Point of View

School of Americas:                                                   Al-Qaeda:

- Established 1946, Panama                                       - Established 1988/89 Afghanistan

- Trains military operatives                                       - Trains military operatives

- Funded by U.S., Multinational                                - Funded by Islamic banks, Middle

   Corporations, Latin American States                        Eastern States

- Promotes specific ideology, economic status quo  - Promotes specific ideology

- Methods: torture, rape, assassination,                     - Methods: torture, rape,

   murder                                                                        assassination, murder

- Victims: Govt. leaders, innocent civilians              - Victims: Govt. leaders, innocent

                                                                                        civilians

The Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, formerly known as the School of Americas, is fundamentally the same type of organization as Al-Qaeda.  The United States rationalizes and defends the WHISC because it safeguards U.S. interests, yet hypocritically vilifies Al-Qaeda for using the same strategies.  Peace and basic human rights will only be spread by example and education.  The United States must strongly lead the world in this direction using non-violent methods and respecting the human rights of all.