The Iran-Contra Affair was a political scandal revealed in 1986 which related to events that took place earlier in Reagan’s administration. Hezbollah, a political group in Lebanon, had taken numerous Americans hostage. In an effort to increase US-Iranian relations, the US would indirectly sell weapons through Israel to Iran and in turn, Iran would do everything in its power to convince Hezbollah to release the hostages. The plan essentially became an arms-for-hostage affair.
In 1984, Congress banned American aid to the Contras of Nicaragua who were trying to overthrow the communist Sandinista government. Colonel Oliver North along with other high ranking military personnel, devised a plan in which some of the profits from the weapons sale to Iran would be diverted to aiding the Contras. It was widely known that Reagan was a supporter of the Contra cause, but there has never been any proof which shows Reagan authorized the diversion of profits from the weapons sales to the Contras.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8XWZcL7ZyY
Good video, this event still happen, but the government doesnt intervene as much. USA sell weapons to many countries including communist and islamic activists. USA is the biggest exporter of arms
Arms sales (agreements), by Supplier, 2001-2008 (in billions of constant 2008 U.S. dollars) Supplier Total Sales in US Dollars (billions) Percent of total sales
Source: Richard F. Grimmett, CRS Report for Congress; Conventional Arms Transfers to Developing Nations, 2001-2008 . September 4, 2009
Notes: Percentages are rounded; Each country shown as follows:
developing countries
industrialized countries
If you are viewing this table on another site, please see http://www.globalissues.org/article/74/the-arms-trade-is-big-business for further details and context.
United States 154.882 41%
Russia 63.823 17%
France 31.247 8%
United Kingdom 26.914 7%
China 10.125 3%
Germany 16.261 4%
Italy 11.053 3%
Other European 40.291 11%
Others 22.849 6%
As a pie chart