The Salvador option : the United States in El Salvador 1977 1992 Part I. El Salvador in the Cold War Farabundo Martí la matanza and a stolen election The United States in Latin America American military mission in El Salvador A divided nation: military traditions democratic third way and liberation theology Guerrillas are born Part II. Jimmy Carter Revolution and counterinsurgency in Guatemala Mass organizations Carter arrives Carter and the Sandinista Revolution in Nicaragua 1979 An October coup Carter engages Salvador Archbishop Romero Land The American churchwomen Arming the rebels Guerrilla final offensive January 1981 Death squads Part III. Ronald Reagan Reagan arrives Reagan and Salvador El Mozote Another Vietnam Solidarity Troop cap and certifying human rights Reagan gambles on elections 1982 The Shultz Doctrine Human rights Henry Kissinger Contras Elections yes dialogue no 1984 presidential election La Palma Esquipulas Counterinsurgency I Counterinsurgency II Zona Rosa Air war José Napoleón Duarte Iran Contra Part IV. George H.W. Bush Elusive justice Pessimism Bush arrives Bush Cristiani and the 1989 vote Guerrilla second final offensive November 1989 Jesuit killings SAMs United Nations and peace Demobilization Part V. Postwar Postwar Salvador Concluding thoughts