| Chapter Two of Pax Americana: The Military Industrial Complex and the War On Terror by Danny Quintana |
| OK, So We Supported a Few Dictators You shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets. —Matthew 6:5 |
To maintain our opulent gluttonous way of life, we have supported some of the most brutal dictators on the planet. Our military bases and
alliances circle the Earth. Our fighting forces are second to none. We have the ability to bomb any country on Earth back to the stone-age.
And we have a foreign policy that is a mystery to the other inhabitants on this very small planet. The difficulty we have with our
foreign policy is America has had a hand in creating, overthrowing and supporting terrorist dictators worldwide. Nobody believes us anymore.
According to Nobel Prize winner, former President Carter recently observed:
alliances circle the Earth. Our fighting forces are second to none. We have the ability to bomb any country on Earth back to the stone-age.
And we have a foreign policy that is a mystery to the other inhabitants on this very small planet. The difficulty we have with our
foreign policy is America has had a hand in creating, overthrowing and supporting terrorist dictators worldwide. Nobody believes us anymore.
According to Nobel Prize winner, former President Carter recently observed:
"The United States government has help promote and sustain African dictators by giving
the government of Zaire more than $400 million in U.S. weaponry and training during
President Mobutu Seko's 32-year reign. Mobutu vigorously repressed dissent while
systematically looting his country by laundering billions of dollars in government funds to
his overseas bank account. Sadly, dictators like Mobotu have contributed to the mayhem
of Africa and African people. This is truly an atrocious act committed against African people
by one of their own. African dictators have dealt a horrendous atrocity by their violent, greedy,
ignorant and self-interest hands. Moreover, dictators like Mobutu would not have been able to
rise to power without the financial support of the United States and other foreign involvement.
"Many of Africa's most repressive dictators have been aided, supported, and rewarded
handsomely for their loyalty to the United States. An example is Idi Amin, general of Uganda.
Idi Amin brutalized his people with British and U.S. military aid, along with Israeli and CIA
training of his troops. The West simply ignored Idi Amin's cruel acts. Another example of
the United States misguided policies that have helped to sustain African dictators is
P.W. Botha, President of South Africa. The U.S. government, despite boycotts and
Congressional efforts to reduce the United States investments in South Africa, quietly
supported South Africa's apartheid regime. During this period, Ronald Reagan significantly
increased military expenditures in Africa. Moreover, during this period of fighting communism
and providing stability to Africa, the United States ensured Africa's indebtedness to the
United States for generations to come and perhaps to one day out right own Africa. The
U.S. backed loans for arms, military training and advisory to African dictators has created the
new economy chains of slavery." 2
the government of Zaire more than $400 million in U.S. weaponry and training during
President Mobutu Seko's 32-year reign. Mobutu vigorously repressed dissent while
systematically looting his country by laundering billions of dollars in government funds to
his overseas bank account. Sadly, dictators like Mobotu have contributed to the mayhem
of Africa and African people. This is truly an atrocious act committed against African people
by one of their own. African dictators have dealt a horrendous atrocity by their violent, greedy,
ignorant and self-interest hands. Moreover, dictators like Mobutu would not have been able to
rise to power without the financial support of the United States and other foreign involvement.
"Many of Africa's most repressive dictators have been aided, supported, and rewarded
handsomely for their loyalty to the United States. An example is Idi Amin, general of Uganda.
Idi Amin brutalized his people with British and U.S. military aid, along with Israeli and CIA
training of his troops. The West simply ignored Idi Amin's cruel acts. Another example of
the United States misguided policies that have helped to sustain African dictators is
P.W. Botha, President of South Africa. The U.S. government, despite boycotts and
Congressional efforts to reduce the United States investments in South Africa, quietly
supported South Africa's apartheid regime. During this period, Ronald Reagan significantly
increased military expenditures in Africa. Moreover, during this period of fighting communism
and providing stability to Africa, the United States ensured Africa's indebtedness to the
United States for generations to come and perhaps to one day out right own Africa. The
U.S. backed loans for arms, military training and advisory to African dictators has created the
new economy chains of slavery." 2
When statesmen like Nelson Mandela and millions of citizens worldwide are protesting our
foreign policy, honesty requires us to question what we are doing. We can only understand
where we are by knowing where we have been. And like all empires, America has been
“difficult” with people who have opposed our immense power.
