Editing Condortel (section)

==What Was Condortel?==
Definition and Purpose: Condortel was a telecommunications system that facilitated encrypted, secure communication among the intelligence agencies of Condor member states. Its primary purpose was to enable the rapid exchange of intelligence on targeted individuals, coordinate cross-border operations, and maintain operational secrecy. It supported Condor’s mission to track, abduct, and eliminate dissidents, often referred to as “subversives,” across South America and beyond.

Operational Scope: Condortel was integral to Condor’s intelligence-sharing network, which included a computerized database storing information on thousands of suspected leftists, activists, and political opponents. This system allowed for the identification, surveillance, and apprehension of individuals, as seen in cases like the 1978 abduction of Argentine journalist Norberto Habegger in Brazil and the 1980 transfer of Mónica Pinus de Binstock to Argentina.

Historical Context: Established during Condor’s formalization in November 1975 at a meeting in Santiago, Chile, hosted by Chile’s DINA (Dirección de Inteligencia Nacional), Condortel operated during the height of Condor’s activities (1975–1983). It was part of a broader effort to counter movements amid Cold War tensions, particularly after the Cuban Revolution (1959) and the rise of resistance to US involvement in Latin America.