Look, Giancarlo, I'm glad you are against violence: we all are in this forum. What we find hard to understand is how can you claim that it can be diminished through more violence.
Besides, what the rest of us here, specially those that live in countries that are actually at war (not a theoretical, fought in other country war) find hard to understand is how you can claim that the current foreign policy of USA is defendible.
You like long lists. Let me give you one I know from the bottom of my heart: is the SHORT official list of USA wars. I did not include, for example, the Mexican invasion, or the Cherokee expulsion of their lands, because Texas, then, was not part of USA. You can find the rest (I confess I throwed the towel at the middle of the compilation), between 1776 and 1883 and between 1990 and 2003 at
http://americanpeace.eccmei.net/
I hope you have the time and patience to read it. IF you are able to reach 1963, you'll find how USA helped Saddam Hussein to crush the communist party. The Iran story about Mossadegh is also enlightning. The latin american history of USA wars is, to put it simply, embarrasing.
I don't want to offend you, just give you some perspective. This way, maybe you'll be able to understand why the world fails to follow current USA foreign policy. If all the countries unjustly invaded or aggreded by USA fought back, you'll find yourself in a harder time than the one you're already living. Those who have a crystal roof don't throw rocks to the roof of their neighbors.
It seems to me that indignation and vengeance at an aggresion are not something that USA can brandish as its banner, unless that democracy wishes to become a puppet at the hands of violent people. Even a general as noble and democratic as Eiseinhower warned your country about becoming merely financers of the military. How do you know that Al-Quada don't wish to create a conflict between USA and Iran, for example?
Forgiveness, diplomacy and good will can guide us to a better world. Partial histories and horror histories, stigmatizing our enemies, are not the way to go, I think. So, my advice, if you wish to hear it, is breath deeply and concentrate on F1, buddie. As we say in spanish, your playing the part of a "donkey talking about long ears".
There you go:
1863- Japan- On July 16, US forces attacked Shimonoseki, Japan, to avenge an insult to the American flag. The attacking troops were from the USS Wyoming.
1864- Japan - US forces were used to intimidate and extort concessions demanded by the US Minister to Japan against Yedo. The campaign lasted from July 14 to August 3.
1866- Mexico - In an act of unjustified aggression, US troops under General Sedgewick, took the Mexican city of Matamoras in November. In three days the US troops were ordered to withdraw and the President of the United States repudiated this attack
Midway Islands - On August 28, Captain William Reynolds of the Lackawanna took formal possession of these islands for the U.S.
1870- Panama - On February 22, a US naval force comprising the USS Nipsic, the USS Nyack and the USS Guard raided Panama at Caldonia Bay to survey the Isthmus of Darien for a canal. This operation was known as the "Darien Expedition" and commanded by Commander Thomas O. Selfridge Jr.
1873- Colombia, Bay of Panama - US forces entered the area May 7 through 22 and again September 23 to October 9 to protect American economic interests during hostilities over control of the government of the State of Panama.
1893- Independent Hawaii - US troops are dispatched to Hawaii to support the provisional government of Sanford B. Dole against the native Hawaiians. Dole and the other American sugar growers had earlier overthrown the native Hawaiian monarchy. US troops remained in Hawaii from January 16 to April 1.
1895- Colombia - During March 8 through 9 US troops land at Bocas del Toro to protect American interests during an attack on the town by a Colombian bandit.
1898- Spain - The Spanish-American War. Spain withdrew from Cuba and ceded Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines to the United States.
1899- Philippines - In the wake of the Spanish-American War and the ceding of the Philippines to the United States, the Filipinos, demanding their independence, revolt. Large numbers of US forces are used to crush the native revolt and the war lasts until 1902. The Filipinos, under Emilio Aguinaldo had supported the Americans against Spain, but when the terms of the peace treaty were made known, the Filipinos turned against the United States, their new imperialist overlords.
Samoa US troops land in Samoa to enforce US interests and end up taking part in a bloody conflict over the royal succession on the island.
China - Boxer Rebellion
Wake Islands - Commander Taussig of the USS Bennington formally takes over the Wake Islands for the United States.
Colombia, State of Panama - US troops land to protect US financial interests and keep transit lines open during serious revolutionary disturbances, November 20 to December 4. The troops from the USS Iowa and the USS Machias actively suppressed popular Panamanian demonstrations.
1903- Panama - Once negotiations with Colombia collapsed over Panama, ten US warships aided a Panamanian rebellion against Colombia, resulting in the de jure independence of Panama, although in reality the state remained a US asset until 1999. US troops were landed on November 4, 1903 and stayed until 1914 to enforce US interests and oversee the construction of the Panama Canal.
1905- Mexico - US marines aided Mexican dictator Porfirio Díaz in crushing a worker's strike at Sonora, Mexico.
1906-Cuba - US troops occupied Cuba to "restore order and establish a stable government" against a popular insurrection on September 6. They remained until 1909.
Philippines - US troops from the USS Pampanga fought pro-independence insurgents against the American colonial regime on Jolo Island. One US soldier was awarded the Medal of Honor.
1909- Nicaragua - After liberal president José Santos Zelaya has the audacity to propose that American mining and fruit companies in Nicaragua be required to pay taxes, and worse, refused to do business exclusively with American firms, opting to allow European firms into Nicaragua - the US forces him to resign through threat of force. He is replaced by Adolfo Dííaz, who before his career as an American puppet president was the treasurer of one of the major American mining firms in Nicaragua.
1911- Honduras - US troops land in Honduras in support of former president Manuel Bonilla against the legitimate regime of Miguel Dáávila, whose liberalism was opposed by Washington. Bonilla's revolt was financed by American banana tycoon Sam Zemurray and led by the American mercenary, Lee Christmas, who became Commander-in-Chief of the Honduran Army.