In the last century after World War II ended, America stepped into the shoes of Great Britain
and inherited an imperial role in world affairs. We preached democracy and supported brutal
dictators and strong men around the planeIn Africa, where colonialism was finally ending,
America supported dictators that were some of the most repressive and brutal criminals this
continent has ever known. In the words of writer Vanessa Lofton:
foreign policy, honesty requires us to question what we are doing. We can only understand
where we are by knowing where we have been. And like all empires, America has been
“difficult” with people who have opposed our immense power.
In the last century after World War II ended, America stepped into the shoes of Great Britain
and inherited an imperial role in world affairs. We preached democracy and supported brutal
dictators and strong men around the planeIn Africa, where colonialism was finally ending,
America supported dictators that were some of the most repressive and brutal criminals this
continent has ever known. In the words of writer Vanessa Lofton:
In fact, it is easier to look at the planet and name the dictators America did not support, sponsor and train then to figure out which boys are
not ours. The current problems in the Middle East have a direct relationship to the dictators we armed, trained and supported.
The Shah of Iran was hated by the great Persian society. He was installed by the CIA with British help and planning. According to the secret
report of the CIA that found it’s way to the New York Times:
not ours. The current problems in the Middle East have a direct relationship to the dictators we armed, trained and supported.
The Shah of Iran was hated by the great Persian society. He was installed by the CIA with British help and planning. According to the secret
report of the CIA that found it’s way to the New York Times:
The list of countries where America has caused untold human suffering and oppression circles the entire planet. It is so unfortunate that
being the greatest power in human history has also turned us into the enforcer for global capitalism. Although written in 1995 the following list
of dictators should give us some reason to understand why very few world leaders believe President Bush II in his Iraq attack.
Many of the world's most repressive dictators have been friends of America. Tyrants, torturers, killers, and sundry dictators and corrupt
puppet-presidents have been aided, supported, and rewarded handsomely for their loyalty to US interests. Traditional dictators seize control
through force, while constitutional dictators hold office through voting fraud or severely restricted elections, and are
frequently puppets and apologists for the military juntas which control the ballot boxes. In any case, none have been democratically elected
by the majority of their people in fair and open elections.
They are democratic America's undemocratic allies. They may rise to power through bloody ClA-backed coups and rule by terror and torture.
Their troops may receive training or advice from the CIA and other US agencies. US military aid and weapons sales often strengthen their
armies and guarantee their hold on power. Unwavering "anti-communism" and a willingness to provide
unhampered access for American business interests to exploit their countries' natural resources and cheap labor are the excuses for their
repression, and the primary reason the US government supports them. They may be linked internationally to extreme right-wing groups such
as the World Anti-Communist League, and some have had strong Nazi affiliations and have offered sanctuary to W W ll
Nazi war criminals.
They usually grow rich, while their countries' economies deteriorate and the majority of their people live in poverty. US tax dollars and
US-backed loans have made billionaires of some, while others are international drug dealers who also collect CIA paychecks. Rarely are they
called to account for their crimes. And rarely still, is the US government held responsible for supporting and protecting some of
the worst human rights violators in the world.
being the greatest power in human history has also turned us into the enforcer for global capitalism. Although written in 1995 the following list
of dictators should give us some reason to understand why very few world leaders believe President Bush II in his Iraq attack.
Many of the world's most repressive dictators have been friends of America. Tyrants, torturers, killers, and sundry dictators and corrupt
puppet-presidents have been aided, supported, and rewarded handsomely for their loyalty to US interests. Traditional dictators seize control
through force, while constitutional dictators hold office through voting fraud or severely restricted elections, and are
frequently puppets and apologists for the military juntas which control the ballot boxes. In any case, none have been democratically elected
by the majority of their people in fair and open elections.
They are democratic America's undemocratic allies. They may rise to power through bloody ClA-backed coups and rule by terror and torture.
