Bolivia Withdraws from the School of the Americas
Dear Readers:Last week Bolivian President Evo Morales, responding to both Bolivian and international pleas to do so, announced that his country would no longer be sending its military officers to the controversial U.S. Army School of the Americas in Fort Benning Georgia. Bolivia's withdrawal is the fifth in the region and marks an important trend in U.S. Latin America relations.
The newest member of our Democracy Center team, Yi-Ching Hwang, is the author of this Blog post on Morales' announcement. Yi-Ching, an intern at the Center's Cochabamba office, is a former member of the U.S. Peace Corps – an organization that is the mirror opposite of the SOA in terms of the face that our country shows to the world.
Jim Shultz
Soldiers Out of Georgia
“We will gradually withdraw until there are no Bolivian officers attending the School of the Americas,” said Morales. Hesitant of U.S. government’s foreign policy, he remarked that “they are teaching high ranking officers to confront their own people, to identify social movements as their enemies.”
President Evo Morales formally announced last week in La Paz that he will not send any more Bolivian military officers to attend training at this US institute formally known as the School of the Americas (SOA).
This announcement confirmed a statement made by President Morales in October of last year when he said that “no foreigner in uniform will be operating here (in Bolivia),” and that he will stop sending Bolivian officers to the SOA. [Critics of President Morales will be quick to note, however, that uniformed Venezuelan soldiers have been a presence in Bolivia on different occasions.]
Bolivia is now the fifth country to end its relationship with the institute, following the lead of Argentina, Costa Rica, Uruguay and Venezuela.
Located in Fort Benning, Georgia, SOA is a U.S. taxpayer funded military training facility for Latin American soldiers. At a school where the Pentagon has acknowledged use of training manuals advocating coercive interrogation techniques and extrajudicial executions, more than 60,000 soldiers have been trained in counterinsurgency techniques, sniper training, commando and psychological warfare, and military intelligence, among other topics. In numerous documented incidents, SOA graduates have used their skills to instigate violence and war in their own countries against their own people. Responding to such a history and its associated public reaction, in 2001 Congress intervened by modifying the structure and curriculum of this military training school, and renaming it as Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC).
Nicknamed by its opponents in the US religious community as the “School for Assassins,” SOA/WHINSEC has historically evident ties to oppressive military regimes in Latin America, training dictators and brutal military leaders.
Most notably for Bolivians is Hugo Banzer Suárez, a cruel military dictator who ruled Bolivia from 1971-1978. Trained by SOA in 1956, Banzer was infamously known for his “Banzer Plan” which silenced outspoken church members. The plan was later used throughout Latin America as a blueprint for repression. Furthermore, Banzer sheltered Nazi war criminal Klaus Barbie and had various links to drug trafficking groups. For all his ‘accomplishments’ Banzer received SOA’s “hall of fame” recognition in 1988.
In more recent times during Bolivia’s Gas Wars of September - October 2003, two former SOA/WHINSEC graduates, arrested on charges of torture, murder, and violation of the constitution, were held responsible for the death of 67 civilians in El Alto, Bolivia.
According to the organization School of the Americas Watch (SOAW), some other notorious past SOA/WHINSEC graduates include the perpetrators of both the El Mozote massacre of 900 civilians in El Salvador and the assassination of that country's Archbishop, Oscar Romero.
President Morales’ decision to severe ties with SOA signifies a great triumph for victims and families wounded by SOA graduates, social movement leaders, and human rights activists of Bolivia and the rest of Latin America.
Written by Yi-Ching Hwang
posted by The Democracy Center at 1:53 PM
90 Comments:
As usual, a tiring mantra of a US facility to blame for the evils that happened to a woeful and innocent victim like Latin America.
Note to the intern: your mantra of "triumphs" for (selective) "human rights activists" and social (SS) movements is false and boring. Two more things of that institute Morales hates so much: the US taxpayers paid one of Morales' own ministers to attend it, and that brutal dictator you refer to, Hugo Banzer, was then democratically elected to become president of Bolivia. Don't let that detail leave your undergraduate little head.
Now that many law enforcement won't be able to attend an elite law enforcement institute, let's see who's going to have the training and discipline to protect the population when it is attacked by guerillas, narcotraffickers, or radical savages such as "social movements" who lynch people without remorse.
Remember a few months ago how a police commander didn't want to go back into a rioting Sucre and rather demanded guarantees for his and his mens' safety? Neither he nor his men attended the hateful "School of Americas."
The Croats are Morales' Jews.
Beni is Morales' Katrina.
"There you go again"
Why continue to lie and mislead? Is it because you want to draw attention away from the fact that we are starting to see the fruits from the culture of violence that Evo instigated?
Bolivia withdrew from "Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation." SoA has not been in existance for years.
This statement is similar to a previous post where you guys tried to imply that sharpshooters were brought in by the WB/IMF to shoot at people during November.
Seriously, have you got no shame? There's no need to lie, mislead, or distract. One would think that if your mission is so noble, you would not need to play dirty.
Don't we have enough of "let's blame it on the gringos and the SOA"? According to the demagogues who are politically responsible for over 30 criminal murders in Bolivia since Evo Morales, the US should be made liable for every Bolivian government mistake, and for any natural distaster. If it rains and floods, it is the Americans, and if there's a drought, blame it on the State Department. If the corrupt and mismanaged economic policy generates two digit inflation, blame it on the descendants of croats of Santa Cruz. If the Cochabamba "water war" only resulted in less and more expensive water for the poorest to be bought in truckloads at huge prices, blame it on Bechtel. The dishonesty and arrogance of Jim Schultz and his narco-friends should not be tolerated.
I am beginning to not be able to distinguish the false simili katrina = beni commenter from Bolivia Libre. Nonetheless, Yes Banzer was elected democractically and then presided over the worst escalation of violence against cocaleros in the 1990s.
Anon 4:32
I think you meant to say that Banzer presided over the worst escalation of violence against COCAINE MANUFACTURERS in the 1990s.
Also we must not forget the dozens of conscripts that were brutally tortured and murdered in the Chapare region. All the while their union refused any sort of census, study, or vocational training.
Bad start Yi-Ching.. your post is full of lies...