Philippines - A large force of US troops landed to fight insurgents against the American colonial regime at Basilan. Five US troops were awarded Medals of Honor.
China - US forces land at various locations to guard US property, protect westerners, and enforce US interests. Troops were stationed at Wuchang, Hnakow, the US cable station at Shanghai, Nanking, Chinkiang, Taku, and elsewhere.
1912- Cuba - US troops land at Kentucky Island (August 24-26) and Camp Nicholson (August 26-30) to enforce US interests by crushing a revolt mistreated and heavily exploited sugar workers.
1914- Mexico - Mexican refusal to salute the U.S. flag provokes the shelling of Veracruz by a U.S. battleship and the seizure of parts of the city by U.S. Marines. The entire American Atlantic fleet provided troops to create the Naval Brigade, comprised of the 1st & 2nd Seaman's Regiments for the amphibious invasion which was launched on April 22. After three days of fighting 15 US troops were killed and 56 wounded. 28 Medals of Honor were awarded to US troops. This US attack on mexico results in the resignation of Mexican President Victoriano Huerta who was viewed as troublesome to Washington.
1915- Haiti - US troops land on July 18 to suppress a popular insurrection and remain in Haiti until 1934, turning Haiti into an American protectorate. The US installed president of Haiti was banned from the U.S. Officers' Club in Port-au-Prince because he was black.
1916- Mexico - In the sole act of aggression by Latin America against the United States, Pancho Villa attacked Columbus, New Mexico, killing 17 Americans. US troops immediate respond.
1917- Cuba - US troops landed to enforce American interests - securing the delivery of Cuban sugar to the US during World War I. Most of the US forces left in 1919, however a small force (two companies) remained at Camaguey until 1922.
1921- Guatemala - US President Calvin Coolidge incites Guatemalan rebels to overthrow President Carlos Herrera in the interests of the United Fruit Company
Panama - US naval forces demonstrated off the coast. The show of force was meant to warn Panama against going to war with Costa Rica over a border dispute.
Costa Rica - US naval forces demonstrated off the coast. The show of force was meant to warn Costa Rica against going to war with Panama over a border dispute.
Kingman Reef - On May 10 the US annexed Kingman Reef
1926- Nicaragua - The coup d'tat of General Chamorro aroused popular unrest. US forces first landed from May 7 to June 5. A second landing starting on August 27, 1926 was maintained until 1933. US troops were used to crush popular opposition to the government. The US Secretary of State (Kellogg) justified this suppression of popular will on the grounds of a "Nicaraguan-Mexican-Soviet" conspiracy to establish "Mexican-Bolshevist hegemony" within striking range of the US Panama Canal
1930- Dominican Republic - The US trained and backed Rafael Leonidas Trujillo establishes himself as dictator.
1932- Iowa Formers - As state officials roamed through the country side testing cattle for bovine tuberculosis and killing the animals found to be so infected, hard pressed Iowa farmers suffering from the Great Depression began to resist. This began the "Cow War". In September, two state veterinarians, escorted by 65 policemen confronted some four hundred farmers. The farmers, prevented from stopping the state officials opted instead to attack their empty cars. Gov. Dan Turner declared martial law in Cedar County and used the Iowa National Guard to crush the revolt.
American Veterans - Needy veterans formed the "Bonus Army" to demand soldier's bonuses promised earlier and marched on Washington DC. After refusing to vacate government property and a bloody clash with District of Colombia police, President Hoover called in Federal troops which broke the demonstration
1933- Iowa Farmers - Iowa farmers formed the Farm Holiday Association to resist the forced sale of their farms. In April, the group attacked a judge in plymouth County, dragging him out of the courthouse and beating him. Nearby, in Crawford County, a large crowd of dispossessed farmers attacked state police at a forced farm sale. Gov. Herring declared martial law in both Plymouth and Crawford Counties and called out the Iowa National Guard. Major General Matthew A. Tinley was appointed commander of the district and hundreds of troops from the 133rd Infantry and 168th Infantry were deployed to crush the farmer's protest. The troops imposed curfew, travel restrictions and sweep operations against disenfranchised farmers. The revolt was quickly crushed once the troops intervened against the farmers.
1934- Ohio Factory Workers - The Electric Auto-Lite Strike in Toledo, Ohio, saw two strikers killed and over two hundred wounded by the National Guard. Some 1,300 National Guard troops, including eight rifle companies and three machine gun companies, were used to crush the strike.
Anti-Union Terrorists} - Once the Minneapolis Teamsters strike began, anti-Union terrorists under the umbrella of the "Citizens Alliance" immediately engaged in strike breaking activities against the workers. After a number of clashes between workers and terrorists, in which at least two workers were killed, Governor Floyd B. Olson called out the Minnesota National Guard to restore the peace. The "Citizens Alliance" was broken and the Teamsters won the right to organize in Minneapolis.
1935- Canada - The US Army and G-2 intelligence developed a comprehensive plan for the invasion and conquest of Canada. In February 1935, the War Department arranged a Congressional appropriation of $57 million dollars to build three border air bases for the purposes of pre-emptive surprise attacks on Canadian air fields. In August 1935, the US held its largest peacetime military manoeuvres in history, with 36,000 troops converging at the Canadian border south of Ottawa, and another 15,000 held in reserve in Pennsylvania. The plan also authorized the immediate first use of poison gas against Canadians and to use strategic bombing to destroy Halifax if it could not be captured
1937- Nicaragua - With US approval and tacit support, the Somoza Family gained control over Nicaragua - The legitimate government of Juan Sacasa was overthrown by the National Guard, led by General Anastasio Somoza. Somoza appointed himself President and acquired dictatorial powers. Members of his family ruled Nicaragua for the next forty years
1938- Iowa Workers - The Iowa National Guard was used to break two worker's strikes. One against the Maytag plant at Newton and the other was against the Swift packing plant at Sioux City.
