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$Title{Iran-Contra Affair: The Report
Chapter 9C   The Lessons of the First Arms Shipment}
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$Author{Various}
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$Subject{
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$Date{1987}
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Title:       Iran-Contra Affair: The Report
Author:      Various
Date:        1987

Chapter 9C   The Lessons of the First Arms Shipment

     The August-September 1985 TOW transaction set the pattern for the entire
Iran initiative:

     - A promise by the Iranians to release the hostages in exchange for an
agreed quantity of weapons.

     - The breach of that promise after delivery of the weapons.

     - The delivery of more weapons in response to new demands by the
Iranians.

     - The release of a single hostage as an enticement to further arms
transfers.

     The lesson to Iran was unmistakable:  All U.S. positions and principles
were negotiable, and breaches by Iran went unpunished.  Whatever Iran did, the
U.S. could be brought back to the arms bargaining table by the promise of
another hostage.