Shadows of the Operation Condor: Unveiling the Covert Reign of Terror in South America
In the 1970s, a covert campaign known as Operation Condor cast a long and dark shadow over South America. This U.S.-backed initiative was a campaign of political repression and state terrorism, involving intelligence operations, CIA-supported coups, and targeted assassinations of left-wing sympathizers, intellectuals, and political dissidents across South America.
It’s a tale of clandestine activities, hidden agendas, and a chilling disregard for human life, raising questions about the extent and impact of U.S. involvement in foreign political affairs.
The Origins and Mechanisms of Operation Condor
Operation Condor was formally implemented in November 1975 by the right-wing dictatorships of the Southern Cone of South America, including Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Bolivia. Brazil and Peru later joined in more peripheral roles.
The United States played a significant role, providing planning, coordination, training on torture, and technical support, as well as military aid during the Ford, Carter, and Reagan administrations, often routed through the CIA.
The Human Cost
The exact number of victims claimed by Operation Condor is disputed, but it is estimated that at least 60,000 deaths can be attributed to the operation, with up to 30,000 of these in Argentina alone. The “Archives of Terror” list 50,000 killed, 30,000 disappeared, and 400,000 imprisoned.
Victims included a wide range of individuals – from dissidents and leftists to students, teachers, and religious leaders.
The U.S. Role and Controversial Support
While the CIA described Operation Condor as a cooperative effort to combat terrorism and subversion, evidence suggests that the threat posed by guerrillas was often used as a pretext. Declassified documents indicate that U.S. intelligence considered Condor a legitimate counterterror organization, even as it became involved in cross-border assassinations and other illegal activities.
Notably, Condor employed a sophisticated telecommunications system (Condortel) to coordinate its intelligence and operations, with significant involvement from the CIA.
