Andres Rodriguez

Andres Rodriguez was a General in Paraguay and the head of the military school. He was a powerful figure in the country, considered by some to be the second most powerful man after President Stroessner. Ari Ben-Menashe described him as a CIA agent who had an exclusive on importing American cigarettes to Paraguay.¹

Rodriguez had close connections with Gen. Rodolfo Stange of Chile and, Ben-Menashe wrote, received a retainer from Carlos Cardoen. He had presidential aspirations and was involved in a power struggle with President Stroessner. His daughter, Marta, was married to Stroessner's second son, who was a cocaine addict, leading to strife over the presidential candidacy.¹

Rodriguez orchestrated a coup d'état against President Stroessner in February 1989, with the support of the CIA. Earl Brian and Clair George visited Paraguay and met with Rodriguez prior to the coup. The closing of Cardoen's chemical plant in Paraguay was one of the issues that brought the power struggle to a head.¹

After the coup, Rodriguez became the President of Paraguay and continued to rule the country with the blessing of the U.S. government. He stepped down in August 1993 and died in 1997.¹