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Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 143.89.188.2 (talk) at 17:25, 2 June 2012 (→Graduates of the School of the Americas: this is an actual publication, which is more than what can be said about many of the conspiracy theory sites cited here). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation
MottoLibertad, Paz y Fraternidad (Freedom, Peace, and Fraternity)
Established2001
CommandantColonel Glenn R. Huber Jr.
Budget$14M As of FY2010
Members215
OwnerUnited States Department of Defense
Address7161 Richardson Circle
Location
Fort Benning
,
Georgia
,
United States
Coordinates32°21′54.1″N 84°57′21.25″W / 32.365028°N 84.9559028°W / 32.365028; -84.9559028
Websitewww.benning.army.mil/tenant/whinsec/index.html

The Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC) (formerly named School of the Americas) is a United States Department of Defense Institute located at Fort Benning near Columbus, Georgia in the United States. Authorized by US Congress through 10 USC 2166 in 2001,[1] WHINSEC "Provides professional education and training to eligible personnel of nations of the Western Hemisphere within the context of the democratic principles set forth in the Charter of the Organization of American States[2] (such charter being a treaty to which the United States is a party), while fostering mutual knowledge, transparency, confidence, and cooperation among the participating nations and promoting democratic values, respect for human rights, and knowledge and understanding of United States customs and traditions.[3] Throughout the decade since its establishment, WHINSEC has provided training for more than 13,000 US and International students. Its educational format incorporates guest lecturers and subject matter experts from sectors of US and International government, non-government, human rights, law enforcement, academic institutions and interagency departments[4] to share best practices in pursuit of improved security cooperation between all nations of the Western Hemisphere.

Background

More Items to be posted.

Oversight

In 10 USC 2166, Congress establishes an independent review board (a federal advisory committee) to "inquire into the curriculum, instruction, physical equipment, fiscal affairs, and academic methods of the Institute, other matters relating to the Institute that the Board decides to consider, and any other matter that the Secretary of Defense determines appropriate" [5] The "Board of Visitors" (BoV) as this committee is named, is responsible for reviewing the curriculum of WHINSEC to "determine whether the curriculum complies with applicable United States laws and regulations; is consistent with United States policy goals toward Latin America and the Caribbean; adheres to current United States doctrine; and appropriately emphasizes the matters specified in subsection (d)(1)-"The curriculum of the Institute shall include mandatory instruction for each student, for at least 8 hours, on human rights, the rule of law, due process, civilian control of the military, and the role of the military in a democratic society." The Board must also submit an annual report to the Secretary of Defense on its findings and recommendations related to its review of the institute. Copies of their reports are posted on the Federal Advisory Committee Website[6] The 14-member BoV includes Senator Carl Levin (Senate Armed Services Committee Majority, D-MI); Senator Saxby Chambliss (Senate Armed Services Committee Minority, R-GA); Rep. Phil Gingrey (House Armed Services Committee Majority, R-GA); Rep. Loretta Sanchez (House Armed Services Committee Minority, D-CA) as well as six members designated by the Secretary of Defense from the community at large. These six members include representatives from the human rights, religious, academic, and business communities. Members of the Board are not compensated by reason of service on the Board. A full listing of the BoV members can be found on the Federal Advisory Committee Website[6] and the WHINSEC public website.[7] The BoV annual meeting is open to the public and meeting dates are posted in advance on the Federal Register.[8]

History

Until 2000, the United States Army School of the Americas (USARSA) was the principle training school for US and Latin American military and police personnel in a variety of small unit tactics and leadership courses. By the early 1990s the Cold War was drawing to its end. During the ten years that followed, new freedoms brought new challenges. Latin America was no different, moving away from dictatorships and towards democracy, open markets, the professionalization of its military, police and interagency organizations as well as mutually beneficial cooperation with its neighbors to meet new regional challenges to security. Because USARSA's mandate and capabilities were not able to address the needs of Post Cold War Latin America and sectors of concerned citizens voiced their desire for change, Congress, through the FY01 National Defense Act, withdrew the Secretary of the Army’s authority to operate USARSA.[9]

WHINSEC Curriculum

Opponents of WHINSEC

Human rights violations by USARSA graduates

The School of the Americas was criticized concerning the human rights violations performed by a number of its graduates,[10][11][12] WHINSEC argues "that no school should be held accountable for the actions of its graduates."[13]

According to the Center for International Policy, "The School of the Americas had been questioned for years, as it trained many military personnel before and during the years of the "national security doctrine" – the dirty war years in the Southern Cone and the civil war years in Central America – in which the armed forces within several Latin American countries ruled or had disproportionate government influence and committed serious human rights violations in those countries." SOA and WHINSEC graduates continue to surface in news reports regarding both current human rights cases and new reports.
Defenders argue that today the curriculum includes human rights,[13] but according to Human Rights Watch, "training alone, even when it includes human rights instruction, does not prevent human rights abuses."[11] U.S. Army Maj. Joe Blair, a former director of instruction at the school, said, "there are no substantive changes besides the name. [...] They teach the identical courses that I taught, and changed the course names and use the same manuals."[10]