Their troops may receive training or advice from the CIA and other US agencies. US military aid and weapons sales often strengthen their
armies and guarantee their hold on power. Unwavering "anti-communism" and a willingness to provide
unhampered access for American business interests to exploit their countries' natural resources and cheap labor are the excuses for their
repression, and the primary reason the US government supports them. They may be linked internationally to extreme right-wing groups such
as the World Anti-Communist League, and some have had strong Nazi affiliations and have offered sanctuary to W W ll
Nazi war criminals.
They usually grow rich, while their countries' economies deteriorate and the majority of their people live in poverty. US tax dollars and
US-backed loans have made billionaires of some, while others are international drug dealers who also collect CIA paychecks. Rarely are they
called to account for their crimes. And rarely still, is the US government held responsible for supporting and protecting some of
the worst human rights violators in the world.
These dictators killed MILLIONS of their own people with American assistance and military support. This is unfortunate. All these people have
been slaughtered in the name of capitalism. But despite the little coverage offered in the American press, the US government’s actions are
known the world over, including our terrorist training school. Our School of the Americas has trained and our government has funded some of
the most brutal terrorists on Earth. Numerous scholars have recorded the human rights violations of graduates from this school for homicidal
maniacs. George Monbiot observes in the Guardian, Tuesday October 31, 2001:
been slaughtered in the name of capitalism. But despite the little coverage offered in the American press, the US government’s actions are
known the world over, including our terrorist training school. Our School of the Americas has trained and our government has funded some of
the most brutal terrorists on Earth. Numerous scholars have recorded the human rights violations of graduates from this school for homicidal
maniacs. George Monbiot observes in the Guardian, Tuesday October 31, 2001:
"Britain, fearful of Iran's plans to nationalize its oil industry, came up with the idea for the coup
in 1952 and pressed the United States to mount a joint operation to remove the prime minister.
-The C.I.A. and S.I.S., the British intelligence service, handpicked Gen. Fazlollah Zahedi to
succeed Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh and covertly funneled $5 million to General
Zahedi's regime two days after the coup prevailed. Iranians working for the C.I.A. and posing as
Communists harassed religious leaders and staged the bombing of one cleric's home in a
campaign to turn the country's Islamic religious community against Mossadegh's government.
The shah's cowardice nearly killed the C.I.A. operation. Fearful of risking his throne, the Shah
repeatedly refused to sign C.I.A.-written royal decrees to change the government. The agency
arranged for the shah's twin sister, Princess Ashraf Pahlevi, and Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf,
the father of the Desert Storm commander, to act as intermediaries to try to keep him from
wilting under pressure. He still fled the country just before the coup succeeded. 3
in 1952 and pressed the United States to mount a joint operation to remove the prime minister.
-The C.I.A. and S.I.S., the British intelligence service, handpicked Gen. Fazlollah Zahedi to
succeed Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh and covertly funneled $5 million to General
Zahedi's regime two days after the coup prevailed. Iranians working for the C.I.A. and posing as
Communists harassed religious leaders and staged the bombing of one cleric's home in a
campaign to turn the country's Islamic religious community against Mossadegh's government.
The shah's cowardice nearly killed the C.I.A. operation. Fearful of risking his throne, the Shah
repeatedly refused to sign C.I.A.-written royal decrees to change the government. The agency
arranged for the shah's twin sister, Princess Ashraf Pahlevi, and Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf,
the father of the Desert Storm commander, to act as intermediaries to try to keep him from
wilting under pressure. He still fled the country just before the coup succeeded. 3
What followed was a disaster for everyone, especially the Iranian people. Human rights were not the Shah’s strongpoint. According to Mark
Zapezauer.
Zapezauer.
