The mid-1970s were by many reckonings a dark time. For the
United States it was the Post-Vietnam/Post-Watergate era of economic depression
and cultural decline. The Cold War wasn't going well and America's future was
uncertain.
And yet for many parts of the world it was period of not just
economic stress but civil war, terror, intrigue and fear. While the US may have
been outwardly struggling, the Deep State was not idle. Its members worked
aggressively to undo the damage wrought by Vietnam and to contain the Soviet
Union while consolidating their own power. All over Latin America, Asia, Africa
and even Europe, there were sorrows and signs of trouble on the horizon.
Latin America in particular would suffer through the 1970s
and 80s. Ruled by fascist and authoritarian regimes and subject to American
manipulation, the region would be beset by violence and fear. In the wake of
the Cold War, Latin America would experience something of a democratic/populist
spring but even now, even as crimes are still being reckoned with from a
previous generation, Latin America sits poised and in danger of slipping back
into Right-wing political rule and ultimately authoritarianism.
The linked BBC article is about two figures from Argentina's
Dirty War which bridged the 1970's and 1980's. For many people their verdicts
are long overdue. The article provides the basics but omits so much that one
wonders if its author does so deliberately.
In the case of Alfredo Astiz the article fails to mention his
OAS connections. OAS of course played a key part in the conflicts of the de
Gaulle years and the Algerian War. The OAS attempted to assassinate de Gaulle
and there have long been rumours of CIA participation/collaboration. That the
CIA backed the OAS cannot be doubted. The only open question is whether or not
Washington was directly involved with the assassination attempts on de Gaulle.
With regard to Argentina, the whole Astiz and Dirty War story
belongs under the aegis of Operation Condor which was orchestrated by the
United States. Few Americans know much about this chapter of history and the
longstanding relationship of the United States with fascism. It must be
emphasised at the very least that the US knew what was happening, openly
applauded it and secretly provided both guidance and support for the various
military regimes and dictatorships across Latin America.
Jorge Acosta the other convict mentioned in the article also
traveled to South Africa in the early 1980s. Again, this makes perfect sense in
light of Condor and unofficial US policy during the period. This was also at
the height of the South Africa (RSA)-Israeli relationship.
Both men also have connections to Italy and the Years of
Lead.
These men, convicted now decades after their crimes could be
described as important operatives in the US orchestrated schemes of the second
half of the Cold War. Under Gladio, Condor and other related projects the US
supported Right-wing governments, drove politics to the right and collaborated
with various fascists, neo-fascists, figures in the underworld and elements
within the Roman Catholicism.
Argentina's Dirty War was right in the centre of the action.
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