U.S. cutting military aid to Bolivia 96 percent

[Judi Lynn]

U.S. cutting military aid to Bolivia 96 percent
By Joel Brinkley The New York Times

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2006

WASHINGTON Less than a month after an assertively anti-American president took office in Bolivia, the Bush administration is planning to cut military aid to the country by 96 percent.

The amount of money Bolivia normally receives is small; much of it is used to train Bolivian military officers in the United States. But the cut holds the potential to anger the powerful Bolivian military establishment, which has been responsible for a long history of coups.

Evo Morales, a Socialist leader, became president on Jan. 22 and has promised to end U.S.-financed programs to eradicate the Bolivian coca crop.

Coca is the main ingredient in cocaine. U.S. officials say if Bolivia ends the programs, farmers in Peru and other coca-producing states could demand the same. And that could lead to a flood of cocaine in the Americas and Europe.

The State Department said the military aid is being cut because of a law that says Washington must end military assistance to countries that have failed to ratify a pledge not to extradite Americans to the International Criminal Court.
(snip/...)

http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/02/09/news/bolivia.php

[arcos]

1. Good, no Latin American country needs military aid from the US... nt

[Extend a Hand]

2. well, if it's anything like the 'military aid' that Iraq is getting

I should think they'd be glad.

[IndianaGreen]

3. Because Bolivia refuses to NOT extradite GIs responsible for war crimes

to the International Criminal Court, the Bush dictatorship is cutting funding.

I am sure that China and Russia will be more than happy to give Bolivia whatever it needs to defend itself against US aggression.

[KamaAina]

4. So Bush** is *against* a flood of cocaine? Go figure.

:spank:

Actually there is one hopeful sign here:

The State Department said the military aid is being cut because of a law that says Washington must end military assistance to countries that have failed to ratify a pledge not to extradite Americans to the International Criminal Court.

True, a typically arrogant move by the Bush**co/PNAC establishemnet -- but think how much less miltiary "aid" we'll be forking out to (mostly) dictatorships around the globe!

[rurallib]

6. It will drive the price down and kill profits for BUSHCO(tm)

[Up2Late]

5. Typical, wouldn't want to support a Bolivian Government that we are...

...ploting to topple in a few months.

And I really wish American writers would stop calling Leftist Governments "...assertively anti-American...!" They are ANTI-BUSH, Anti-imperialist, Anti-CIA interfering with our elected government! NOT Anti-American, if we had a Liberal, left-wing government, they would be one of our best friends.

[0rganism]

7. "used to train Bolivian military officers in the United States"

SOTA, anyone? (Now re-titled WHISC just for grins & giggles)

Frankly, I don't think President Morales would have much use for American military training on the course he's taking. The moneys won't be missed by him, but this part gives me the heebeejeebees:
"But the cut holds the potential to anger the powerful Bolivian military establishment, which has been responsible for a long history of coups." Think maybe some of those American-trained officers might just have received a phone call or two from Condi?

Morales better watch his back. Then again, I'm sure he's already aware of this, more than anyone else.

[400Years]

8. Hey Organism, it mentions SOTA right here in the article:

"About $792,000 would be used primarily to send Bolivian military officers to the School of the Americas, a combat training school for Latin American officers at Fort Benning, Georgia."

Not sending people there to learn how to wage coups and torture leftists is a good thing.
Let's hope there will be no coup. If I were Morales I would set up some kind of force that would
be used in the event of an attempted coup.

[0rganism]

9. Interesting that they don't use the new name

I was just guessing (hadn't read the article yet), but it isn't rocket science to figure where they probably went for schoolin'. I wonder how Morales will handle the inevitable; you can bet he's getting some advice from Chavez.

[400Years]

11. I'm just hoping the state dept. is just too busy with the middle east

and this is about all they will do

[mitchtv]

10. 100 truckloads of armed Indians will take care of any coup n/t

[High Plains]

12. The Bolivian military would be foolish to rise against Morales.

And I think they understand that.

[Ian David]

13. Too late to do Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid any good. n/t

[Rex]

14. Smart, that will cause Bolivia to rely on Russia or China

or a fellow socialist country for military aid. When this happens, the RW war mongers will scream, "RUSKIES IN OUR BACKYARD! BOOGA BOOGA!". Fears will be elevated, polls for Heir Bush will raise, RW idiots will make snide comments about Boliva, huge amounts of money will be made in defense contract over the fear and hype.