Furthermore, Banzer sheltered Nazi war criminal Klaus Barbie and had various links to drug trafficking groups.
OMG, the hypocrisy in this post is so hilarious.
Anon 4:32
Katrina = Beni is actually Frank_IBC.
I'd be willing to wage a few pretty pennies on it, or up Frankie's stakes. Two pique enteros, the Taquina Export & 5 or 6 Huaris.
Oh, and a bottle of Havana Club (no offence intended ;-) ) to take us into the small hours...
Now, let's sit down & you tell us all what's got you so worked up, you lost the plot Frankie Boy, lost it bad...
This blog is more disconnected with reality with each post. I first read it to become informed, then I read out of amusement, now it is just sad. Perhaps when community justice is what is killing police officers, there is more to worry about than attendence at some conference.
Bert
And related to that, the quality of Jim's shills in the comments is deteriorating at a similar rate.
Jim, you seem to be very successful at atracting these neocon-wannabes to your blog. If it pisses them off, it means you are on the right track. It's amusing to see them go off. Keep up the good work Jim and Yi-Ching Hwang, as you can see, the ignorants will attack anything they are afraid of.
Hey ignorants, if you disagree, go away!
Good job Democracy Center! keep it up!
James H.
Los Angeles, Ca.
Oh James, I'm probably to left of you, but I do have a beef with a foreigner going to MY country, ignorant of its cultures and history and then try to demonize one side while completely ignoring the savage tactics that Evo has used throughout his political career. Now, since you are sooooo informed about Bolivia, please do tell us what we are ignorant about?
Do we lie when we say that natives have practiced cannibalism against the mestizos in Bolivia?
Do we lie when we say that Evo has killed dozens of poor conscrpts?
Do we lie when we say that Evo has called for the destruction of media outlets?
Do we lie when we say that the MAS CPE creates a two tier society with a group having special rights that superseed the rights of others?
Are we ignorant when we say that Cocha's water supply is now more precarious than what it was under Becthtel?
Do you think all those images of beatings, lynchings of other human beings are made up? I sure don't approve of the UJC throwing rocks at MAS supporters, but it is apalling that Jim is quiet, when three cops are savagely murdered in the Chapare, when all of Beni is underwater and Evo does NOTHING!
May be you are IGNORANT to the fact that ministers of Evo have received training at the school of the americas.
May be you are IGNORANT to the fact that Evo drafted many laws, only to send his supporters to their death in protest against these very same laws.
May be you are IGNORANT to the fact that many of Evo supporters have no choice, lest they loose the little they have to their Union.
I could go on and on and list hundreds of facts that Jim conveniently ignores.
But what the hell do I know...I've was only born in Bolivia, lived here all my life, have worked for years trying to help the poor, only to see the likes of Jim and Evo promise a better world where you don't need to work or don't need to do anything other than chew coca leaves, produce cocaine and tax oil companies.
I'm sure you in LA have a much better perspective of what is going on in MY COUNTRY.
Gringo go home.
Why don't you close the torture dungeons in Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib before you come here and try to teach us about Democracy. Typical gringo, thinking he's superior to us brown people and knows better....
http://angelcaido666x.blogspot.com/2008/02/el-mas-no-quiere-democracia.html
Jajaja, English, Say no to the New Socialist Constitution against the Democracy of Bolivia
http://ricardogarciatellez.blogspot.com/2008/02/no-la-constitucion-del-mas.html
Wow, could the double standards be any more blatant? Just like the DC staffer who wrote glowingly about the solidarity from Castro and Chavez at a rally in Cocalero country while she passed around a petition to stop the School of the Americas.
So its bad to send officers to what basically amounts to staff officers school, in a long running democracy. Evo's government can get close to the longest running dictatorship in Latin America, and the corrupt Venezuelan military can send intelligence officers to Bolivia with 1 million dollars in suitcases.
Most notably for Bolivians is Hugo Banzer Suárez, a cruel military dictator who ruled Bolivia from 1971-1978. Trained by SOA in 1956,
1956 to 1971, wow, that nasty training sure stuck with him.
Furthermore, Banzer sheltered Nazi war criminal Klaus Barbie
For a research center, which gets quoted by media, the Democracy Center sure doesn't show much knowledge of basic Bolivian history. Klaus Barbie served as an advisor of some sort to every Bolivian government since the MNR in the 1950's
and that makes it more palatable? as does calling SOA a "staff officers school"? read up a little, do some research boli. these people aren't effin teaching our officers how to plant trees. mira a Manfred do you think he expected to wind up a "staff officer" after visiting this establishment.
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funny how the longest running democracy exports military training and the longest running dictatorship exports doctors.
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Anon 4:32,
First of all, an elementary grammar lessong: the correct way to spell your "simili" is "simile."
Furthermore, your understanding of a simile is incorrect. According to "The Business Writer's Handbook," similes are "direct comparisons of two essentially unlike things, linking them with the word like or as."
Hint: try looking up the meaning of "metaphor" for the correct meaning of the figure of speech from the itch you can't scratch:
The Croats are Morales' Jews.
Beni is Morales' Katrina.
;-)
So if the SOA is so bad, how come Evo isn't withdrawing ALL Bolivian personnel IMMEDIATELY, instead of taking his sweet time?
More hypocrisy...
The neonzis comments from the sold out are like puppie dogs barking to show their true colors, or trying to collect their paychecks.
Banzer a democrat?
Manfred a democrat?
School of the Americas does not exist? Just a name change, that's all.
Most definetly you guys need to go back to school and learn history. Just don't go to schools taught by miami cubans. It is a tragedy that your parents wasted money sending you to the USA. You were partying and enjoying rather than learning. Well you don't care afterall all that money came from the blood of the bolivian poor people, who got butchered by your previous governments.
That is your real problem, you can't conceive that your freedom to steal, to rob the Bolivian resources is being limited by the Evo Morales government. Justice will come and you will end up in jail or like Banzer and Manfred who lost their own tragically due to Divine Justice.
So chill and stop barking lies that only ignorant idiots like you believe.
