Last month, the country of Bolivia kicked out the American ambassador, Philip Goldberg, because he was trying to interfere in the internal affairs of that country. The Bush administration was unhappy because the country had elected a leftist president who was taking steps to share the country's wealth with the poor indigenous people living there. That meant American corporations would get less of that wealth, and Bush couldn't have that.
Bush responded by kicking Bolivia's ambassador out of the United States, even though he had done nothing to harm this country. It was just to punish Bolivia for for standing up for itself. But Bolivia hasn't given in and turned the country back over to the greedy rich, so Bush is now threatening to take further action.
The Bush administration is now ready to suspend the trade benefits that Bolivia has with the United States. That move would cost as many as 20,000 jobs in Bolivia. But Bush doesn't care about the poor or the workers in Bolivia. He just wants Latin America to kiss America's butt and funnel it's wealth into American corporations.
The excuse Bush is using to suspend the trade benefits is that Bolivia won't cooperate with American drug agents or let them fly over Bolivian territory. That's a load of crap! Bolivia is trying hard to stop cocaine production, while allowing farmers to grow the coca leaf. The two are very different things, and the leaf is chewed in the country to stave off hunger, fatigue and altitude sickness.
Meanwhile, cocaine production grew by 27% last year in Columbia (more than five times as much as Bolivia), but Bush is trying to give Columbia even more trade benefits. That's because, in spite of the huge increase in cocaine production, Columbia's president will do whatever Bush wants, even if it hurts the ordinary citizens of Columbia.
It is time for the United States to back off and let the countries of Central and South America decide what is best for their citizens. Since we would never let those countries interfere in our internal affairs, why do we think we should have the right to interfere in theirs?
Once again Bush proves he doesn't really believe in democracy -- only corporate profits.
I came by to visit and noticed that you have my friend and comrade Leonard Peltier on your sight. I was his political mentor in prison.
ReplyDeleteHappy you dropped by. I also make regular visits to your excellent blog.
ReplyDeleteI doubt very many people would have recognized Peltier's picture. I have always felt he was done wrong.