Land of the free prevents freedom
U.S.-supported terrorism stops improvement of lifestyles of poor in Americas

A vile new enemy has reared its head in the American “consciousness.” Unlike the “evil empire” of the former Soviet Union or the evil freedoms that drug use inspires, we must all unite to face this terrible scourge. This evil is terrorism.

Using terror in order to persuade people to change their actions, beliefs or ideas is not a new concept. It has been used for generations by all forms of authority — parents spank, police imprison and armies quell rebellions. Some people might call terrorism positive peer pressure, depending on which side of the issue you stand. But regardless of the side, using fear or inspiring terror in others is in fact terrorism.

We all remember the bombing of our embassy in Sudan, the attack on the USS Cole and the Atlanta Olympics and Oklahoma City bombings. But do we remember the U.S. bombings of the Sudanese factory, the Afghanistan rebel camp, the Chinese Embassy (during the Kosovo police action), the funding of the Contra rebels or the sanctions on Iraq? All of these actions inspired terror or attempted to change the actions of others, so it would seem logical to label these actions as terrorism. Many people would argue that we were justified in our actions, but then again, if we can justify our acts, doesn’t that allow others to justify their acts?

I have, however, left out the biggest terrorism network in the world. They, the graduates of this “school,” are responsible for a majority of all terrorist acts in the Americas. They have assassinated Archbishop Oscar Romero during mass, massacred six Jesuit priests, their housekeeper and her daughter and slaughtered 900 unarmed civilians in El Mozote, El Salvador.

This next sentence might be a little scary to read. Originally begun in Panama, this group has infiltrated the United States and set up a base of operations. This group is called The Western Hemispheric Institute for Security Cooperation, operating in Fort Benning, Ga., and funded by our tax dollars.

Let us pause and consider what the last paragraph actually entails. The government and armed forces of the United States have created a terrorist network that it uses ruthlessly in Central and South America.

These terrorists have sought to destroy every movement that sought to increase workers’ pay, civil rights and living conditions for the poorest people in the Western Hemisphere. Our government here in the land of the free and the home of the brave has slaughtered those who have fought to make their countries the land of the free and home of the brave.

Doesn’t that seem counterproductive? We claim to spread democracy around the world and yet we train people to destroy any progressive movement. Oddly enough, this institution came to the United States in 1984 from Panama where it was created in the 1940s.

Maybe, just maybe, when we spread democracy, what we actually spread is the American version of democracy. American democracy differs from democracy in the fact that the man with the most votes does not win, it’s not required to count all ballots and only orthodox parties are allowed into debates.

If this is true, it forces us to reconsider all aspects of our government. In September 1996, the Pentagon acknowledged they used training manuals that advocated assassination, torture and extortion.

But I digress. The situation we are then left to face is what exactly to do about it? In Kosovo we were unable to stand by and watch as atrocities were committed.

The reality of this situation is much more simple. All we have to do is stop funding the WHISC. If the government of the people, for the people and by the people must act to end atrocities in Kosovo, then why not in the Americas?

Chris Dobson is a senior history and political science major from Arlington.
He can be reached at (c.p.dobson@student.tcu.edu).

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