Sunday, September 14, 2008

The United States Funding Opposition Groups in Bolivia?

Anyone with knowledge of the United States history in South America, then this is a rhetorical question, understood. But, new information is arising. After the meteoric rise to power by Evo Morales, the indigenous leader of Bolivia, the United States seems to be doing all it can to rid the continent of anyone who seeks to put the power in the hands of the people. Morales has taken over the hydrocarbon industry in Bolivia and kicked out corporations that had hijacked the natural resources of the land. And Morales has added (due to this nationalization) 1.5 billion to the national treasury). All money in the hands of the government instead of in the hands of corporations.

What is the US response? Or more aptly, the question should be when Morales was elected, what did the US begin planning? His ouster, no doubt. The Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) called on the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and other agencies to release information detailing whom it is funding in Bolivia - where violent right-wing opposition groups have wreaked havoc this week in a series of shootings, beatings, ransacking of offices, and sabotage of a natural gas pipeline - as well as in other Latin American countries including Venezuela. Morales has blamed the U.S. for funding these opposition groups and evidence suggests he is right. CEPR is asking the U.S. to come clean. But, they won't.

In the midst of the violence and property destruction, Bolivian president Evo Morales declared U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg "persona non grata" and asked him to be expelled, suggesting he is aiding organizations behind the violence and sabotage. Despite numerous requests filed under the Freedom of Information Act, the U.S. has not turned over all the names of recipient organizations of USAID funds. Bolivia is a major recipient of USAID money, with millions of dollars sent to groups there. The U.S. also funds groups in Bolivia through the National Endowment for Democracy and related organizations.

This is U.S. foreign policy. A country in Bolivia, the poorest country in South America has been ransacked by corporations for decades. Finally, the people come together and elect a leader that will represent them (similar to Venezuela), rid the country of corporations and give the natural resources to the people and the Americans fund opposition groups to destabilize the regions in an effort to re-enrich corporations. It is outlandish, but this is our foreign policy. Anything that has ties to a socialist agenda, we attack and destroy.

I am wondering if Barack Obama would offer anything else? Does he have the power to stop this destabilization? Is this not what got Kennedy killed? Forget McCain this may be our next war - Venezuela, Colombia, Bolivia, you name it. Truthout!

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