Assignment

The United States reacted to Cuba's 1959 revolution by using every means possible to overthrow Fidel Castro. Among other things, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) trained a force of anti-Castro Cuban exiles who unsuccessfully invaded the island in 1961. After the Cuban missile crisis of 1963, the United States promised not to attack Castro again in exchange for removal of Soviet nuclear warheads. On the other hand, the United States was determined to keep communism out of other Latin American nations regardless of the cost. Thus, the United States established close contacts with Latin American armies and police forces, providing them with funds and training to combat communist or left-wing groups - many of whom had been inspired by the Cuban revolution. Anti-communist military men also took over numerous Latin American governments, including those of Brazil in 1964, Argentina in 1966, Chile and Uruguay in 1973 and Argentina again in 1977. By the mid 1970s, these and other military regimes were cooperating, under a scheme known as Operation Condor, to arrest, interrogate, torture and murder members of left-wing or communist groups such as Brazil's Grupos de Onze, Argentina's Montoneros, Chile's Movimien to Izquierda Revolucionaria and Uruguay's Tupamaros. The United States largely succeeded in keeping communist regimes out of Latin America (except in Nicaragua) but did so by supporting anti-democratic governments that tortured and murdered their own people.

After reading "Condor's Killing Machine" and "The Good Sailor" choose a quote from each that describes an important theme (or themes).

Then, in a supporting paragraph of approximately 300 words for each reading, elaborate on the significance of your chosen quote using specific examples from the texts. This discussion will be worth a total of four points with one point each awarded for 1) the worthiness of your theme 2) factual correctness 3) specific evidence being used to support your argument and 4) grammar.