International Policy Council
Latin America: Press Review
by Anna Mahjar-Barducci http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/1465/latin-america-press-review
This week the press review focuses on anti-US sentiment and criticism against US military bases in Latin America. The review reports also a summary of Fidel Castro's open letter to US President Barack Obama, asking him to avoid the "imminent" nuclear war against Iran.
August 4, 2010Open Letter to Obama by Fidel Castro The Cuban leader Fidel Castro, for the first time addressing an open letter to US President Barack Obama, cited the current dangers threatening the world: the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, climate change, and the "imminent U.S.-Iran war which could unleash a nuclear war." The last topic is the main subject of hisrecent articles and reflections. "You should know that you have in your hands the ability to offer humanity the only real chance of peace […] I understand that I cannot expect it, nor would you give me a quick response. Think about it, consult with your experts, listen to opinions on the matter from your most powerful international allies and adversaries,". Castro then called upon Obama to find "solutions that do not lead us back to the apocalyptic situation. […] The world can be truly free of nuclear weapons as well as conventional ones. The worst of all variants will be nuclear war, which is now virtually inevitable. Avoid it!" Granma, Cuba Debate (Cuba) August 3, 2010 Costa Rica University Students Reject US Military Presence The Higher Council of the Costa Rican Students Federation expressed its rejection of the deployment of US Marines and ships in Costa Rican national territory, with the pretext of fighting drug trafficking. The presence of 7,000 soldiers, 46 war ships and more than 200 helicopters violates the National Constitution, and intimidates the citizenship, students said in a document published by Costa Rican digital newspaper El Pais Monday. The document regarded the US warlike deployment as unnecessary to fight drug trafficking. At the end of July, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez warned of the existence of aggressive plans against Venezuela by the US government using the Colombian government as its spearhead, and cited the deployment of forces in Costa Rica as one example of the warlike actions. Inside Costa Rica (Costa Rica) August 3, 2010Evo Morales: "There were no coups there [in the US] because there is no US embassy in the US"; "Do not abandon the fight against the empires." "In South America, US embassies were behind coups. There were no coups there [in the US] because there is no US embassy in the US", said Bolivian President Evo Morales in a meeting organized by the Argentinean Universities of Cuyo and San Juan. On this occasion Morales received the distinction of Doctor Honoris Causa for being a "symbol for the fight of South American people". Morales then added: "Do not abandon the fight against the empires that want to damage the integration of our people". La Razon (Bolivia) July 2010Cartoon on US and Colombia
Alvaro Uribe is the President of Colombia Tele Sur (Venezuela) July 2010Cartoon "Boycott Israeli goods"
Tele Sur (Venezuela) July 30, 2010Chavez claims that US and Colombia have a plan to kill him "There is an agreement between Colombia and the US with two objectives: one is Mauricio and the other is to overthrow the government", President Chavez said, explaining that "Mauricio" is a pseudonym. "They will hunt 'Mauricio'down outside Caracas, this is very important, I repeat, this is very important". President Chavez revealed he received similar letters alerting him of dangerous threats. He claimed also to have received one right before the capture of more than 100 Colombian paramilitaries in the outskirts of Caracas that were part of an assassination plan against the Venezuelan head of state, and another in 2002, just days before the "coup d'etat". Correo del Orinoco (Venezuela) July 30, 2010 Evo Morales: US using anti-drug policy to justify military bases The President of Bolivia, Evo Morales, declared that the anti-drug policy supported by the United States has been used as a pretext to establish new military bases in Colombia. "The illegal drug trade is not only an economic and a social issue, but also a political one, which is being used to justify US military bases in Latin American nations, and also to put at risk the peace of the region", warned Morales. The Bolivian President explained that since the 1980s, when he was a union leader, "The United States tended to discredit union leaders, accusing them of being reds or communists in order to justify repression against them". Correo del Orinoco (Venezuela) Related Topics: Anna Mahjar-Barducci receive the latest by email: subscribe to the free gatestone institute mailing list Comment on this item |
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