them. >> perhaps by coincidence, the u.s. greatly expanded its military presence in central america. a big battleship joined two aircraft carriers in the waters off nicaragua, all the while denying anything was special. >> in nicaragua, the united states was supporting the contras in their efforts to overturn the sandinista government. >> that is an evil bunch, the sand nies sandani sandanisas, and it was going to overthrow them. >> we are complying with the law, we complying with that fully. >> the bolin amendment says specifically the united states cannot provide funds for the purpose of overthrowing the government of nicaragua. >> when congress tried to cut