People like Jim are doing a good service to our country by providing facts, and the voice of the voiceless. At least the facts of the articles from the Democracy Center are based on research and are more factual than the biased lies written by Boli Nica, bolivia-libre, and other "gusanos" and Goni lovers.
Another idiot who doesn't understand basic economics, and thinks that all wealth is "stolen" from the "poor".
To Ano 9:59.
Somebody "defintely" (sic) flunked "Grammar" and "Reading and Comprehension" Courses.
Rather than articulate intelligent and coherent answers to support their arguments, the geniuses of the types of Ano 9:59 resort to simply categorize those who eloquently disagree with them as "neonzis" (sic) and "like puppie (sic) dogs." Take note, Anon 4:32. That last one is a simile.
(pause for laugther)
The Croats are Morales' Jews
Beni is Morales' Katrina
By the way, after seeing how Morales' paid hordes violently impeded the opposition to enter the Legislative building:
The "social movements" are Morales' Schutzstaffel (SS)
ok anon 9:59... If were to tell you that a "massage parlor" used to operate where the Democracy Center offices are located, would that then mean that it's all just a name change, that the same shennanigans are going on? Of course not, SoA is closed, a new institution is simply using the same facilities.
Banzer became a democrat, don't forget that even though he won the popular vote in an election and popular opinion was behind him, he chose to make a peaceful alliance with rivals for the betterment of the country.
I find it funny, that a so called progressive believes he owns the truth and his version of events is THE only true one, but this type of behaivior is typical of communist.
Jim articles only offer half-truths at best. He does denounce the racial attacks by the UJC, but he ALWAYS looks the other way when we have senators attacked by dynamite throwing miners, or there are lynchings, and the like. For christ's sake, EVO starts and ends ALL of his speeches in the chapare calling for ethnic cleansing. WTF is going on here, how can you support that? How can you be in favor of a CPE that does not believe all men are created equal, a CPE where the only power rests in the hands of unelected union leaders, a CPE where urban mestizos have no real representation, and chapare cocaine growers can vote dozens of times and are represented in several ways.
Now please don't be a fool and buy into the whole rethoric of the MAS that the natives are a 'superior moral race' and are not capable of corruption. This governmnet is fullfilling a promise of giving a catreda, but too bad it is in stealing from the poor.
I would recommend that you go to Bolivia and see that the people who are truly trying to give a voice to the voiceless are being attacked by Evo.
now speaking of the SS, Klaus Barbie...I find it surprising that NOBODY has denounced the anti-semetic stance of this government.
On the last International Book Fair, it was really disgusting the anti-semetic pamphlets (printed in venezuela) being distributed by the government.
Jim, do you also believe on the Protocols of Zion? on the global Jew conspiracy? Being silent on this matter means that you approve.
Further proof of the way Morales, He-of-the-Culture-of-Life-and-of-the-Bad-Haircut, wants to impose his "democracy" on all of us.
His Storm Troopers beating up female opposition members and an indigenous person with cojones as large as Morales' ego.
http://www.la-razon.com/versiones/20080229_006197/nota_249_556448.htm
http://pezfumador.wordpress.com/2008/02/27/juan-choque-y-el-nuevo-concepto-del-mas-sobre-el-pensar-diferente/
Something the intern and anybody who romanticizes Morales should digest.
The Croats are Morales' Jews
Beni is Morales' Katrina
The "social movements" are Morales' Schutzstaffel (SS)
Hey Gusanos:
Banzer won not even 20 % of the vote. Nobody except Evo Morales got 54% of the popular vote in Bolivian history. Hurts doesn’t it.
Banzer (1971-1978) killed, exiled, and tortured most of the opposition, just like the Pinochets of the world. Was he a communist? Or was he trained in Argentina and Escuela de las Americas?
If there is anyone who dislikes Jews it was his government and his supporters like you, who now are in Camba landia trying to break up from the Nation. It was him, whose secret police was headed by Klaus Barbie, a real Nazi, not like the Bolivian imitations; like the mummies who write comments here. Why do you have against Jim anyway? Do you dislike his last name?
You people defend mean, vicious dictators and think that it is right to do it. Yes it is right for the reactionary ultra right. Types like Rush Limbaugh who is so full of it.
Only a name change? They are operated and are run by the same people, so your comparison of massage parlor and Democracy Center is not even possible. Do I care if that place is open or not? Not really, it is just a symbol that some catholic priests have to close a center who trained Davisson who killed many Maryknoll priests in Central America. The truth is that there are so many of those types of institutions around the world that it does not make a difference. Where do you think you get your orders from? Fantasy land?
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funny how the longest running democracy exports military training and the longest running dictatorship exports doctors.
---------------------------------
Have you actually met these doctors?? I talked with many of these Cuban doctors who came to Cochabamba to do the free surgeries. They hate their government and feel imprisoned. I was shocked when they told me we "have it good in Bolivia" and they wouldn't mind staying if they could. As they all said in private to me "para que sirve que sea doctor si no puedo controlar mi carrera ni mi vida"
I had hope for Morales but I think it's beyond obvious that he is neither capable nor wise enough to unite and lead this country.
This can only end badly =(
What passes for "Healthcare" in Cuba
The whole Cuban doctor thing is just propaganda. Cubans are not even allowed access to them, only wealthy foreigner$$$ can go to them. The doctors know this, and hate themselves for it.
It might have been 20% of the vote, but he still won the popular vote. Now, you have no evidence that Banzer killed and tortured as many as you say he did. Most of that happened with the dictators that came after. Most notoriously under Garcia Mesa.
I would not get into the game of keeping score, because as we all are realizing, Evo is on pace to become the bloddiest dictator.
After what he pulled yesterday, he is a Dicator. He gave orders to the social movements not to let the oposition into the session and also gave orders for the police to stand by as his Mob savagely beat a congresswoman.
Soros, of course, could care less. He just wants enough stability so he can continue plundering Bolivia's silver. So that's where Jim comes in. He's a smokescreen to pacify the natives, let them believe that this is good going on. Distract people to the Billions and Billions of dollars he is taking from the country. sure Jim will talk about a pipeline burtsting. But would he say anything about the Pilcomayo? no, lest he offend he who paid the obsecene tuition for his kids at the most elite school in the country. God forbid Jim kids would associate themselves with the hoi polloi.
