The United States plans to increase the number of refugees admitted from Central America fleeing El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala — the three “Northern Triangle” countries that are currently embroiled in increasing gang violence and extreme poverty — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerryannounced on Wednesday.
On July 26 in 1969, Honduras and El Salvador were playing the third game in a series to determine which country would head to the World Cup.
Honduras and El Salvador had had tensions boiling for years, and Honduras had won the first game and El Salvador won the second game. For this third game, El Salvador eventually won 3-2 in overtime. As soon as the game was over, El Salvador dissolved diplomatic ties with Honduras. The 100-hour “Soccer War” would begin.
Never heard of this war? We hadn’t either! You can read three different takes on the situation from American FSOs at the link!
“I didn’t understand how important this “covert” Contra program was. I didn’t realize it was the center of our policy in Central America.”
Ambassador John Arthur Ferch served in Honduras from 1985-1986. Because he was not seen as actively helping the administration with “the Enterprise” – what the Iran-Contra scandal was called – he was forced to resign and retire from the Foreign Service.
Click on the link to learn more.
