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00:00:06,339 --> 00:00:07,579
NARRATION:
In the late 1950s,
2
00:00:07,640 --> 00:00:11,019
Fidel Castro and his small
band of Cuban guerrillas
3
00:00:11,077 --> 00:00:13,557
started a revolution that
challenged the desire
4
00:00:13,613 --> 00:00:16,617
of the United States to
control the Western hemisphere.
5
00:00:20,086 --> 00:00:22,589
[ explosion ]
6
00:00:22,655 --> 00:00:25,795
[ Speaking Spanish ]
7
00:00:25,859 --> 00:00:29,068
We couldn't think
about the Cold War at that time,
8
00:00:29,129 --> 00:00:30,802
and besides we were naive.
9
00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:37,504
We really believed there was a
certain international order.
10
00:00:40,507 --> 00:00:41,611
We believed in
the existence of
11
00:00:41,674 --> 00:00:42,675
certain international
principles.
12
00:00:46,212 --> 00:00:49,557
We believed that the sovereignty
of nations would be respected.
13
00:00:53,753 --> 00:00:55,027
NARRATION:
To the United States,
14
00:00:55,088 --> 00:00:58,069
Castro's nationalism and
left-wing policies
15
00:00:58,124 --> 00:01:00,934
were a Trojan Horse
for Soviet Communism.
16
00:01:03,063 --> 00:01:04,440
[speaking Russian ]
17
00:01:04,497 --> 00:01:05,737
Up until that time,
18
00:01:05,799 --> 00:01:08,837
we had viewed Latin America as a
distant, exotic continent
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00:01:08,902 --> 00:01:11,246
with which we had
virtually no relations.
20
00:01:13,606 --> 00:01:17,281
The Cuban Revolution
changed all this.
21
00:01:20,246 --> 00:01:21,088
22
00:01:56,316 --> 00:01:58,853
NARRATION:
From its birth in 1776,
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00:01:58,918 --> 00:02:02,161
the United States
had grown and grown.
24
00:02:02,222 --> 00:02:04,168
Where its flag did not fly,
25
00:02:04,224 --> 00:02:06,226
its troops or agents
often intervened.
26
00:02:08,428 --> 00:02:12,308
In the 1950s, the Guatemalans
dared to challenge an American
27
00:02:12,365 --> 00:02:15,869
business that controlled
much of its economy.
28
00:02:20,773 --> 00:02:23,811
The United Fruit Company of
Boston owned half a million
29
00:02:23,877 --> 00:02:28,849
acres of land, the rail road,
the port and telecommunications.
30
00:02:30,850 --> 00:02:33,854
But most Guatemalan peasants
found it difficult to survive.
31
00:02:37,857 --> 00:02:42,067
In 1950, Jacobo Arbenz
was voted President -
32
00:02:42,128 --> 00:02:47,544
he wasn't a communist but
some of his close allies were.
33
00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:49,045
A former military man,
34
00:02:49,102 --> 00:02:53,244
Arbenz sought to modernize
Guatemala's backward society.
35
00:02:53,973 --> 00:02:56,647
Washington was alarmed.
36
00:02:56,709 --> 00:03:00,486
What we faced here was
the obvious intervention of
37
00:03:00,547 --> 00:03:02,527
a foreign power.
38
00:03:02,582 --> 00:03:05,961
Because these home-grown parties
are not really home-grown,
39
00:03:06,019 --> 00:03:08,829
they're being funded or, er,
40
00:03:08,888 --> 00:03:11,892
advised by a foreign power-
I.e. the Soviet Union.
41
00:03:14,027 --> 00:03:16,064
[speaking Russian ]
42
00:03:17,931 --> 00:03:19,342
The Arbenz Government,
43
00:03:19,399 --> 00:03:21,538
which had been in
power from 1950,
44
00:03:21,601 --> 00:03:24,605
didn't enjoy any logistical
support from the Soviet Union.
45
00:03:28,675 --> 00:03:30,677
We didn't even have
diplomatic relations.
46
00:03:33,913 --> 00:03:36,826
There was no
Soviet mission in Guatemala.
47
00:03:41,054 --> 00:03:44,501
NARRATION: President Arbenz
started a land reform program,
48
00:03:44,557 --> 00:03:49,506
buying up fallow land to
distribute to peasants.
49
00:03:49,562 --> 00:03:52,975
In compensation, he offered
the landowners the values
50
00:03:53,032 --> 00:03:56,536
they had themselves
declared for taxes.
51
00:03:56,603 --> 00:03:59,311
United Fruit was offered
just over a million dollars
52
00:03:59,372 --> 00:04:01,079
for its land.
53
00:04:01,140 --> 00:04:03,620
When Arbenz declared
nationalization, the company,
54
00:04:03,676 --> 00:04:08,455
backed by the United States,
claimed 16 million dollars.
55
00:04:08,514 --> 00:04:10,323
[ Speaking
American Spanish ]
56
00:04:10,383 --> 00:04:14,559
He saw that I didn't
look very pleased.
57
00:04:14,621 --> 00:04:18,330
He said, "Aren't you
happy about the news?"
58
00:04:18,391 --> 00:04:22,737
And I replied, "Now we're going
to have to fight on two fronts:
59
00:04:25,565 --> 00:04:27,476
we're going to have
to fight internally
60
00:04:27,533 --> 00:04:29,479
against the landowners,
61
00:04:29,535 --> 00:04:32,175
and also against
the United States."
62
00:04:32,238 --> 00:04:34,741
My, er, counterpart in
Guatemala, chief
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00:04:34,807 --> 00:04:37,253
Guatemala City chief
of station was sending
64
00:04:37,310 --> 00:04:41,383
in reports too about communist
infiltration in the Government,
65
00:04:41,447 --> 00:04:45,190
and of course he mentioned
Jose Manuel Fortuny
66
00:04:45,251 --> 00:04:49,996
and some of the old-time
Stalinist communists who were
67
00:04:50,056 --> 00:04:53,560
gaining favorable positions
in the Arbenz regime.
68
00:04:55,261 --> 00:04:58,140
NARRATION: In this impasse
the US named John Peurifoy
69
00:04:58,197 --> 00:05:00,734
as its new ambassador.
70
00:05:00,800 --> 00:05:02,871
Peurifoy had had
experience of communist
71
00:05:02,935 --> 00:05:06,246
efforts to gain
power in Greece.
72
00:05:06,306 --> 00:05:07,649
[ Speaking Spanish ]
73
00:05:10,276 --> 00:05:13,485
Peurifoy said to Arbenz,
74
00:05:13,546 --> 00:05:15,958
"Mr. President, we can sort
out all this business
75
00:05:16,015 --> 00:05:17,688
of the
United Fruit Company
76
00:05:19,952 --> 00:05:22,956
so that you can come to a
satisfactory agreement.
77
00:05:26,025 --> 00:05:29,905
The United Fruit Company
is not the problem:
78
00:05:29,962 --> 00:05:31,202
the problem is
the communists that
79
00:05:31,264 --> 00:05:32,937
you have in
your Government.
80
00:05:34,934 --> 00:05:38,438
[ Speaking Spanish ]
81
00:05:38,504 --> 00:05:41,110
No less a figure than
John Foster Dulles,
82
00:05:41,174 --> 00:05:44,212
head of the State Department,
was part of the firm of lawyers
83
00:05:44,277 --> 00:05:47,190
acting for the
United Fruit Company.
84
00:05:47,246 --> 00:05:51,820
His brother Allen was
the head of the CIA.
85
00:05:51,884 --> 00:05:54,125
So it didn't take much of
an effort on their part
86
00:05:54,187 --> 00:05:58,932
to persuade their President, a
military man, Mr. Eisenhower,
87
00:05:59,792 --> 00:06:00,793
to give them the
green light to
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00:06:00,860 --> 00:06:04,330
overthrow
Arbenz's Government.
89
00:06:08,368 --> 00:06:09,813
ARCHIVE NARRATION:
US Secretary of State Dulles
90
00:06:09,869 --> 00:06:12,611
takes the rostrum to urge
united action by the Americas
91
00:06:12,672 --> 00:06:14,515
to outlaw international
Communist intervention
92
00:06:14,574 --> 00:06:17,054
in the Western hemisphere.
