| A revolution is a struggle between the future and the | | | | applied guerilla tactics against larger, better-equipped |
| past. Fidel Castro | | | | armies...and succeeded in slowing the cogs of war |
| Who better to author the account of the "dirty little | | | | against all odds. Zapata and Sandino shared the |
| war" which pitted the U.S. Marines and the guerilla | | | | ideology of reform, liberal, progressive ideals for the |
| forces of Augusto Cesar Sandino than a man who is | | | | population in general and sought nationalistic, patriotic |
| both a historian and a first-hand combatant | | | | goals for their respective countries. Further, both |
| revolutionary? Neill Macaulay's role as a lieutenant in | | | | Zapata's and Sandino's downfall was precipitated by |
| Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement Army lends an | | | | their disinclination to appeasement. |
| authentic pen to illustrating the tactics, politics and | | | | Both were unwilling to compromise the tenets of their |
| international reaction to the native revolt of peasant, | | | | movement-leading to friction with promising comrades |
| Indian and rural worker against both the U.S. | | | | and politicians who would have afforded both these |
| involvement in the government and politics of | | | | characters political and actual security in ties to new |
| Nicaragua. | | | | governments and an end to aggression. Unfortunately, |
| To a reoccurring backdrop in Latin America, motivated | | | | they share also the ill fate of being betrayed by |
| individuals were drawn into insurgent rebellion against | | | | politicians that gained from their exploits. Sandino and |
| an installed government, stolen election and U.S. | | | | his Army in Defense of the National Sovereignty of |
| interference on foreign soil. These backwater | | | | Nicaragua aided Liberal rebel Commander General |
| combatants learned quickly the virtue of stealth, utilizing | | | | José María Moncada in gaining the |
| geographic complications and unconventional tactics to | | | | Presidency of Nicaragua. This done, Moncada |
| their advantage in the jungles and mountains of | | | | distanced himself from the guerillas as he made pacts |
| Nicaragua. The sum of these attributes was that the | | | | with the U.S. military. Sandino vowed to continue to |
| U.S. "doctrines of war were useless." (Macaulay 174) | | | | wage his war and found himself at the wrong end of |
| Sandino and his nationalist movement proved a hard | | | | Nicaraguan politics again, as he and his army were |
| target to hit under these tactics. American Minister | | | | targeted by both national and foreign troops. Sandino |
| Mathew Hanna expressed just this when he | | | | declares Moncada's government unconstitutional and |
| announced to the Department of State "banditry | | | | continues to fight. Like Zapata, Sandino finds himself on |
| cannot be eliminated and order restored by present | | | | the outs with his compatriot as the other rises to |
| means and methods." (Macaulay 178) What the U.S. | | | | power and does not stay true to the ideals fought |
| soldiers faced was contrary to the forces that they | | | | over. |
| had trained for on Paris Island, what they found | | | | When Sandino pledged his loyalty to the new |
| success with in WWI and left them on uneasy, and | | | | President Sacasa, a past liberal leader, and enters into |
| unfamiliar ground. | | | | agreement to de-mobilize his men, Sandino and his |
| Like other revolutionary movements in Latin America, | | | | entourage were rounded up by Sacasa's men and |
| Sandino's nationalist motivation was forged in response | | | | executed...As Zapata was in Mexico. Each one |
| to a perceived foreign imperialist influence upon his | | | | believing that they were doing their patriotic duty, |
| country and the instillation of a president. Sandino led | | | | standing up for their ideals, their people and the general |
| his army in an attempt to end both the U.S. | | | | independence and equality of the peasant class |
| interference in Nicaragua and against the conservative | | | | subjugated under unconstitutional regimes. |
| government that the U.S. backed in the civil war that | | | | The story of Augusto Cesar Sandino stands out as a |
| ensued. | | | | Robin Hood tale, where a charismatic man and a band |
| What is poignant in the tale of Augusto Sandino is the | | | | of outlaws stand up against the forces in the name of |
| they echo similar aspects to other revolutionary | | | | citizens, country and progressive pursuits. Macaulay's |
| movements in Latin America. Both Sandino and | | | | keen take on the quest for Nicaraguan liberalism, free |
| Zapata (Mexico) as historical figures were thrust into | | | | of U.S. involvement is truly a testament to the |
| their roles due to legitimacy issues in politics and | | | | character and virtue found in rebellion movements in |
| government. Both of these charismatic figureheads | | | | the wake of imperialism and counterfeit governments. |