US-backed dirty wars

In a stunning development, Guatemalan police recently arrested 18 ex-military leaders on charges of committing crimes against humanity during the decades-long US-backed dirty war against Guatemala's indigenous communities. The ex-military leaders face charges of ordering massacres and forced disappearances during the conflict which led to perhaps a quarter million deaths. Many of the arrested former military leaders were backed by US, including Manuel Benedicto Lucas García, who had worked closely with US military officials to develop a system of attacking the highlands where Guatemala's indigenous Mayan communities reside. The system involved decapitating and crucifying people.

It's not at all uncommon for the US to step in and change things there if it doesn't like it. When Guatemala elected a communist president, US sent in the Marines. US feels they have a right to interfere in the affairs of Central America. Of course, they did exactly the same thing in Lebanon years ago. When they elected a pro-communist president, Eisenhower sent in the Marines. And Lebanon has had nothing but grief ever since. The same thing happened in Vietnam. When they looked like they were about to have a pro-communist government, US stepped in to make sure they didn't!

Ted Rudow III, MA

CA, USA