1941- Japan - On December 8, one day after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States declares war on Japan, thereby entering World War II. On December 11, Germany and Italy declare war on the United States as part of their agreement with Japan. This brings the United States into the Allied Powers in full.
Germany - Months before the US formally entered World War II, on April 10, the USS Niblack attacked a German U-boat. This was the first engagement between US and German forces related to, but not part of, World War II.
1942- Axis Powers - On November 8, US forces landed in French North Africa under General Eisenhower. In the Pacific, General Douglas MacArthur was placed in command of all Allied forces.
1943- Axis Powers - World War II continued. In 1943 the US shipped 6500 planes, 138,000 motor vehicles, and tons of steel and machinery to the Soviet Union. This enabled the Soviets to launch their successful offensives against Germany in 1943. Allied forces, including Americans, invaded Sicily on July 10. On September 3, the Allied invasion entered into southern Italy under General Eisenhower. On September 3, Italy surrendered, although the Germans stepped in and took much of northern Italy, which was placed under Mussolini.
African Americans - In Detroit, a major race riot developed involving an estimated 100,000 people, whites and blacks. The riots were suppressed by the US Army.
Honduras - The United States embassy begins actively aiding dictator Tiburcio Caríías Andino in silencing domestic dissent as being contrary to the war effort. Among the first victims was the liberal El Cronista newspaper.
1944- Axis Powers - World War II continued. Allied forces invaded central Italy. On June 6, the Normandy invasion began. By the end of the year, most of France was liberated from Germany. Allied forces, led by the US, began bombing Japan proper.
1945- Axis Powers - World War II continued. Allied forces, spearheaded by Americans, entered Germany by February. Anglo-American forces liberated northern Italy from the German backed puppet regime of Mussolini. On May 1, the Battle of Berlin began. May 8 was "V E Day", or "Victory in Europe Day". On August 6, the United States destroyed Hiroshima in the world's first nuclear attack. On August 9, a second nuclear bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. On September 2, Japan formally surrendered. However, the US state of war with Germany was maintained until 1951.
Korea - After the December 27, 1945, Moscow Conference, the United States established a military government over South Korea which remained in power until 1948. However, on September 6, 1945, the people of South Korea had established the popular People's Republic of South Korea. This government was popularly elected by several regional governing committees that had been administrating food distribution and keeping order. However, with the arrival of US troops, this popular government was crushed and the military government was established under the command of Lieutenant General John R. Hodge.
Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh, who was ill with malaria is saved by a US Office of Strategic Services (OSS, forerunner of the CIA) team. Later in the year, in September, an OSS team led by Colonel A. Peter Dewey landed in Saigon to collect intelligence. On September 26, 1945, Col. Dewey was killed in an ambush in Saigon. Both the French and the Vietminh blamed each other for the assassination. In view of how the situation developed, later the US adopted the position that the Vietminh were responsible. This was the first American killed in the Vietnam conflict.
1946- Panama - The US Army opens the notorious "School of the Americas" in US controlled Panama to train Latin American right-wing terrorists in the arts of torture, terrorism, insurrection, economic sabotage, and other skills.
1947- Greece - During the Greek Civil War, the United States firmly supported the neo-fascist government in Athens against the people of Greece. In the last five months of 1947, the US sent 74,000 tons of military equipment to the Greek rightists, including artillery, dive bombers, and stockpiles of napalm. 250 US Army officers were also sent to Greece, under the command of General James Van Fleet to serve as "advisors" to the right-wing forces. Van Fleet developed what later bacame a standard policy against popular insurrections - the policy of forcibly removing thousands of rural Greeks in an effort to isolate the popular guerrillas and remove their base of support. This US military involvement continued until the popular Greek People's Liberation Army (ELAS) called for a cease-fire in 1949.
1950- Korea - The United States begins its "police action" intervention in Korea, popularly known as the Korean War on June 27. US General Douglas MacArthur was appointed commander in Korea on July 8. By September 13 the US and South Koreans launched a major offensive successfully reversing much of North Korea's earlier advances. On October 9, US forces crossed the 38th parallel, thereby invading North Korea. However, a North Korean counter-offensive on November 1, began to drive the US forces back. After another American offensive was initiated on November 24, substantial Chinese forces intervened on behalf of the North. By the end of 1950, the Chinese\North Koreans had successfully driven the American\South Koreans back to the 38th parallel.
Vietnam - After the United States recognized Boa Dai's regime, the united States began subsidizing the French. At the same time, the Chinese began subsidizing the Vietminh. On August 3, a Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG Indochina) of US Special Forces arrived in Saigon. This early team did not play a direct combat role, merely an "advirsory" one and they complimented the ever growing number of US political, diplomatic, and economic advisors flooding into South Vietnam. By September 17, the 128 MAAG soldiers began supervising the French use of US provided military equipment. By the end of 1950, the United States was paying for half of France's war expenditure in Vietnam.
1951- Korea - The Korean War continued. A major Chinese\North Korean offensive resulted in Seoul being taken on January 4. On January 25, American\South Korean forces launched a limited offensive. On March 14, the American\South Korean forces retook Seoul. On April 3 the American\South Koreans reinvaded North Korea. General MacArthur was relieved of command on April 11 and succeeded by General Matthew B. Ridgeway because MacArthur demanded that the President should launch a full nuclear strike against both North Korea and China. A Chinese\North Korean counter-offensive that began on May 15 generally failed.
Iran - The US Central Intelligence Agency succeeded in overthrowing the government of the democratically elected Mohammed Mossadegh by means of a military coup after he threatened to nationalize British Petroleum holdings in Iran. The democratic government was replaced by the brutal dictatorship of the Pahlevi Shah of Iran, whose CIA trained secret police force, SAVAK, brutally crushed all opposition and popular dissent.
