You kiddies really need to know this

With the outpouring of love for Nelson Mandela from across the political spectrum, you youngsters probably have a very wrong idea about history. Mandela spent 27 years in prison because the CIA handed him over to the South African security service.

The United States was a committed ally and supporter of the apartheid regime in South Africa until 1986, when Congress passed the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act by overriding Ronald Reagan's veto. Reagan did not fully enforce the sanctions in the act although his successor George Bush I finally did so. Mandela was released from prison in 1991, two years after Bush took office.

Before then, Republicans labeled Mandela and the African National Congress terrorists.

Just so you know. 

Update:  Here's a fuller story from Bill Berkowitz.