Coca no es cocaina
Coca no es cocaina
Coca es la hoja sagrada
Jallala Bolivia
Jallala Oruro
Soy de los cocanis
-Savia Andina
All the wealthy conservative assholes who post on this site and advoacte the unfettered neo-liberalism of the media luna and traditional political parties are advocating a dying ideology promulgated by the conservatives in the U.S. In other words, you are wannabe Republicans and it is pathetic. If unfettered capitalism is such brilliant idea, why are countries in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada prospering while the US experiences decline, depression, the highest incarceration rate in the world (even higher than those evil commies in China), violence, poor health standards vis-a-vis socialist democratic states, a growing dichotomy between rich and poor, etc, etc. The solution is to draw on the best aspects of capitalism while mitigating its worst aspects through government internvention. Such ideas are tested and true... the experiment in neo-liberalism has failed. Your anger and hatred are the dying gasps of discredited ideology. You are the islamic exremists of Bolivia. You hold on to your biased erroneous religion of neo-liberalism blindly and without question. It is a pity.
La Nina is the media luna's Katrina. Obviously these departments are not ready for autonomy as their only reaction to the flooding is to blame Morales, and the central government that they wish to destroy. What hypocritical and impotent whiners!
Coca no es cocaina
Coca no es cocaina
OK, then tell Evo to stop supporting the COCAINA growers of the Chapare.
If unfettered capitalism is such brilliant idea, why are countries in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada prospering while the US experiences decline, depression
You need to check your sources. Employment in the USA is significantly higher than in the welfare states of northwestern Europe and several of the other countries you mention. Also, you seem to be under the mistaken impression that Australia, New Zealand and Canada are not "neo-liberal". If anything, the economy of New Zealand is significantly less restricted than that of the USA.
Nice try anon 1:09
Nobody here is advocating unfettered capitalism. Bolivia has never experienced 'neo-liberalism.' It was cronny-capitalism.
Coca no es cocaina, but chapare coca is NOT traditional coca leaf. It's only use is to make cocaine.
Though I gotta commend you. Very nice try on using the Bush technique of if-you-don't-support-me-blindly-you-must-be-Al-Qaeda.
The world is not B&W...and I won't even take your last parragraph to its logical conclusion so as not to embarrass you.
Frank you can't grow cocaina. Sorry, it is a refined substance invented by a German. While initial refining does take place in the Chapare to the coca paste, or the second phase of coca base, you cannot fairly say that all farmers, or probably even a majority of farmers participate in the refining process. The final step of transforming coca base to cocaine hydrochloride, i.e. cocaina, is very complicated and usually takes place in Colombia, or in the back yards of the Santa Cruz elite. They profit exponentially more from the drug trade than farmers that make a few thousand bucks year at most off of growing coca leaf. Lest we forget there is a substantial percentage of the coca leaf production, which is directed to ends other than cocaine. It would be nice to further divert coca leaf out of the cocaine trade, by elminating its international prohibited status. While you can drink yourself into oblivion off Barcardi 151 and now even Absinthe in the US, I can't get a cup of coca tea outside of the Andean region because the UN equates the coca leaf with other drugs like heroine and cocaine. It is silly. I do not wish to underestimate the harmful effects of cocaine use, and we shouodl certain work to minimize the harm. And I am not saying that cocaine should be legalized, but the demonization of the coca leaf is another misguided neo-liberal policy that is well on its way to the dust bin of history. No true conservative worth his salt is in favor of the war on drugs. See William F. Buckley, Jr. writings on the subject for enlightenment in that regard.
I think I hit a nerve...
Beni is the media luna's New Orleans
The indigenous are to the media luna's what the jews were to nazi Germany.
Anon 1:44
I'm not sure about your claim on the embargo of the coca leaf. It is for sale at the El Alto airport, I have taken my box of coca tea at the Miami airport, shown it to the agent, and nothing happened, not even a form or special queue. A while back it was even on sale at e-bay.
Now, let's not be missleading, most of the recent refining labs have been found in the El Alto and I am not aware of any busts in the yard of some elite. I am for the legalization of sweet mary jane, becuase as any californian worth their salt would tell you it is pretty harmless, but cocaine is whole different ballgame.
The west coast is the best coast.
Banzer was not elected in 1971. It was a coup. Enough said. Continue arguing pointlessly...
Sorry, but it's the same drug. The only difference is the dosage in the leaf is usually lower than that for the powder and it follows a different (less efficient) path to reach the brain.
Cocaine was not "invented" by the German (Friedrich Gaedcke), it was only ISOLATED. If there were no cocaine in coca leaf, there would be no reason to chew it.
Sorry Frank you are wrong again... The coca leaf contains many beneficial elements including protein, vitamin A and iron. As such it is ideal complement to a primarily vegetarian diet that many subsistence farmers have. Coca also contains properties which help oxygen assimilation in the blood, and other altitude sickness alleviating properties. Any one who has chewed coca in La Paz or had a cup of tea to alleviate a headache can attest to that.
It is confirmed. Frank_IBC works for the DEA.
Anon 2:57
Asbestos also has many beneficial propertities as does agent orange, lead, tabacco and alcohol.
You would agree with me that it is all in how it is used. There is a big difference between Yungas coca and Chapare coca. Big difference between having coca tea, doing an acullico, using cocaine, or smoking crack.
Now, I would be VERY careful on saying that it is an ideal compliment, since coca helps you ignore things that your body is begging you for such as rest and nourishment. May be you could help me answer a nagging question that I had: If coca had not made natives indolent to hunger, pain, and the misery of their reality, do you think we would be talking about 500yrs? Sometimes I think that if the Spanish had not violated the tradition of coca being sacred only to be used by a few and in special coca, may be the quechas and aymaras could have kicked them out in 50yrs.....
Wow, I never thought I would hear a person in 21st century state that coca caused the racial degeneration of the indians.
The acullico makes you forget that you are tired or hungry. So, sans coca, the boiling point would have been reached far more easily. Instead, you give the hungry, cold, tired indians a bit of coca and alcohol and they are ready to go back into the socavon.
