I've been so focused locally, I want to think globally. Nay, not want insist that we all must considering that both Venezuela and Ecuador are amassing troops at their border in order to exhibit a defensive reaction to Colombia's behavior when it crossed the border into Ecuador and killed one of FARCS top officials (In the current global climate FARC is characterized as a "terrorist" organization. Their roots are in guerrilla warfare in opposition to a repressive regime. I think they would have been called communists in the 80's, although certainly the level of violence deployed is extreme.
I am not an expert in this region. But I do love Mexico and Central America in a deep way and I have studied these political climates and histories enough to understand that the U.S. is a key component of these persisting disfunctionalities. The deeply imbedded US interests in Colombia are more than disturbing.
www.atlapedia.com/online/maps/political/Colombia_etc.htm
I wish I knew how to upload a map of the region but just to be more materializing, Colombia is the country that the Panama empties on to. Then Venezuela is to the East and Ecuador is to the West. Peru borders Ecuador and Brazil is to the South of Colombia and Venezuela. The Carribean is to the North of Venezuela (Generally Speaking of directions...they all lean a bit like the land..ahhh that reminds me of the Yucata'n)...
And that reminds me of the point which is...This is close to a full-blown war!
"Mr, Defense Minister, move 10 battalions to the border with Colombia for me, immediately--tank battalions. Deploy the air force," Hugo Chavez, President of Venezuela said. "We don't want war, but we aren't going to permit the U.S. empire, which is the master (of Colombia)...come to divide us" (AP, Ian James, 3/3/08).
All this space is connected. We are not floating here. Borders are arbitrary lines drawn to protect property for segments of populations that create differentiations and then hierarchize them to legitimate control of resources. We will feel this war if it continues to impend. So will the people of South America and the rest of our world.
2 comments:
Well, its not as scandalous as all that...I mean I didn't delete some controversial comment or anything...I just posted my own comment again yesterday, and it was logged in as Charlie, and I didn't think he should get credit for my insights...Lets see, pretend like someone else commented, or insist that source matters...thing is Charlie isn't following Latin America right now, so it didn't seem right.
And, he is making fun of me for posting on my own blog, which I really think is fine...its just like an additional chapter...
In this instance, I am giving an update: Venezuela and Ecuador agreed to settle peacefully with Colombia...accusations towards leadership worked as leverage... Colombia killed another FARC leader...I see a red flag.
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