In a departure from Welsh affairs it's worth looking at the current moves to bolster the United States' declining authority in Latin America, in particular the further strengthening of military ties between the US and Colombia. It's good that there is support for the policies of Venezuela's current government from politicians from the broad progressive spectrum in Wales and the UK, with politicians from the Labour party, Plaid, the SNP, the Greens and others all praising different aspects of social policy there.
At the same time, there are currently huge tensions in the Americas. Democracy has taken away much of the USA's influence over the region, with regime after regime falling to the left through ballot box change. The right has lost ground electorally and is looking to revert to its familiar old tactics of coup d'etat, as we saw recently in Honduras. Obviously, the previous Bush administration was fully supportive of that kind of brinkmanship, but many analysts thought that the Obama administration would be entirely different. Although there has been some welcome thawing in terms of dialogue, elements of the ruling class in the USA are now ramping up the militarisation of Colombia, which is the last major pro-US government in the northern part of South America.
America has of course always had a presence in Colombia, but the military agreement signed on October 30th almost officially renounces Colombian independence and sovereignty, and turns the country into a defacto client state.
A US Air Force document submitted to Congress in May 2009 details the scale and purpose of America's involvement in Colombia.
The best solution for the region is for politics to remain based on free and fair elections. Driving up the outside military presence does not seem to be a strategy designed to allow that to continue. Of course, regardless of partisan opinion, developments in Latin America are always carefully monitored and analysed for their relevance to the rest of the world. The world will as usual be watching with interest.
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5 comments:
What aggression are you talking about?
The people are the ruling class in the US! Why don't you cut this pseudo Marxist tripe!
Mike, you evidently do not share a class-based analysis of politics so you'd be unlikely to understand anything about Latin America.
Maybe so, but however could explain to me why Chavez will ally himself with regimes such as Iran with its poor record on Gays and women, or Sudan and its leader who is wanted by the international Court for genocide, or Libya. It is true that Chavez has being give aid to FARC who deal in drugs. As for Castro his human rights record is appalling, and his left wing credentials slipped when he had the flags flown in Cuba flown at half mast for General Franco. Chavez may have done much for the poor, but his constitutional reforms weakening both the legislature and judiciary plus weakening civilian control over the military is very authoritarian.
Valid point Mike and it's worth remembering that this blog wouldn't be allowed to exist in some of those countries you mention, some of whom are anti-socialist and anti-trade unionist.
The answer is realpolitik. A state that is opposed to American hegemony will be likely to align itself with regimes that have the same stance, even if their domestic politics are very different. For the same reasons the USA and also UK align themselves with some awful regimes, be it Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and others past and present.
A more relevant picture would be what is happening in the actual region, Chavez's international alliance 'Alba' is based on ensuring the rights of indigenous peoples and redistributing wealth. America's alliances in the same region are arguably based on militarism and facilitating rather than stamping out the international drugs trade.
It's difficult to swallow the Chavez is authoritarian line, seeing as his rule is subject to constant referenda, regular elections (more elections than in the American political system) and seeing as the majority of the media is owned by the opposition. Could you imagine ITV calling for the army to overthrow our elected government? That's what happened in Venezuela.
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