"The CIA plans hinged on the young Shah of Iran, Reza Pahlavi, a timid and inexperienced
figurehead. (He was a mere shadow of his father, who had led a pro Nazi regime during World
War Two.) In 1953, with CIA backing, the Shah ordered Mossadegh out of office and appointed
a Nazi collaborator as his successor. Demonstrators filled the streets in support of Mossadegh,
and the Shah fled to Rome. Undaunted, the CIA paid for pro-Shah street demonstrators, who
seized a radio station and announced that the Shah was on his way back and that Mossadegh
had been deposed. In reality, it took a nine-hour tank battle in the streets of Tehran, killing
hundreds, to remove Mossadegh. Compared to the bloodshed to follow, however, that was just a
drop in the bucket. In 1976, Amnesty International concluded that the Shah's CIA-trained
security force, SAVAK, had the worst human rights record on the planet, and that the number
and variety of torture techniques the CIA had taught SAVAK were "beyond belief." Inevitably, in
1979, the Iranian people overthrew the bloodstained Shah, with great bitterness and hatred
toward the US for installing him and backing him all those years. The radical fundamentalist
regime that rules Iran today could never have found popular support without the CIA's 1953
coup and the repression that followed." 4
figurehead. (He was a mere shadow of his father, who had led a pro Nazi regime during World
War Two.) In 1953, with CIA backing, the Shah ordered Mossadegh out of office and appointed
a Nazi collaborator as his successor. Demonstrators filled the streets in support of Mossadegh,
and the Shah fled to Rome. Undaunted, the CIA paid for pro-Shah street demonstrators, who
seized a radio station and announced that the Shah was on his way back and that Mossadegh
had been deposed. In reality, it took a nine-hour tank battle in the streets of Tehran, killing
hundreds, to remove Mossadegh. Compared to the bloodshed to follow, however, that was just a
drop in the bucket. In 1976, Amnesty International concluded that the Shah's CIA-trained
security force, SAVAK, had the worst human rights record on the planet, and that the number
and variety of torture techniques the CIA had taught SAVAK were "beyond belief." Inevitably, in
1979, the Iranian people overthrew the bloodstained Shah, with great bitterness and hatred
toward the US for installing him and backing him all those years. The radical fundamentalist
regime that rules Iran today could never have found popular support without the CIA's 1953
coup and the repression that followed." 4
Friendly dictators
Abacha, General Sani ------------------------------Nigeria
Amin, Idi -----------------------------------------------Uganda
Banzer, Colonel Hugo ------------------------------Bolivia
Batista, Fulgencio -----------------------------------Cuba
Bolkiah, Sir Hassanal -------------------------------Brunei
Botha, P.W. -------------------------------------------South Africa
Branco, General Humberto ------------------------Brazil
Cedras, Raoul ----------------------------------------Haiti
Cerezo, Vinicio ---------------------------------------Guatemala
Chiang Kai-Shek -------------------------------------Taiwan
Cordova, Roberto Suazo ---------------------------Honduras
Christiani, Alfredo ------------------------------------El Salvador
Diem, Ngo Dihn ---------------------------------------Vietnam
Doe, General Samuel --------------------------------Liberia
Duvalier, Francois ------------------------------------Haiti
Duvalier, Jean Claude--------------------------------Haiti
Fahd bin'Abdul-'Aziz, King --------------------------Saudi Arabia
Franco, General Francisco -------------------------Spain
Hitler, Adolf --------------------------------------------Germany
Hassan II------------------------------------------------Morocco
Marcos, Ferdinand -----------------------------------Philippines
Martinez, General Maximiliano Hernandez -------El Salvador
Mobutu Sese Seko -----------------------------------Zaire
Noriega, General Manuel ---------------------------Panama
Ozal, Turgut -------------------------------------------Turkey
Pahlevi, Shah Mohammed Reza -------------------Iran
Papadopoulos, George ------------------------------Greece
Park Chung Hee --------------------------------------South Korea
Pinochet, General Augusto -------------------------Chile
Pol Pot---------------------------------------------------Cambodia
Rabuka, General Sitiveni ----------------------------Fiji
Montt, General Efrain Rios --------------------------Guatemala
Salassie, Halie -----------------------------------------Ethiopia
Salazar, Antonio de Oliveira ------------------------Portugal
Somoza, Anastasio Jr. --------------------------------Nicaragua
Somoza, Anastasio, Sr. ------------------------------Nicaragua
Smith, Ian -----------------------------------------------Rhodesia
Stroessner, Alfredo -----------------------------------Paraguay
Suharto, General --------------------------------------Indonesia
