The history of Argentina, like that of all countries, isn't only rainbows and roses. There are periods that are hard to accept and difficult to understand. The Dirty War, Guerra Sucia in Spanish, is one such time. For 7 years, from 1976 to 1983, a military junta ruled Argentina and ran a ruthless campaign against all potential opponents. Suspected adversaries were arrested at all hours of the day and pulled from their beds at all hours of the night. They were taken to secret jails where they were tortured and often killed. Those detained didn't get a trial let alone a phone call. Government dissenters simply vanished. More than 10,000 Argentines disappeared during the Dirty War. They are known as los desaparecidos.