What were the key issues facing the nation at the time of intensification of U.S. involvement?
Argentina had severe political issues, even before the US government became involved. Before and during World War II, their presidents had been elected fraudulently and this resulted in political unrest. In fact, political unrest is one of the main issues that continues to plague Argentina all the way until its first democratic election years later in 1983. During World War II, Argentina stayed fairly neutral, with a slight lean towards Axis powers that continued after the war. The new president (through a coup in 1945) Juan Peron, allowed Nazis, fleeing from Germany, to take refuge in Argentina after they lost the war. After taking power, Peron …show more content…
However, in the 1970s, the US government ramped up its involvement considerably. The CIA began to stage a massive operation throughout Latin America: Operation Condor. The goal of the operation was to create a counterterrorism organization against communism. It was begun in 1968 and established in 1975 as an office of security, including a database of all suspected people and organizations believed to be involved with communism. Operation Condor played a major role in many orchestrated assassinations of leaders in Latin America to prevent a communist takeover or potential alliances with the USSR; however, some historians suggest it could be described as political warfare. In addition to actively attempting to manipulate Latin American governments, the CIA taught interrogation techniques to military personnel and gave training manuals from the United States to help the military dictatorships operate more smoothly. Clearly, this operation went far beyond preventative measures against Communism. Only in 1992, when CIA documents were declassified, could people see the amount of disgusting destruction that the CIA overlooked as long as communism was suppressed. It was described as “legitimized state terror.” In Argentina, Operation Condor became a device of “unprecedented levels of right-wing suppression.” The United States had been uncomfortable with the country’s political situation since the end of the World War II, as instability leading to communist takeover was a constant threat. But when the brutal Junta took over in 1975, the US government was optimistic that it would not be held responsible for the military coup and that the new leaders would provide stability in Argentina. One ambassador stated that it was “probably the best executed and most civilized coup in Argentine history” and that “the US government should encourage it by examining
Argentina had severe political issues, even before the US government became involved. Before and during World War II, their presidents had been elected fraudulently and this resulted in political unrest. In fact, political unrest is one of the main issues that continues to plague Argentina all the way until its first democratic election years later in 1983. During World War II, Argentina stayed fairly neutral, with a slight lean towards Axis powers that continued after the war. The new president (through a coup in 1945) Juan Peron, allowed Nazis, fleeing from Germany, to take refuge in Argentina after they lost the war. After taking power, Peron …show more content…
However, in the 1970s, the US government ramped up its involvement considerably. The CIA began to stage a massive operation throughout Latin America: Operation Condor. The goal of the operation was to create a counterterrorism organization against communism. It was begun in 1968 and established in 1975 as an office of security, including a database of all suspected people and organizations believed to be involved with communism. Operation Condor played a major role in many orchestrated assassinations of leaders in Latin America to prevent a communist takeover or potential alliances with the USSR; however, some historians suggest it could be described as political warfare. In addition to actively attempting to manipulate Latin American governments, the CIA taught interrogation techniques to military personnel and gave training manuals from the United States to help the military dictatorships operate more smoothly. Clearly, this operation went far beyond preventative measures against Communism. Only in 1992, when CIA documents were declassified, could people see the amount of disgusting destruction that the CIA overlooked as long as communism was suppressed. It was described as “legitimized state terror.” In Argentina, Operation Condor became a device of “unprecedented levels of right-wing suppression.” The United States had been uncomfortable with the country’s political situation since the end of the World War II, as instability leading to communist takeover was a constant threat. But when the brutal Junta took over in 1975, the US government was optimistic that it would not be held responsible for the military coup and that the new leaders would provide stability in Argentina. One ambassador stated that it was “probably the best executed and most civilized coup in Argentine history” and that “the US government should encourage it by examining