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There was another official reason given for U.S. intervention in Central America in the 1980s: to ‘restore democracy.’  This, too, was hardly believable.  Throughout the period after World War II our government had supported undemocratic governments, indeed vicious military dictatorships: in Batista’s Cuba, Somoza’s Nicaragua, Armas’s Guatemala, Pinochet’s Chile, and Duvalier’s Haiti as well as in El Salvador and other countries of Latin America.

The actual purpose of U.S. policy in Central America was expressed by Tucker in the most clear Machiavellian terms:  “The great object of American foreign policy ought to be the restoration of a more normal political world, a world in which those other states possessing the elements of great power once again play the role their power entitles them to play.”

Undoubtedly, there are Americans who respond favorably to this idea, that the United States should be a “great power” in the world, should dominate other countries, should be number one.  Perhaps the assumption s that our domination is benign and that our power is used for  kindly purposes.  The history of our relations with Latin America does not suggest this.  Besides, is it really in keeping with the American ideal of equality of all peoples to insist that we have the right to control the affairs of other countries?  Are we the only country entitled to a Declaration of Independence?

There was another official reason given for U.S. intervention in Central America in the 1980s: to ‘restore democracy.’  This, too, was hardly believable.  Throughout the period after World War II our government had supported undemocratic governments, indeed vicious military dictatorships: in Batista’s Cuba, Somoza’s Nicaragua, Armas’s Guatemala, Pinochet’s Chile, and Duvalier’s Haiti as well as in El Salvador and other countries of Latin America.

The actual purpose of U.S. policy in Central America was expressed by Tucker in the most clear Machiavellian terms:  “The great object of American foreign policy ought to be the restoration of a more normal political world, a world in which those other states possessing the elements of great power once again play the role their power entitles them to play.”

Undoubtedly, there are Americans who respond favorably to this idea, that the United States should be a “great power” in the world, should dominate other countries, should be number one.  Perhaps the assumption s that our domination is benign and that our power is used for  kindly purposes.  The history of our relations with Latin America does not suggest this.  Besides, is it really in keeping with the American ideal of equality of all peoples to insist that we have the right to control the affairs of other countries?  Are we the only country entitled to a Declaration of Independence?

- Howard Zinn – Declarations of Independence

Wondering what has changed? Read about it here.