93
00:06:17,110 --> 00:06:20,683
This conference was shocked
by the dastardly attack
94
00:06:20,747 --> 00:06:23,091
on members of the
United States Congress
95
00:06:23,149 --> 00:06:25,493
by those who professed
to be patriots.
96
00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:30,633
They may not themselves
have been communists.
97
00:06:30,690 --> 00:06:33,933
But they had been subjected
to the inflammatory influence
98
00:06:33,993 --> 00:06:36,735
of communism which
avowedly uses
99
00:06:36,796 --> 00:06:38,798
extreme nationalism
as one of its tools.
100
00:06:42,902 --> 00:06:46,213
NARRATION: Arbenz once again
put on his colone's uniform as
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00:06:46,272 --> 00:06:49,276
Guatemala prepared for war.
102
00:06:54,847 --> 00:06:56,121
In Esquipulas,
103
00:06:56,182 --> 00:06:59,527
an important religious shrine
in a very catholic country,
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00:06:59,585 --> 00:07:02,259
the church helped organize
the opposition to Arbenz.
105
00:07:06,893 --> 00:07:10,864
A CIA operation,
code-named PB Success,
106
00:07:10,930 --> 00:07:15,538
mobilized disaffected exiles
and peasants into action.
107
00:07:17,804 --> 00:07:22,913
What we wanted to do was have
a terror campaign to terrify
108
00:07:22,975 --> 00:07:25,819
Arbenz particularly,
terrify his
109
00:07:25,878 --> 00:07:29,655
his troops, much as
the German Stuka bombers
110
00:07:29,715 --> 00:07:32,787
terrified the population
of Holland,
111
00:07:32,852 --> 00:07:36,891
Belgium and Poland at
the onset of World War ll
112
00:07:36,956 --> 00:07:39,459
and just rendered
everybody paralyzed.
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00:07:43,596 --> 00:07:47,043
NARRATION:
The UN met in emergency session.
114
00:07:47,099 --> 00:07:49,943
Guatemala City was
strafed from the air.
115
00:07:50,002 --> 00:07:52,414
Rebels invaded
from Honduras.
116
00:07:52,472 --> 00:07:55,112
The CIA spread panic.
117
00:07:55,174 --> 00:07:57,711
Washington denied
responsibility.
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00:07:57,777 --> 00:07:58,881
The information
available to
119
00:07:58,945 --> 00:08:02,256
the United States
thus far strongly suggests
120
00:08:02,315 --> 00:08:05,319
that the situation
does not involve aggression,
121
00:08:05,384 --> 00:08:08,695
but is a revolt of Guatemalans
against Guatemalans.
122
00:08:08,754 --> 00:08:10,495
NARRATION:
The Soviets were warned.
123
00:08:10,556 --> 00:08:12,126
Stay out of
this hemisphere.
124
00:08:12,191 --> 00:08:14,637
And don't try to
start your plans
125
00:08:14,694 --> 00:08:18,369
and your
conspiracies over here.
126
00:08:18,431 --> 00:08:21,878
NARRATION: The American PB Success
Campaign brought the government down,
127
00:08:21,934 --> 00:08:25,677
and drove Arbenz and
his wife into exile.
128
00:08:25,738 --> 00:08:29,083
Nine thousand of his
supporters were arrested.
129
00:08:29,141 --> 00:08:33,612
Many were kept in jail,
without trial, for years.
130
00:08:33,679 --> 00:08:35,022
[ Speaking Spanish ]
131
00:08:37,049 --> 00:08:39,051
INTERPRETER: They even set up
anti-communist committees,
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00:08:41,487 --> 00:08:44,093
where anyone could go and
give the names of people
133
00:08:44,156 --> 00:08:49,105
who had been loyal
to the revolution.
134
00:08:49,161 --> 00:08:52,108
These people would then
be mercilessly kidnapped,
135
00:08:52,164 --> 00:08:55,976
killed and so on.
136
00:08:56,035 --> 00:08:59,016
NARRATION: Among those who fled
was a young Argentine doctor,
137
00:08:59,071 --> 00:09:01,176
Ernesto Che Guevara,
138
00:09:01,240 --> 00:09:05,279
who went to Mexico and
there met Fidel Castro.
139
00:09:05,344 --> 00:09:08,348
[ Speaking Spanish ]
140
00:09:08,414 --> 00:09:10,758
I remember my
talks with him.
141
00:09:13,486 --> 00:09:17,332
He was terribly indignant
and embittered by these events
142
00:09:17,390 --> 00:09:18,926
which had interrupted
ah endeavor
143
00:09:18,991 --> 00:09:21,437
which wasn't even radical.
144
00:09:26,032 --> 00:09:29,377
It was a relatively
simple change, land reform,
145
00:09:29,435 --> 00:09:33,406
which was very just
and necessary.
146
00:09:35,608 --> 00:09:41,058
NARRATION: Five years later, Fidel
Castro and Che Guevara had triumphed.
147
00:09:41,113 --> 00:09:42,786
Ninety miles from Florida,
148
00:09:42,848 --> 00:09:45,829
in what the United States
considered its own backyard,
149
00:09:45,885 --> 00:09:48,491
Castro established
a regime soon to be allied
150
00:09:48,554 --> 00:09:50,295
with the Soviet Union.
151
00:09:52,959 --> 00:09:58,932
Let all our neighbors know
that we shall join with them
152
00:09:58,998 --> 00:10:00,568
to oppose
aggression or
153
00:10:00,633 --> 00:10:03,978
subversion anywhere
in the Americas.
154
00:10:04,704 --> 00:10:08,151
And let every other power
know that this hemisphere
155
00:10:08,207 --> 00:10:11,552
intends to remain the
master of its own house.
156
00:10:14,413 --> 00:10:19,226
NARRATION: In 1961, John Fitzgerald
Kennedy took over the Presidency
157
00:10:19,285 --> 00:10:23,165
and with it a CIA scheme to
send in an army of exiles
158
00:10:23,222 --> 00:10:24,792
to overthrow Castro,
159
00:10:24,857 --> 00:10:27,531
as they had earlier
overthrown Arbenz in Guatemala.
160
00:10:29,795 --> 00:10:33,174
So I was yanked back
from Montevideo,
161
00:10:33,232 --> 00:10:36,805
where I would have been content to
spend the rest of my life,
162
00:10:36,869 --> 00:10:38,439
and told: "What we're
doing is reassembling
163
00:10:38,504 --> 00:10:40,506
the PB Success team,
164
00:10:40,573 --> 00:10:43,884
that is the Guatemala
Operational team,
165
00:10:43,943 --> 00:10:46,423
to take care of Castro."
166
00:10:51,217 --> 00:10:54,255
NARRATION:
At the Bay of Pigs, Castro's forces routed
167
00:10:54,320 --> 00:10:57,858
the CIA-sponsored invasion.
168
00:10:57,923 --> 00:11:03,339
HOWARD HUNT: Castro was secure, and
he was beloved by millions in Cuba
169
00:11:03,396 --> 00:11:06,775
and so it was a different
situation than Guatemala.
170
00:11:08,768 --> 00:11:10,145
[ Speaking Spanish ]
171
00:11:35,194 --> 00:11:36,901
[ Applause ]
172
00:11:36,962 --> 00:11:39,408
NARRATION:
Castro, triumphant, was eager to take
173
00:11:39,465 --> 00:11:41,138
armed revolution
into Latin America.
174
00:11:45,404 --> 00:11:48,248
To combat the Cuban
challenge the US established
175
00:11:48,307 --> 00:11:52,187
in its Panama Canal Zone
a sophisticated school.
176
00:11:52,244 --> 00:11:54,918
Here, counter insurgency
forces from all over
177
00:11:54,980 --> 00:11:57,187
the sub continent
were trained.
