Date of Award

2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Harvey, David

Area of Concentration

History

Abstract

This thesis will attempt to provide a comprehensive analysis of Operation Condor’s creation, operations, and Operations Condor’s impact on Latin America and the Cold War as a whole. The first chapter covers significant global developments before Operation Condor’s creation. In addition, chapter one recounts relevant instances of U.S. intervention in South America as well as the possible motives behind said interventions. Chapter two centers around Operation Condor’s structure and argues how Operation Condor was destined to collapse as it was built on the shoulders of existing U.S infrastructure while conducting operations that would inevitably anger the U.S. Chapter three summarizes three assassinations carried out by Condor agent Michael Townley, and how said assassinations further illustrate the fatally flawed nature of Operation Condor and how these flaws present themselves in each of the assassinations concluding with the killing of Orlando Letelier which ignited multiple investigations into Operation Condor and caused its downfall. I argue that Operation Condor is not only fatally shortsighted in its goal and structure but showcases how the U.S.’s foreign policy was dangerously focused on short-term gains while ignoring the apparent long-term consequences, as shown in the events leading up to, during, and after Operation Condor.

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