Though supported by leading American conservatives who argued that Reagan 's foreign policy strategy was essential to protecting U.S. security interests , critics labeled the administration 's foreign policy initiatives as aggressive and imperialistic , and chided them as " warmongering . " The administration was also heavily criticized for backing anti-communist leaders accused of severe human rights violations , such as Hissène Habré of Chad and Efraín Ríos Montt of Guatemala . During the 16 months ( 1982 – 1983 ) Montt was President of Guatemala , the Guatemalan military was accused of genocide for massacres of members of the Ixil people and other indigenous groups . Reagan had said that Montt was getting a " bum rap , " and described him as " a man of great personal integrity . " Previous human rights violations had prompted the United States to cut off aid to the Guatemalan government , but the Reagan administration appealed to Congress to restart military aid . Although unsuccessful with that , the administration was successful in providing nonmilitary assistance such as USAID
genocide
Guatemalan genocide
Ronald Reagan