178
00:11:57,249 --> 00:11:59,820
[gunfire]
179
00:12:01,821 --> 00:12:05,564
NARRATION: By the early 1960s
left-wing revolutionary groups
180
00:12:05,624 --> 00:12:09,538
were fighting the authorities
in Guatemala, Venezuela,
181
00:12:09,595 --> 00:12:13,372
Colombia, Peru and
the Dominican Republic.
182
00:12:14,700 --> 00:12:17,203
ARCHIVE - NARRATION: Marines are ordered
into the revolt-torn small island
183
00:12:17,269 --> 00:12:19,044
country by
President Johnson.
184
00:12:19,105 --> 00:12:21,779
Five hundred leathernecks
are put ashore by helicopter.
185
00:12:25,044 --> 00:12:28,685
NARRATION: In 1965, US marines
went in to crush the Dominicans,
186
00:12:28,748 --> 00:12:32,628
who were trying to restore
their elected President.
187
00:12:32,685 --> 00:12:40,103
The American nation,
cannot, must not,
188
00:12:40,159 --> 00:12:44,869
and will not permit the
establishment of another
189
00:12:44,930 --> 00:12:49,504
communist government in
the Western hemisphere.
190
00:12:50,035 --> 00:12:52,515
[speaking Russian ]
191
00:12:53,205 --> 00:12:55,310
The Soviet Union,
especially after Brezhnev
192
00:12:55,374 --> 00:12:58,583
came to power in 1964,
193
00:12:58,644 --> 00:13:00,817
adhered to the principle
of peaceful co-existence
194
00:13:00,880 --> 00:13:02,052
and détente,
195
00:13:02,114 --> 00:13:04,116
and the relaxation of
international tension.
196
00:13:06,418 --> 00:13:08,193
But the Cubans
had a theory
197
00:13:08,254 --> 00:13:13,067
which can be described as
"let's have a 100 Vietnams".
198
00:13:14,927 --> 00:13:19,774
NARRATION: Che Guevara was behind
the call for 100 Vietnams.
199
00:13:19,832 --> 00:13:23,507
In 1965, he went to the Congo
and later to the heart of
200
00:13:23,569 --> 00:13:27,449
South America to spread the
cause of violent revolution.
201
00:13:29,775 --> 00:13:32,949
By late 1967 US instructors
were training
202
00:13:33,012 --> 00:13:36,152
Bolivian troops in
guerrilla warfare.
203
00:13:36,215 --> 00:13:38,752
They set a trap
for Che Guevara.
204
00:13:38,818 --> 00:13:39,956
[ Speaking Spanish ]
205
00:13:40,019 --> 00:13:42,295
On more than one
occasion he said,
206
00:13:42,354 --> 00:13:45,494
"Our last battle
is approaching.
207
00:13:45,558 --> 00:13:48,698
We have to prepare for it,
and we must be very careful
208
00:13:48,761 --> 00:13:53,267
not to be taken prisoner -
especially the Cubans."
209
00:13:56,902 --> 00:14:00,645
NARRATION:
Che Guevara was captured alive.
210
00:14:00,706 --> 00:14:02,708
Hours later,
he was shot dead.
211
00:14:04,844 --> 00:14:09,156
NARRATION: Five of Guevara's group
escaped to the Bolivian capital, La Paz.
212
00:14:09,215 --> 00:14:10,888
DARIEL ALARCON:
[speaking Spanish]
213
00:14:10,950 --> 00:14:13,294
When we arrived in La Paz
we managed to make contact
214
00:14:13,352 --> 00:14:16,765
with Salvador Allende
in Chile.
215
00:14:16,822 --> 00:14:20,201
He gave us every
kind of help.
216
00:14:20,259 --> 00:14:24,298
He mobilized his whole party
in order to rescue us.
217
00:14:28,701 --> 00:14:31,978
NARRATION:
Chile had been calm in the 1960s.
218
00:14:32,037 --> 00:14:34,483
Washington's Alliance for
Progress program
219
00:14:34,540 --> 00:14:36,679
spent millions of dollars
backing Chile's
220
00:14:36,742 --> 00:14:40,383
Christian Democrat Government.
221
00:14:40,446 --> 00:14:42,517
But in 1970 a
coalition of the left
222
00:14:42,581 --> 00:14:46,358
and the centre
sought electoral victory.
223
00:14:46,418 --> 00:14:48,989
Unidad Popular was
led by a doctor,
224
00:14:49,054 --> 00:14:51,534
freemason and
Marxist bon vivant,
225
00:14:51,590 --> 00:14:54,093
Senator Salvador Allende.
226
00:14:57,396 --> 00:15:01,208
Allende was, er, depicted
and.Hand.Hand
227
00:15:01,267 --> 00:15:03,269
identified with the
socialist-communist parties,
228
00:15:06,906 --> 00:15:10,649
the Left, er, in the
midst of the Cold War,
229
00:15:10,709 --> 00:15:14,282
and he represented of course
socialism and Marxism.
230
00:15:17,149 --> 00:15:19,425
NARRATION: Worried that a
Marxist would come to power in
231
00:15:19,485 --> 00:15:23,365
legitimate elections,
US business made its move.
232
00:15:24,623 --> 00:15:26,125
I directed that
an approach be made
233
00:15:26,191 --> 00:15:29,035
to both the State Department
and Mr. Kissinger's office
234
00:15:29,094 --> 00:15:31,096
to tell them that
we have grave concern
235
00:15:31,163 --> 00:15:33,370
over the outlook
for ITT's investment,
236
00:15:33,432 --> 00:15:35,412
and we were desirous of
discussing our thoughts
237
00:15:35,467 --> 00:15:36,537
in Washington
238
00:15:36,602 --> 00:15:39,481
and willing to assist financially
in any Government plan
239
00:15:39,538 --> 00:15:41,916
to help protect private
American investment in Chile.
240
00:15:43,375 --> 00:15:46,845
NARRATION:
The CIA was not far behind.
241
00:15:46,912 --> 00:15:48,414
General Rene Schneider,
242
00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:50,187
the popular army
commander who defended
243
00:15:50,249 --> 00:15:52,422
Allende's
constitutional rights,
244
00:15:52,484 --> 00:15:55,465
had to be removed
from his post.
245
00:16:00,726 --> 00:16:03,832
[speaking English]
246
00:16:28,787 --> 00:16:31,961
NARRATION: The CIA money dispatched
to oust General Schneider
247
00:16:32,024 --> 00:16:33,662
wasn't needed -
248
00:16:33,726 --> 00:16:35,069
other plotters
assassinated him.
249
00:16:38,764 --> 00:16:41,404
The murder
shocked the nation.
250
00:16:41,467 --> 00:16:44,107
Moderate politicians
rallied to Allende,
251
00:16:44,169 --> 00:16:45,842
and consolidated
his election victory.
252
00:16:49,875 --> 00:16:53,186
In the shanty towns of Chile
there were high hopes as the
253
00:16:53,245 --> 00:16:55,521
newly elected President
set out on reform -
254
00:16:55,581 --> 00:16:58,653
without, he hoped,
outside interference.
255
00:16:59,852 --> 00:17:01,525
[ Speaking Spanish ]
256
00:17:13,232 --> 00:17:16,338
NARRATION: Allende's first big
step, supported by all Chilean
257
00:17:16,402 --> 00:17:17,972
political parties,
258
00:17:18,037 --> 00:17:20,108
was the nationalization
of copper,
259
00:17:20,172 --> 00:17:22,083
Chile's biggest industry,
260
00:17:22,141 --> 00:17:23,814
still under effective
US control.
261
00:17:26,111 --> 00:17:29,558
HORTENSIA ALLENDE:
[speaking Spanish]
262
00:17:29,615 --> 00:17:32,095
When Salvador Allende
nationalized copper,
263
00:17:32,151 --> 00:17:34,153
it wasn't an
arbitrary measure.
264
00:17:37,523 --> 00:17:39,799
He did it to obtain the
resources to alleviate
265
00:17:39,858 --> 00:17:43,635
the great poverty
in our country.
266
00:17:49,868 --> 00:17:51,939
NARRATION:
Allende pressed on with what he called his
267
00:17:52,004 --> 00:17:53,711
"Social Revolution".
