Posted on 06/05/2014 11:12:24 AM PDT by Impala64ssa
For years, the conglomerate paid off Colombian militias. So it’s no wonder the company is now furiously lobbying to stop a bill that would make it easier to sue terror financiers. Washington makes for strange alliances—and even stranger enemies. But this could wind up being the oddest confrontation of all. Chiquita, the world’s largest banana producer, is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to block a 9/11 victims’ bill. And outraged supporters of the legislation accuse a senior lawmaker, Rep. Bob Goodlatte, of working with the fruit kings to stand in their way.
According to Congressional lobbying disclosures, Chiquita has spent some $780,000 over the past year and a half lobbying against the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA), a bill conceived of and supported by a group of 9/11 victims and families to aid their claims against actors who supported the terrorist attacks.
The result is a stalled piece of terrorism legislation that shows the dizzying influence of a deeply pocketed corporation, and how its tremendous power is prevailing over the interests of the most sympathetic of little guys: 9/11 victims. And it illustrates how the influence of major fruit companies—such a core component of 20th-century American policy that they gave rise to the phrase “Banana Republics”—endures today.
“The path to justice for me and the other 9/11 family members and survivors is being blocked by a banana company. I think Chiquita should mind their own bananas and let justice be served,” said Terry Strada, whose husband was killed in the terrorist attacks.
The major fruit supplier is not in any way connected with 9/11, but in 2007 it pleaded guilty to making over 100 payments to the United Self-Defense Forces, a right-wing paramilitary group designated by the United States as a terrorist organization.
(Excerpt) Read more at thedailybeast.com ...
As opposed to the left-wing terrorist organizations we now sponsor. I'm not sure I see much difference in most parts of the world.
The Constitution bars the enforcement of ex post facto law, which the trial lawyers have notoriously circumvented by introducing culpability through the civil courts.
Chiquita is by no means the only company opposing the proposed law. Virtually any corporation which does business in a country which has payment to corrupt officials or soon-to-be corrupt officials in revolutionary or paramilitary groups as a cost of doing business is opposed to it: dozens of companies, who, because of the very smear job being attempted in this article against Chiquita refuse to be identified are lobbying against it.
Absent any provision which shields US companies from payments made because of extortion or coercion, all the legislation is going to do is abandon large parts of Central America and Africa to China, Inc.
And of course, US Leftists like those at the Daily Beast have no problem with that. You shouldn't be joining them.
Banana Boycott
Easier said than done considering the cartels now control Central and South America..........
Kinda like telling Carlo Gambino to F off, ya ain't gonna pay him.......
Only Dole for this guy!
Even without Schumer's bill, American lawyers are suing Chiquita for billions on behalf of 4000 victims of AUC, the group to which Chiquita's subsidiary paid $1.7m in extortion money. Colombians preying upon Colombians, and now they want to go after the American connection! No way does the case belong in US courts!
Chiquita just left Mississippi as their port of destination for their bananas and now unloads their fruit in New Orleans. Mississippi lost millions of dollars in revenue and this happened just last month.
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