Shift to the left in Uruguay sets off alarm bell in the US

[Say_What]

<clips>

Shift to the left in Uruguay sets off alarm bell in the US

The inauguration on Tuesday of Uruguay's new president, Tabar Vázquez, looks on the surface at least like a jamboree for the leftwing interests that are growing in influence across Latin America.

Mr Vázquez, elected with a majority of just over 50 per cent last October, has already invited a number of former guerrilla fighters and hardline trade unionists into his cabinet.

On Tuesday he will welcome to Montevideo a string of leftwing leaders, ranging from Hugo Chávez, Venezuela's radical nationalist president, and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil to Felipe Pérez Roque, the Cuban foreign minister, and Evo Morales, the Bolivian coca growers' leader who is a particular bête noire for the US.

Fidel Castro, Cuba's president, would have been there but pulled out after doctors said the long air journey might delay recovery from his recent knee injury.

One of Mr Vázquez's first acts will be to re-establish diplomatic links with Cuba, broken in 2002 after his predecessor, Jorge Batlle, condemned its human rights record. On Wednesday morning Mr Chávez, the new star of the continent's anti-capitalist left, will hold a “mini-summit” with Mr Lula da Silva and Argentina's Néstor Kirchner, before addressing a rally in Montevideo.

http://news.ft.com/cms/s/152ba0d8-89c3-11d9-aa18-00000e2511c8.html

---

A link to a thread posted earlier with declassified background information about the US role in the 1971 elections and the US torturer, Dan Mitrione.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1270284&mesg_id=1271257&page=

[mutus_frutex]

1. I really doubt there is going to be any problems..

I mean, things are quite different now than they were in the 60's. Especially in the case of Uruguay, where even the urban guerrillas (MLN-Tupamaros) were pretty civilized.

What most people in Uruguay want is a socialist government in the style of the european countries. That is what we had functioning quite well during the first part of the 20th century. We pioneered that type of gvmnt.

It might swing a bit during the first couple of years, but it will settle..

Cheers.

[Say_What]

2. Probably right. However, Uncle Sam is losing is grip over LatAm

and that's what worries the Bushistas. That's why they're so anxious to take Chavez out. They view him and Fidel as the instigators and are carefully watching the others.

Six nations now considered leftist--Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Venezuela and Ecuador most since Bush was Selected.

[bvar22]

3. "sets off alarm bell in the US"

This news sets off my party bell!!
:party: :hippie:


What a concept!!!
Using a nation's resources to help the citizens of that nation obtain health care, education, and living wage employment.
Can you imagine if something like that caught on here???!!!

[Say_What]

4. How Latin America turned to the left

Bush the UNITER!! LOL :bounce:

<clips>

...Until 31 October, Uruguay could be counted upon as one of Washington's staunchest friends in the hemisphere. But then Mr Vazquez, an oncologist and former mayor of Montevideo, broke the traditional two-party mold of Uruguayan politics by leading the Frente Amplio (Broad Front) leftist coalition to an overwhelming election victory.

Today Washington's unqualified, 100 per cent loyal allies to the south of its border with Mexico are no more than one or two - El Salvador and Honduras certainly, but who else? Even Chile defied the superpower by refusing to support the 2003 invasion of Iraq, a slight not yet entirely forgotten in Washington.

Instead, a de facto centre-left bloc is emerging across the continent. Its members vary greatly from Chile, the economic poster-boy, to Washington's bugbear Venezuela. One thing, however, they have in common. They may not be necessarily opposed to the US on every issue, but they are no longer beholden to it.

Their drift away is testament to an historic failure of American foreign policy. In recent years the US approach to Latin America has been hopelessly distorted by its fixation with one modest-sized island 90 miles south of the Florida Keys. In economic and military terms Cuba is of little significance, but its symbolic importance has been vastly magnified by the attentions lavished upon it by Washington.

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=615703

[Toots]

5. "the new star of the continent's anti-capitalist left,"

This article is written as a propaganda piece. Because these newly elected Leaders wish to provide for the citizens of their country first before the huge corporations they are labeled as anti-capitalist. They like money as much as the next person they just spend it differently. They spend it on people not war machinery and extremely wealthy persons/Corporations.

[Yavin4]

6. Bush Can't Invade Everywhere All At Once. Can He?

American Imperialism is reaching its breaking point. Sure, you can put out the Saddam fire, but the Iran fire burns. Then you put out the Iran fire, and the South America fires burn. We cannot invade the world into our way of thinking and doing business.

Latin and South America is tired of one-side American economic and political deals. They're still largely mired in poverty after IMF loans, American military intervention, and other political and economic chaos. Hugo Chavez is quickly becoming my hero. He's going to use his nation's greatest resource to help his people have a prosperous future.

Face it folks, the sun is setting on the American empire.

[Coventina]

7. As Nelson Muntz would say....

HA HA!

[ElsewheresDaughter]

8. all i can say is everyone read: "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man" .....

by John Perkins....you MUST read this book PLEASE PLEASE?

[Say_What]

9. Photos from Uruguay

The US sent the U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao.


Supporters of Tabare Vazquez wave and shout Tuesday, March 1, 2005 in Montevideo, Uruguay as they wait for the inauguration of new Uruguay's President-elect Tabare Vazquez who will became Uruguay's first leftist president. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)


Cuba's Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque shake hands with wellwishers as he arrives at a hotel in MOntevideo, Uruguay, Tuesday, March 1, 2005. Perez Roque arrived in Uruguay to attend the inauguration of new Uruguay's President Tabare Vazquez, who will became Uruguay's first leftist president. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)


Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez waves as he arrives to his hotel in Montevideo, Uruguay, Tuesday, March 1, 2005. Chavez arrived in Uruguay to attend the inauguration of Tabare Vazquez as first feltist president of Uruguay. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)


Tabare Vazquez, left, is applauded by by Jase Mujica, center, President of the Congress, and vice president Rodolfo Nim Novoa after taking the oath as Uruguay's President Tuesday, March 1, 2005 at Congress building, Vazquez, former mayor of the capital took office as Uruguay's first leftist president. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)