ATTACK ON THE AMERICAS

Description:

Directed by Sandra W. Bradley and produced by the American Security Council Foundation for the Coalition for Peace Through Strength, “Attack on the Americas” (1980) is a propaganda film that warns against the expansion of Cuban-style communism across the Caribbean and Central and South America. Appearing are President Ronald Reagan, Ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, and Alfonso Robelo, a former Sandinista leader.

Chaotic scenes from riot (0:08). Cuban President Fidel Castro at mass rally held in Managua, Nicaragua, to commemorate the first anniversary of the triumph of the Sandinista Revolution (1980) (0:47). FAPU (Unified Popular Action Front) graffiti tags in El Salvador (1:00). Sandinista militants with red and black bandanas stand with guns (IWI Uzi) in forest; Militants train volunteers in gun handling (1:09). Map marking spread of Soviet-style communist ideology across Central and Latin America (1:28). Nicaragua: More footage Silvio Mayorga, Castro observing same military parade in Managua 1980 (1:32). El Salvador: Graphic footage civilian casualties of civil war (1:53). Guatemala: Young soldiers conduct raids on small villages looking for guerrilla forces (2:11). Grenada: Maurice Bishop (leader of New Jewel Movement) makes speech (2:28). Return to map, Castro’s goal of dominating land bridge between the Americas (3:35). Interview with Lt. Gen, Gordon Sumner Jr. (former chairman, Inter-American Defense Board) (3:42). Oil wells along coastline of Caribbean basin and Gulf of Mexico; Oil tanker ships pass through Panama Canal (4:11). Soviet-Cuban relationship: Castro visit to Moscow (1963), standing next to Nikita Khrushchev on Lenin’s Tomb; Cuban-Soviet strategy at Tricontinental Conference (1966); Castro addressing Soviet Communist party congress (1976) (5:03). Castro and Angola: José Eduardo dos Santos shakes Castro’s hand, Cuban proxy forces patrol street in Angola; Interview with Jeremias Chitunda (5:49). Military parade in Ethiopia (6:17). Launching of rockets, the Soviet Brigade in Cuba; Soviet military jets in Cuba i.e. MiG-21, MiG-23, Tupolev Tu-95; Soviet submarine base (6:43). Jimmy Carter, "Commencement Address at Notre Dame University" (May 1977); Carter new anti-communist policy (8:03). US Department of State, interview Jeane Kirkpatrick (8:38). Nicaraguan Revolution 1970s: Castro training of FSLN guerrilla forces in Costa Rica, stockpiles of weapons transported through Costa Rica and Panama, battle with Somoza backed gov troops (9:25). Sandinista fighters storm capital city of Managua (11:22). Interview Alfonso Robelo (11:53). Footage surveying damage done to Nicaragua’s infrastructure, human toll (12:00). Committees for the Defense of the Sandinistas social programming: Literacy campaign, building roads, political parades, censorship (12:44). Sandinista official signs communiqué in Moscow (1980) approving Soviet invasion of Afghanistan (15:04). Carter televised speech absolving Cuba of Nicaragua meddling (15:15). Interview Warren Christopher (15:21). Interview Jeane Kirkpatrick (15:52). Grenada: Cuban supplied weapons to People's Revolutionary Army (PRA), Komatsu bulldozers pave way for new airfield (16:14). Maurice Bishop speaks in Nicaragua at Sandinista rally mass rally held in Managua, Nicaragua (1980) (17:09). El Salvador: Hostage taking, riots, guerrilla and police fighting in San Salvador (17:40). Interview Warren Christopher, explains Carter policy towards South America (18:48). Interview Jeane Kirkpatrick (19:13). Guatemala: Jungle, aerial view of Mayan pyramids, government troops patrol jungle where guerrilla troops have been operating, graphic images of injured troops in hospital (20:12). Interview Lt. Gen, Gordon Sumner Jr. discussing Carter admin’s human rights criteria; Continued by Jeane Kirkpatrick (20:53). Interview Henry Kissinger (22:04). Interview Alfonso Robelo (22:22). Footage aftermath Puerto Rican separatist group Macheteros attack on U.S. Navy bus (22:44). Michael Manley (Jamaican PM) delivers speech in packed hall; Loses re-election campaign (1980) to Edward Seaga (23:23). Ronald Reagan campaign video (23:49). Montage civilian suffering from war and riots in El Salvador and Guatemala plays (24:07). Ronald Reagan segment continues (24:50). Closing credits, shot of American Security Council Foundation building in Boston, Virginia (25:16).