European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 21, 1978, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Doily Magazine for army s school of the americas Rcw to qty latin americans learning counter insurgency at army s school of the americas in Panama. You  by Alan Riding new York to meow Ith most latin american governments now Able to control their internal Security threats interest in sending their military officers to attend counter insurgency and other courses at the United states army s school of the americas at fort Gulick Panama seems Tobe waning. At the same time with relations Between Washington and the Region s military regimes distinctly Cool the Pentagon is More eager than Ever to preserve the school As a Way of maintaining Contact with military colleagues in latin America. As a result while in the turbulent 1960s the school was turning away Many applicants . Army officers Are now travelling around the continent trying to persuade army chiefs of staff to enrol their officers and cadets at fort Gulick. The changing role of the school illustrates the transformation that has taken place Over the last be Yean in military relations Between the United state and latin America. In the past the continent s armed forces looked Natu rally to the United states As their military adviser and Applier. Today with United states military links to Many latin regimes closely controlled by Congress and the White House much of the Region is turning away from the United states for military guidance. This trend is particularly worrying to the United states Southern command which has its Headquarters in the Panama canal zone but has military advisory assistance groups now called offices of defence cooperation rationed in most latin american countries. " because of cutbacks in arms sales to the Region. Army Wees in Panama say that Many assistance groups hive virtually lost Contact with local military establish Lary Aid to presentation by the state department of human rights reports on recipient countries. Argentina Brazil Al Salvador and Guatemala All uni laterally renounced any Aid rather than be subjected touch scrutiny. In other cases where Congress has approved foreign military sales credits to latin american governments the state department has refused to Grant Export licences for sophisticated weapons that in the View of United states officials could either be used for internal repression or might stimulate the conventional arms race in the Region. With 13 latin american nations ruled by the Mili tary the Carter administration s pressure on human rights and its Campaign in favor of democratic elec ballot boxes the Issue is whether if you sell arms you re in a portion to be a restraining influence or you re providing a aggressive  an army officer said. Most of us Sieve it s politically and commercially advantageous to Ett armaments because if we Don to someone else will my we lose our  but the outcry that followed evidence of indirect tufted states involvement in the 1973 chilean military exp that overthrew president Salvador Allende Gossens u Congress to look More critically on military links to utto America subsequently ordering a suspension of As trance to the military rulers of Chile and Uruguay. Then last year after Congress linked approval of Mill sons have merely widened the political Gap Between Washington and Many capitals in the Region. The most dramatic result has been the loss by the United states of its traditional role As the principal arms supplier to latin America. Apparently unconcerned with political considerations. France West Germany Italy and Israel have All stepped in where Washington preferred not to tread. In addition. Brazil and Argentina Are building up a Small arms Indus try with the latin american Export Market in mind. In the View of army sources in the canal zone the chillin relations with military regimes has therefore Given new importance to the quiet Liaison work taking place inthe school of the americas at fort Gulick. Since its foundation in 1946. Some 36,000 latin Ameri can military students have passed through. Among its alumni Are Many officers now ruling their countries generals Augusto Pinochet of Chile. Hugo Banzer Suarez of Bolivia Omar Torrijos Herrera of Panama Juan Al Berto Melgar Castro of Honduras. Carlos Humberto Romero of Al Salvador and Romeo Lucas Garcia the president elect of Guatemala. But last year the number of students who attended the school courses Range from three week management seminars to 42-week command and general staff classes dropped to 901, compared with  of 1,700 in each of the previous three years. Until the school started an enrolment Campaign Only 700 students were forecast for this year though now 1.200 Are expected. And no students have registered this year from Brazil Chile. Al Salvador Guatemala Haiti. Mexico or Uruguay. In an Effort to make the school More acceptable to latin America Spanish is its official language and a latin officer has tilled the Post of Deputy director since last year. The school is useful to help latin american military understand each  said col. Wilfredo Mori of Peru who is this year s Deputy director. The tensions Between governments Aren t reflected Here. It s like Neutral ground Over the last few years the school has switched its emphasis away from simple counterinsurgency. Not Only re naming that course to cover internal defense and development but also dropping courses on military police and intelligence and psychological warfare. The stress on internal defense and development is More appropriate to the political and military situation existing in latin  explained col. George Schleu the 51-year-old commandant of the school. Rather than going for the hearts and minds we favor economic improvement As a Means of internal de sense and  monday August 21, 1978 the stars and stripes Pogo 13