Canada - As part of its WMD testing program, the US disseminated potentially toxic zinc cadmium sulfide throughout downtown Winnepeg, Canada.
1954- Guatemala - President Eisenhower funded a right-wing military coup against the Indian-dominated popular government of Jacobo Arbenz in Guatemala. Arbenz' error had been in expropriating 234,000 acres of land owned by United Fruit although he offered the company compensation for the land. The popular government had been legally elected and was overthrown by a mercenary force that had been trained by the CIA in Honduras and Nicaragua and supported by four US fighter planes flown by US pilots. After the invasion, Colonel Carlos Castillo Armas, who had received US military training at Fort Leavenworth, KS earlier, was installed as dictator. Armas, once installed in power, returned all 234,000 acres of land to the Rockefeller-owned United Fruit Company, abolished the tax on interest and dividends to foreign investors, eliminated the secret ballot, and jailed thousands of political critics. Not surprisingly, CIA Director Allan Dulles was also a shareholder in United Fruit.
1956- China - Starting in 1956, the CIA began financing, supporting, and supplying the Tibetan resistance movement against the Chinese. Most of the Tibetan resistance fighters came from the eastern region of Kham. The operation, codenamed "St. Circus", largely involved the training of Tibetan resistance fighters at Saipan and Camp Hale, Colorado, where they were taught guerrilla warfare. Once trained, the Tibetan fighters would be airdropped by the CIA into Tibet with weapons and equipment, where they were supposed to link up with other resistance fighters and the Dalai Lama's government in Lhasa. After the Chinese crackdown on the Tibetans and the Dalai Lama was forced to flee Tibet, the CIA backed resistance fighters moved their base of operations to Mustang, Nepal, where they continued to launch attacks on the Chinese. Lhamo Tsering became the chief field officer for the CIA in Tibet and Mustang. At its height, the CIA maintained some 2,000 Tibetan resistance fighters, structured in a conventional military organization, at the base at Mustang. In 1969 the CIA abruptly dropped all support for the Tibetan resistance. Although the resistance managed to struggle on until 1974, the lack of US financing and supplies after 1969 eroded their effectiveness.
1957- Indonesia - After years of disinformation campaigns, and attempt to use pornographic films as a blackmail device, and finanacing President Sukarno's political opposition, the CIA launched direct operations against the Indonesian government. The CIA set up headquarters in Singapore, training facilities in the Philippines, and other bases in the region. The CIA began a massive campaign to arm political rebels in Indonesia. US Navy submarines began transporting rebel infiltraitors into Sumatra and US Air Force planes were used to air drop weapons and equipment to rebel forces already in the country. US forces from the Seventh Fleet also went ashore.
Iran - In 1957 the CIA, along with British intelligence, created the SAVAK secret police for the Shah of Iran. SAVAK quickly became an enormous intelligence monstrosity, infiltrating all aspects of Iranian society as well as running extensive networks abroad, largely focused on Iranian students overseas. Virtually independent from the start, the Shah himself had to create a separate "Special Intelligence Bureau" based in one of his palaces just to keep tabs on SAVAK. SAVAK operated as a virtual independent government in Iran, running all its own facilities and lacking virtually any oversight. The organization also became notorious for its extensive use of various torture techniques against any and all opponents of the Shah's regime, regardless of orientation. After the popular riots and demonstrations against the Shah's brutal police state in 1978, SAVAK responded with a massive crackdown, which killed some 12,000 to 15,000 Iranians and wounded\maimed up to another 50,000. The organization was finally outlawed and dismantled after the Islamic Revolution and most of its leadership that remained in Iran was executed. Those abroad were given safe haven by the United States and Britain. Many of them came to lead many of the Iranian monarchist exile groups. Throughout the entire brutal life of SAVAK, it remained closely related to supported and 'advised' by the American CIA.
Laos - The CIA's Civil Air Transport (CAT, also known as "Air America") began its permanent presence in Laos on July 1, 1957.
1958- China - After the Chinese government began shelling the rebel islands of Quemoy and Little Quemoy (under control of the Nationalist rebels in Taiwan), the US deployed an aircraft carrier and four destroyers to Taiwan to defend the rebels. On September 8, the US ships escorted rebel supply ships to the islands under Chinese attack, and the Chinese, opting not to confront the United States, withheld their fire, allowing the convoy safe passage.
Lebanon - Eight thousand US troops are landed in Lebanon at the request of Jordan and President Chamoun of Lebanon in reaction to the July 14, coup in Iraq. The US troops made sure that the pro-American government was not overthrown by the people. But by November, through a UN negotiated settlement, the US troops were withdrawn.
Indonesia - The rebellion that the CIA began organizing in 1957 finally erupted in Indonesia. CIA pilots supported the rebel offensives with bombing and strafing missions on the Indonesian government forces. The Indonesian military attache to Washington, Col. Alex Kawilarung, defected from his country and became the CIA's frontman leading the rebel forces against President Sukarno. The CIA bombing intensified on May 15 when CIA pilots bombed the Ambon marketplace on a Sunday morning, killing hundreds of Christians on their way to church. On May 18, the Indonesians successfully downed one of the CIA planes and captured its pilot alive. Allen Lawrence Pope, an Air Force pilot during the Korean war and CIA pilot involved in supplying the French in Vietnam, remained an Indonesian prisoner for four years. The Indonesians quickly made this confirmation of US involvement public. After this incident, and the continued failure of the CIA backed rebels to win significant victories over the government, the United States began curtailing its support for the rebels. By July, the Indonesian government had successfully crushed the US-backed rebels.
1959- Haiti - The US military helps "Papa Doc" Duvalier become dictator of Haiti. Duvalier's "Tonton Macoute" secret police terrorized the population by means of machetes, incredibly sadistic multilation and torture, and voodoo superstition. Before the fall of the Duvalier family, who are rescued by US forces, over 100,000 Haitians were killed and even more mutilated and tortured. At no point does the United States criticize their puppet's ruling style.