268
00:17:55,374 --> 00:17:58,753
School children were given
a daily glass of milk.
269
00:18:01,213 --> 00:18:05,093
The middle classes
were on edge.
270
00:18:05,150 --> 00:18:10,190
The fear was basically what
would happen to people,
271
00:18:10,255 --> 00:18:17,002
to the families, er,
to the property to your farms.
272
00:18:17,062 --> 00:18:21,408
[ Chanting ]
273
00:18:22,234 --> 00:18:24,510
NARRATION:
In the Chilean countryside, peasants,
274
00:18:24,570 --> 00:18:28,780
chanting pro-Cuban slogans,
began seizing the land.
275
00:18:31,477 --> 00:18:35,220
ARTURO ALESSANDRI: What happened
afterwards confirmed the fears,
276
00:18:35,280 --> 00:18:37,886
because the Government,
on the one hand,
277
00:18:37,950 --> 00:18:43,992
started to expropriate land,
started to expropriate industry.
278
00:18:45,858 --> 00:18:47,599
NARRATION:
Chile's economy was increasingly put
279
00:18:47,659 --> 00:18:50,333
under state control.
280
00:18:50,395 --> 00:18:52,306
This upset foreign financiers
281
00:18:52,364 --> 00:18:54,344
and the World Bank
in Washington,
282
00:18:54,399 --> 00:18:57,437
which out off credits.
283
00:18:57,503 --> 00:19:00,575
Chile of course is
interested in obtaining
284
00:19:00,639 --> 00:19:04,985
loans from
international organizations
285
00:19:05,043 --> 00:19:06,522
where we have a vote
286
00:19:06,578 --> 00:19:09,616
and I indicated that
wherever we had a vote-
287
00:19:09,681 --> 00:19:11,592
where Chile
was involved-
288
00:19:11,650 --> 00:19:14,392
that unless there
were strong considerations
289
00:19:14,453 --> 00:19:18,162
on the other side that
we would vote against them.
290
00:19:18,223 --> 00:19:20,430
NARRATION:
In November 1971 ,
291
00:19:20,492 --> 00:19:24,201
Fidel Castro arrived to support
Allende's policy of change,
292
00:19:24,263 --> 00:19:26,470
through the ballot box.
293
00:19:26,532 --> 00:19:28,170
FIDEL CASTRO:
[speaking Spanish]
294
00:19:28,233 --> 00:19:30,770
We fully supported
his policy.
295
00:19:30,836 --> 00:19:33,510
We trained people for
his personal security.
296
00:19:35,774 --> 00:19:37,481
We were
experienced in this
297
00:19:37,543 --> 00:19:39,819
because we had had to defend
ourselves against those
298
00:19:39,878 --> 00:19:43,087
who had wanted
to destroy us.
299
00:19:43,148 --> 00:19:45,754
We told him about this because
we thought he had enemies,
300
00:19:45,817 --> 00:19:48,161
who might try
to take his life.
301
00:19:53,292 --> 00:19:57,172
NARRATION:
The dangers didn't just come from the Right.
302
00:19:57,229 --> 00:20:00,540
Castro's Cuban policy of armed
revolution found favor
303
00:20:00,599 --> 00:20:02,601
with Chile's extreme Left,
304
00:20:02,668 --> 00:20:04,670
who were hostile
to Allende's methods.
305
00:20:07,873 --> 00:20:10,877
But most Chileans ignored
the call to armed struggle.
306
00:20:13,245 --> 00:20:15,589
As inflation mounted,
the Right attacked economically.
307
00:20:18,784 --> 00:20:20,627
CIA money helped
pay for Chilean
308
00:20:20,686 --> 00:20:25,032
truck owners to bring the
country to a standstill.
309
00:20:25,090 --> 00:20:27,696
At the UN, Allende accused ITT
310
00:20:27,759 --> 00:20:30,740
of trying to provoke
a civil war.
311
00:20:30,796 --> 00:20:33,208
[ Speaking Spanish ]
312
00:21:00,025 --> 00:21:01,936
NARRATION:
Moscow was the next stop.
313
00:21:01,994 --> 00:21:04,338
There Allende sought
the money he needed
314
00:21:04,396 --> 00:21:06,501
to stave off bankruptcy.
315
00:21:06,565 --> 00:21:08,738
But the Russians,
already spending a fortune
316
00:21:08,800 --> 00:21:11,872
to support Cuba, were
unimpressed.
317
00:21:12,938 --> 00:21:14,747
NIKOLAI LEONOV:
[speaking Russian ]
318
00:21:14,806 --> 00:21:16,911
We had come
to a conclusion.
319
00:21:16,975 --> 00:21:19,319
This regime would
soon be toppled,
320
00:21:21,780 --> 00:21:24,784
because they were trying
through very democratic means -
321
00:21:27,753 --> 00:21:31,030
without the use of arms,
322
00:21:31,089 --> 00:21:36,596
to break the resistance of
stronger opposition forces.
323
00:21:39,498 --> 00:21:41,637
NARRATION:
Santiago, Chile's capital.
324
00:21:41,700 --> 00:21:42,542
June 1973.
325
00:21:44,903 --> 00:21:48,578
With the Government's
popularity actually increasing,
326
00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:50,813
some frustrated right-wing
military officers
327
00:21:50,876 --> 00:21:54,187
took to the streets
in an attempted coup.
328
00:21:59,451 --> 00:22:02,591
As the world's press
recorded the failed takeover,
329
00:22:02,654 --> 00:22:04,998
Swedish cameraman
Leonardo Hendricksen,
330
00:22:05,057 --> 00:22:09,870
his camera still running,
was gunned down and killed.
331
00:22:15,767 --> 00:22:18,475
[ Projector sound abruptly stops ]
332
00:22:20,572 --> 00:22:23,075
Allende responded by
placing greater reliance
333
00:22:23,141 --> 00:22:24,142
on the military.
334
00:22:26,445 --> 00:22:28,584
General Augusto Pinochet
was appointed
335
00:22:28,647 --> 00:22:30,991
as his loyal
chief of the army.
336
00:22:33,652 --> 00:22:36,792
Once again the truck owners
paralyzed the world's longest
337
00:22:36,855 --> 00:22:40,564
and thinnest country.
338
00:22:40,625 --> 00:22:42,935
Shops closed for
lack of goods.
339
00:22:42,994 --> 00:22:44,337
Hunger stalked
the streets.
340
00:22:48,567 --> 00:22:50,376
[pots & pans being hit]
341
00:22:50,435 --> 00:22:52,745
Middle-class housewives
came out to bang their
342
00:22:52,804 --> 00:22:54,477
pots and pans in protest.
343
00:22:58,210 --> 00:23:01,817
The violent Right
laid their plots.
344
00:23:04,149 --> 00:23:07,756
Certainly the situation was getting
more and more ominous
345
00:23:07,819 --> 00:23:10,493
and then we did have
the possibility
346
00:23:13,291 --> 00:23:14,861
of learning
something about it.
347
00:23:14,926 --> 00:23:17,429
Not because we were in touch
with the plotters -
348
00:23:17,496 --> 00:23:19,635
we were not.
349
00:23:19,698 --> 00:23:20,540
[ Manes ]
350
00:23:22,768 --> 00:23:26,011
NARRATION: Just after midday
on Tuesday 11th September,
351
00:23:26,071 --> 00:23:28,312
under orders from
General Pinochet,
352
00:23:28,373 --> 00:23:30,944
British-made Hunter
jets swooped over the Moneda
353
00:23:31,009 --> 00:23:33,649
presidential palace
starting fires which
354
00:23:33,712 --> 00:23:35,385
were to burn for weeks.
355
00:23:37,649 --> 00:23:40,562
NATHANIEL DAVIS: My wife and
our children were at the house
356
00:23:40,619 --> 00:23:43,156
and they had a
marvelous view of the,
357
00:23:43,221 --> 00:23:46,759
er, of these planes, er,
winging over and then dipping
358
00:23:46,825 --> 00:23:50,329
down and sending their
bombs in to the Moneda.
