The Atlantic

The Logic of the NRA Choosing Ollie North as President

Why would the group select the Iran-Contra figure as its new leader? Because its strategy of defensiveness and stalemate has worked well so far.
Source: Lucas Jackson / Reuters

Sometimes it feels as though the current moment in American history is unique. At other times, there’s a disquieting déjà vu—for example, this week, when Daniel Ortega, the Nicaragua Sandinista leader, and Ollie North, the American Marine who funneled weapons to his right-wing opponents, the Contras, are both in the news.

Ortega, now president once again, is holding on for bare political life amid protests in his country. North, it turns out, is about to take over another controversial, oft-protested body: The National Rifle Association announced Monday

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