Covert Military Operations and American Foreign Policy

Abstract

Recent events — specifically the Iran-contra affair — have once again brought disrepute to covert operations. Many Americans believe that members of the Reagan Administration, if not the Administration itself, betrayed American principles and ideals in seeking to arm the Nicaraguan Democratic Resistance Forces from the proceeds of arms sales to Iran. Once again, many Americans have concluded that the costs of covert military operations far outweigh any possible benefits and that therefore the United States should dispense with them.