Ano 1:09 said,
"If unfettered capitalism is such brilliant idea, why are countries in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada prospering while the US experiences decline, depression, the highest incarceration rate in the world (even higher than those evil commies in China), violence, poor health standards vis-a-vis socialist democratic states, a growing dichotomy between rich and poor, etc, etc."
Yawn.
I always say that the best way to answer the same boring mantra as the one stated above is by stating that the US is the world's largest recipient of immigrants, legal or illegal. Why do so many risk life and limb to enter a supposedly decadent and evil empire year after year?
(embarrassing silence)
Face it, capitalism works. That's why countless millions around the world are attracted to it. The most prosperous nations are those with the highest amount of economic freedom.
PS For what it's worth, I think that the War on Drugs is a failure, that coca isn't more special or sacred than a eucalyptus leaf, and that drugs should be legalized.
The Croats are Morales' Jews
Beni is Morales' Katrina
The "social movements" are Morales' Schutzstaffel (SS)
To anon 2:57 please list the beneficial consequences of human consumption of lead, asbestos and agent orange.
Well if nothing else Yi-Ching, you certainly got the conversation rolling. Like many of Jim’s interns though, you don’t seem to be particularly interested in fully researching your topic. I’m always amazed (though not surprised) that folks at the DC don’t look at what the opposition has to say in order to better counter it. In your particular case, you cited references 7 times. Once you cited the Democracy Center Blog, once you cited “The Nation” magazine online (congratulations – one valid ref), and FIVE times you cited the School of the Americas Watch. Yet not once do I get the impression that you actually went to the WHINSEC web site. If you had, you might have noted that you can now request to sit in on any class being held. You might have noted that Congress (which did not BTW rename the SOA; they withdrew funding) mandated that a Board of Visitors to provide external and independent oversight of the institute's operations. The board of visitors includes members of the U. S. Congress, academicians and representatives from the Department of State, the Department of Defense, religious and human rights groups and nongovernmental organizations.
Let’s look at some of you damaging evidence: You cite three SOA graduates that did bad things in Bolivia: Banzer, Gen Juan Veliz Herrera, Bolivia’s former Military Chief of Staff, and General Gonzalo Rocabado Mercado, Bolivia’s former Commander in Chief.
Banzer attended SOA 1956
Alleged crimes started 1971 (15 years later)
Gen. Juan Veliz Herrera: Attended the SOA “Small Unit Warfare” course 1970
Alleged crimes committed 2003 (33 years later) *
Gen. Gonzalo Rocabado Mercado: Attended the SOA “Small Unit Warfare” course 1969.
Alleged crimes committed 2003 (34 years later) *
*Convicted under Morales’ regime.
Now Yi-Ching, I don’t know where you happen to go to school, but do you suppose that over the course of the last 34 years, some graduates of your school might have done some bad things? The SOA no longer exists. It hasn’t existed for almost a decade. At most you’ve proven that some people who did bad things also happened to have attended a short course there at one time.
The SOA web site lists 19 notorious Bolivians who have attended courses there anywhere between 1956 and 1990.
GEN Hugo Banzer Suárez, 1956, Motor Officer Course
Luis Arce Gómez, 1958, Communications Officer, 1958, Tactical Officer, Radio Repair
GEN Mario Escobari Guerra, 1959, Engineer Officer Course
Carlos Fernandez Gonzalez, 1961, Military Intelligence
Freddy Lopez Arispe, 1962, Infantry Officer Course
GEN Guido Vildoso Calderon, 1962, Infantry Weapons and Tactics
Grover Bilbao Terrazas, 1967 Cadet Course
Isaac Chavarria Diez de Medina, 1968 Cadet Course; 1970 Officer Gen. Supply
CPT Carlos Helguero Larrea, 1970, Small Unit Warfare
CPT Tito Montaño Belzu, 1970, Small Unit Warfare
Ruben Dario Guzmán Hurtado, 1970, Small Unit Warfare
Vice-Admiral Alberto Saenz Klinsky, 1973, "O-4"
COL Avelino Rivero Parada, 1977, Joint Operations
Miguel Alvarez Delgado, 1977 Joint Operations
LTC Freddy Quiroga-Reque, 1980, Joint Operations Course
Pablo Oswaldo Justiniano Vaca, 1986, Comando y Estado Mayor
COL Rogelio Vargas, 1990, General Staff Officer Course
CPT Gonzalo Cuellar Justinio, 1990, General Staff Officer Course
Luis Caballero Tirado, 1990
Of those listed, nine to include Banzer, were members of the Garcia Meza regime (notably not an SOA grad). The average time since graduation until the 1980 coup was twelve and a half years!! Five of the remaining ten were drug traffickers. For the first four of them, the average time from school to crime… 23 and a half years. The exception was one individual who had already been trafficking in drugs for 11 years before attending an SOA course.
The point is that over a 52 year period the rabid SOAW web site only came up with 19 individuals to throw stones. Not a compelling case IMHO.
One last interesting note from the WHINSEC web site:
My school may attend the annual protest in Columbus. May we visit the institute at that time?
WHINSEC welcomes any of the protesters to an “open house” on the Saturday of that weekend. This is a special event, so please contact the Public Affairs Office to sign up. Look for information on this web site beginning in September or early October.
Ano 3:30
I never said capitalism didn't "work" whatever exactly that means. I am sure you could tell me, but in any event keep on those rose colored glasses as you watch the masses scurry about. At some point chuck the silver spoon, come down from the ivory tower and your might have an epiphany.
Anon 4:16, I've travelled to two dozen countries and five continents over the last 28 years; 1st, 2nd, and 3rd world. Now that leaves a lot of the world that I haven't seen yet, but from wehat I have seen, I will unconditionally pick the US over any other place. Lee Greenwood had it right!
This is for all of my Bolivian sisters and brothers...
Where is the Love?
