Chavez proposes anti-US military alliance

[ComradeR]

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez has called on other Latin American and Caribbean countries to form a military alliance against the United States. The vehemently anti-US leader says Nicaragua, Bolivia, Cuba and Dominica should create one united force.
Mr Chavez, a long time critic of what he sees as US imperialism, made the comments after a summit of its leaders.
Despite constant US denials, Mr Chavez is convinced it poses a serious threat to South and Central America.
Venezuela's socialist leader has long been a critic of what he sees as US imperialism.
He has recently accused the country of trying to destabilise the region by forging stronger links with Colombia.
Mr Chavez has some key allies in his fight against capitalism, globalisation and the US.
Bolivia, Cuba, Nicaragua and now the Caribbean island of Dominica are all members of a trade alliance known as the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas, a group that takes its name from South America's independence leader, Simon Bolivar.
Mr Chavez has urged them to draw up a joint defence policy and create a united military force against US imperialism.
"If the US threatens one of us, it threatens all of us," he said, "we will respond as one."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7212457.stmI guarantee this has to do with his recent proposal for Latin American nations to pull their money out of US banks. So what do you think of it? I personally think this is a good idea as it would help deter any direct US "interventions".

[RNK]

I think most of South America is still under the sway of US capitalism. US companies have billions invested in South America, and most of the countries mentioned make a pretty penny because of it. I don't see anything of this sort happening until all of the peoples of those countries rise up and declare their intentions to do so.

[spartan]

I think that they should create a Latin American union, which could have a military cooperation and standardization (Of the respective member states militaries equipment) treaty organization (Similar to NATO).

Latin American countries who have a realistic chance of creating and joining such a group would be:
Bolivia
Cuba
Ecuador
Nicaragua
Venezuela
Whilst the EZLN in Mexico and FARC in Colombia could be funded and given support by the member states of this union.

I can just imagine it now, a Latin American central bank, military alliance and, with most of the states involved being, or wanting to become, Socialist, there will be no American Imperialist presence in sight!

Hell with the recent find of oil off their coast, Brazil wont need to be a lacky to American Imperialism anymore (Especially with a center-left President, Lula Da Silva who is friendly with Chavez, in office).

[Winter]

I think that they should create a Latin American union, which could have a military cooperation and standardization (Of the respective member states militaries equipment) treaty organization (Similar to NATO).

Latin American countries who have a realistic chance of creating and joining such a group would be:
Bolivia
Cuba
Ecuador
Nicaragua
Venezuela
Whilst FARC in Colombia could be funded and given support by the member states of this union.

I can just imagine it now, a Latin American central bank, military alliance and, with most of the states involved being, or wanting to become, Socialist, there will be no American presence in sight!

Hell with the recent find of oil off their coast, Brazil wont need to be a lacky to American Imperialism anymore (Especially with a center-left President, Lula Da Silva who is friendly with Chavez, in office).

Agreed. Oh, and if anyone here hasn't seen "The War on Democracy" yet, I highly reccomend googling it.

[Holden Caulfield]

have any other the other leaders responded in any way to this statement yet do we know?

i think that it is a brilliant idea, but wonder in what way it would be governed? obviously not like the european union as they are hardly united, would it be a meeting of heads of state every so often?

[R_P_A_S]

I think he should of waited till other countries joined in. He needs an other big country to join him like Brazil.

[TheDifferenceEngine]

Holding a bunch of Reeds up against a Sword.

[Gitfiddle Jim]

I think that they should create a Latin American union, which could have a military cooperation and standardization (Of the respective member states militaries equipment) treaty organization (Similar to NATO).

Latin American countries who have a realistic chance of creating and joining such a group would be:
Bolivia
Cuba
Ecuador
Nicaragua
Venezuela
Whilst FARC in Colombia could be funded and given support by the member states of this union.

I can just imagine it now, a Latin American central bank, military alliance and, with most of the states involved being, or wanting to become, Socialist, there will be no American presence in sight!

Hell with the recent find of oil off their coast, Brazil wont need to be a lacky to American Imperialism anymore (Especially with a center-left President, Lula Da Silva who is friendly with Chavez, in office).

I totally agree with this, but how would it be governed?


Agreed. Oh, and if anyone here hasn't seen "The War on Democracy" yet, I highly reccomend googling it.

The War on Democracy is a fantastic insight into the plight of socialism in Latin America, it really opened my eyes when I saw it.

[Sleeping Dog]

Something is lost is being lost in translation. President Bush is currently pushing for a "most whatever trader status" for Columbia - where labor Unionist are being murdered. South American nations avoiding entanglements with "Imperial United States financial entities" need to clean their own La Casas.

[spartan]

I totally agree with this, but how would it be governed?

Well for the military alliance, they could have one member states commander in chief be head of it for one year, and then the next year have a different member states commander in chief as head and keep on alternating between different member states commander in chiefs each year.

The same can be done with the political and economic union, but with member states heads of state as leaders (As oppossed to commander in chiefs).

This is roughly how NATO and the EU are governed respectively (Or at least thats what it says on paper).

[R_P_A_S]

the only way this could work is if other countries pledge their solidarity to ALBA. not necessarily military. but for example if the U.S. attacks any of the ALBA nations there should be a huge boycott against America and other governments should denounce the U.S. if they chose not to join the military alliance.

[R_P_A_S]

wasn't ecuador supposed to jump on too??

[ComradeR]

I totally agree with this, but how would it be governed?
Similer to NATO I would presume.

Holding a bunch of Reeds up against a Sword.
It is better then being divided. United they have strength in numbers, geography and resources.