Author Topic: Reagen role in 150,000 deaths in Central America  (Read 133 times)

infinite59

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Reagen role in 150,000 deaths in Central America
« on: June 08, 2004, 08:00:05 AM »
Reagan remembered for civil wars in Central America

08.06.2004
1.00pm - By IVAN CASTRO

MANAGUA, Nicaragua - Ronald Reagan has drawn glowing praise worldwide since his death but in Central America many remember the former US president as a Cold War radical whose support for right-wing leaders and rebels cost tens of thousands of lives.

The impoverished countries of Central America erupted in violence in the 1980s when Reagan was president, and his administration spent millions of dollars in vicious civil wars.

In the name of fighting communism in America's "back yard," Reagan supported Contra rebels against the revolutionary Sandinista government in Nicaragua and helped prop up repressive leaders that faced leftist insurgencies in El Salvador and Guatemala.

Since Reagan's death on Saturday, the reaction in Central America has been mixed.

"We don't celebrate any death, but we must be honest, we will not start saying now that President Reagan respected international law, that he treated Nicaragua well. We're not going to lie," said Daniel Ortega, the Sandinista president who led Nicaragua during the war against the Contra rebels.

Miguel D'Escoto, the former Sandinista foreign minister, added: "There is not the least doubt that President Reagan did Nicaragua much harm, caused many deaths."

An estimated 300,000 people died in Central America's civil wars, about half during Reagan's two terms in office. Many were civilians tortured and murdered by army troops or death squads linked to armed forces that received heavy US support, human rights groups say.

"A lot of extremely nasty things were going on ... and the Reagan administration really defended and even actively supported some of the worst human rights violators in the hemisphere," said Daniel Wilkinson of Human Rights Watch in New York.

Reagan's Central America policy came under criticism at home when the Iran-Contra scandal unfolded, exposing US secret sales of arms to Iran to help fund the Contras, forbidden by the US Congress.

"There was no issue and probably has been no issue since Vietnam that has divided the American public and Congress more than Reagan administration policy in Central America," said Russell Crandall at the US-based Council on Foreign Relations.

Reagan did not create the crises in Central America -- the Sandinistas seized power in a revolution months before he took office, El Salvador was already falling into chaos and Guatemala's civil war had been going on for two decades.

However, critics said his hard line against communism killed off any hopes for negotiated settlements, polarised the region and fed violence.

"Ronald Reagan's name is linked to the darkest dictatorships in the history of Guatemala," said Mario Polanco, who heads a group set up by families of many who died.

Reagan does have admirers in the region who say his tough stance halted the communist threat and ultimately brought democracy.

His 1983 invasion of the Caribbean island of Grenada to oust a Marxist government and rescue stranded Americans was very popular.

Nicaraguan President Enrique Bolanos said Reagan was "a great defender of Nicaragua's return to democracy and all Nicaraguans who believe in democracy recognize that legacy."

In El Salvador, President Tony Saca said Reagan helped the country in "its most difficult moments."

Allies say the proof is at the ballot box -- since the end of the region's civil wars, voters have repeatedly elected conservative, pro-Washington governments.

The region remains sharply divided, however, and the leftist leaders that went to war with US-backed forces in Nicaragua and El Salvador still pull in more than 35 per cent of the national vote.

- REUTERS

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« Last Edit: June 08, 2004, 08:01:06 AM by Hajj Ibrahim Islam »
 

smerlus

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Re:Reagen role in 150,000 deaths in Central America
« Reply #1 on: June 08, 2004, 10:27:36 AM »
so it seems the only thing keeping you from giving reagan his props is that he wasn't a muslim leader

oh well 3 out of 4 isn't bad  ;D
 

Montana00

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Re:Reagen role in 150,000 deaths in Central America
« Reply #2 on: June 08, 2004, 11:29:42 AM »
The impoverished countries of Central America erupted in violence in the 1980s when Reagan was president, and his administration spent millions of dollars in vicious civil wars.

tell me what that says....im looking, but i dont see anywhere, where it says reagan incited those civil wars.
 

Real American

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Re:Reagen role in 150,000 deaths in Central America
« Reply #3 on: June 08, 2004, 03:12:41 PM »
I am glad that President Reagan supported rebel groups fighting against communism. Communism is an evil system that has proven to be a failure everywhere. During the Cold War the fight against communism was important and it needed the US backing.

This is another lame attempt to disparage a great president. Just stop already.
 

Trauma-san

Re:Reagen role in 150,000 deaths in Central America
« Reply #4 on: June 08, 2004, 09:21:36 PM »
So... to prove that Reagan murdered 150,000 people, you take the words and quotes offered up by deposed Communist Leaders, all politically slain at the slice of The Gipper's sabre.  



Do a google on "Conflict of Interest" and rethink your article's validity.  Fuckin children.  
 

infinite59

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Re:Reagen role in 150,000 deaths in Central America
« Reply #5 on: June 09, 2004, 07:30:50 AM »
so it seems the only thing keeping you from giving reagan his props is that he wasn't a muslim leader

oh well 3 out of 4 isn't bad  ;D

There have been many good non-Muslim leaders.  Nelson Mandela is one great example off the top of my head.