By the Black Eyed Peas
What's wrong with the world, mama
People livin' like they ain't got no mamas
I think the whole world addicted to the drama
Only attracted to things that'll bring you trauma
Overseas, yeah, we try to stop terrorism
But we still got terrorists here livin'
In the USA, the big CIA
The Bloods and The Crips and the KKK
But if you only have love for your own race
Then you only leave space to discriminate
And to discriminate only generates hate
And when you hate then you're bound to get irate, yeah
Madness is what you demonstrate
And that's exactly how anger works and operates
Man, you gotta have love just to set it straight
Take control of your mind and meditate
Let your soul gravitate to the love, y'all, y'all
People killin', people dyin'
Children hurt and you hear them cryin'
Can you practice what you preach
And would you turn the other cheek
Father, Father, Father help us
Send some guidance from above
'Cause people got me, got me questionin'
Where is the love (Love)
Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love
The love, the love
It just ain't the same, always unchanged
New days are strange, is the world insane
If love and peace is so strong
Why are there pieces of love that don't belong
Nations droppin' bombs
Chemical gasses fillin' lungs of little ones
With ongoin' sufferin' as the youth die young
So ask yourself is the lovin' really gone
So I could ask myself really what is goin' wrong
In this world that we livin' in people keep on givin'
in
Makin' wrong decisions, only visions of them dividends
Not respectin' each other, deny thy brother
A war is goin' on but the reason's undercover
The truth is kept secret, it's swept under the rug
If you never know truth then you never know love
Where's the love, y'all, come on (I don't know)
Where's the truth, y'all, come on (I don't know)
Where's the love, y'all
People killin', people dyin'
Children hurt and you hear them cryin'
Can you practice what you preach
And would you turn the other cheek
Father, Father, Father help us
Send some guidance from above
'Cause people got me, got me questionin'
Where is the love (Love)
Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love
The love, the love
I feel the weight of the world on my shoulder
As I'm gettin' older, y'all, people gets colder
Most of us only care about money makin'
Selfishness got us followin' our wrong direction
Wrong information always shown by the media
Negative images is the main criteria
Infecting the young minds faster than bacteria
Kids wanna act like what they see in the cinema
Yo', whatever happened to the values of humanity
Whatever happened to the fairness in equality
Instead in spreading love we spreading animosity
Lack of understanding, leading lives away from unity
That's the reason why sometimes I'm feelin' under
That's the reason why sometimes I'm feelin' down
There's no wonder why sometimes I'm feelin' under
Gotta keep my faith alive till love is found
People killin', people dyin'
Children hurt and you hear them cryin'
Can you practice what you preach
And would you turn the other cheek
Father, Father, Father help us
Send some guidance from above
'Cause people got me, got me questionin'
Where is the love (Love)
Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love)
Where is the love (The love)
The coca leaf contains many beneficial elements including protein, vitamin A and iron.
I don't doubt that, but that's not the reason why the locals have their cheeks stuffed with the leaf.
Coca also contains properties which help oxygen assimilation in the blood, and other altitude sickness alleviating properties.
Yes, and that unique magical property is... drumroll... cocaine.
Any one who has chewed coca in La Paz or had a cup of tea to alleviate a headache can attest to that.
Having experienced sorojche myself, as well as the extremely effective local cure, I too can attest to the effects of... cocaine.
Keep the blinders on Frank...
http://www.cocamuseum.com/main.htm
From the website to which anonymous 6:53 p.m. links:
[The ]purpose [of the llijta] is to provide an alkaline medium to maximize the action of the alkaloids of the leaf.
A few minutes later, there is an intense anesthetic effect on the mucosa next to the bolus and also in the cheeks, throat and tongue. It is certain that the ingestion of the juice exerts an anesthetic effect on the lower intestinal tract and at the systemic level. This would explain the custom in Andean countries to chew coca leaves or take coca infusion to alleviate pain over a wide range: headaches, toothaches, intestinal cramps, etc. Its use is frequent as a dressing topically applied on the painful areas, for instance in the area of a broken bone or arthritis.
The absorption of alkaloids is rapid and the elimination of fatigue, a feeling of euphoria or antidepressant action is felt within 15 to 20 minutes, with the appearance of an increase of psychomotor action, a state of tension typical of alertness, there is an increase in activity or the desire to do something. Sensorial functions become more intense. The higher intellectual activities are faster, there is a slight feeling of consciousness expansion (which could explain its use during religious rituals). In the emotional area, the effect is stimulating, the individual feels euphoric, happy, optimistic, and willing to undertake action. Corporal needs, such as hunger, sleepiness, and restful are postponed by the energetic impulse of the time. The capacity and yield during work improve noticeably , although the study conducted by IBBA only reports that it increases work endurance.
The effect of chewing is strong at the start but it disappears progressively and it is necessary to increase the intake slowly to maintain the effect.
Sorry, but you're the one who needs to take the blinders off. Or are you going to try to convince me that the effects described are from "protein, Vitamin A, and iron"?
From the coca museum history of cocaine:
Long before, in 1859, Albert Niemann at the University of Gottingen had succeeded, in isolating this substance contained in the leaves brought in from the mountains of the Andes, the coca leaves. Its active component was cocaine...
I dunno Frank, you might be on shaky ground. Isn't isolating the substance contained in the leaves the same as inventing it? After all, didn't Wilhelm Roentgen invent X-rays?
Cocaine is the active ingredient and main stimulant drug found in the coca leaf. It was not invented and the process for "isolating" it to refined paste or powder is not complicated, it's complex; that is there are many steps involved, but it isn't hard to do. The greatest obstacle is that you need a LOT of coca leaf. It takes about 1,000 kgs of coca leaf to produce 1 kg of cocaine. Fortunately, Evo is bending over backwards to ensure that there is plenty of raw material.
And Newton invented gravity. :)
But seriously, if there were some sooper-seekrit ingredient in coca leaf (other than COCAINE), which is responsible for all these mystical attributes (those which cannot be attributed to COCAINE), don't you think it would have been stolen and patented by some enterprising drug company?
The effect of chewing is strong at the start but it disappears progressively and it is necessary to increase the intake slowly to maintain the effect.
I love the way that website dances around the tolerance/addiction issue.
Keep the blinders on Frank, like good governemnt agent... if you follow the link on the site that says, amazingly, "NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION" you might learn something.
By the way, there is no evidence that chewing coca is addictive.
