The Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHISC), formerly known as the School of Americas, has trained some of the most brutal dictators in Central and South America.
Over its 56 years, the WHISC has trained over 60,000 Latin American soldiers in counterinsurgency techniques, sniper training, commando and psychological warfare, military intelligence and interrogation tactics. These graduates have consistently used their skills to wage a war against their own people. Among those targeted by WHISC graduates are educators, union organizers, religious workers, student leaders, and others who work for the rights of the poor. Hundreds of thousands of Latin Americans have been tortured, raped, assassinated, “disappeared,” massacred, and forced into refugee by those trained at the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation.
Yes. Sources have revealed the use of manuals to teach SOA students the practice of torture. If the stuff they taught at the SOA were taught to those in OCS or ROTC, the DoD would have a fit and so would the American public.
Yes, I believe the SOA should be shut down. The death squads that murdered thousands in Central America are the direct result of this "school". I cant see any reason why this place should be kept open. I was wondering if anyone on YT could give me a reason with a reasonable explination.
I want SOA to be shut down, but I must say that it is their right to have such an organization, by shutting them down, (without enough proof of that their actions are illegal), the government would end up with arguments over the constitution...
I cant help but wonder if people have purposely avoided this question. It also might just be that they havent come across it.
"but I must say that it is their right to have such an organization, by shutting them down, (without enough proof of that their actions are illegal), the government would end up with arguments over the constitution..."
Enough proof? Their manuals have been disclosed. Their graduates are known to have participated in massacres across Latin America countless times. WHat more proof do you need? An admission of guilt? Like thats ever going to happen.
Question everything! This question as well as 2 of the 8 replies coming from Guerilla. Doesn't anyone else perceive that we are not being asked our opinion, but being indoctinated on Guerilla's worldview? I know nothing about WHISC, but would certainly not form an opinion based on the question as posted. Should we believe everything we read?
I think it is a necessary evil. War is never pretty and never fair. We as American soldiers have to abide by the Geneva Convention but most countries do not. I believe there are many situations were you have to fight fire with fire.
No it shouldn't be shut down. Would the world be a better place right now if the atomic bomb hadn't been ivented? It's basically the same concept. The death of innocent people is needed for stability as was the case with the atomic bomb. Latin America is in desperate need of stability, but of course if cocaine was legal they would have the best economies in the world.
Yes, without a doubt. I went to the protest in November at Ft. Benning, it was an amazing experience.
Graduates of SOA/WHISC have been implicated in some of the worst human rights abuses of the 20th century.
At least 11 dictators have graduated from the School of the Americas, including: GEN Leopoldo Galtieri of Argentina, GEN Juan Melgar Castro of Honduras, GEN Efrain Ríos Montt of Guatemala, GEN Manuel Noriega of Panama, GEN Policarpo Paz García of Honduras, GEN Guillermo Rodriguez of Ecuador, GEN Hugo Banzer Suárez of Bolivia, GEN Omar Torrijos of Panama, GEN Juan Velasco Alvarado of Peru, GEN Roberto Viola of Argentina, and GEN Guido Vildoso Calderón of Bolivia.
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