Participation

In 2004, Venezuela ceased all training of Venezuelan soldiers at WHINSEC[14] after a long period of chilling relations between the United States and Venezuela. On March 28, 2006, the government of Argentina, headed by President Néstor Kirchner, decided to stop sending soldiers to train at WHINSEC, and the government of Uruguay affirmed that it will continue its current policy of not sending soldiers to WHINSEC.[15][16] In 2007, Óscar Arias, president of Costa Rica, decided to stop sending Costa Rican police to the WHINSEC, although later reneged, saying the training would be beneficial for counter-narcotics operations. Costa Rica has no military, but has sent some 2,600 police officers to the school.[17] In a letter to the Commandant of the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC), U.S. Army Col. Gilberto Perez, Bolivian President Evo Morales formally announced on February 18, 2008, that he will not send Bolivian military or police officers to attend training programs at the institute formerly known as the U.S. Army School of the Americas (SOA).[18]

Legislative action

A bill to abolish the school with 134 co-sponsors was introduced to the House Armed Services Committee in 2005.[19]

In June 2007, the McGovern/Lewis Amendment to shut off funding for the Institute failed by 6 votes.[20] This effort to close the Institute was endorsed by the non-partisan Council on Hemispheric Affairs who called the Institute a "black eye".[21]

SOA Watch

Main article: School of the Americas Watch

Since 1990, Washington, D.C.-based non profit human rights organization School of the Americas Watch has worked to monitor graduates of the institution and to close the former SOA, now WHINSEC, through legislative action, grassroots organizing and nonviolent direct action.[22] It maintains a database with graduates of both the SOA and WHINSEC who have been accused of human rights violations and other criminal activity.[23] In regard to the renaming of the institution, SOA Watch claims that the approach taken by the Department of Defense is not grounded in any critical assessment of the training, procedures, performance, or results (consequences) of the training programs of the SOA. According to critics of the SOA, the name change ignores congressional concern and public outcry over the SOA's past and present link to human rights atrocities.[24]

Protests and public demonstrations

Since 1990, SOA Watch has sponsored an annual public demonstration of protest of SOA/WHISC at Ft. Benning. In 2005, the demonstration drew 19,000 people. The protests are timed to coincide with the anniversary of the assassination of six Jesuit priests in El Salvador, on November 1989, by graduates of the School of the Americas.[25] On November 16, 1989, six Jesuit priests (Ignacio Ellacuria, Segundo Montes, Ignacio Martin-Baro, Joaquin López y López, Juan Ramon Moreno, and Amado López); their housekeeper, Elba Ramos; and her daughter, Celia Marisela Ramos, were murdered by the Salvadoran Military on the campus of the University of Central America in San Salvador, El Salvador, because they had been labeled as subversives by the government.[26] A United Nations panel concluded that 19 of the 27 killers were SOA graduates.[27]

Graduates of the School of the Americas

"The U.S. Army School of the Americas is a school that has run more dictators than any other school in the history of the world."

— U.S. Congressman Joseph Kennedy[28]

A number of graduates of the SOA and WHINSEC have been accused of human rights violations and criminal activity in their home countries.[29] In August 2007, according to an Associated Press report, Colonel Alberto Quijano of the Colombian army's Special Forces was arrested for providing security and mobilizing troops for Diego León Montoya Sánchez (aka "Don Diego"), the leader of the Norte del Valle Cartel and one of the FBI's 10 most-wanted criminals. School of the Americas Watch said in a statement that it matched the names of those in the scandal with its database of attendees at the institute. Alberto Quijano attended courses and was an instructor who taught classes on Peacekeeping Operations and Democratic Sustainment at the school from 2003 to 2004.[30]
Others former students include members of the Atlacatl Battalion, responsible for the El Mozote massacre and Franck Romain, former leader of the Tonton Macoute, responsible for the St Jean Bosco massacre.[31]

Luis Posada Carriles at Fort Benning, Georgia, 1962

Critics of SOA Watch argue the connection is often misleading. According to Paul Mulshine, Roberto D'Aubuisson's sole link to the SOA is that he had taken a course in Radio Operations long before El Salvador's civil war began.[32]

Educated according to other sources

Luis Posada Carriles was educated by the CIA in explosives and sabotage at Fort Benning (the current location of the academy) between March 1963 and March 1964, after his participation in the Bay of Pigs invasion.[36][37][38][39]

In 1992 the OAS Inter-American Commission on Human Rights recommended prosecution of Col. Cid Diaz for murder in association with the 1983 Las Hojas massacre. His name is on a State Department list of gross human rights abusers. Diaz went to the Institute in 2003.[40][41]

