19-05-2013, 06:27 AM
Quote: Mr. Clinton's apology was an admission that the Guatemalan military had not acted alone.
But that long history of United States support for Guatemala's military, which began with a coup engineered by the Central Intelligence Agency in 1954, went unacknowledged during the genocide trial and conviction of the man most closely identified with the war's brutality, the former dictator Gen. EfraÃn RÃos Montt.
It always goes unacknowledged like so many thing the US has had a hand in.
Quote:Back in 1983, Elliott Abrams, the assistant secretary of state for human rights under President Ronald Reagan, once suggested that General RÃos Montt's rule had "brought considerable progress" on human rights.With human rights advocates like Abrams who needs death squads?
Elliott Abrams from Source Watch:
Quote:Abrams was heavily involved in the Iran-Contra scandal. In 1991, Abrams was indicted by the Iran-Contra special prosecutor for giving false testimony before Congress in 1987 about his role in illicitly raising money for the Nicaraguan Contras. He pleaded guilty to two lesser offenses of withholding information to Congress in order to avoid a trial and a possible jail term.And more here and here.
Quote:More aid came from American allies like Israel, Taiwan, Argentina and Chile.The usual suspects.
Quote:In the 1990s, the American government revealed that the C.I.A. had been paying top military officers throughout the period.They pay most of the top military people and also other key people in government and institutions in many countries not just in Guatemala. They are not working for the people of their country, which ever one it might be, they are working for US interests. And if they don't or if they start to work for their own people's interests they are removed, some times with extreme prejudice as they say, so that some one more complaint can carry out US policy.
Quote:The trial seemed to be removed from all historical context, she said.Indeed. A one off unique event unrelated to any thing else...not.
"The philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways. The point, however, is to change it." Karl Marx
"He would, wouldn't he?" Mandy Rice-Davies. When asked in court whether she knew that Lord Astor had denied having sex with her.
“I think it would be a good idea” Ghandi, when asked about Western Civilisation.
"He would, wouldn't he?" Mandy Rice-Davies. When asked in court whether she knew that Lord Astor had denied having sex with her.
“I think it would be a good idea” Ghandi, when asked about Western Civilisation.