Latin American instability - the role of US involvement

[stick person]

This question is for those living in South America. There is rather evidently an increase in internal instability in several Latin American nations. What do you think is the effect of US involvement? What would the ideal US reaction be? (Other than the US having its own revolution and bugging out of everyone else's problems--let's assume that won't happen for a while and we have to deal with what we have.)

[Borincano]

I'm Puero Rican, and USA involvement on our island has shaped everything for the last 104 yrs.

USA involvement has changed Latin American history, politics, economy, and society for over 150 years. The main reason for such instability in Latin America (South America, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Central America and México.) is because the USA sticks it's nose in our business. In Venezuela, it supports opposition leaders who don't want to comprimise with Communist Hugo Chávez. In 1994 México , the USA helped support a massacre in Chiapas. In Argentina now, the economy is collapsing, all because the USA gov't, World Bank, and IMF forced neo-liberal policies on the economy. In Perú now, the USA support the right-wing neo-liberalist, Alejandro Toledo, whose facing mass protests and riots against privatization. You see the full extent of USA involvement in Colombia, where both the army and the FARC have USA weapons...sounds like Afghanistan.

Theres been countless USA-backed coups and assassinations in Latin America, most famous was in 1973 in Chile, against Dr. Salvador Allende.

Latin Americans are tired of it, but it continues. There is no real democracy in any Latin American nation, where the people truly have a say in their gov't, and I think this will continue until we do. Everytime we try, there is a coup or assassinations. Therefore, something internally in the USA or a "Cuban Revolution" of a grand-scale would have to take place until things could truly change in Latin America.

[stick person]

Are you suggesting that what is needed is a unified Pan-Latin American revolution, with a unified system emerging? Bolivar would be proud, I'm sure, but is it feasible? I'd almost think it more likely to have a communist revolution in the US first. Is there much communication between current revolutionary groups? And most of the current revolutionary factions seem so riddled with corruption--how can one hope for a unified socialist government under such circumstances?

[Borincano]

stick person,

I never wrote that it will happen, but anything short of which won't bring out much change. Also, I don't think the 'Gran Colombia' would be reinstated, and I personally don't wish for it's return.

In more realistic terms, a United Latin American organization, like the European Union, set out for the well-being of it's constituents could allow prosperity in the region. Though, such an organization would have to be immune to the corrupt smell of money from the United States and the Creole elite.

The situation in Latin America is very difficukt and has been since Columbus embarked on his voyage. I truly don't know what's exactly needed and is feasible to prevent the USA gov't from sticking it's nose in our business and/or crushing the right-wing or working with them in Latin America. It's a paradox.

Do you have any suggestions?

[stick person]

Maybe a grass roots concerted effort at Latin American international cooperation. If the people don't do it, the governments will, and they will do it according to the dictates of the US government, for the benefit of corporations. Is there is any organization like that currently up and running?

[Borincano]

stick person,

Nope not really. Only small scattered socialist organizations. The most popular ones are the Zapatistas in México, who aren't concerned for political power, and the Sandinistas in Nicaragua, who still have major political power, minus the presidency, but are unlikey to come to that again. (The people are afraid of another USA funded Contras war.)

[stick person]

I know of the various national and state movements; I was really hoping you might have heard something new and universal. US meddling in Central America destroyed what could have been a unified resistance to the US--which is no doubt a big part of the reason that Reagan and Bush I went to such lengths to destroy the peasant movements in all the nations there.

Any information on what's going on in the Andes? Are there linkages?

[Borincano]

Well, there are connections to movements in the Andes. The Shinning Path (Sendero Luminoso) is making a return. A Marxist guerilla organization that lost support because of it's massacres against native Indians. It has connections with the FARC of Colombia, which has some training ground in Marxist Hugo Chávez's Venezuela. (Which he denies publicaly.) Though I don't really support any of these groups and their future is uncertain ever since they lost support amoung the peasants.

The only one that seems likely to succed at least for a short time is Hugo Chávez, (Who needs some tweeking.) who still has more supprot in his country than any opposition leader. Also, Venezuela's population is highly leftist, which was proven after Hugo Chávez's support fell from 80% to 30% just because his Marxist and Socialist coalition fell apart due to disagreements. It's obvious that 80% of the people there live in poverty, that they're all leftist, while the rest are not.

The again, as you wrote, the gov't of the USA have always been against any leftist mentality in Latin America. That is still evident after the failed April 11th coup against Hugo Chávez, which was supported by Bush II.

[stick person]

Sendero Luminoso is like a criminal uncle--you can't deny the relationship, but you'd prefer he not show up for family reunions. In its renewed form, does it show any signs of maybe being less like the Khmer Rouge and more like the FMLN?

I wish Chavez all the best, though I am not hopeful; the US is only going to get worse from now on until other nations unify against its hegemony.

(how do you get the diacriticals to appear? Do you cut and paste into the posting window?)

[Borincano]

I see Sendero Luminoso staying the way it already is. Continuing to be like the Khmer Rouge and loosing more support from the people, even in a time where the people are rising up against their right-wing gov't and privatization in Perú.

You are right about the USA and Chávez.


Quote: from stick person on 11:08 pm on Aug. 14, 2002

(how do you get the diacriticals to appear? Do you cut and paste into the posting window?)

What do you mean?

[stick person]

You can get accent marks as well as font treatments. Tell me what to do. I don't mind not being able to bold and italicize, but it is sort of embarassing not to spell Chavez correctly.

[Borincano]

sick person,

Oh, ok. I figured that was what you meant, lol.

Well to get bold, underline, and italic go here http://www.che-lives.com/cgi/community/mis...action=ikoncode (http://www.che-lives.com/cgi/community/misc.pl?action=ikoncode)

If you want to write in Spanish grammar do this. Go to the Computer icon on your desktop, then press on Control Panel, then Keyboard. Then a gray window will come up, select Language at the top of it. Then at properties pick United States - International. (You have to have English as one of the languages on your computer first. If not, just add Spanish. Though, if you have English first, don't pick Spanish, it will change many keys on your keyboard, lol.)

To make the accent marks under United States - International you'll have to first press the ' " key then the letter you to have the accent placed on it.

To make the ñ, you have to press the ~` key first, then the 'n.' *

To make ü, press the Shift key and the ' ", then the 'u.'

To have an upside down question mark, press the CTRL and ALT keys at the same time, then the question mark key. ¿

I don't know how to make the upside down ! mark. I go to http://www.freetranslation.com for that.

I hope this helped. :)

(Edited by Borincano at 1:52 am on Aug. 15, 2002)

[stick person]

Great! I'll try it. Thanks.

[Borincano]

stick person,

Did you try it? If so, did it work?

I found out how to make the upside down !

Press CTRL, ALT and ! at the same time. :)

[stick person]

*sigh*

No. Maybe if I download international English--if that is possible. Just having Spanish isn't helping at all. But at least I now know how to bold and italicize!

[Borincano]

stick person,

Well, at least you gained something. :)