1960- Ecuador - After the popular Jose Maria Velasco Ibarra was elected and refused to comply with US demands that Ecuador break relations with Cuba and begin an active campaign against domestic Communists, the US launched a series of operations in Ecuador. These included extensive infiltration of Ecuadorian political groups, both Left and Right, as well as the creation of numerous phoney organizations to stimulate destabilization and agitate political disturbances. The CIA extensively infiltrated the government as well, virtually taking control of the national postal service as well as the immigration department. Using control of the mail and communications, the CIA collected intelligence while simultaneously running multiple disinformation campaigns to cause splits and divisions among Ecuadorian Communists and others deemed a threat. The CIA also began financing and manipulating Ecuadorian right-wing groups, especially using religion as an Anti-Communist lever, creating militant right-wing anti-Communist religious formations. The CIA would also bomb right-wing groups and lay the blame on the Left in order to further encourage anti-Communist violence and revenge terrorist attacks. The CIA then organized the overthrow of Velasco, who was replaced by Vice President Carlos Julio Arosemana, a paid CIA employee (US$1,000 a month). However, this paid CIA agent also refused to break off relations with Cuba, so US operations in Ecuador continued. In March 1962 the CIA used its influence in the Ecuadorian military to threaten a coup if Arosemana did not comply with US demands regarding Cuba. Forced by the military to accept a new cabinet, amounting to a de facto coup, Arosemana complied with US demands. The military coup resulted in a popular revolt of the people, but this was quickly crushed by the US trained and armed military. In 1963, the CIA and and Ecuadorian military dropped the pretense and replaced President Arosemana with an overt military junta. The military immediately outlawed communism and began using the CIA's Subversive Control Watch List to round up Communists and other Leftist throughout the country. Through the standard "state of emergency", the military suspended all civil liberties in Ecuador, the 1964 elections were cancelled. The CIA having a proper American dictatorship installed, ceased all disruption operations in Ecuador and overtly supported the junta as an ally against Communism.
Soviet Union - Although US spying flights over the Soviet Union were not uncommon during the period, such operations became undeniable on May 1, 1960 when the Soviets shot down a US U-2 spy plane over its territory and captured its pilot, Francis Gary Powers. Sentenced to ten years as a spy by the Soviets, Powers was released in a spy exchange with the United States on February 10, 1962.
Cuba - President Eisenhower authorized the CIA to begin operations against Fidel Castro in Cuba. The CIA tries to assassinate Castro with exploding cigars and poisoned milkshakes. The CIA also launches a terrorist campaign in Cuba in hopes of destabilizing the regime, including burning agricultural fields, blowing up vessels in Cuban ports and industrial sabotage.
1961- Cuba - A Cuban rebel force, armed and trained by the United States and supported by US military logistical support and the Alabama National Guard attempted an invasion of Cuba. This "Bay of Pigs" invasion turned into an utter fiasco and was easily beaten back by Cuba.
Dominican Republic - The CIA assassinates Rafael Trujillo, a murderous dictator supported by the United States since 1930. Trujillo's business interests had grown to some 60% of the entire national economy and were becoming a threat to American business interests.
1962- Cuba - As the Cuban Missile Crisis developed, on October 24, President Kennedy imposed a air and naval blockade on Cuba. This was coupled with US military flights over Cuban airspace. On November 20, the United States ended its blockade of Cuba after the crisis was resolved with the Soviet Union.
Guatemala - In March 1962, popular unrest against the US backed military regime of General Miguel Ydigoras Fuentes erupted, started by students, but soon joined by workers and peasants (almost all of whom were Indians). In order to crush the popular will of the Guatemalan people, the US quickly increased military aid to the Ydigoras regime and set up a training facility Izabal Province staffed by US Special Forces and Guatemalan officers trained at the notorious American "School of the Americas". The Guatemalan military launched an immediate reign of terror, under US supervision, starting with hundreds being abducted and killed.
Brazil- The CIA begins an active operation in Brazil to prevent Joãão Goulart from taking control of Congress. yet another instance of subverting democracy to defend 'democracy'.
1963- Dominican Republic - The CIA overthrew the democratically elected Juan Bosch in a military coup and installs a repressive right-wing junta.
Vietnam - On November 1, the South Vietnamese military, led by General Duong Van Minh, overthrew the civilian government of Diem with CIA approval and cooperation. Diem had lost US favor and although the CIA did not play a direct role, it was aware of the plot from the start, supported it by promising non-intervention by US forces and quick recognition of the succeeding military regime. President Kennedy personally instructed the US State Department and Ambassador Lodge in Saigon to support the coup.
Iraq - From February to November 1963, the CIA extensively aided the Iraqi Ba'athists (the party of Saddam Hussein) in a large national massacre of Iraqi Communists. Among those slaughtered were Salam 'Adil, First Secretary of the Iraqi Communist Party.
1964- Vietnam - The USS Maddox and US aircraft engaged in a skirmish with North Vietnamese torpedo boats after South Vietnamese naval raids on the North. Two days later, on August 4, a second skirmish between North Vietnamese topedo boats and US naval warships resulted in US airstrikes on North Vietnamese oil and naval installations. The matter was brought before the United Nations for mediation. Later, especially since the end of the war, new information indicates that the US probably provoked the incident in order to agitate Congress into granting the President war making powers in Vietnam. Not long after this "Gulf of Tonkin Incident", on August 7, Congress passes the "Gulf of Tonkin Resolution" which allowed the president wide powers to prevent further attacks and to provide military assistance to any South Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) member state. Senators Wayne L. Morse of Oregon and Ernest Gruening of Alaska cast the only opposing votes. General William Westmoreland replaced General Harkins as head of the U.S. forces in Vietnam and President Johnson initiated bombing raids against North Vietnam. President Johnson also imposed an embargo on North Vietnam which continued until 1994.
