Actually, I had always thought Iran-Contra was a clever strategy.
If Reagan had provided anything substantive, balance of power wise to Iran, I would have disagreed with you. Facts being what they are, you're right on target as far as I am concerned. I do not see this as a violation of the Boland ammendment. Frankly I think it really tweaks the communist sympathizers in this nation that they didn't think of this loophole.
I don't like the ends justifies the means arguement aspects of what I'm going to say here, but the fact is, Reagan is responsible for rescuing Nicaragua and El Salvador from the grasp of communism. The fact that Reagan would have to execute an end-run on Congress to do this say's volumes.
In no small measure, Congress tried to use the same tactics on Reagan that they used on Nixon, defunding. Boy how they squealed when it didn't work. Most excellent Garth!