359
00:23:50,395 --> 00:23:52,773
[explosions]
360
00:23:52,831 --> 00:23:54,538
NARRATION:
That morning from the Moneda,
361
00:23:54,599 --> 00:23:57,705
Allende had broadcast
to the nation.
362
00:23:57,769 --> 00:23:59,771
[ Speaking Spanish ]
363
00:24:25,230 --> 00:24:27,232
NARRATION:
Hours later, Allende was dead.
364
00:24:29,868 --> 00:24:31,814
[ Speaking Spanish ]
365
00:24:31,870 --> 00:24:35,477
He always said that
he wouldn't be taken alive -
366
00:24:35,540 --> 00:24:39,454
that he would die
defending the Constitution.
367
00:24:39,511 --> 00:24:41,457
He kept his word.
368
00:24:44,049 --> 00:24:45,426
NARRATION:
General Pinochet,
369
00:24:45,484 --> 00:24:47,828
immediately stamped his
mark on the country.
370
00:24:50,188 --> 00:24:51,861
In the capital,
371
00:24:51,923 --> 00:24:54,597
suspects were rounded up
into the National Stadium.
372
00:24:57,762 --> 00:25:00,208
Many, like folk
singer Victor Jara,
373
00:25:00,265 --> 00:25:03,678
were never seen
alive again.
374
00:25:03,735 --> 00:25:07,148
I know that he behaved
with great moral courage.
375
00:25:07,205 --> 00:25:09,811
I know that he was a
sort of a source of strength
376
00:25:09,875 --> 00:25:12,879
to his fellow
prisoners.
377
00:25:12,944 --> 00:25:15,049
I know that
he sang there.
378
00:25:15,113 --> 00:25:18,185
I know that
they beat him down.
379
00:25:18,250 --> 00:25:21,595
I know that they broke
his hands and his wrists.
380
00:25:26,024 --> 00:25:30,268
And I know that after two
days, they killed him off.
381
00:25:40,005 --> 00:25:42,611
[speaking English]
382
00:26:04,162 --> 00:26:07,371
NARRATION: When he entered the
White House in January 1977,
383
00:26:07,432 --> 00:26:09,912
Jimmy Carter promised
a new US attitude
384
00:26:09,968 --> 00:26:12,278
to the rest
of the world.
385
00:26:12,337 --> 00:26:14,943
I announced that human
rights would be a cornerstone
386
00:26:15,006 --> 00:26:16,986
or foundation of
our entire foreign policy.
387
00:26:17,042 --> 00:26:21,491
So I officially designated
every US ambassador
388
00:26:21,546 --> 00:26:24,550
on earth to be my personal
human rights representative.
389
00:26:27,586 --> 00:26:32,399
NARRATION: In Nicaragua, US ambassadors
were used to a different role.
390
00:26:32,457 --> 00:26:35,097
In the 1930s,
US marines had put the tyrant
391
00:26:35,160 --> 00:26:36,503
Tacho Somoza in power.
392
00:26:39,097 --> 00:26:40,701
More than
forty years later,
393
00:26:40,765 --> 00:26:43,109
Nicaragua was still
ruled by a Somoza.
394
00:26:45,770 --> 00:26:48,011
NARRATION:
A politically moderate newspaper owner,
395
00:26:48,073 --> 00:26:50,349
Pedro Joaquin Chamorro,
396
00:26:50,408 --> 00:26:52,888
dared to challenge
the dictatorship.
397
00:26:52,944 --> 00:26:54,321
[ Speaking Spanish ]
398
00:26:54,379 --> 00:26:56,859
So what happened to
this person who wanted freedom?
399
00:26:56,915 --> 00:26:58,292
Well,
they murdered him.
400
00:26:58,350 --> 00:26:59,522
Who murdered him?
401
00:26:59,584 --> 00:27:02,326
The Somoza forces.
402
00:27:02,387 --> 00:27:04,867
[ Sirens ]
403
00:27:04,923 --> 00:27:09,338
NARRATION: Chamorro's murder electrified
the cowed people of Nicaragua.
404
00:27:09,394 --> 00:27:10,236
[ Shouts ]
405
00:27:10,295 --> 00:27:13,504
NARRATION:
Somoza declared a state of siege.
406
00:27:13,565 --> 00:27:16,546
The US woke up to popular
anger against the super-rich
407
00:27:16,601 --> 00:27:20,845
family which had been its ally
for more than four decades.
408
00:27:20,905 --> 00:27:25,251
I have been fighting
the east west ideological war
409
00:27:25,310 --> 00:27:27,756
since the inception
of Fidel Castro
410
00:27:27,812 --> 00:27:29,814
so we've been under
the attack of
411
00:27:29,881 --> 00:27:33,328
that Cuban Government
for almost eighteen years.
412
00:27:34,986 --> 00:27:36,522
NARRATION:
From the hills where they had been
413
00:27:36,588 --> 00:27:39,262
secretly training for years,
guerrillas emerged
414
00:27:39,324 --> 00:27:41,930
who proudly bore
the name of the 1930s
415
00:27:41,993 --> 00:27:44,599
anti-Yankee rebel,
'Sandino'.
416
00:27:45,930 --> 00:27:49,537
[ Gunfire/aircraft ]
417
00:27:53,905 --> 00:27:57,114
NARRATION: But in the town of
Esteli, Somoza's World War ll
418
00:27:57,175 --> 00:27:58,848
US tanks carried the day.
419
00:28:04,049 --> 00:28:08,464
Two thousand people died,
in what became a dead city.
420
00:28:15,593 --> 00:28:18,699
The Sandinistas regrouped,
pitting their rifles
421
00:28:18,763 --> 00:28:21,039
against Somoza's might.
422
00:28:21,099 --> 00:28:23,101
DANIEL ORTEGA:
[speaking Spanish]
423
00:28:23,168 --> 00:28:24,909
The front now
entered the cities
424
00:28:24,969 --> 00:28:26,744
and knocked on the
door of the capital
425
00:28:26,805 --> 00:28:30,480
for the first
time in its history.
426
00:28:30,542 --> 00:28:33,386
[ Speaking Spanish ]
427
00:28:35,413 --> 00:28:39,054
NARRATION:
The Sandinistas' will to win triumphed;
428
00:28:39,117 --> 00:28:41,495
Managua went
mad with joy.
429
00:28:47,726 --> 00:28:49,728
Jimmy Carter had left
it very late before
430
00:28:49,794 --> 00:28:51,364
abandoning the Somozas
431
00:28:51,429 --> 00:28:54,535
and accepting the new
Sandinista Government.
432
00:28:54,599 --> 00:28:56,272
DANIEL ORTEGA:
[speaking Spanish]
433
00:28:56,334 --> 00:28:59,213
I said to Carter the United
States had to make good
434
00:28:59,270 --> 00:29:03,082
the historical damage they
had inflicted on our country.
435
00:29:03,141 --> 00:29:06,588
Our party hymn still
includes the words, "Yankee -
436
00:29:06,644 --> 00:29:08,749
the enemy of humanity".
437
00:29:08,813 --> 00:29:11,123
We said to him that
the only way to
438
00:29:11,182 --> 00:29:12,991
abolish that line would
be for the attitude
439
00:29:13,051 --> 00:29:17,193
of the imperialist powers to
change throughout the world.
440
00:29:19,591 --> 00:29:22,868
NARRATION:
The US would not be lectured to.
441
00:29:22,927 --> 00:29:24,201
The tide of conservatism,
442
00:29:24,262 --> 00:29:26,242
which was to bring
Ronald Reagan to power,
443
00:29:26,297 --> 00:29:27,298
was rising.
444
00:29:33,104 --> 00:29:35,584
In Nicaragua,
Somoza's land was shared out
445
00:29:35,640 --> 00:29:39,645
and the family's business
monopolies were taken over.
446
00:29:39,711 --> 00:29:42,055
Education and health care
became widely available.
447
00:29:44,949 --> 00:29:48,419
But not everyone was
happy with the revolution.