Brazil - A CIA backed military coup overthrew the democratically elected government of Joao Goulart. The junta that replaced it became one of the most blood thirsty in history. General Castelo Branco created Latin America's first death squads (secret police who hunt down "Communist" for torture and murder, usually just political opponents). Later it was revealed that the CIA trained these death squads.
1965- Vietnam - After President Johnson started bombing North Vietnam in 1964, the US role in the Vietnamese civil war escalated. On March 8\9 the first US combat troops entered South Vietnam, to compliment the thousands of US troops that were already there in an "advisory" role. On April 7, President johnson authorized the use of US ground troops for offensive actions against North Vietnam. Subsequently, November 14-16 saw the first large scale engagement between US troops and the North Vietnamese Army. As noted earlier, the US had been involved in Vietnam since 1945, however, 1965 saw the true beginning of the American "Vietnam War", which continued until 1973. The embargo imposed on North Vietnam by President Johnson continued until 1994.
African Americans - Starting on August 11 and lasting until August 17, a major race riot envelops Watts, a district of Los Angeles. The Watts Riots resulted in 35 people being killed, approximately 1,000 wounded and almost $50,000,000 in property damage. Fire damage is later estimated to be $175,000,000. Some 50,000 local and State police and National Guard troops are used to suppress the riots.
Greece - Because Prime Minister George Papandreou refused to give in to US demands on settling the Cyprus issue, the CIA under John Maury, head of the CIA station in Athens, helped King Constantine buy Centre Union Deputies for the parliament, resulting in the end of the Papandreou government. However, Papandreou's popularity was too great, leading to the US outright abolishing democracy in Greece in 1967 (see that year).
Laos - 1965 saw the start of the major American military operations in Laos that became known as the "secret war" although it wasn't all that secret. US air sorties over Laos averaged between 10 to 20 a day in 1965.
Guatemala - With US support, the Peralta regime was replaced by that of Julio Cesar Mendez Montenegro (1966), who began his career as a total US puppet, allowing the US to do as it pleased and happily doing what he was told by Washington. Nevertheless, the US backed military still maintained firm control over the country. Mendez was nothing but a "yes man." After Mendez was installed, US intervention, directed by Col. John D. Webber of the American Military Mission, radically expanded. The US began shipping US military equipment, helicopters, and weaponry into Guatemala in much larger numbers. They also organized civilian "hunting bands" who were officially licensed to kill Indians as "potential guerrillas" at whim. After this time, US Special Forces began joining Guatemalan military attacks on peasant villages. It was also revealed by Thomas and Marjorie Melville, American Catholic missionaries in Guatemala, that the CIA also began actively flying bombing and strafing missions against the peasantry. The prefered aircraft being specially modified F-51(D) fighters, modified for slaughtering ground based peasants - 50 cal machineguns, small rockets, and limited napalm bombs. US aircraft also launched napalm bombing missions from US bases in Panama.
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the US Office of Public Safety (OPS) began a major operation to radically expand the Guatemalan police forces and to militarize them. By 1970 USAID reported that over 30,000 Guatemalan police had received OPS training, including torture techniques, "disappearances", and other terrorist training.
African Americans - A few weeks after the race riots in Newark, New Jersey, new race riots developed in Detroit, Michigan. The Detroit riots see 43 people, 33 blacks and 10 whites, killed. Property damage is two to three times that of the earlier Newark riots. Local and State police and National Guard troops were used to quell the violence although their original deployment results in increased confusion and violence. Governor Romney received permission from President Johnson to call in Federal troops, but the Governor was able to suppress the riots with police and National Guard forces alone.
Greece - Two days before elections, likely to be won by the liberal George Popandreous, the CIA backed a military coup which resulted in the "Reign of the Colonels". During the next six years of military control, the use of torture and murder against political opponents becomes the norm in Greece. The new military dictator, George Papadopoulos, had been a paid CIA employee since 1952 and prior to that distinguished himself as an effective leader of the Nazi "Security Battalion" in Greece that effectively hunted down and killed Greek resistance fighters to the Nazi occupation of Greece. Papadopoulos immediately declared martial law and in the first month of his regime counted some 8,000 victims. He then appointed himself prime minister. The US finally admitted its support for the Greek fascists in 1999.
1968- Vietnam - On January 21, the Battle of Khe Sanh began and continued to rage for the next six months. On March 16, US troops under William L. Calley Jr. massacred over 150 unarmed civilians in the "My Lai Massacre".
American Students - On May 4, National Guard troops opened fire at American students at Kent State University in Ohio. Four unarmed students were murdered outright, another was permanently paralyzed, and eight others were wounded by gunfire. Some of the victims were involved in an anti-war protest, but others were merely walking by the killing zone on their university campus.
1973- Chile - The CIA overthrew Latin America's first democratically elected socialist leader, Salvador Allende in Chile. This was sparked by Allende's nationalization of US corporate holdings in Chile. The CIA replaces Allende with General Augusto Pinochet, under whose dictatorship thousands of Chileans, especially labor leaders and members of the political Left, were tortured and killed by way of "disappearances". The CIA continued to aid Pinochet for years after his installation as dictator.
Uruguay - The US supports a military coup which resulted in a military government. The subsequent regime gains the distinction of having the highest percentage of the population imprisoned for political reasons.
