The nations south of the United States are uniquely different from North America, as are they also distinct from each other. The culture takes several roots deep in history from many sources. Indigenous peoples along with European and African nationalities have merged together into a primarily Spanish speaking group of nations. The land is rich with resources, resources that have produced conflict and violence. Governments and organizations exploit these resources to gain wealth and power. These wealthy groups reap the benefits at the expense of the weak. This common imbalance has destroyed much of the middle class. The extreme rich and the extreme poor live right next to each other. Such disparities have sparked uproar and motivated the formation of terrorist groups. To counter any upheaval, death squads have historically been used to inhibit any resistance. In all situations, no side can be held blameless. Moral dilemmas make it difficult for one party to be viewed as “the good guys” or “the bad guys,” because there are few positives to the events that are occurring. It seems that the violence will continue on a constant cycle of power and revolution, revolving around the central resources of these naturally rich countries.
Past leadership in Guatemala has been one dictatorship after the other. In the mid 19th century it was Rafael Carrera, then Justo Rufina Barrios. The longest term was held by Manuel Estrada Cabrera – 22 years. These self serving administrations have violated basic human rights. Communism imposed a strong influence on Guatemala during the cold war, raising the interest of the United States. The people of Guatemala also responded to the violence forced on them by the government. The formation of The Rebel Armed Forces in the 1960s was a turning point in the resistance to government death squads. From the Rebel Armed Forces came The Guatemalan National Unity. These groups were able to grow substantially and combat with the state’s military. The government then cracked down in an effort to uproot the leaders and those who aided the rebel groups. Death squads and police forces were unrestricted in their hunt for important rebel figures. Public murders and torture became the primary tool to obtain information and limit the rebellion. It is believed that nearly 100,000 Guatemalans were killed during this period. Key players in the state sponsored terrorism in Guatemala have been killed or have disappeared, making it difficult to prove or prosecute anyone for the atrocities that occurred. Although the facts are not entirely clear, it is important that we do not ignore the actions that were taken against the innocent people of Guatemala.
A major global influence on terrorism today, and author of Mini-manual Of The Urban Guerrilla, is Marxist writer Carlos Marighella. Marighella writes his theories and strategies in terrorism. He upholds ideals of great violence in order to create change. The handbook is meant to teach other terrorist groups how to use violence in specific situations. The specialty of the mini-manual is revolution and rebellion in an urban setting. It suggests that urban warfare is the most effective way to demonstrate and intimidate. Although far from the origins of terrorism, Latin America and South America have contributed and aided in shaping what terrorism is today. Terrorist groups all around the world are implementing the ideas of Carlos Marighella. The spread of strategies in terrorism has made these groups more effective and difficult to fight. As the exchange of thoughts and ideas continue, we can only expect terrorism to elaborate and expand. The extent of violence and rebellion is growing, and so must our ability to combat it. Nations such as the US, who are a constant target of terrorist groups all across the world, must continue to change and grow like the enemy. Terrorist are persistently trying to get ahead of the counter terrorism units that pursue them, and it is the responsibility of the defenses that this never happens.
Work Cited:
Simonsen, Clifford, and Jeremy Spindlove. Terrorism Today. 3rd. Upper Saddle River NJ: Prentice Hall, 2007. Print.
