Latin America–United States relations General Hugo Banzer overthrew leftist General Juan José Torres in 1971; in Uruguay, considered the "Switzerland" of South America, Juan María Bordaberry seized power in the 27 June 1973 coup. In Peru, leftist General Velasco Alvarado in power since 1968, planned to use the recently empowered Peruvian military to overwhelm Chilean armed forces in a planned invasion of Pinochetist Chile. A "Dirty War" was waged all over the subcontinent, culminating with Operation Condor, an agreement between security services of the Southern Cone and other South American countries to repress and assassinate political opponents, which was backed by the US government.
Juan José Alvarado led the party of the federal government under José Francisco Morazán Quezada and resisted the separation. On 5 April 1839 his troops were defeated by Nicaragua and to the troops of Morazán in the battle of Espiritu Santo in El Salvador. On 25 September 1839, at San Pedro Perulapán, the troops of Honduras surprised Francisco Ferrera, who was wounded and fled to Nicaragua. Although Alvarado stated that he withdrew for reasons of health, the political and military pressure from Morazán contributed to it. He died in Gracias. Juan José Alvarado Juan José Alvarado (1798–1857) was Supreme Director of Honduras from