Nicaragua, 1981-86: Armed, trained and supported Contra insurgency to overthrow socialist Sandinista government, secretly funded by receipts from arms sales to Iran, both actions in violation of American law.
El Salvador, 1981-86: Supported right-wing dictatorship and death squads against rebel groups in civil war killing 53,000 Salvadorans.
Panama, 1989: Failed to dislodge Gen. Noriega who replaced Torrijos but also refused to return the Canal Zone to U.S. control and refused to allow the SOA, which was forced to move to Fort Benning, GA in 1984. This led to the invasion by Bush Sr., killing 3,000-5,000 Panamanians and leaving 25,000 homeless.
Venezuela, 2003: Failed attempt to overthrow popular elected President Chavez to prevent new “hydrocarbon policy” similar to that of Roldós, using manipulated coup following 1953 model in Iran, orchestrated by Ambassador Otto Reich, a veteran of the Iran/Contra scandal.
Slide 31- When the CIA failed through covert methods to dislodge foreign leaders who opposed or threatened American business interests, we have waged military invasions of Panama, Iraq and Afghanistan for the same goals. Displaced or assassinated leaders are replaced with dictators willing to cooperate with resource-extractive U.S.-based and multinational corporations.It is noteworthy that all these Congressionally unauthorized actions to subvert foreign governments took place under Republican administrations except the Bay of Pigs, which was a plan inherited by Kennedy from the Eisenhower administration. After this, Kennedy decided to leave Castro alone, which some believe led to his assassination.