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Contra
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Contra

Member of a Central American right-wing guerrilla force attempting to overthrow the democratically elected Nicaraguan Sandinista government between 1979 and 1990. The Contras, many of them mercenaries or former members of the deposed dictator Somoza's guard (see Nicaraguan Revolution), operated mainly from bases outside Nicaragua, mostly in Honduras, with covert US funding, as revealed by the Irangate hearings of 1986-87.

In 1989 US president Bush announced an agreement with Congress to provide $41 million in ‘nonlethal’ aid to the Contras until February 1990. The Sandinista government was defeated by the National Opposition Union, a US-backed coalition, in the February 1990 elections. The Contras were disbanded in the same year but, fearing reprisals, a few hundred formed the Re-Contra (officially the 380 Legion) February 1991. A peace accord was reached with the government 1994.



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? Mentioned in ? References in periodicals archive
 
The Contras combined amorality and ruthlessness with a smart strategy: defeat the Sandinistas by turning their country into hell on earth.
Sandinista redux by Niman, Michael I. / The Humanist
He hinted that the Boland Amendment, which cut off aid to the contras in 1984, was made to be broken: "The Boland Amendment, which was passed by the liberals in Congress, was just another obstacle and obstruction to the fight against the communists," Burton explained.
Oliver North throws a party: what a lovely Cold War it was by Conniff, Ruth / The Progressive
Drawing on what must be gigantic stacks of government memos, trial transcripts, and depositions, Walsh accuses Reagan of authorizing arms shipments to Iran in exchange for hostages (thus violating the Arms Export Control Act) and allowing the proceeds from the arms sales to fund the Nicaraguan Contras, or "freedom fighters," in violation of the Boland Amendment.
Firewall: The Iran-Contra Conspiracy and Cover-up by Dallek, Matthew / Washington Monthly
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