Wishing that Uncle Sam would just leave Latin America alone
BoRev.NetNovember 6, 2008
Excerpt from report:
It's funny to watch all the DC "think tank" ding dongs say they want the next president to "pay more attention" to the region while the region is like, "no, really just stay the fuck out of our way, thanks."
(click here to view entire report)
posted by Justin Delacour | 2:14 PM
6 Comments:
We can hope but it's better to be prepared for more of the same, unless Obama isn't a corporate whore like every previous US president in the last 150 odd years.
Well, as I voted for the guy and worked hard for his victory, I have an special responsiblity to expose any and all efforts to attack democratic governments and movements in the Americas.
No, no, no--I will not go to sleep and remain silent.
I would like to believe that Obama's core instincts are better--but we will see.
The US establishment has imperialism in its DNA, and this has lead the way to incredible failure in the Americas.
In the long run, it does matter how actions are adjudged with respect to one's professed values. The vast area between the bally-hooed ideals of the US government and its real, anti-democratic actions definately provided an opening for Ortega, Evo, Chavez and others.
Obama's reputation will quickly deteriorate if he continues in the same cynical fashion.
If I am correct, Obama will keep one eye on how he is viewed globally, and another how he is viewed by the citizens of the US.
Why? Well, he surely has his eyes set on the world stage after he steps down from the presidency in 2016. Bank on it.
Can you name one single LAC government that has stated it wishes that the US would leave it alone (i.e. cut aid programs, or shut down trade agreements or travel agreements). Even Venezuela wouldn't dare say this.
It's one thing to spout anti-Yanqui rhetoric, and it may even be deserved sometimes. But it's quite another to to disengage and cut ties.
Can you name one single LAC government that has stated it wishes that the US would leave it alone (i.e. cut aid programs, or shut down trade agreements or travel agreements). Even Venezuela wouldn't dare say this.
Actually, Venezuela balks at a number of so-called "aid programs" because USAID, the Office of Transition Initiatives and NED are known to fund the opposition. Bolivia obviously balks at a number of such programs as well, for similar reasons.
Now, if your point is that no Latin American country is calling for a cut-off of trade with the United States, we're not in disagreement. But I think you know quite well that, when people like me say that Latin America would be better off if Uncle Sam would leave the region alone, we're not talking about trade. We're saying that we would prefer that Uncle Sam (1) spare the region of his shitty neoliberal policy prescriptions and (2) stop interfering in the region's political affairs.
Miguel, you display your lack of intelligence with your comments.
Read a few critical, fact-based, studies on the goals and the means of distributing US 'aid', and then come back here.
The people of the Americas have suffered hugely at the hands of undemocratic, US-sponsored death squad dictatorships. The people of the Americas have my deep respect for picking themselves up and trying to salvage their dignity and their independence.
Like so many brain-washed rightwingers, you level of information and capacity to think critically has been retarded.
Justin, hope all is well and you keep this blog going. I am hopeful, but cautious. At least McCain didn't win. There is a huge amount of hopefulness being directed our way with the change in leadership. Let's hope that we really do get a more healthy path for all the Americas.
With the ecological disaster (not really talked about frankly) and all the problems we have in the world, we need a higher level of intellectual engagement.
Please, be as bold as you can; encourage your students to think critically. But play it safe when you must.
You know what to do. But never, never lose 'hope' that we can deal with our problems and make life better for ourselves as humans.
I think there are two critical areas in which the US Congress and Obama could "aid" Latin America while still staying hands off. 1) By shifting narcotics policy to a health issue we could help free Latin American nations of the tyranny of narcotraficantes and the corrupt officials that feed off of the US military aid that fights them. 2) Honestly dealing with the issue of US labor needs by not only developing a humane guest worker program but by supporting global labor standards that could accompany global environmental treaties.
This post reminds me of the Perkins book "Confessions of An Economic Hit Man" that contains a chapter called (I hope I get this right as I don't have the book here with me) "How Saddam Hussein Saved Hugo Chavez."
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home