The First Boland Amendment
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In 1982, the Boland Amendment was formally passed by the House of Representatives and prevented the Reagan Administration from further assisting the Contras, specifically in Nicaragua. This amendment prohibited the training, supplying, or funding of the Contra rebels. Although Reagan thoroughly believed that the Nicaraguan government was communist and therefore an enemy of the U.S. in the overall Cold War, Congress prohibited any further funding for Reagan's attempt to topple this government. In violation of the Boland Amendment, senior officials of the Reagan administration continued to secretly supply the Contras with arms and training and also continued to provide arms to Iran.
The Second Boland AmendmentThe Reagan Administration interpreted Boland to state that only intelligence agencies were prohibited from funding the Contras, therefore exempting the National Security Council. Specifically, Boland only restricted the power of the CIA to fund the Contras, but did not limit the power of the entire government. However, the second Boland Amendment was passed by Congress in 1984 and extended the effects of Boland to the entire government.
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