Trujillo, Rafael Leonidas -----------------------------Dominican
Republic
Videla, General Jorge Rafael ---------------------- Argentina
Zia Ul-Haq, Mohammed ------------------------------Pakistan5
Abacha, General Sani ------------------------------Nigeria
Amin, Idi -----------------------------------------------Uganda
Banzer, Colonel Hugo ------------------------------Bolivia
Batista, Fulgencio -----------------------------------Cuba
Bolkiah, Sir Hassanal -------------------------------Brunei
Botha, P.W. -------------------------------------------South Africa
Branco, General Humberto ------------------------Brazil
Cedras, Raoul ----------------------------------------Haiti
Cerezo, Vinicio ---------------------------------------Guatemala
Chiang Kai-Shek -------------------------------------Taiwan
Cordova, Roberto Suazo ---------------------------Honduras
Christiani, Alfredo ------------------------------------El Salvador
Diem, Ngo Dihn ---------------------------------------Vietnam
Doe, General Samuel --------------------------------Liberia
Duvalier, Francois ------------------------------------Haiti
Duvalier, Jean Claude--------------------------------Haiti
Fahd bin'Abdul-'Aziz, King --------------------------Saudi Arabia
Franco, General Francisco -------------------------Spain
Hitler, Adolf --------------------------------------------Germany
Hassan II------------------------------------------------Morocco
Marcos, Ferdinand -----------------------------------Philippines
Martinez, General Maximiliano Hernandez -------El Salvador
Mobutu Sese Seko -----------------------------------Zaire
Noriega, General Manuel ---------------------------Panama
Ozal, Turgut -------------------------------------------Turkey
Pahlevi, Shah Mohammed Reza -------------------Iran
Papadopoulos, George ------------------------------Greece
Park Chung Hee --------------------------------------South Korea
Pinochet, General Augusto -------------------------Chile
Pol Pot---------------------------------------------------Cambodia
Rabuka, General Sitiveni ----------------------------Fiji
Montt, General Efrain Rios --------------------------Guatemala
Salassie, Halie -----------------------------------------Ethiopia
Salazar, Antonio de Oliveira ------------------------Portugal
Somoza, Anastasio Jr. --------------------------------Nicaragua
Somoza, Anastasio, Sr. ------------------------------Nicaragua
Smith, Ian -----------------------------------------------Rhodesia
Stroessner, Alfredo -----------------------------------Paraguay
Suharto, General --------------------------------------Indonesia
Trujillo, Rafael Leonidas -----------------------------Dominican
Republic
Videla, General Jorge Rafael ---------------------- Argentina
Zia Ul-Haq, Mohammed ------------------------------Pakistan5
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes:
In 1993, the United Nations truth commission on El Salvador named the army officers whohad committed the worst atrocities of the civil war.
Two-thirds of them had been trained atthe School of the Americas. Among them were Roberto D'Aubuisson, the leader of El
Salvador's death squads; the men who killed Archbishop Oscar Romero; and 19 of the 26soldiers who murdered the Jesuit priests in 1989. In
Chile, the school's graduates ran both Augusto Pinochet's secret police and his three principal concentration camps. One of them
helped to murder Orlando Letelier and Ronni Moffit in Washington DC in 1976. " 6
When our dictators no longer serve American imperial interests, they are removed from power. Some like Noriega are imprisoned. Others like
Saddam are hanged. It is seldom prudent to lecture to other countries on their behaviors when our own are questioned throughout the world.
We supported brutal dictators to control the resources of the world which in turn prop up our gluttonous lifestyle. But the roots of our gluttony
and current defense spending orgy have their place in history.
1. President Jimmy Carter, January 31, 2003
2. The United States and the Plight of Africa, by Vanessa Lofton at:
www.angelfire.com/id/multicultural/dictators.html
3. Secrets of History, The CIA in Iran, by James Risen, New York Times at:
www.nytimes.com/library/world/mideast/041600iran-cia-index.html
4. Third World Traveller, The CIA’s Greatest Hits, by Mark Zapezauer at:
www.thirdworldtraveler.com/CIA%20Hits/Iran_CIAHits.html
5. Ibid. Most of these dictators have been overthrown and many have been replaced by
democratic regimes. Gone are the generals in Argentina, El Salvador, Guatumala and numerous other
countries.
6. The US has been training terrorists at a camp in Georgia for years - and it's still at it by George
Monbiot, the Guardian, October 31, 2001at:www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,583192,00.html
Notes:
In 1993, the United Nations truth commission on El Salvador named the army officers whohad committed the worst atrocities of the civil war.
