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‘Ortega Has to Go’ (Nicaragua)
Wall Street Journal ^ | 4/24/2018 | Editorial Board

Posted on 04/25/2018 11:53:35 AM PDT by RightGeek

The U.S. Embassy in Managua removed all nonessential personnel and family members from Nicaragua on Monday after days of violent clashes between antigovernment protestors and dictator Daniel Ortega’s enforcers. The trouble may not be over.

Mr. Ortega is the Sandinista revolutionary who first came to power in 1979 with Soviet and Cuban backing. During more than a decade of rule, he and his comrades grabbed millions of dollars in private property and homes. This cleanup—known as “the piñata”—by self-described champions of the poor is a great lesson in socialism. Mr. Ortega agreed to an election in 1990, believing he could win. But international observers defended the vote, and the Sandinistas were ousted.

Unfortunately they kept control of the military, and in 1999 center-right President Arnoldo Aleman cut a deal with Mr. Ortega, who led the Sandinista Party. Mr. Aleman agreed to lower to 35% the threshold for victory in a first-round presidential election. In exchange, Mr. Ortega agreed to ensure that Mr. Aleman wouldn’t go to jail.

In 2006 Ortega squeaked into the presidency with 38% of the vote and immediately began to consolidate power with the help of Venezuela’s Hugo Chávez, who sent oil shipments on long-term credit. While Nicaragua’s debt was swelling, Mr. Ortega was selling the oil at market prices and racking up profits. He also took control of the country’s Supreme Court and electoral council. Much of the business community turned a blind eye to his power grab because they were invited to share the wealth.

Now the Venezuelan gusher has dried up and so has Mr. Ortega’s support. The protests began small after the government announced that it would cut old-age pensions and require larger contributions from workers. But after enforcers tried to quell the protests, thousands took to the streets.

(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: nicaragua; ortega
I always think of Daniel Ortega as the reason Hellfire missiles were invented.
1 posted on 04/25/2018 11:53:35 AM PDT by RightGeek
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To: RightGeek

The next big wave of “undocumented citizens”///S


2 posted on 04/25/2018 11:55:20 AM PDT by Lurkinanloomin (Natural Born Citizen Means Born Here of Citizen Parents__Know Islam, No Peace - No Islam, Know Peace)
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To: RightGeek

John Kerry’s buddy


3 posted on 04/25/2018 11:55:34 AM PDT by headstamp 2 (My "White Privilege" is my work ethic.)
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To: headstamp 2

4 posted on 04/25/2018 11:56:36 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: headstamp 2
John Kerry’s buddy

He was one of many Leftist doorknobs who supported him.

5 posted on 04/25/2018 12:01:07 PM PDT by windsorknot
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To: RightGeek

He’s been in power one way or another for almost 40 years. Just insane.


6 posted on 04/25/2018 12:04:50 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist (Democracy: The cliff's edge of Marxism)
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist
He’s been in power one way or another for almost 40 years.

Who does he think he is? Ted Kennedy?


7 posted on 04/25/2018 12:12:18 PM PDT by Buckeye McFrog
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To: Buckeye McFrog

Trump should tell the people to hang him. They just might do it. Rolling stone effect in other countries?


8 posted on 04/25/2018 12:13:49 PM PDT by DIRTYSECRET (urope. Why do they put up with this.)
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To: windsorknot

9 posted on 04/25/2018 12:16:15 PM PDT by OttawaFreeper ("If I had to go to war again, I'd bring lacrosse players" Conn Smythe)
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I hope he gets the Khaddafi/ceaucescu/Mussolini treatment.


10 posted on 04/25/2018 12:21:19 PM PDT by FLT-bird (..)
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To: RightGeek
Daniel Ortega aka Carlos Santana conversing with the hildebeast.


11 posted on 04/25/2018 12:51:36 PM PDT by plain talk
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To: RightGeek

Oh lovely. Time for another war in Central America. The last one gave us MS-13, and a CIA cocaine smuggling operation in Mena which gave us a “President Clinton”, and a few million guatemalans and Salvadorans with tattooed faces.

Wonder what we win this time!!?


12 posted on 04/25/2018 1:48:55 PM PDT by DesertRhino (Dog is man's best friend, and moslems hate dogs. Add that up. ....)
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To: DesertRhino

Ah Rhino - at it again I see. You need to find your tin foil hat sir.


13 posted on 04/25/2018 2:00:52 PM PDT by TheTimeOfMan (A time for peace and a time for war)
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To: RightGeek

“in 1999 center-right President Arnoldo Aleman cut a deal with Mr. Ortega”

Moron. Making a deal with the devil.

“who led the Sandinista Party. Mr. Aleman agreed to lower to 35% the threshold for victory in a first-round presidential election. In exchange, Mr. Ortega agreed to ensure that Mr. Aleman wouldn’t go to jail.”

Guess who went to jail 4 years later in 2003?


14 posted on 04/25/2018 2:11:52 PM PDT by lowbridge
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To: TheTimeOfMan

Blow it out your tailpipe. Cocaine and weapons were smuggled at Mena. Coke in, weapons out. It’s beyond doubt. The Clintons protecting that effort for Bush the first is what set him up to be elevated to the Presidency. Next, MS-13 flooded into America because of the war in El Salvador. Guatemalans flooded in.

The wars in the 80s in Central America did leave us a flood of refugees. The same happens in every war. WHoever we fight soon floods in. Somalis. Afghans, Iraqis, Syrians, etc.

Maybe you can tell me which part of that isn’t true sport.


15 posted on 04/25/2018 3:52:11 PM PDT by DesertRhino (Dog is man's best friend, and moslems hate dogs. Add that up. ....)
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