Everybody had his own gringo

The Reagan administration spent eight years and a quarter of a billion dollars backing the contras in their bid to overthrow the Sandinistas. By the time the Sandinistas were defeated in a general election they themselves had called, the contras were virtually forgotten. The contras had won, but there were no ticker-tape parades. Most people - even those the contras had swept into power - just wanted to forget them. And now, after trying to make the peace work, they are back in the hills rearming. The story of the contras and their strange relationship with their CIA sponsors is one of courage, political intrigue, and general craziness. Pulitzer nominee Glenn Garvin took notes.