Two-thirds of them had been trained atthe School of the Americas. Among them were Roberto D'Aubuisson, the leader of El
Salvador's death squads; the men who killed Archbishop Oscar Romero; and 19 of the 26soldiers who murdered the Jesuit priests in 1989. In
Chile, the school's graduates ran both Augusto Pinochet's secret police and his three principal concentration camps. One of them
helped to murder Orlando Letelier and Ronni Moffit in Washington DC in 1976. " 6
When our dictators no longer serve American imperial interests, they are removed from power. Some like Noriega are imprisoned. Others like
Saddam are hanged. It is seldom prudent to lecture to other countries on their behaviors when our own are questioned throughout the world.
We supported brutal dictators to control the resources of the world which in turn prop up our gluttonous lifestyle. But the roots of our gluttony
and current defense spending orgy have their place in history.
1. President Jimmy Carter, January 31, 2003
2. The United States and the Plight of Africa, by Vanessa Lofton at:
www.angelfire.com/id/multicultural/dictators.html
3. Secrets of History, The CIA in Iran, by James Risen, New York Times at:
www.nytimes.com/library/world/mideast/041600iran-cia-index.html
4. Third World Traveller, The CIA’s Greatest Hits, by Mark Zapezauer at:
www.thirdworldtraveler.com/CIA%20Hits/Iran_CIAHits.html
5. Ibid. Most of these dictators have been overthrown and many have been replaced by
democratic regimes. Gone are the generals in Argentina, El Salvador, Guatumala and numerous other
countries.
6. The US has been training terrorists at a camp in Georgia for years - and it's still at it by George
Monbiot, the Guardian, October 31, 2001at:www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,583192,00.html
"For the past 55 years it has been running a terrorist training
camp, whose victims massively outnumber the people killed
by the attack on New York, the embassy bombings and the
other atrocities laid, rightly or wrongly, at al-Qaida's door.
The camp is called the Western Hemisphere Institute for
Security Cooperation, or Whisc. It is based in Fort Benning,
Georgia, and it is funded by Mr Bush's government.
Until January this year, Whisc was called the "School of the
Americas", or SOA. Since 1946, SOA has trained more than
60,000 Latin American soldiers and policemen. Among its
graduates are many of the continent's most notorious
torturers, mass murderers, dictators and state terrorists. As
hundreds of pages of documentation compiled by the
pressure group SOA Watch show, Latin America has been
ripped apart by its alumni.
camp, whose victims massively outnumber the people killed
by the attack on New York, the embassy bombings and the
other atrocities laid, rightly or wrongly, at al-Qaida's door.
The camp is called the Western Hemisphere Institute for
Security Cooperation, or Whisc. It is based in Fort Benning,
Georgia, and it is funded by Mr Bush's government.
Until January this year, Whisc was called the "School of the
Americas", or SOA. Since 1946, SOA has trained more than
60,000 Latin American soldiers and policemen. Among its
graduates are many of the continent's most notorious
torturers, mass murderers, dictators and state terrorists. As
hundreds of pages of documentation compiled by the
pressure group SOA Watch show, Latin America has been
ripped apart by its alumni.
 | |  | |  |
although excessive, are echoed in a Web site poll conducted by the European edition of TIME magazine. The
question was "Which country poses the greatest danger to world peace in 2003?" With several hundred thousand
votes cast, the responses were: North Korea, 7 percent; Iraq, 8 percent; the United States, 84 percent. This is a
gross distortion of our nation's character, and America is not inclined to let foreign voices answer the preeminent
question that President Bush is presenting to the world, but it is sobering to realize how much doubt and
consternation has been raised about our motives for war in the absence of convincing proof of a genuine threat from
Iraq.” 1
question was "Which country poses the greatest danger to world peace in 2003?" With several hundred thousand
votes cast, the responses were: North Korea, 7 percent; Iraq, 8 percent; the United States, 84 percent. This is a
gross distortion of our nation's character, and America is not inclined to let foreign voices answer the preeminent
question that President Bush is presenting to the world, but it is sobering to realize how much doubt and
consternation has been raised about our motives for war in the absence of convincing proof of a genuine threat from
Iraq.” 1