The Dominican Cultural Foundation is inviting people to attend the launch of Brian J. Bosch´s book

The Dominican Cultural Foundation is inviting people to attend the launch of Brian J. Bosch´s book 
Dominican Republic, 08/11/2010

The Dominican Cultural Foundation is inviting people to attend the launch of Brian J. Bosch´s book “Balaguer and the Dominican Military: Presidential Control of the Factional Office Corps in the 1960s and 1970s.” Mr. Bosch, retired Colonel of the US Army, served as the US Embassy army attaché in the Dominican Republic from 1970 to 1974.

Mr. Bosch, the author, narrates what he saw and reported about the involvement of the Dominican military with the political affairs of President Joaquín Balaguer during his 12-year presidency (1966-1978).

The book launch will be held on Tuesday August 17 at 6:30 pm in the Peter Mir Forum of the Cuesta Book Center. Comments on the book will be made by Rosario Espinal and Wilfredo Lozano.

Mr. Bosch, the author, narrates what he saw and reported about the involvement of the Dominican military with the political affairs of President Joaquín Balaguer during his 12-year presidency (1966-1978). Balaguer’s skillful manipulation of the army and rival officers gave credence to the widely held belief that he was the “puppet master” to whom the army “never failed to respond” and over whom Balaguer exercised absolute control, removing officers from their post frequently and at will.

Bosch writes about the paramilitary group “La banda” (the gang); the assault on a group of leftists in a cave on the highway to Caucedo; the never-ending power struggle between General Perez y Perez and General Neit Nivar Seijas and the political ambitions of the latter; the failed plot to overthrow the Balaguer government carried out by General Elías Wessin y Wessin; the mass resignation of the Armed Forces hierarchy and Balaguer’s subsequent reaction are just some of the topics covered in this unique book.

Four long chapters are dedicated to Francisco Alberto Caamaño’s expedition when he and a small group of anti-Balaguer rebels landed on Playa Caracol. The author criticizes the Dominican military as well as the expedition members for errors committed on both sides.

The Dominican Cultural Foundation is presided over by Bernardo Vega.