Native Americans - In February, a group of tradionalist Lakota 'strong-hearted women', Lakota spiritual leaders and American Indian Movement activists converge on a site near the Wounded Knee Massacre (see 1890). Among the issues that motivated the protest were cheap land leases by the tribal government to non-Indians on the Pine Ridge Reservation, tribal chairman Dick Wilson's suspension of his own impeachment hearings, and police brutality on the reservation. They declared an independent Oglala Nation in opposition to the BIA-dominated Pine Ridge Reservation tribal council. They also call on the federal government to honor its treaty of 1868 (see that year) with the Lakota people by recognizing Indian sovereignty on the reservation and removing federal officials. Wounded Knee Village is quickly surrounded by Lakota tribal police, BIA police, federal marshals, tribal vigilantes and FBI snipers. These forces are supported by National Guard troops and hardware including armored personnel carriers and helicopter gunships. Native American activists from around the country began arriving to support "Wounded Knee II" and the tribal councils on the Crow and Northern Cheyenne reservations cancelled mining leases on their lands in support of the sovereignty claims made by the Pine Ridge traditionalists. Over the next 71 days, negotiations and sporadic small arms confrontations happened. The US Army recommended a full scale military assault while urging restraint from the civilian forces surrounding the activists. During the fire fights, several people are wounded on both sides and two Indians - Frank Clearwater (Cherokee) and Buddy Lamont (Oglala Lakota) were killed. The confrontation ends in May when federal negotiators agree to sit down and discuss US treaty obligations stemming from the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868 with the Lakota.
1979- Afghanistan - With the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the CIA began arming any and all factions willing to fight the Soviets. Most of the benefactors of US weaponry were Islamic fundamentalist mujahedin groups. Among those who received arms from the US was the Egyptian Sheikh Abdel Rahman who was implicated in the first World Trade Center bombing in New York. The CIA also financed a little known Sunni fundamentalist group called Al Qaeda who recruited Islamic extremists from around the world and employed them against the Soviets in Afghanistan. The CIA-backed Al Qaeda lost funding from the US after the Soviet withdrawal, and led by the now famous Osama Bin Laden, turned against the US 1991 with the stationing of US troops in Saudi Arabia for the Gulf War against Iraq. Al Qaeda and Bin Laden were responsible for the most devastating terrorist attacks in US history on September 11, 2001.
Nicaragua - In 1979 the US backed dictator Anastasios Samoza II falls and is replaced by the Marxist Sandinistas. The Sandinista regime becomes quite popular because of their commitment to land reform and anti-poverty programs. Samoza had a murderous personal army that he used as his own private secret police force in Nicaragua known as the National Guard. With the fall of the Samoza government, the surviving members of the National Guard became the Contra rebels, who fought a CIA armed and financed guerilla war against the Sandinistas throughout the 1980's.
1980- El Salvador - After Archbishop Oscar Romero of San Salvador appealed to President Carter to stop financing the brutal right-wing government "Christian to Christian", Salvadoran strongman Roberto D'Aubuisson has Romero shot to death while saying Mass. Soon thereafter the country dissolves into civil war. The CIA and the US military supply the military government with overwhelming military and intelligence superiority over the rebels who were mostly poor peasants. The CIA began training the right-wing Salvadoran death squads as well. By 1992 some 63,000 Salvadorans were killed in the fighting.
Cambodia - Following the Carter administration's lead, in 1980, Ray Cline, Deputy Director of the CIA and Reagan's senior foreign policy advisor, went to Cambodia and met with the Khmer Rouge to arrange an increase in US support for Pol Pot against the Vietnamese backed government of Phnom Penh.
Honduras - The US begins basing Nicaraguan Contra terrorists in Honduras as well as using Honduran territory to support El Salvadoran right-wing death squads. In exchange, US military aid to Honduras is radically increased and death squads are established to eliminate Honduran dissidents.
1981- Zambia - The Reagan administration, which openly supported Apartheid South Africa, was strongly opposed to Kaunda because of his strong opposition to Apartheid and his support for the African National Congress and SWAPO. In 1981, Zambian security forces stopped a plot by dissidents and "South African commandos" to assassinate President Kaunda and seize power. It was reported (Africa News, July 13, 1981) that the CIA had recruited Zambians in an effort to examine "the possibility of an alternative leadership in the country."
Nicaragua - In the continuing support for the Contra terrorists in Nicaragua against the Sandinistas that began in 1979, the CIA begins selling weapons to Iran, via Israel, and using the profits to finance the Contras. This later becomes known as the "Iran-Contra Affair". 1981 also saw the issuance of the Freedom Fighter's Manual by the CIA to Contra terrorists which includes instruction on economic sabotage, propaganda, extortion, bribery, blackmail, torture, murder, and political assassination. 1981 also saw the US applying pressure to the International Monetary Fund and World Bank to limit and reduce loans to Nicaragua as well as the imposition of a economic embargo.
1982- Guatemala - General Efrain Rios Montt seized control of Guatemala with US support. After this coup, US arms shipments to Guatemala increased. Rios Montt immediately declared a state of emergency, doing away with any pretense to the rule of law. Within the first six months of his rule 2,600 Indians were massacred and during his 17 month administration he oversaw the complete destruction of 400 Indian villages. Reagan made a state visit and publicly stated his belief that Rios Montt was perfectly acceptable.
Cambodia - In order to help "rehibilitate" the image of Washington's allies, the Khmer Rouge, in their war against the Phnom Penh government of Cambodia, the US announced the creation of a new coalition of Cambodian rebel forces dominated by the Khmer Rouge. After the formation of this "coalition" Chinese aid to the rebels increased as did US aid, both official and unofficial
1983- Grenada - 2,700 US troops were used to invade and occupy Grenada in order to remove a government deemed undesirable by the United States. The US occupation of this country remained until 1984.
Lebanon - The 1,200 US troops sent to Lebanon in 1982 remained in the country. On October 23, 1983 a successful Hizbollah truck bomb killed 241 US Marines of the 24th Marine Amphibious Unit and seriously damaged the US Marine barracks in Beirut, which led directly to the withdrawal of American troops in 1984. It is for this reason that the United States still considers Hizbollah a "terrorist organization" although Hizbollah has not engaged in terrorist activities since the 1980's, opting instead for legitimate armed resistance against Israeli military targets occupying Southern Lebanon, and continuing to this day in the Israeli occupied Shebaa Farms district. On December 4, 1983, US warplanes from the USS John F. Kennedy and the USS Independence launched vengence strikes at Lebanese positions.
