NCJ Number
183147
Date Published
2000
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This paper reviews the United States Government's record as an agent of international terrorism, with attention to the history of U.S. activities and policy in Latin America, as well as their impact.
Abstract
The definition of "terrorism" used in this paper is the one used by the United States. Title 22 of the U.S. Code, Section 2656f(d) states that the term "terrorism" means premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against non-combatant targets by subnational groups or clandestine agents, usually intended to influence an audience. The term "international terrorism" means terrorism involving citizens or the territory of more than one country. The term "terrorist group" means any group practicing, or that has significant subgroups that practice, international terrorism. A review of the history of U.S. policy toward Latin America notes that despite more than 170 years of U.S.-Latin American relations and the changing dynamics of global politics, there has been a continuity of U.S. foreign policy goals. Latin American nations close to the border of the United States have been more profoundly affected by policymakers in Washington than have those Latin American nations further from the U.S. border. U.S. foreign policy toward the region has been inspired by at least three factors: a desire for regional expansion, a strong sense of North American exceptionalism, and the assumption that controlling events in the region is crucial to U.S. security. After a review of policy history, this paper documents U.S. sponsored terrorism and state-organized crime in Guatemala, Cuba, and Nicaragua. The paper also maintains that the CIA has orchestrated military coups against democratically elected leaders in Peru, Ecuador, and Argentina. 28 references