Norman, thanks for addressing the theme of this thread. Not sure I get your point though. What’s the relevance of how much time elapses after SOA graduation until the crime is committed? Unless you’re arguing that what gets taught at a place like SOA invariably is forgotten after (say) 5 years I really don’t see the pertinence.
I learnt how to read balance sheets at Business School when I was 20, how to speak French at high school as a teenager, & how to read write & count several years before that, & still – many decades later - know how to do all these things. Should the SOA’s teaching be so significantly less memorable?
Personally I doubt it. Learning how to kill & torture, unsavoury though they may be, I can imagine do stay pretty well impressed on the student’s mind. Gotta be more memorable than calculus or the gerund declination in latin surely?
The 19 notorious Bolivians statistic is similarly misleading, if you’re implying it should be a criteria for measuring the impact of the SOA on the more shady events in Latin America. Maybe Bolivia didn’t train many but a total of 60.000 others in Latin America apparently did & that’s not a small number to my mind. Do bear in mind that your list of 19 were almost entirely Generals, Captains & Colonels. I’m not a military guy myself so taking a purely wild guess that those of such rank have on average say 1000 people under their command, that’s 60 million military personnel in Latin America operating under SOA-trained officials. Not bad for a little ole school in Dixie huh?
More to the point perhaps if (according to your own figures) more than 50% of the Bolivian SOA graduates later turn into golpistas & a further 25% into drug-traffickers, well that’s a pretty high-hit rate of “misdemeanours” that certainly my high-school can’t match. And we sure had our fair share of wild ones.
Actually, if the hit-rate for Bolivian graduates of the SOA is representative of other fine alumni of that egregious educational establishment, by my maths that would make a total of 30.000 golpistas & 15.000 narcotraficantes came out of the SOA. Enough to seriously worry the brow of both the DEA & Amnesty International – not to mention ordinary decent law-abiding citizens - I daresay.
Frankie between you & your alter-ego Katrina that sure is one heck of a lot of postings you done recently. What's keeping you going? Estas jalando!?!?!
OK, just to humor Anonymous, I viewed the article which claimed to compare the nutritional value of cocaine, er, coca, with various other foodstuffs:
FOODS USED FOR COMPARISON POURPOSES:
10 CEREALS
Amaranthus Caudatus, Oriza Sativa, Avena Sativa, Chenopodium Pallidicaule, Chenopodium Quinoa, Hordeum Vulgare, Sccale Cereale, Coix Lachrima Jobi, Zea Mays and Triticum Aesticum.
10 VEGETABLES:
Canna Edulis, Caapsicum spp., Allium Saticum, Arracacha Xanthorriza, Ipomoca Batatas, Cyclanthera Pedata, Cucurbita Maxima, Alliem Cepa; Brasica Oleracea and Tropacolum Tuberosum, and
10 FRUITS
Persea Americana, Ananas Cosmosus, Musa Sapientum, Cocos Nucifera, Passiflora Mollissima, Annona Cherimolia, Prunus Persica, Fregaria spp., Annona Muricata, and Ficus Carica.
Below this, there is a table listing various nutrients. (I can't recreate it exactly, due to Blogger's contstraints on HTML tags). The leftmost column lists the following nutrients, but has no title:
Calories
Proteins
Fats
Carbohydrates
Calcium (mg)
Phosphor (mg)
Iron (mg)
Vitamin A (iu)
Vitamin B1 (mg)
Vitamin PP (mg)
Vitamin C (mg)
Vitamin B2 (mg)
Immediately to the right of this, there is a column labeled "Cocaine", er, "Coca", with various numbers supposedly corresponding to the nutrients listed on the leftmost column.
However, to the right of this column, there is a mysterious column labeled "Nutrients", with numbers as with the "Cocaine", er, "Coca" column, but with no indication what relationship these number have to the nutrients in the "cocaine", er, "coca" column, and more importantly, there is no description of what ANY of these numbers have to do with the 10 cereals, 10 fruits, and 10 vegetables listed in the previous listing.
To say the least, the scientific analysis skills of the author of this website are seriously lacking.
Norman 3:51 pm
"GEN Guido Vildoso Calderon, 1962, Infantry Weapons and Tactics"
The most honorable Bolivian I have ever met. He saved our country from the ravages of Garcia Mesa. And he is far from being a "notorious Bolivian[s]".
I wonder if Evo's minister learned the tactic of filling the balcony with miners armed with dynamite sticks at the SoA....
C'mon Jim. We just had the lowest point in democratic history and you try to distract us with the SoA crap? What's next? another picture from Abu Ghraib?
What's going on? Democracy is dying in Bolivia and all you care is what's going on in Georgia. I could care less if the Devil went down to Georgia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rD78i6eoGkM
"...se me acerca el angelito k'alanchito
y me dice casi llorando palomitay
quizas me lo has traido pancito papacito
y me dice casi llorando palomitay
quizas me lo has traido pancito papacito"
To which Evo would say: "eat some coca leaf"
well actually, I don't think Evo has recognized any of his children, he might not even give them coca.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vB11Uc30Yw
you have to wait for it, but there is a priceless moment where Evo makes a "suegra" joke. que viva la nueva constitucion!!!
peace
http://telesurtv.net/secciones/noticias/nota/24913/evo-morales-promulgo-convocatoria-a-referendo-sobre-la-constitucion/
FSD International got some pull from California as Arnold let his wife give up the coordination of all volunteer activities in California, finally creating a cabinet position. His wife did allot for volunteers and it's nice to see Arnold finally giving all volunteer coordination to the State.
I assume the new member of your group was vetted fine during Peace Corps training; whether the training staff and program officers be Venezualian, Cuban or Bolivian and not involved with Bolivian intelligence. Post graduate jobs can be difficult, when the future income is threatened because of discrimination based on perceived future employment from host country nationals, whether they be Russian or Bolivian.
Wow, trying to get back to the main topic.
and that makes it more palatable? as does calling SOA a "staff officers school"? read up a little, do some research boli. these people aren't effin teaching our officers how to plant trees. mira a Manfred do you think he expected to wind up a "staff officer" after visiting this establishment.
LOL....what a bunch of shrill nonsense.
A little common sense please.
