This project focuses on the push by Bolivian social groups to nationalize the country's natural gas supply. President Carlos Mesa called a referendum which fell far short of complete nationalization, and ultimately lost his presidency. This resulted in the election of Evo Morales soon thereafter.

These newly-declassified cables show the frustration of US Embassy staff with the social groups, and with the nationalization drive in general. It also shows an ambassador well-aware of the potential for groups like Morales' to succeed, while also giving "legitimacy" to many of the grievances brought by these groups.

Two years after rebellion erupted in Chiapas and a year after peasants were massacred by the Guerrero State Police near Aguas Blancas, a second rebel group appeared in southern Mexico.  The Popular Revolutionary Army (EPR) stormed onto the scene.  Newly-declassified documents suggest both the Mexican and U.S. governments underestimated the EPR in terms of size and reach.

The documents, obtained by College of DuPage Professor Keith Yearman under the Freedom of Information Act, originated within the State Department.

In 1992 U.S. commandos “stormed” the beaches of Somalia in what was known as Operation Restore Hope.  The United States was invading Somalia to, as was told to the public, restore law and order to a country devastated by anarchy, and to feed the population.  As then-President George H. W. Bush told the nation in a televised address on December 4, 1992:

“I want to talk to you today about the tragedy in Somalia and about a mission that can ease suffering and save lives.  Every American has seen the shocking images from Somalia.  The scope of suffering there is hard to imagine.  Already, over a quarter of a million people--as many people as live in Buffalo, New York--have died in the Somali famine.  In the months ahead, five times that number, 1.5 million people could starve to death…There is no government in Somalia.  Law and order have broken down--anarchy prevails.”

While the world’s attention was focused on the London subway bombings in July 2005, Brazilian soldiers with the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) were busy wreaking havoc on the city of Cite Soleil.  The assault on the city resulted in numerous civilian deaths, although the exact number remains a source of controversy.  Now, one year after the massacre, the State Department has released several cables surrounding the Cite Soleil massacre.  These heavily-excised documents, requested under the Freedom of Information Act, suggest Cite Soleil was to be the target of at least one more assault.  Additionally, they raise the question as to whether United Nations forces knew their actions on July 6 would result in heavy civilian casualties.  

The Colombian Air Force C-130 cargo plane, tail number FAC 1005, touched down at Ft. Lauderdale International Airport on November 9, 1998.  It was a twice-monthly flight to pick up engine parts from the Colombian Air Force’s purchasing office and warehouse, located in the general aviation area of Ft. Lauderdale International Airport.  The plane carried a crew of six and six passengers.  This evening was different, as Customs agents were waiting to pounce on the aircraft.  A British government source had provided a tip “that a Colombian Air Force Aircraft due to arrive into Ft. Lauderdale general aviation facility would contain narcotics.”