1984- Nicaragua - Congress stops all funding for the Contra terrorists in Nicaragua by the final Boland Amendment in 1984. However, CIA Director William Casey simply turns the operation over the Colonel Oliver North, who illegally continued supplying the Contra terrorists through the CIA's informal, secret, and self-financing network. This includes "humanitarian aid" donated by Adolph Coors and William Simon, and military aid funded by the Iranian arms sales.
1984 also saw the United States mine three Nicaraguan harbors. Nicaragua brought the issue before the World Court and won a $18 billion judgement against the United States for this act aggression. The US responded by refusing to recognize the Court's jurisdiction in the case.
Lebanon - President Reagan ordered the CIA to launch a terrorist strike against Hizbollah's Sheikh Fadlallah in Lebanon. In the process, the CIA managed to kill 80 Lebanese by means a car bomb. However, the target, Sheikh Fadlallah was not aong those murdered. As a consequence, Preident Reagan cancelled the CIA's "license to assassinate" on April 10.
Nicaragua - Nicaragua shoots down a US C-123 transport plane carrying weapons and military supplies to Contra terrorists. The lone survivor, Eugene Hasenfus, turns out to be CIA employee, as do the two dead pilots. The airplane belongs to a CIA front company, Southern Air Transport. The incident makes a mockery of President Reagan's claims that there was no illegal funding of the Contra terrorists by the United States.
Haiti - A popular revolt against "Baby Doc" Duvalier, results in his evacuation, by the United States, to southern France where he is to settle down to a comfortable retirement with millions of dollars he stole from Haiti. The CIA then begins working to install another right-wing dictator, but popular unrest against yet another US imposed dictator keeps the political situation unstable for the next four years. In an attempt to strengthen the military against the people, the CIA creates, trains and supplies the National Intelligence Service (SIN) which suppresses popular revolt and free _expression by means of torture and assassination.
1988- Iran - On July 3 the USS Vincennes, a US cruiser with the world's most advanced air defense \ air tracking system (the Aegis System) invaded Iranian territorial waters and then shot down Iran Air Flight 655 to Dubai, killing 290 civilians. For their heroism in massacring 290 defenseless Iranian passagers, the entire crew of the USS Vincennes were awarded combat action ribbons and Commander Lustig, the air warfare coordinator, received the Navy's Commendation Medal for his "heroic achivement". Although the Navy claimed the attack was a "mistake" this was done tongue in cheek (as is clearly shown by the military decorations awarded to the killers) and then they repeatedly lied about the circumstances and tried to cover the affair up. The cover up was largely revealed through an independent Newsweek investigation and later admitted by the US Navy.
Honduras - In 1988, US troops entered Honduras to prevent Nicaraguan forces from making incursions into Honduras to combat US-supported Contra terrorists. This deployment successfully stopped Nicaraguan incursions into Honduras, thereby providing the Contra terrorists with a safe haven to launch their attacks into Nicaragua. Although the Nicaraguan issue has been settled for years, US troops remain in Honduras to present. Today this consists of an infantry task force that works with the Honduran military.
1989- Panama - The US invaded Panama, nominally to oust General Manuel Noreiga from power but also to enforce US interests regarding the canal which was scheduled to be returned to Panama in 1999. Noreiga was captured, given a show trial, and imprisoned for life in isolation in the United States. Official US casualties were 23 US troops killed in action but this is questioned because of the media blackout that was instituted during the invasion. General Manual Noreiga had been supported by the CIA since 1966 and his drug smuggling was known to the CIA from 1972. However, his growing independence and instransigence resulted in Washington turning against him.
1990- Haiti - Competing against ten relatively wealthy candidates, leftist priest Jean-Bertrand Aristide won the elections with 68% of the national vote. However, after only eight months in power, the CIA-backed military deposed him. As more military strongmen begin crushing the Haitian people, Haitian refugees began escaping trying to make it to the United States on barely seaworthy rafts. As popular opinion calls for Aristide's return, the CIA begins a disinformation campaign painting the courageous priest as being mentally unstable. As for General Prosper Anvil, one of the military dictators who enjoyed mutilating his opposition and then showing the results of his work on Haitian televiaion, after being forced out in 1990, the US government evacuated him from Haiti and allowed him to retire with as much loot as could bring with him to a comfortable retirement in Florida.
Bulgaria - The US "National Endowment for Democracy" (NED), an intelligence outfit meant to encourage US puppet regimes began pouring in money, more than $2,000,000, to influence Bulgaria's first democratic elections in forty-five years. All US financing went to America-friendly anti-Communist factions. This was all done overtly, even the US ambassador openly endorsed the "Union of Democratic Forces" or UDF on election day. At the same time, the State Department publicly criticized the Socialist Party. European observers monitored the elections and certified their legitimacy. After the first round, the Socialist Party won. The US backed opposition took to the streets claiming fraud, though the EU observers stood by their observations that the elections were completely free and open. The US financed UDF, as well as the US NED financed Federation of Independent Student Associations began a series of daily protests. US NED began providing even more equipment and financing to the student protesters and the UDF. The US financed war against democracy in Bulgaria scored a significant victory when it forced Socialist President Mladenov to resign. The next victim of the US war against democracy in Bulgaria was Interior Minister Smerdjiev. Finally on August 1, the US financed agitator Zhelyu Zhelev, leader of the UDF was elected President of Bulgaria. The opposition leaders were quite candid about the US support they received to coerce the democratic government into meeting its demands. The US backed efforts against the democratic will of the Bulgarian people resulted in political and economic chaos ever since.
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