Sunday, June 05, 2005
nemesis - the U.S. government
Latin American Liberals Condemn U.S. Involvement in Suppressing Leftist Movements - By Vanessa Arrington Associated Press Writer - Published: Jun 4, 2005.
HAVANA (AP) - Hundreds of intellectuals and politicians from Latin America's left gathered for an anti-terror conference in Cuba, but they never talked about al-Qaida, focusing instead on their own shared nemesis - the U.S. government.
For decades, participants said, the United States was behind efforts to suppress leftist movements in Latin America, from the backing of the region's violent, right-wing military dictatorships in the 1970s and 1980s to current meddling in the politics of liberal-led countries...
...Among the speakers were the ex-Salvadoran guerrilla leader Shafick Handal, former Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and Venezuelan Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel...
...The case has provoked outrage in the region, where some accuse the administration of President Bush of hypocrisy in its war on terrorism...
The Republic of Nicaragua v. The United States of America was a case heard by the International Court of Justice in which it was alleged that the United States had violated international law by supporting Contra guerrillas in their war against the Nicaraguan government and by mining Nicaragua's harbors. The Court ruled in Nicaragua's favor, but the United States refused to abide by the Court's decision, even though it was obligated to do so under international law. After the Court's decision, the United States withdrew its declaration accepting the Court's compulsory jurisdiction.
I remember the Contra "Freedom Fighters" we were bankrolling to fight against Daniel Ortega's Sandanistas. I thought, and still think, we need to change our foreign policy of telling other countries what to to do - and when they refuse to follow our dictates, we support the anti-whatever groups to bring down their governments. Especially, now, we really should butt out. We have too much on our plate, as it is, and our country needs a breathing space to regroup and renew.
HAVANA (AP) - Hundreds of intellectuals and politicians from Latin America's left gathered for an anti-terror conference in Cuba, but they never talked about al-Qaida, focusing instead on their own shared nemesis - the U.S. government.
For decades, participants said, the United States was behind efforts to suppress leftist movements in Latin America, from the backing of the region's violent, right-wing military dictatorships in the 1970s and 1980s to current meddling in the politics of liberal-led countries...
...Among the speakers were the ex-Salvadoran guerrilla leader Shafick Handal, former Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and Venezuelan Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel...
...The case has provoked outrage in the region, where some accuse the administration of President Bush of hypocrisy in its war on terrorism...
The Republic of Nicaragua v. The United States of America was a case heard by the International Court of Justice in which it was alleged that the United States had violated international law by supporting Contra guerrillas in their war against the Nicaraguan government and by mining Nicaragua's harbors. The Court ruled in Nicaragua's favor, but the United States refused to abide by the Court's decision, even though it was obligated to do so under international law. After the Court's decision, the United States withdrew its declaration accepting the Court's compulsory jurisdiction.
I remember the Contra "Freedom Fighters" we were bankrolling to fight against Daniel Ortega's Sandanistas. I thought, and still think, we need to change our foreign policy of telling other countries what to to do - and when they refuse to follow our dictates, we support the anti-whatever groups to bring down their governments. Especially, now, we really should butt out. We have too much on our plate, as it is, and our country needs a breathing space to regroup and renew.
