Glenn Reynolds of Instapundit fame complains that the press isn’t covering “anti-terrorist” demonstrations (dozens gathered in Antelope Valley, California), but then turns around and praises the Nicaraguan contras — one of the most vicious terrorist groups of the modern era. Here is a vivid account of what these “freedom fighters” were up to in the 1980s:
“In the words of human rights group Americas Watch, ‘the Contras systematically engage in violent abuses … so prevalent that these may be said to be their principal means of waging war.’ Another NGO compiled a year’s worth of Contra atrocities, which included murder, rape, torture, maiming children, cutting off arms, cutting out tongues, gouging out eyes, castration, bayoneting pregnant women in the stomach, and amputating genitals.
“An eyewitness to a Contra raid in Jinotega province said: ‘Rosa had her breasts cut off. Then they cut into her chest and took out her heart. The men had their arms broken, their testicles cut off and their eyes poked out. They were killed by slitting their throats and pulling the tongue out through the slit.'”
Ugh. Yet Reynolds describes these monsters as “freedom fighters,” and encourages his readers to buy coffee, or t-shirts — or something — from these “ex-contras.” He is hopeful their t-shirts “will start competing with Ché shirts on college campuses.”
Che Guevara was a totalitarian thug, but I don’t recall hearing that ever did anything like cut off a woman’s breasts. And why, pray tell, must we choose between a dead Commie and a bunch of “ex”-fascists hustling t-shirts?
What gets me is that Reynolds blogged the two above-mentioned items within minutes of each other. What was he thinking? It’s hard to believe that someone can be that blinded by ideology, but there you have it …
By the way, the CIA provided the contras with a manual instructing them in the art of terrorism. The manual advised Ollie North’s Nicaraguan “freedom fighters” to lead
“Demonstrators into clashes with the authorities, to provoke riots or shootings, which lead to the killing of one or more persons, who will be seen as the martyrs; this situation should be taken advantage of immediately against the Government to create even bigger conflicts.”
The manual also contained this helpful hint, recommending the
“Selective use of armed force for PSYOP [psychological operations] effect…. Carefully selected, planned targets — judges, police officials, tax collectors, etc. — may be removed for PSYOP effect in a UWOA [unconventional warfare operations area] …”