U.S. Closes Hemispheric Military Academy with Plans to Reopen for Training of Law Enforcement Officials

On December 15, 2000, U.S. Army Secretary Louis Caldera at a ceremony closed the School of Americas, the Army’s controversial school for Latin American military with promises to reopen under a different name and expanded program. The controversial training school closed under orders of the U.S. Congress after demands from a number of politicians who reacted to protests about international human rights violations of its alumni and criticism of its curricula…[more]