Leopoldo Fortunato Galtieri

Galtieri gambled that his invasion of the Falkland Islands would pay off. The consequences for him and his junta, however, were disasterous.

Leopoldo Fortunato Galtieri (1926-2003) became president of Argentina in December, 1981, following a coup against Roberto Eduardo Viola.

As an anti-communist, Galtieri enjoyed support from the U.S. and received a warm, teddy-bear-cuddly reception by the Reagan administration on a visit to Washington earlier in 1981.

After inheriting a floundering economy, Galtieri introduced economic reforms as well as limited political reforms but to no avail. The economy continued to be weak, and democratic forces began to make their presense felt. After just four months in office, Galtieri was already feeling the heat.

As all good dictators at some point do, Galtieri cast about for something that would distract the populace's attention. He set his sights on the nearby Falkland Islands, a poorly defended British possession. Argentine forces took the island in April, 1982, and renamed it "Malvinas." This was a popular move among most Argentinians. Anti-Galtieri, pro-democracy demonstrations melted like butter before a hot knife, to be replaced by pro-Galtieri, nationalistic demonstrations.

Galtieri, however, underestimated British resolve in retaking the islands. Under the leadership of M. Thatcher, the islands were retaken after a two-month-long war.

Galtieri was deposed and eventually spent five years in prison for mismangement of the war. He was, however, cleared of human-rights charges relating to his involvement in Argentina's "dirty war" some years earlier.

He died of cancer in January, 2003.