448
00:29:48,486 --> 00:29:50,659
[ Speaking Spanish ]
449
00:29:50,722 --> 00:29:51,928
All those
who didn't agree
450
00:29:51,990 --> 00:29:54,129
with the
Sandinista policies
451
00:29:54,192 --> 00:29:57,799
were subjected to
confiscations and imprisonment.
452
00:29:57,862 --> 00:30:00,206
Their lives
were threatened.
453
00:30:00,265 --> 00:30:02,176
Many were murdered just
for disagreeing with the
454
00:30:02,233 --> 00:30:04,372
Sandinista Front.
455
00:30:04,435 --> 00:30:06,244
This sort of thing
turned many Nicaraguan
456
00:30:06,304 --> 00:30:09,444
peasants against
the Sandinistas.
457
00:30:12,944 --> 00:30:15,686
NARRATION:
In the shadows, opponents of the revolution
458
00:30:15,747 --> 00:30:18,159
plotted their revenge.
459
00:30:26,991 --> 00:30:29,801
In experienced Sandinista
guerrillas struggled
460
00:30:29,861 --> 00:30:31,534
to run a war-torn country.
461
00:30:33,565 --> 00:30:35,306
[ Speaking Spanish ]
462
00:30:35,366 --> 00:30:36,936
What we asked
for was weapons
463
00:30:37,001 --> 00:30:39,447
so that we could
defend ourselves-
464
00:30:39,504 --> 00:30:41,177
that's what we asked
of the Soviet Union,
465
00:30:41,239 --> 00:30:43,048
of the socialist countries
of Eastern Europe,
466
00:30:43,107 --> 00:30:45,109
of the Algerians,
of the Vietnamese.
467
00:30:47,946 --> 00:30:50,290
[speaking Russian ]
468
00:30:50,348 --> 00:30:53,659
We sent light
weapons, helicopters,
469
00:30:55,153 --> 00:30:58,032
armored cars
470
00:31:00,225 --> 00:31:02,603
and other
military equipment.
471
00:31:04,662 --> 00:31:07,506
There wasn't a large
Soviet military presence
472
00:31:07,565 --> 00:31:10,239
but they did
have Cuban advisers.
473
00:31:12,604 --> 00:31:15,414
NARRATION: Throughout Central
America protest mounted against
474
00:31:15,473 --> 00:31:17,475
right-wing military rule.
475
00:31:18,843 --> 00:31:21,414
In El Salvador the
Catholic Church had become
476
00:31:21,479 --> 00:31:23,618
a haven for
the oppressed.
477
00:31:23,681 --> 00:31:26,525
[gunfire]
478
00:31:34,025 --> 00:31:37,063
NARRATION: On the concrete steps
of the cathedral in San Salvador
479
00:31:37,128 --> 00:31:39,130
the military decreed
that demonstrators
480
00:31:39,197 --> 00:31:42,735
for human rights
should be discouraged -
481
00:31:42,800 --> 00:31:46,009
nothing very new
for El Salvador.
482
00:31:46,070 --> 00:31:48,346
In a massacre in 1932,
483
00:31:48,406 --> 00:31:52,320
the military had killed
up to 40,000 people.
484
00:31:52,377 --> 00:31:54,653
In 1979, the cameras were
485
00:31:54,712 --> 00:31:57,716
on hand to record
the color of the blood.
486
00:32:01,152 --> 00:32:04,099
Archbishop Oscar Romero
was the cautious leader
487
00:32:04,155 --> 00:32:06,635
of Salvadorian Catholics.
488
00:32:08,293 --> 00:32:13,367
When he spoke out, the reaction
from the Right was immediate.
489
00:32:13,431 --> 00:32:15,377
[ Speaking Spanish ]
490
00:32:15,433 --> 00:32:18,141
During the last months,
the letterbox at the seminary
491
00:32:18,202 --> 00:32:20,739
where he had his office
was full of anonymous letters
492
00:32:20,805 --> 00:32:23,649
practically every day,
493
00:32:23,708 --> 00:32:27,588
with death squad
emblems oh them.
494
00:32:27,645 --> 00:32:31,115
There was one death squad
called The White Hand.
495
00:32:31,182 --> 00:32:32,388
There were many
letters written on
496
00:32:32,450 --> 00:32:35,021
black paper with
a white hand saying:
497
00:32:35,086 --> 00:32:40,502
"We're going to kill you.
We're going to tear you apart".
498
00:32:40,558 --> 00:32:43,664
[ Speaking Spanish ]
499
00:32:55,907 --> 00:33:00,117
NARRATION: In March 1980, as he was
saying mass in private chapel,
500
00:33:00,178 --> 00:33:03,751
the Archbishop was murdered
by a single assassin's bullet.
501
00:33:11,889 --> 00:33:15,666
At his funeral the
military struck again.
502
00:33:15,727 --> 00:33:18,003
[ Speaking Spanish ]
503
00:33:18,062 --> 00:33:20,474
I only remember
a bomb exploding,
504
00:33:20,531 --> 00:33:22,568
and then many
shots being fired,
505
00:33:22,633 --> 00:33:25,580
and people running
in all directions.
506
00:33:25,636 --> 00:33:28,515
It was a disaster:
507
00:33:28,573 --> 00:33:31,782
people running,
knocking each other down,
508
00:33:31,843 --> 00:33:33,823
being hit by bullets.
509
00:33:33,878 --> 00:33:36,154
Many, many
people were killed.
510
00:33:36,214 --> 00:33:37,215
[ Shouts ]
511
00:33:43,221 --> 00:33:46,168
[ Speaking Spanish ]
512
00:33:46,224 --> 00:33:47,760
The fact that
they had murdered
513
00:33:47,825 --> 00:33:49,532
the Archbishop
of San Salvador,
514
00:33:49,594 --> 00:33:51,972
who was the highest
Church representative,
515
00:33:52,030 --> 00:33:54,067
and that they had no
qualms about killing him,
516
00:33:54,132 --> 00:33:58,945
made us all feel
practically defenseless.
517
00:34:01,606 --> 00:34:04,018
We said "Either we
take the struggle into the
518
00:34:04,075 --> 00:34:05,952
open to the mountains,
519
00:34:06,010 --> 00:34:09,719
or they will kill us
all here in the city."
520
00:34:14,952 --> 00:34:19,059
NARRATION: On December 3rd 1980,
three US nuns and a woman lay-worker
521
00:34:19,123 --> 00:34:21,569
started the long
drive into town from
522
00:34:21,626 --> 00:34:22,969
San Salvador's
international airport.
523
00:34:25,730 --> 00:34:29,143
On the way they were
raped and killed.
524
00:34:29,200 --> 00:34:31,908
Their corpses were
discovered in a shallow grave.
525
00:34:44,382 --> 00:34:47,386
The killings, by El Salvador's
National Guard,
526
00:34:47,452 --> 00:34:50,023
prompted President Carter
to withdraw aid to the
527
00:34:50,088 --> 00:34:52,864
Salvadorian military.
528
00:34:52,924 --> 00:34:55,302
But within six weeks
Carter had resumed
529
00:34:55,359 --> 00:34:58,169
funding an army whose
atrocities continued.
530
00:35:00,965 --> 00:35:03,070
[ Speaking American
Spanish ]
531
00:35:03,134 --> 00:35:07,082
Everything consisted
of beatings, electric shocks
532
00:35:07,138 --> 00:35:11,484
and rape,
and in keeping me naked.
533
00:35:12,944 --> 00:35:17,950
As soon as I was taken to the
headquarters I was undressed.
534
00:35:18,015 --> 00:35:21,462
My hands and legs were
handcuffed.
535
00:35:21,519 --> 00:35:23,692
I was blindfolded so that I
could not see the
536
00:35:23,754 --> 00:35:26,030
faces of my interrogators.
537
00:35:33,364 --> 00:35:36,072
NARRATION: In town, those suspected
of being sympathetic to the
538
00:35:36,134 --> 00:35:39,513
guerrillas were easy prey
for government forces.
539
00:35:39,570 --> 00:35:41,948
At night, bodies were
dumped on waste ground
540
00:35:42,006 --> 00:35:45,249
or left on city streets.
