Operation Condor

WARNING: This blog post is going to have a LOT of history.

I know the title of this post may make some people uneasy, and it should. It was a military operation that established dictatorships in South America, leading to the imprisonment, torture, and execution of those who spoke out.

Some of you may remember the name Operation Condor—most of those reading this were alive and old enough to understand, if only you were told the truth. Henry Kissinger, Secretary of State under both Nixon and Ford, met with individuals from Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, and other South American countries. The meetings established a plan that would overthrow the established governments of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay. The US agreed to provide financial support, military weapons, and training in torture techniques. The US also provided assassins to kill political opposition to the new dictator regimes. Most notably of these assassins was Michael Townley, a CIA agent who planned and carried out assassinations in South America and the US. He is currently under the witness protection by the US government (imagine, the US protecting a murderer).

What did the US get from this? The usual. The government told the people their involvement was to stop the progression of communism in Latin America. In reality, the US wanted to topple liberal-leaning governments that prevented financial gain for American interests. For supporting and masterminding the plan, the US gained rights to precious minerals located in these countries (sound familiar?). It also established a process in which businesses in these countries had to apply for loans through US banks. These loans carried much higher interest rates than those paid by US companies. As a result, businesses in these countries failed, which opened the door for US companies to swoop in and establish themselves cheaply. To gain even more profit, they exploited the people of these countries through low wages and rising costs of living.

During Operation Condor, individuals fled their home countries to avoid imprisonment, torture, and death, seeking refuge in other South American nations. If they were found living in exile in countries under dictator rule, they were arrested and sent back to their home countries to face their fate. According to the Archives of Terror, under Operation Condor, 50,000 political opponents were murdered, 30,000 disappeared, and 400,000 were imprisoned. That is counting political opponents. In relation to its population, Uruguay had the highest number of political prisoners.

The safest country in South America during this time, and the only one that openly welcomed refugees, was—are you ready for this?—Venezuela. Yep, that is right. They accepted 8,000–9,000 refugees and exiles from Uruguay, 11,000–15,000 exiles from Argentina, and 80,000 from Chile.

Let’s bring this home. The dictatorship in Uruguay (1973–1985) was led by Juan María Bordaberry. He was democratically elected in 1971. In 1973, he dissolved the chambers of Congress and named himself dictator. He swiftly moved the police under military control and took control of education (dictating what children learned in school) and the press (the ultimate say in what news people had access to). He taxed the lower classes while benefiting the upper class. Grifting and corruption ran ramped under his rule. Records show the CIA worked with the Uruguayan military on torture techniques prior to 1973. The most famous of these trainers was Dan Mitrione.

At first, those who opposed his leadership were arrested and tried (though the trials were far from ethical) for speaking out. Later, people were detained without trial, tortured for information on opposition movements, and executed. These individuals included political figures, union members, college students, and high school students. His regime would simply kick in doors and take those they “believed” to be a threat to the dictatorship (these actions were done by unidentified members of the military and without warrants). The military used techniques they learned at the School of the Americas in Panama, which was run by the US military. Bodies were buried in mass graves, and individuals were thrown from planes over the Río de la Plata and the Atlantic Ocean.

In Uruguay, the month of May is dedicated to remembering those who disappeared during Bordaberry’s dictatorship. Demands continue for the disclosure of what happened to the missing and where their bodies can be found. On May 20th each year, the Marcha del Silencio takes place. This is a march in which members of ALL political parties, citizens and residents of Uruguay participate. No political banners are allowed. The only signs permitted are those with the faces of the missing. People carry the flor margarita de los desaparecidos, a daisy with one petal missing to symbolize those who are still missing from this cruel period in Uruguayan history. Please check out Museo de la Memoria Uruguay Instagram and Centro Cultural Museo de la Memoria Facebook. They march in silence.

Takeaways (sometimes the truth hurts): the US was the mastermind and creator behind Operation Condor, which established brutal dictatorships throughout the Southern Cone of South America. Like most dictatorships and military operations, Operation Condor was driven by power and financial gain for the wealthy. Those who paid the price were the people who spoke out against these crimes against humanity. Also, the members of the lower and middle classes were thrown into poverty. You will not learn about the role the US played in these atrocities. It will not be included in the whitewashing of American history. However, the records exist, and the evidence is clear regarding their role and the blood on their hands.

If we do not learn from the darkest points in history, we are doomed to repeat them. The playbook used to establish these dictatorships in South America is the same one being used in Europe and North America today.

I know this was not a fun post to read. I believe it is important that we remember those who fought to end these regimes and their reign of terror. The slogan for this year’s march in Uruguay is: “30 años marchando contra la impunidad de ayer y hoy. Exigimos respuestas. ¿Dónde están?” I will let you translate that one yourself.

Thank you for reading this post. Remember: be kind to yourself. Be kind to others. And remember those whose voices are silenced in the name of power in Uruguay and ANY country whose government silences those who speak out.