Army's from the dawn of time are all about knowing how to kill people and blow s$^t up. In the hundreds of years of the nation-state its about doing it well enough, so others don't come in kill you and blow your s*&t up, and when they do, you kill them.
So by its very nature, training ARMY people in the SOA/Whatevaucallitnow is about teaching how to kill and blow s$%t up. But you need to know other stuff in order to be able to do that. Like training your people, moving them people distances, feeding them, making sure stuff gets to them, talking with bosses, writing reports and giving snazzy briefings.
Well the US Army knows a thing or two about that. It has put millions in uniform since WWI, sent them to fight all over the World, in some of history's biggest conflicts. And the SOA was set up to train Latin American officers in these methods. The training, was similar to what US Army officers received in their advanced schools.
For the most part Banzer in the mid 50's probably learned how to train, supply, deploy, and command a company or battalion of men fighting the Germans in goddamn France in World War II.
How fighting the hypothetical Wehrmacht or Red Army helps launch a coup is beyond me.
“How fighting the hypothetical Wehrmacht or Red Army helps launch a coup is beyond me.”
12:57 PM
Of course, Boli-Nica, it has been apparent to many of us that most of what is written in this blog is and has been “beyond you”. Though, it is nice that you finally acknowledge that fact.
Has it occurred to you that when writing about Bolivia in your own blog, your limited understanding of events in said country may be the reason why you have so few responses? :)
So how does training to fight a hypothetical Wehrmacht or Red Army help to launch a coup, Buffy?
Anon 9:15 P.M.,
For someone who learned to read balance sheets when he was 20, you do not impress me with your grasp of statistics. I never said the SOA only graduated 19 individuals from Bolivia. I said that from the thousands of graduates over a 50-year period, a rabid group like the SOAW could only come up with 19 often-tenuous examples of “bad guys”. As to the relevance of elapsed time, how long did it take you from the time you graduated balance sheet reading school until you actually applied the training? I expect something less than 15 to 20 years. My point is that blaming the SOA for making bad guys is asinine. You have plenty of home grown bad guys. Morales has learned to bypass the current constitution, aid in narcotics production, and play the dictator fairly well, yet he never went to the SOA. Or let’s take it from the other side and say that Marincovic and Costas are the evil players. When did they go to SOA?
Anon, I am a military guy… 22 years a Marine. I’ve been to plenty of school not one of which ever taught torture. I’ve had the laws of war drilled into me ad nauseum emphasizing the protection of non-combatant protections and prisoner rights. My point is that IMHO Luis Arce Gómez did not learn to overthrow a government as a General by attending a Communications Officer Course or a Radio Repair course 21 years prior. Bolivia had a long-standing tradition of coups long before the first Bolivian soldier attended the first course in Georgia!!!
Buffy, my apologies. You missed my point. I don’t claim that Gen Calderon is “Notorious”; I claim that the rabid SOAW, stretching their list as much as possible, labeled him such.
Now please pardon my rabidness. My teenage son was held up at gunpoint earlier today, but I'm sure the thieves were trained to do it at the SOA!
"A coup d’état is the sudden, illegal overthrowing of a government by a part of the state establishment — usually the military — to replace the branch of the stricken government, either with another civil government or with a military government."
One doesn't do a coup without planning and aforethought. It usually requires planning. Training in the SOA gave the Dictator Banzer the wherewithall to launch a coup and prepare for any contingencies that may have arisen. :)
One doesn't do a coup without planning and aforethought. It usually requires planning. Training in the SOA gave the Dictator Banzer the wherewithall to launch a coup and prepare for any contingencies that may have arisen. :)
LOL, LOL, LOL, that is beyond silly. So an ARMY should not learn things ARMY DO!!! ...
Hey genuises....
BANZER LEARNED ABOUT RUNNING TRUCKS AT THE SCHOOL OF THE AMERICAS
Just looked at what Norman posted, and Banzer was in the Motor Officer Course. At SOA he would have learned how to handle these weapons of death with this criminal forms of vicious training.. 12 years after WWII he would have studied how trucks moved men and equipment across France during the war. And, more relevant to 1950's Bolivia, how it kept China supplied through the muddy and miserable Burma Road.
That is the kind of boring non-combat stuff that many of the graduates of this school learned. Apparently by 1967 not many Bolivians had taken the most controversial counterinsurgency courses, because Special Forces troops from the US had to be sent to Bolivia to train Bolivian troops and officers when Che Guevara showed up in the boonies.
By the way, Banzers coup was a coup within the military
Those last few posts raise an very interesting point:
Did going to SoA turn these otherwise impeachable military types into bloody dictators?
or
Did these types that became military types where already damaged goods and SoA was simply a standard training stop during their military career?
Of course the answers are beyond the scope anything Mr. Hwang would care to research. He's produced his propaganda piece, and he's moved on.
So how do you folks explain Evo, who was neither educated by the SOA, nor was in the Bolivian army, yet played a crucial role in overthrowing TWO Bolivian governments?
Norman, point taken on the unlikeliness that a bad egg in this world must invariably be hatched in the SOA. Not sure anyone was arguing that however (though I see it hasn’t stopped Frank 2.35 from trying to build a case around this red herring.) Conversely, trying to exonerate the SOA purely on the basis of the fact that it’s not the only potential cause of evil in the world is a pretty weak argument Norm, forgive me for saying so.
On your own military experiences & your not turning into a rotten bad egg yourself, am happy to hear that. And never doubted it actually. I could ofcourse make a wise-crack a la “but you didn’t go to the SOA did you”? I won’t though ;-)
Still, most of the comments on this thread appear to be irrelevant to Yi-Ching Hwang’s article. The point made therein being Bolivia’s decision to stop using the SOA’s facilities for its own military personnel. Same as - catch your breath - Argentina, Costa Rica, Uruguay & Venezuela. Poor material for a “Bolivia joins axis of evil” conspiracy theory.
Bolivia has the sacrosanct right same as these other countries to decide whether or not to keep using Fort Benning (or any other foreign facility) for military training. I frankly don’t see what all the fuss is about. The principle threats to the US are no longer the spread of evil CCCP-funded communist states in its backyard. And Latin American states – tho