Latin America: A Vigil of Suspense - (terror threats from South America growing)

A.I.M.ORG ^ | APRIL 6, 2005 | PAUL M. WEYRICH

[CHARLITE]

Americans are so busy keeping up with events in the Middle East that we do not realize how much things have been changing in our own "neighborhood." That would be a grave mistake on our part because – in the long run -- the Caribbean and South and Central America are as important to our national interest and even to our winning the War on Terrorism. A Latin America led by Cuba's Castro and Venezuela's Chavez and Brazil's Lula appears ready to plunge that continent back into the mayhem and socialism that made life there so miserable. Given that the three leaders have ties to terrorists or their national sponsors, terrorist groups well could find willing accomplices – the heads of national governments -- in our own backyard.

Only fifteen years ago it appeared that much of Latin America had turned away from the socialism and authoritarianism that had crippled the economies of many of its countries and the freedoms of their citizens. During the 1980s Nicaragua had been under Marxist control. El Salvador had been fighting a Marxist insurgency bankrolled by Cuba. Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay in fending off extremism on the left ended up settling for military-led regimes.

[Mount Athos]

The only places in South America that aren't going down the tubes are Chile and maybe Ecuador. And if I was running one of those two countries I would be on alert. Who knows what maniacs Chavez will fund next.

[ndt]

"The only places in South America that aren't going down the tubes are Chile and maybe Ecuador."

Well I'm sitting in a coffee shop in the mountains in Argentina right now and all looks well from here, a little cold and rainy but not smelling like it's going down the tubes.

There are pretty frequent demonstrations in Buenos Aires from los piqueteros which look a heck of a lot like what you see in Berkeley, loud, unruly but most people (at least the ones I know) just seem to regard them as a nuance, not a political force. I doubt you are going to see that amount to much of anything.

Yes, the general population (again, yes, from my perspective) does lean more socialist politically, but in the style of Europe, not Cuba. I would hardly consider that a threat to the U.S.

[bert]

How about Peru? Is it not off the critical list and improving?

[ndt]

"How about Peru? Is it not off the critical list and improving?"

Actually now that you mention it, I would be more concerned with a resurgence of the Sendero Luminoso or related groups in Peru (add Bolivia to that list too) then Brazil being a "little lefty". There are still eruptions of violent activity in the mountains. Having seen the area where the S.L. pulled their "troops" from, the reason communism sounds like a good idea to the people is pretty easy to see, education, poverty and neglect. When you have nothing any change seems like a good idea.

[bert]

.....There are still eruptions of violent activity in the mountains.....

I can understand this concern, but to give credit where it might be due, has not the business and economic climate improved? I am also under the impression that the Peruvian political climate has moved away from the elitist control that plagues most od South America?

I don't know these impressions to be fact, but there seems to be some of what I think of aas progress.

[ndt]

"I am also under the impression that the Peruvian political climate has moved away from the elitist control that plagues most od South America? "

I was just giving you my personal impression, I'm not anything like an insider and I haven't been to Peru since Fujimori left office. They aren't currently suffering the 1000% inflation and daily attacks on infrastructure like they were before Fujimori and despite the fact that hes a wanted man now, from what I have read, his policies were responsible for pulling Peru out of it's tail spin and his crack down in the S.L. *mostly* squashed the rebellion.

The big stain on his presidency is a common one. Once you are given (or have taken) extraordinary powers to handle an extraordinary situation, what do you do with those powers when the situation is resolved? The correct answer is give them back. The common answer is turn them against your political rivals.

On the whole I would say Peru was better off when he left than when he came. Had he just stepped down a little earlier, he would be remembered differently.

If I'm not mistaken, current president Toledo's approval rating is somewhere in the single digits but I really haven't kept up with the ins and outs of what he is doing.