541
00:35:53,651 --> 00:35:56,393
Like the Sandinistas in
neighboring Nicaragua,
542
00:35:56,454 --> 00:35:59,128
the Salvadorian
guerrillas wouldn't give up.
543
00:35:59,190 --> 00:36:02,728
The war damage
was immense.
544
00:36:02,793 --> 00:36:06,240
In the United States,
the new Reagan administration
545
00:36:06,297 --> 00:36:09,437
blamed Cuba and Moscow.
546
00:36:09,500 --> 00:36:11,946
GENERAL ALEXANDER HAIG: What we're
watching is a four-phased operation.
547
00:36:12,003 --> 00:36:15,746
Phase one has been completed -
the seizure of Nicaragua.
548
00:36:15,806 --> 00:36:17,581
Next is El Salvador,
549
00:36:17,642 --> 00:36:19,588
to be followed by
Honduras and Guatemala -
550
00:36:19,644 --> 00:36:21,555
it's clear and explicit.
551
00:36:21,612 --> 00:36:23,592
OTHER: "There is a Caribbean
domino theory that's unfolding?"
552
00:36:23,648 --> 00:36:24,956
Of course.
553
00:36:25,016 --> 00:36:26,791
I wouldn't call it
necessarily a domino theory.
554
00:36:26,851 --> 00:36:30,822
I would call it
a priority target list -
555
00:36:30,888 --> 00:36:33,027
a hit list if you will -
556
00:36:33,090 --> 00:36:36,333
for the ultimate takeover
of Central America.
557
00:36:36,394 --> 00:36:38,499
[ Speaking Spanish ]
558
00:36:38,563 --> 00:36:41,976
Look, if a Soviet-Cuban
master plan actually existed
559
00:36:42,033 --> 00:36:45,310
we would have
won the Cold War.
560
00:36:45,369 --> 00:36:47,872
[ Laughs 1
561
00:36:47,939 --> 00:36:51,785
If there had
been a master plan.
562
00:36:51,842 --> 00:36:57,656
But unfortunately there was no
such plan, quite the opposite.
563
00:36:58,249 --> 00:37:01,253
Cuba's actions conflicted with
Soviet interests at that time.
564
00:37:04,088 --> 00:37:06,295
[military orders]
565
00:37:10,361 --> 00:37:13,831
NARRATION: in El Salvador, US
military advisers were hard at work
566
00:37:13,898 --> 00:37:17,277
bolstering the army
against the guerrillas.
567
00:37:19,337 --> 00:37:22,580
The Atlacatl Brigade
was the crack unit.
568
00:37:22,640 --> 00:37:25,644
In 1981, it went on a
search and destroy mission
569
00:37:25,710 --> 00:37:28,816
in the guerrilla-controlled
Morazan Province.
570
00:37:31,816 --> 00:37:35,263
At about 5 o'clock in the
morning of December 11th,
571
00:37:35,319 --> 00:37:38,789
it would go into action near
the village of El Mozote.
572
00:37:41,192 --> 00:37:42,865
Hundreds of civilians
were slaughtered.
573
00:37:44,962 --> 00:37:48,136
The US State Department said
it could find no evidence
574
00:37:48,199 --> 00:37:51,112
of a massacre.
575
00:37:51,168 --> 00:37:52,511
RUFINA AMAYA:
[speaking Spanish]
576
00:37:52,570 --> 00:37:54,481
I saw the women
clinging to each other,
577
00:37:54,538 --> 00:37:57,542
crying and screaming at
them not to kill them.
578
00:38:01,279 --> 00:38:03,156
I fought for my
children.
579
00:38:03,214 --> 00:38:06,991
I didn't want
to let them go.
580
00:38:07,051 --> 00:38:12,364
I said I would die with them but
they wrenched them from my arms.
581
00:38:12,423 --> 00:38:15,029
We heard them killing the children -
582
00:38:15,092 --> 00:38:16,696
they killed them at night-
583
00:38:16,761 --> 00:38:22,074
you could hear the screams
for their mamas and papas.
584
00:38:24,168 --> 00:38:25,010
[ Helicopters]
585
00:38:27,104 --> 00:38:30,085
NARRATION: As the Reagan administration
moved to shore up the Right
586
00:38:30,141 --> 00:38:33,782
in El Salvador and bring
down the Left in Nicaragua,
587
00:38:33,844 --> 00:38:35,915
neighboring Honduras
became a base
588
00:38:35,980 --> 00:38:39,985
for all sorts
of US activity.
589
00:38:40,051 --> 00:38:42,292
Honduras was the main place
where a force was being
590
00:38:42,353 --> 00:38:45,960
trained to over throw the
Government of Nicaragua.
591
00:38:46,023 --> 00:38:47,400
[ Whistle ]
592
00:38:47,458 --> 00:38:51,372
NARRATION:
That force was the Contras.
593
00:38:51,429 --> 00:38:52,669
DUANE CLARRIDGE:
Some of them were former members of
594
00:38:52,730 --> 00:38:55,540
the National Guard
of Nicaragua.
595
00:38:55,599 --> 00:38:57,476
A lot of them were just,
you know,
596
00:38:57,535 --> 00:39:00,015
peasants from the
mountainous areas between
597
00:39:00,071 --> 00:39:01,448
Honduras and Nicaragua,
598
00:39:01,505 --> 00:39:06,079
who'd been at war
with somebody forever,
599
00:39:06,143 --> 00:39:12,958
and in many respects they were
like a bunch of cattle rustlers.
600
00:39:13,017 --> 00:39:16,123
NARRATION:
The Contras were funded from Washington.
601
00:39:16,187 --> 00:39:19,259
This undeclared war
upset the US Congress.
602
00:39:21,692 --> 00:39:25,504
An Amendment by Representative
Boland of Massachusetts
603
00:39:25,563 --> 00:39:28,874
curtailed Reagan's funds
for arming the Contras.
604
00:39:28,933 --> 00:39:31,846
We are complying
with the law -
605
00:39:31,902 --> 00:39:35,247
the Boland Amendment,
which is the law.
606
00:39:35,306 --> 00:39:39,311
We are complying with
that fully and
607
00:39:40,277 --> 00:39:41,620
WOMAN REPORTER:
Does that mean we are not arming
608
00:39:41,679 --> 00:39:45,092
or supplying any of the
dissidents along the border
609
00:39:45,149 --> 00:39:47,186
the Honduran border?
610
00:39:47,251 --> 00:39:50,698
I am not going to get in
I could not and would not
611
00:39:50,755 --> 00:39:54,168
possibly talk about
such things
612
00:39:54,225 --> 00:39:57,001
NARRATION:
Washington was planning another small war.
613
00:39:57,061 --> 00:39:58,870
On the Caribbean
island of Grenada,
614
00:39:58,929 --> 00:40:01,068
where the British Queen
Elizabeth was still
615
00:40:01,132 --> 00:40:04,579
Head of State, a left-wing
Government was using Cuban
616
00:40:04,635 --> 00:40:06,979
contractors to build
a new tourist airport.
617
00:40:09,407 --> 00:40:12,354
The US suspected
a strategic motive.
618
00:40:15,279 --> 00:40:19,318
NARRATION: in October 1983, when
left-wing Prime Minister Maurice Bishop
619
00:40:19,383 --> 00:40:22,626
was assassinated by
more extreme Marxists,
620
00:40:22,686 --> 00:40:26,862
Washington had an invasion plan
ready for Reagan's approval.
621
00:40:26,924 --> 00:40:30,030
ARCHIVE - PRESIDENT REAGAN:
At 5:15, this morning the joint
622
00:40:30,094 --> 00:40:34,304
force landed at two
spots on Grenada.
623
00:40:34,365 --> 00:40:37,835
There is now firing
and combat going on.
624
00:40:37,902 --> 00:40:39,108
There have been casualties.
625
00:40:39,170 --> 00:40:41,776
NARRATION: The United States
hadn't bothered to consult the
626
00:40:41,839 --> 00:40:46,049
British Queen, or Prime Minister
Margaret Thatcher.
