Jan 11 2008
LA Activists Call for End to Military Training School
GUEST: Martin Sheen, actor and activist
In 1946 the US government started the School of the Americas in Panama, with the goal of training military operatives from other states in counterinsurgency techniques, sniper training, commando and psychological warfare, military intelligence and interrogation tactics. The school was relocated to Fort Benning, Georgia in 1984, and changed its name to the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation or WHINSEC in 2001. Since its inception, the institution has had more than 60,000 students and graduates. Last year, a criminal investigation of the Columbian Army’s Third Brigade led to the arrests of 13 high-ranking officers who provided security and mobilized troops for Diego Montoya, a major drug kingpin. Two of those arrested had been instructors at WHINSEC. On its website, WHINSEC says it is committed to “Democracy, Ethics and Human Rights.” However, tens of thousands of Americans who have been demonstrating to shut down the school for the past decade, disagree. Among them are my guest, actor and activist, Martin Sheen.
Martin Sheen, along with the Father Roy Bourgeois, the man who began the movement to close the school, and the founder of SOA Watch, will be speaking at an event in Los Angeles this Saturday January 12th.
Event Details:
PRESENTE
A Vigil with Father Roy Bourgeois To Close the School of the Americas
ABRIENDO LAS MEMORIA – HEALING THE WOUNDS
WHEN: Saturday January 12th, 11 am – 4 pm
WHERE: Los Angeles State Historic Park, 1245 N. Spring Street, Los Angeles 90012. The Goldline Stops next to Park – Four blocks North of Union Station Where Alameda Street meets Spring Street
Speakers include: Father Roy Bourgeois, Martin Sheen, Cindy Sheehan, Blase Bonpane, Eisha Mason, Fernando Suarez del Solar, Don White, Lucia Munoz, Dr. Jose Quiroga, Patricia Contreras, Josh Harris, Jim Lafferty, Hector Aristizabal, Maria Guardado, Mario Avila & Frankie Flores
Music by Holly Near, El Salvador’s Hip Hop Marmota Fu, Ross Altman, Maria Armoudian, Will B, Dennis Davis & The Cuauhtemoc Azteca Dancers.
There will be a Solemn Procession March ~ Return to Life Celebration ~ Music, Puppetistas, Drum Circles & More
2 Responses to “LA Activists Call for End to Military Training School”
Not a comment on the show, just on the remarks above. Can you name one person who committed a crime using what he learned at the School of the Americas? Martin Sheen can’t. Father Roy can’t. In 1946, the school that began in the Canal Zone was for US Soldiers stationed there. By 1948, Latin American Soldiers were attending, learning Military Police procedures, Military Engineering, and various admin, supply and maintenance skills. In the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s, courses were added that were appropriate at that time for Soldiers to learn–counterinsurgency, sniper, commando (same as US Ranger School)–no ‘interrogation tactics,’ and all taught legally, morally and ethically by US Soldiers. President Clinton and Congress closed the school and created the institute in public law more than seven years ago. Tell me the relevance of two Soldiers who had been instructors at WHINSEC later going bad? A number of people in every profession and in every country turn to crime–should the organizations who had welcomed them be blamed for their individual failings? Or only in this case? Blaming the school for the later misdeeds of a few who attended a course with no evidence is a moral libel of the Soldiers who taught there. Instead of standing at the gates of Ft. Benning, three miles from WHINSEC, those who want to know something about it should come on a weekday, when with a photo ID they can enter Fort Benning, drive to the institute, sit in classes, talk with students and faculty, and review the instructional materials. This is not a debate point–this is a real place that welcomes scrutiny by anyone.
Sincerely,
Lee A. Rials
Public Affairs Officer
Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation
Mr. Rials,
The Pentagon admitted to the use of training manuals that advocated torture, extortion and executions at the SOA, is the Pentagon committing a moral libel?
Why did Clinton and congress decide to close the school? Please explain what drove them to that decision.
Why have other governments denounced the SOA for its history and ties to dictatorships in Latin America. Are you saying that these well-educated world leaders are ignorant, confused?
Denying that the SOA was, and is, one of the most important training facility for those who functioned as the “iron fist” defenders of U.S. foreign policy in countries like Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Argentina, Uruguay and Chile is plain delusional.
I once watched a promotional video issued by your fine institution which claimed that the School played an important role in bringing back democracy to Latin America in the 70’s and 80’s, funny thing is… pretty much every single dictator that overthrew a democratic government in the region (with the exception of Cuba) had taken courses at the School, had his highest ranking officers take courses in the school, and achieved power with financial and logistical support from the US government.
Was your promotional video intended for the hearing impaired? Because unless one is deaf, only a moron could take that promotional video seriously.
How do you sleep at night?
Do you see the faces of hundreds of thousands of tortured and murdered latin americans in your dreams?
I hope you are making the best of your life, because much of the benefits and privilege that you enjoy as a US citizen is a result of the blood, sweat and tears shed by those forced into death and submission by the violence of US foreign policy in the third world.