Further evidence that America is being transformed into a genuine "warfare state" comes from a report in Wired magazine that the Pentagon is planning to unleash SEAL teams to attack and kill drug lords south of the U.S. border.
"According to anonymous Mexican and U.S. military sources cited by Proceso
magazine (translated
from Spanish), the plan involves sending Navy SEALs by helicopter after the
Sinaloa Cartel kingpin, who is rumored to be hiding in the mountains of the
western Mexican states of Sinaloa and Durango. The SEALs would be divided into
two teams — one would land and attack, and the other would stay airborne —
assisted by three unmanned drones packing missiles.
"After locating El Chapo, the SEALs would “eliminate any of Chapo’s security
on the spot … as they did with the ‘Bin Laden’ operation,” according to
Proceso. If El Chapo is killed, the SEALs would take the kingpin’s body
with them. The plan is reported to have been ordered by the Pentagon and
Northern Command (NORTHCOM), which oversees military operations in North
America. If enacted, U.S. officials would observe from the White House and
NORTHCOM headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs. The plan
is also reported to be U.S.-only, excluding the Mexican military.
"...According to Proceso, outgoing President Felipe Calderón was
reportedly keen to the idea, but faced objections from the Mexican army and
navy. The Mexican navy — which includes Mexico’s marines — is one of the main
strike forces against the cartels. An American strike would also blatantly
violate Mexican law, which prohibits foreign military and law enforcement
agencies from operating on Mexican soil, except under tightly
controlled conditions and never armed.
"There’s also the risk of inflaming sentiment against the United
States. Although there’s a growing
minority of Mexican citizens who support greater U.S. involvement, including
intervention, the Mexican public is largely opposed to the idea. In 2011,
worsening drug violence and discussions of a greater U.S. intervention helped
contribute to a nadir in U.S.-Mexico relations. The Wall Street Journal
reported that Mexican officials were “enraged”
by the suggestion of sending U.S. troops. For criticizing the effectiveness of
the Mexican military, the former U.S. ambassador, Carlos Pascual, was
thrown out of the country. The $1.6 billion Merida Initiative, which
provides U.S. aid for Mexico’s military, has more political support but has
faced intense opposition from academics,
journalists and human rights activists."
The possibilities for unanticipated blowback from this sort of thing are considerable. America once ruled the roost over the OAS countries. The Monroe Doctrine established the U.S. as hegemon in South and Central America. Now those same countries are breaking free from what many see as generations of American control. The region's trade is now stronger with China than with the United States. The days where America could, with impunity, unleash unilateral, blatantly illegal military violence upon Latin America may be over and something like this could hasten that end.
Showing posts with label Latin America. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Latin America. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Continental Drift
Continental Drift is a reality and it's happening before our very eyes. Europe, Asia, Africa and now even Central and South America are steadily drifting away as they shrug off the political and economic domination of the United States that has held sway for the past six decades.
With varying degrees of bitterness (Venezuela would be a 10, France a 2) nations around the world are looking to chart new, independent paths more closely reflective of their individual and regional interests.
The United States, which just six years ago proclaimed itself World Hegemon pursuant to the Bush Doctrine, is now in decline and adjusting to the ascendancy of new powers such as China, India and Brazil. Some of this was inevitable but the process has been greatly accelerated by anger and distrust sparked by the fallout from American cowboy capitalism. The Wall Street meltdown really couldn't have come at a worse time.
Now, according to McClatchey Newspapers, the arrival of the Obama presidency may usher in the end of the Monroe Doctrine:
In just three short paragraphs buried deep into his State of the Union speech on Dec. 2, 1823, President James Monroe proclaimed one of the most enduring tenets of U.S. foreign policy.
He warned Europe that Washington would not tolerate any interventions from outside powers in the affairs of Latin America's newly independent states. But it turned out to be far from a selfless declaration of solidarity.
The U.S. government has invoked the doctrine as a justification for imposing its will on its neighbors to the south.
Foreign intervention in Latin America remained acceptable for the United States, as long as it was the one doing the intervening. And it did so dozens of times - at great cost to democracy and human life.
Monroe's speech planted the seed of the notion that Latin America is the "backyard" of the United States - a label resented throughout the region.
Obama would do well to depart from this bipartisan consensus and truly chart a new course for change, one that respects the independence of Latin American countries and one that is in keeping with the values that he espouses.
In any event, Latin America is leaving Washington behind.
On the economic front, China has emerged as a major trading partner. Latin American trade with the Asian giant has grown explosively, from $13 billion in 2000 to $100 billion last year.
Trade with the emerging economies of India and Russia is also growing steadily; trade with each is expected to reach a record $15 billion. And the European Union is Latin America's largest source of foreign investment.
For similar reasons, some countries in the region have reoriented their arms purchases. Venezuela has purchased more than $4 billion in jets, helicopters and rifles from Russia. Several other governments in the region - the world's third-largest arms market - followed suit.
Brazil, a rising power on the global stage, is planning a massive overhaul of its military worth billions of dollars in the coming years. Instead of relying on the Pentagon and U.S. defense contractors, Brazil is turning to Russia and France to refurbish its military.
Can Washington give up the masquerade of playing nasty, vengeful Uncle Sam to Latin America? Maybe it has no other choice.
With varying degrees of bitterness (Venezuela would be a 10, France a 2) nations around the world are looking to chart new, independent paths more closely reflective of their individual and regional interests.
The United States, which just six years ago proclaimed itself World Hegemon pursuant to the Bush Doctrine, is now in decline and adjusting to the ascendancy of new powers such as China, India and Brazil. Some of this was inevitable but the process has been greatly accelerated by anger and distrust sparked by the fallout from American cowboy capitalism. The Wall Street meltdown really couldn't have come at a worse time.
Now, according to McClatchey Newspapers, the arrival of the Obama presidency may usher in the end of the Monroe Doctrine:
In just three short paragraphs buried deep into his State of the Union speech on Dec. 2, 1823, President James Monroe proclaimed one of the most enduring tenets of U.S. foreign policy.
He warned Europe that Washington would not tolerate any interventions from outside powers in the affairs of Latin America's newly independent states. But it turned out to be far from a selfless declaration of solidarity.
The U.S. government has invoked the doctrine as a justification for imposing its will on its neighbors to the south.
Foreign intervention in Latin America remained acceptable for the United States, as long as it was the one doing the intervening. And it did so dozens of times - at great cost to democracy and human life.
Monroe's speech planted the seed of the notion that Latin America is the "backyard" of the United States - a label resented throughout the region.
Obama would do well to depart from this bipartisan consensus and truly chart a new course for change, one that respects the independence of Latin American countries and one that is in keeping with the values that he espouses.
In any event, Latin America is leaving Washington behind.
On the economic front, China has emerged as a major trading partner. Latin American trade with the Asian giant has grown explosively, from $13 billion in 2000 to $100 billion last year.
Trade with the emerging economies of India and Russia is also growing steadily; trade with each is expected to reach a record $15 billion. And the European Union is Latin America's largest source of foreign investment.
For similar reasons, some countries in the region have reoriented their arms purchases. Venezuela has purchased more than $4 billion in jets, helicopters and rifles from Russia. Several other governments in the region - the world's third-largest arms market - followed suit.
Brazil, a rising power on the global stage, is planning a massive overhaul of its military worth billions of dollars in the coming years. Instead of relying on the Pentagon and U.S. defense contractors, Brazil is turning to Russia and France to refurbish its military.
Can Washington give up the masquerade of playing nasty, vengeful Uncle Sam to Latin America? Maybe it has no other choice.
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