This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 159.46.248.218 (talk) at 09:36, 10 September 2003 (Operation Condor in Latin America (please check spelling)). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 09:36, 10 September 2003 by 159.46.248.218 (talk) (Operation Condor in Latin America (please check spelling))(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)History records no less than three military operations dubbed Condor:
1. A French attempt to breakthrough to the besieged French Union forces at Dien Bien Phu. Launched in much-reduced form on 13 April, 1954 the relief columns were delayed by the rugged terrain and was cut up by the surrounding Viet Minh.
2. A campaign of assassination and intelligence-gathering dubbed as 'counter-terrorism' conducted jointly by the security services of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay in the mid-1970s. The right-wing military governments of these countries, led by dictators as Videla, Pinochet and Stroessner agreed to cooperate in sending teams into other countries, including France, Portugal and the United States to locate, observe and assassinate opponents. They also exchanged cruel torture techniques, like near drowning people and playing the sound recordings of victims whe were being tortured to their family. Many people disappeared and were killed without trail. There targets were terrorists of the leftist guerilla, but also many (thought to be) political opponents, family and other innocent people.
Operation Condor was supported by the United States, since it feared that the leftish powers in the region would create a second, communistic Cuba. It appears that Henry Kissinger, Foreign Secretary of US President Richard Nixon had an important role in the condoning of the operation.
One target in September, 1974 was the Venezuelan-born Illich Ramirez Sanchez (a.k.a. “The Jackal”). After his involvement in murder of the Bolivian ambassador and a Chilean attaché in Paris as well as a Chilean diplomat in the Middle East, Ramirez was located by the Latin Americans in Europe. The American Central Intelligence Agency detected the Condor operation and alerted France and Portugal. They warned Ramirez, allowing him to escape.
3. A major British-led operation in Southeastern Afghanistan. The operation began on 17 May 2002 when a patrol of the Australian Special Air Service was ambushed. The British 45 Commando then flew in to destroy the guerilla force that had foolishly exposed itself. Followed Snipe, Torii and Ancaconda.