Sorting through a thousand words
Latin American PoliticsArchive for September, 2008
The Continuing deterioration of US-LA ties
The current ties between Latin American and US continue to thin. The US may be a major trade partner and main contributor of aid, however it cannot be denied that many Latin American leftist side with anti-US sentiments. These sentiments mostly rising from Venezuelan President Chavez, who is known for his vulgar comments towards the US, or shall I say US politics.
A BBC article covered the newest game being played between Venezuela, Bolivia, and the US. Bolivia made the first move by dismissing the US ambassador there because the US “has been siding with a violent opposition movement in the east of Bolivia, where groups are demanding greater autonomy and a bigger share of gas export revenues.” To support his friend, Chavez then followed his lead by dismissing the US ambassador of Venezuela, and told the US ambassador to “Go to hell [a]100 times.”
As expected the US fired back in two ways. First, Washington expelled the ambassadors of Bolivia and Venezuela; and second, froze the assets of three men who help Chavez. Washington froze the assets of Chavez’s aids because they are allegedly associated with the FARC. Washington also said that there is no substance to Bolivia’s claim. BBC stated that the US Treasury claimed the following:
“All three had “armed, abetted and funded the Farc, even as it terrorised and kidnapped innocents”, according to a statement from the US Treasury referring to the left-wing rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc).
“Analysts say the trio – Hugo Armando Carvajal Barrios, Henry de Jesus Rangel Silva and Ramon Rodriguez Chacin – are members of Mr Chavez’s inner circle.
“Mr Carvajal Barrios is a military intelligence director who has protected Farc drug shipments from seizure, claimed the US statement.”
“Mr Rangel Silva is another intelligence chief who had pushed for greater co-operation between Venezuela and the Farc, the US Treasury alleged”
“And Mr Rodriguez Chacin, who until Monday was Venezuela’s justice minister, is Caracas’ main “weapons contact” for the Farc, the statement charged.”
An interesting factor that will just intensify the situation is the Russian bomber planes doing military exercises in Venezuela.
Honduras also plays a minor role in this controversy. Honduras denied the credentials of a US ambassador however, Honduran President Manuel Zelaya stated that,
“We are not breaking relations with the United States. We only are [doing this] is solidarity with Morales, who has denounced the meddling of the United States in Bolivia’s internal affairs.”
My intake on the situation is how much longer will these games continue before something violent erupts. The thread (relations) is wearing thin. It is a bunch of he said/ she said. I will not deny that the US does not know how to handle diplomatic relations with Latin America, nor does US-LA relations history allow for the US to cry blasphemy. The US has been known to support terrorist groups and dictators in Latin American and else where.
Palin spells trouble
Although this is quite off track from what I usually write about, I felt compelled to touch upon this subject. I cannot begin to explain the distaste I have for the republican party. It was disturbing enough to have the oldest man on earth–who craves war– run for president; but he choose a religious fanatic who is all about restricting rights.
The NY Times covered last week and article on Palin stating that she allegedly tried to ban some books in her local library because “they were somehow morally or socially objectionable to her,” said a democrat who attended Ms. Palin’s meeting on the matter. The article then goes on to say that Palin fired the librarian who refused censorship. Palin’s only comment to “banning books were rhetorical.”
Another disturbing piece of information is that “Ms. Palin also upended the town’s traditional ways with a surprise edict: No employee was to talk to the news media without her permission.”
Republican ideology and religious faith
This is my Take:
It infuriates me that a women like this could become vice president. People were worried about Hilary Clinton representing women look at this women! She represents oppression and censorship! She is stated to be a ideologist (republican) and very religious. To me that equals chaos. As a women I will be ashamed to have her represent women, especially in politics. The republican election will not only signal a continuing step backwards for the United States but for women as well.