627
00:40:46,110 --> 00:40:48,852
It was all over
in a few days.
628
00:40:48,913 --> 00:40:51,621
JOHN NEGROPONTE: I basically learned
about the invasion of Grenada
629
00:40:51,682 --> 00:40:56,153
from the President of Honduras,
who called me up to say,
630
00:40:56,220 --> 00:40:57,358
"Do you know
what's going on? "
631
00:40:57,421 --> 00:41:01,130
and I said, "Well I have an
idea but I don't know for sure".
632
00:41:01,192 --> 00:41:05,072
And he said, "Well
you're invading Grenada",
633
00:41:05,129 --> 00:41:07,609
and he said, "Please tell
the troops that when they're
634
00:41:07,665 --> 00:41:09,406
finished there to just keep
on coming to Nicaragua."
635
00:41:09,467 --> 00:41:10,309
[ Laughs 1
636
00:41:12,236 --> 00:41:15,012
NARRATION:
Many welcomed the Americans.
637
00:41:15,072 --> 00:41:17,450
Within six weeks,
their work done
638
00:41:17,508 --> 00:41:19,749
and President
Reagan's image enhanced,
639
00:41:19,810 --> 00:41:21,619
the US troops left.
640
00:41:27,318 --> 00:41:29,924
In Nicaragua,
Reagan's crusade against
641
00:41:29,987 --> 00:41:33,127
the Sandinistas
was stepped up.
642
00:41:33,190 --> 00:41:36,865
The Sandinistas desperately
needed to get hard currency for
643
00:41:36,927 --> 00:41:39,840
their exports to pay
off their bank loans.
644
00:41:39,897 --> 00:41:44,368
So this was a time to
put the mines into Corinto-
645
00:41:44,435 --> 00:41:46,813
they've only got
one harbor that counts
646
00:41:46,871 --> 00:41:52,514
and at the same time make sure
we notified Lioyds of London
647
00:41:52,576 --> 00:41:55,455
the mines have gone in,
so hopefully they put pressure
648
00:41:55,513 --> 00:41:58,255
on the shipping companies
well to stay out of there.
649
00:41:58,315 --> 00:42:00,886
Well it worked.
650
00:42:04,488 --> 00:42:08,095
NARRATION: Nicaragua's precious
stock of oil went up in smoke;
651
00:42:08,158 --> 00:42:09,796
the economy was reeling.
652
00:42:09,860 --> 00:42:13,831
And, all the while, ways had
to be found to contain the US -
653
00:42:13,898 --> 00:42:16,606
backed Contra invasion.
654
00:42:17,001 --> 00:42:20,312
The Sandinistas asked
the Soviets for help.
655
00:42:20,371 --> 00:42:23,181
The leaders in Moscow
did not want to provoke the
656
00:42:23,240 --> 00:42:27,484
United States into
giving more military aid
657
00:42:27,545 --> 00:42:30,025
to the Contras and to
the Honduran Government.
658
00:42:30,080 --> 00:42:35,792
Therefore these requests were
politely denied every time
659
00:42:35,853 --> 00:42:38,493
the Sandinistas brought
it up in Moscow.
660
00:42:41,692 --> 00:42:43,968
NARRATION:
The Sandinistas, with help from Cuba,
661
00:42:44,028 --> 00:42:46,702
vowed to defend their
borders and the Revolution.
662
00:42:52,636 --> 00:42:57,949
The success of communism
in Central America poses the threat
663
00:42:58,008 --> 00:43:01,751
that a hundred million people
from Panama to the open border
664
00:43:01,812 --> 00:43:03,348
on our south,
could come under the control
665
00:43:03,414 --> 00:43:05,155
of pro-Soviet regimes.
666
00:43:09,753 --> 00:43:13,166
NARRATION: Angry at Reagan's continued
support for the Contra War,
667
00:43:13,223 --> 00:43:17,035
the US Congress, again
led by Representative Boland,
668
00:43:17,094 --> 00:43:21,941
voted in October 1984 to deny
them any further assistance.
669
00:43:23,267 --> 00:43:26,373
JOHN NEGROPONTE: With the passage of
the Boland Amendments which ultimately
670
00:43:26,437 --> 00:43:28,110
prohibited assistance
to the Contras,
671
00:43:28,172 --> 00:43:31,984
there was nothing more we
could do than to bide our time.
672
00:43:34,612 --> 00:43:37,821
NARRATION: To help pay for the
continuing bloodshed in Nicaragua,
673
00:43:37,881 --> 00:43:41,021
Reagan's men secretly
sold arms to Iran.
674
00:43:44,388 --> 00:43:45,799
The American dollar,
675
00:43:45,856 --> 00:43:47,927
and the failures
of the armed Left,
676
00:43:47,992 --> 00:43:52,031
crushed Latin American
revolutionary dreams.
677
00:43:57,001 --> 00:43:58,571
[ Speaking
American Spanish ]
678
00:43:58,636 --> 00:44:01,845
The United States saw a
threat to their interests,
679
00:44:01,905 --> 00:44:04,909
because they thought it
was a communist struggle.
680
00:44:07,378 --> 00:44:10,951
They didn't see us as citizens
who wanted a democratic country
681
00:44:11,015 --> 00:44:12,756
where there was
social justice
682
00:44:12,816 --> 00:44:15,160
and which offered
opportunities to the majority.
683
00:44:17,788 --> 00:44:19,734
[speaking Russian ]
684
00:44:19,790 --> 00:44:22,532
The Cold War cost
Latin America the lives
685
00:44:22,593 --> 00:44:26,200
of hundreds of
thousands of people.
686
00:44:26,263 --> 00:44:28,209
In Nicaragua alone,
687
00:44:28,265 --> 00:44:31,371
50,000 died in
the Sandinista Revolution
688
00:44:31,435 --> 00:44:34,678
and another 50,000 died
in the civil war.
689
00:44:37,408 --> 00:44:38,409
It was atrocious.
690
00:44:40,644 --> 00:44:42,123
There were a lot of
deaths, a lot of suffering,
691
00:44:42,179 --> 00:44:45,683
a lot of refugees, a
lot of population movements.
692
00:44:45,749 --> 00:44:48,753
On the other hand, I think an
equally if not more compelling
693
00:44:48,819 --> 00:44:52,699
case can be made than had
we not done something to
694
00:44:52,756 --> 00:44:56,636
stop communist regimes
from being established
695
00:44:56,694 --> 00:44:58,605
in the other central
American countries,
696
00:44:58,662 --> 00:45:00,164
other than Nicaragua,
697
00:45:00,230 --> 00:45:03,734
say that they had been
established in El Salvador
698
00:45:03,801 --> 00:45:05,041
and then in Guatemala
699
00:45:05,102 --> 00:45:07,708
and possibly even
Honduras during the 1980s,
700
00:45:07,771 --> 00:45:10,809
if we hadn't taken
the steps that we took,
701
00:45:10,874 --> 00:45:12,217
I think the
immediate suffering
702
00:45:12,276 --> 00:45:14,950
could have even been
considerably greater.
703
00:45:15,012 --> 00:45:17,014
[ Roar of crowds ]
704
00:45:17,081 --> 00:45:18,253
NARRATION:
1990.
705
00:45:18,315 --> 00:45:22,161
Sandinista leader Daniel Ortega
asks the Nicaraguan people
706
00:45:22,219 --> 00:45:23,562
to vote him President.
707
00:45:26,256 --> 00:45:29,931
Former US President Jimmy Carter
was there to see fair play.
708
00:45:33,764 --> 00:45:36,108
Violeta Chamorro,
Ortega's opponent,
709
00:45:36,166 --> 00:45:39,477
narrowly won a
surprise victory.
710
00:45:39,536 --> 00:45:41,846
Washington spent nearly
ten million dollars
711
00:45:41,905 --> 00:45:44,078
backing her campaign.
712
00:45:49,910 --> 00:45:54,099
Subtitles ripped and converted by
Juan Claudio Epsteyn
713
00:45:54,970 --> 00:45:58,775
E-mail:
epsteyn@hotmail.com