk about. Gives a more clear picture of the countries you're talking about and helps people who don't have quick knowledge of world geography.

    • @iammrbeat
      @iammrbeat  Před 2 lety +1

      lol good feedback, thank you

  • @yeetskeet7234
    @yeetskeet7234 Před 2 lety +5

    "Plausible deniability" was born