I also find references to the contras very annoying. As you say, the contras were pro US and anti communist. The jihadis are anything but.
I suppose that's why Democrats and the press went ballistic over aid to the contras and are silent when we send weapons to jihadis.
Of your two possibles I go with Iran paying the “whomevers” to screw up the deal (the “fake” kidnapping/swap for the blind sheik/ prez as hero for an October surprise) since the blind sheik is sunni no shiite.
The very possiblity that we would be arming al qaeda to depose assad (the outcome of which for Syria would be, what— another arab spring? They are Syrians) is appalling.
This weekend we are shutting our embassies in “muslim” countries (ain’t that rich) against possible “al qaeda” attacks— how the hell do they relegate that with our weapons deals with them. How idiotic— and it is the real scandal. Obama has stated as “phony” the two scandals that really are appalling— this and the IRS political gestapo case. Hillary does not get away from either one, btw.