Media representation

Sources

  1. ^ http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/10C108.txt Title 10-Armed Forces, Subtitle A-General Military Law, Part III-Training and Education, Chapter 108-Department of Defense Schools, Section. 2166.
  2. ^ http://www.oas.org/dil/treaties_A-41_Charter_of_the_Organization_of_American_States.htm Charter of the OAS including members
  3. ^ http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/511112e.pdf DoD Directive (DoDD) 5111.12
  4. ^ http://www.benning.army.mil/tenant/whinsec/overview.html WHINSEC Public Website, Overview Section
  5. ^ http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2010-title10/html/USCODE-2010-title10-subtitleA-partIII-chap108-sec2166.htm Government Publishing Office
  6. ^ a b http://fido.gov/facadatabase/public.asp
  7. ^ http://www.benning.army.mil/tenant/whinsec/commandOversight.html
  8. ^ http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/
  9. ^ http://www.dod.mil/dodgc/olc/docs/2001NDAA.pdf
  10. ^ a b Bay Area Protesters Sentenced in Georgia CommonDreams.org.
  11. ^ a b Human Rights Watch, Colombia – The Ties That Bind: Colombia and Military-Paramilitary Links February 2000, Vol. 12, No. 1 (B).
  12. ^ US Intelligence Oversight Board cites SOA SOA Watch, 1996.
  13. ^ a b "Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation". Center for International Policy. Retrieved May 6, 2006.
  14. ^ "National Venezuela Solidarity Conference". School of the Americas Watch. Retrieved May 6, 2006.
  15. ^ "Argentina & Uruguay abandon SOA!". School of the Americas Watch. Retrieved May 6, 2006.
  16. ^ "¡No Más! No More!". School of the Americas Watch. Archived from the original on May 4, 2006. Retrieved May 6, 2006.
  17. ^ "Costa Rica to Cease Police Training at the SOA/WHINSEC". School of the Americas Watch. Retrieved May 31, 2007.
  18. ^ "Bolivian Military Withdraws from Controversial U.S. Army Training School". School of the Americas Watch. Archived from the original on March 7, 2008. Retrieved February 18, 2008.
  19. ^ "H.R.1217". The Library of Congress. Retrieved May 6, 2006.
  20. ^ "WHINSEC Remains Open: Congress Narrowly Fails to Halt Funding the Former School of the Americas". Council on Hemispheric Affairs. July 6, 2007. Retrieved October 12, 2008.
  21. ^ "Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation". Council on Hemispheric Affairs. Retrieved October 12, 2008.
  22. ^ "About SOA Watch". School of the Americas Watch. Retrieved May 6, 2006.
  23. ^ "SOA/WHINSEC Grads in the News". School of the Americas Watch. Retrieved March 6, 2008.
  24. ^ "Critique of the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation". School of the Americas Watch. Retrieved November 16, 2005.
  25. ^ http://www.haguejusticeportal.net/Docs/NLP/Spain/Jesuits_UN_Truth_Commission_Report.pdf Truth Commissions: Reports: El Salvador – The Hague Justice Portal- accessed November 20, 2010
  26. ^ Global Capitalism, Liberation Theology, and the Social Sciences: An Analysis of the Contradictions of Modernity at the Turn of the Millennium (paperback) by Andreas Muller (editor), Arno Tausch (editor), Paul M. Zulehner (editor), Henry Wickens (editor), Hauppauge/Huntington, New York: Nova Science Publishers, ISBN 1-56072-679-2.
  27. ^ Krickl, Tony (February 3, 2007). "CGU Student Josh Harris to Spend Two Months in Federal Prison for Protesting". Claremont Courier.
  28. ^ Who Benefits from Global Violence and War: Uncovering A Destructive System, by Marc Pilisuk, 2008, Greenwood Publishing Group, p. 147.
  29. ^ "Notorious Graduates". School of the Americas Watch. Retrieved November 16, 2005.
  30. ^ "US trained Colombian soldiers jailed for working with cartel, says human rights group". School of the Americas Watch. Associated Press. Archived from the original on October 16, 2007. Retrieved August 18, 2007.
  31. ^ Notorious Graduates from Haiti, SOA Watch
  32. ^ Mulshine, Paul. "The War in Central America Continues". FrontPage Magazine. Archived from the original on December 19, 2002. Retrieved November 6, 2007.
  33. ^ "The New Strategy". Time Magazine. April 23, 1965.
  34. ^ School of the Americas | http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Terrorism/SOA.html
  35. ^ School of the Americas Watch http://www.soaw.org/about-the-soawhinsec/soawhinsec-grads
  36. ^ Candiotti, Susan (May 18, 2005). "Alleged anti-Castro terrorist Posada arrested". CNN. Archived from the original on June 2, 2008. Retrieved May 22, 2008.
  37. ^ National Lawyers Guild Calls for Immediate Extradition of Luis Posada to Venezuela, NLG press release, April 20, 2005. Accessed February 24, 2007.
  38. ^ National Security Archive. "LUIS POSADA CARRILES, THE DECLASSIFIED RECORD".
  39. ^ Zalman, Amy. Luis Posada Carriles (anti-Castro Cuban terrorism)
  40. ^ "Congressman James McGovern : Latest News : Congressman McGovern's statements on limiting funding for the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation". Mcgovern.house.gov. Retrieved October 12, 2008.
  41. ^ "Teaching Torture". LA Weekly. Retrieved October 12, 2008.

Further reading

See also

Official government websites

Other websites

Media and documentaries

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