or does he know the facts, and speak the truth, that Venezuela's elections put our own to shame for their transparency, and that "Hugo" has been running a scrupulously lawful, beneficial government for ten years--despite every effort of Bushite assassins and dirty rotten CIA plotters in Miami to kill him, to topple Venezuela's DEMOCRACY, and to black-hole the idea that oil profits should be used to benefit the poor.
How will Obama dance this dance? It should be very interesting.
Cuba ain't the issue, friends. The amazing, peaceful, DEMOCRATIC, leftist revolution that has swept South America is the issue. "Hugo" is just the Miami Herald's and the Freepers' name for it all--for that which they loathe, REAL democracy in Latin America.
Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, Paraguay (!), Nicaragua, Guatemala--all gone leftist--and next year, El Salvador. And these countries are NOT OBEYING the United States any more--on Cuba or anything else.
Will Obama even hint at this crushing reality for the anti-Castro (and anti-"Hugo") fascists in Miami--the South American revolution, the most astonishing, bloodless revolution that has ever occurred, anytime, anywhere? I dunno. I think Obama wants peace and cooperation, but does he dare try to speak of those things, even elliptically, to the mini-Bush Cartel in Miami? Is he gonna LEAD or is he gonna FOLLOW?
The Bush Junta is even now trying to utilize its client state, Colombia, to instigate a war with Venezuela and Ecuador (biggest pots of oil in the western hemisphere, both members of OPEC, both with elected LEFTIST governments). Indeed, this could well be the "October Surprise" they have planned for the General Election, rather than Iran. Venezuela, Ecuador and also Bolivia (and possibly Argentina--big oil find there recently; leftist government, allied with the Bolivarians), are the main targets. Things are so tense that the (leftist) president of Brazil, Lula da Silva, very recently proposed a South American mutual defense pact.
When I say a lot is at stake here, I don't mean just our election--and Obama's chances in Florida (which I think would be very good, if they had transparent vote counting). I mean the fate of the western hemisphere. The Bushites are trying very hard to start Oil War II in South America. It's about the oil, of course--but I'm sure they would also love to inflict an Obama administration with another disastrous quagmire, close to home. The Bushites won't--and can't--win it. But they might, a) chip off a couple of mini fascist states, where the oil is, with fascist secessionist movements in the state of Zulia, in Venezuela, and the eastern provinces of Bolivia (both Bushite war schemes are in progress), and b) permanently destroy U.S. relations with most of South America.
In case you hadn't noticed, this is going to be South America's century. They are well on their way to forming a South American "Common Market." If Bushite/U.S. interference continues, or if a Democratic administration colludes with the Bush Cartel in the future, it's all over for us in South America (and possibly also Central America). Our name will be mud, as it has become everywhere else in the world.
What to listen for in his speech:
Venezuela
I will certainly understand Obama's caution on this subject. He is walking into a minefield. (Venezuelan fascists have migrated to south Florida and are allied with the anti-Castroites.) If he identifies Venezuela as an "enemy," we will know just how hemmed in he is. And if he avoids doing that, we will know that he feels he has some flexibility to create a SANE, mutually beneficial, peaceful, cooperative policy with our DEMOCRATIC neighbors in this hemisphere.
Colombia
Another keystone issue may be the Colombian "free deal" that Donald Rumsfeld is so interested in*. Colombia has one of the worst human rights records on the planet. In Colombia, they chainsaw union leaders, while alive, and throw their body parts into mass graves. The Uribe government and its military and rightwing paramilitary death squads (on whom the Bushites have larded $5.5 BILLION in military aid) have slaughtered thousands of innocent people--community organizers, small peasant farmers, political leftists, human rights workers and journalists. They are also closely tied to major drug/weapons traffic. That's why the Bushites love Colombia! They can get behind torture and mass murder and other crime. It's their signature. Obama has said that he opposes the Colombian "free trade" deal. Look for how much he opposes it. Does he propose TRUSTING the Colombian government to mend its ways? Their promise that they won't kill any more union leaders? Or does he say, back to the drawing board on "free trade" in general--since U.S.-dominated "free trade" has been rejected by country after country in South America. There is only one way to have U.S.-dominated "free trade," and that is by violent force.
"Terrorism" in South America
The true "terrorists" in South America are the Colombian fascists and the Bushites. Does Obama buy into the Bushite FUCKING LIE that the democratic, leftist governments that control the oil (Venezuela, Ecuador) are "terrorist-lovers"? I don't think Obama does, but his wording may indicate who he feels he must pander to, to prevent another stolen election. There is a long story to this one, which I won't go into here. Suffice it to say that the Bushite lies about Venezuela and Ecuador--and their echo in the corporate news monopolies--are on a par with their lies about Iraq WMDs, and have the same goal. War for oil. The Miami Herald is one of the worst purveyors of these lies. Will Obama be playing to the Miami Herald--or will he be LEADING the people of Florida and the people of the United States toward truthful, just, fair, respectful, progressive, democratic policy in South America, for the mutual benefit of all of us, north and south?
"War on drugs."
Another minefield. Billions and billions of our tax dollars in this police state/military boondoggle--the corrupt, failed, murderous "war on drugs" that is PAYING FOR the slaughter of the innocents in Colombia. What the Bushites have used it for is to promote fascism and militarism within Latin American societies, and to plot war against social movements and leftist democracies. It has become merely the tool of global corporate predators--Exxon Mobil & brethren. Does Obama propose MORE boodle for the fascists and militarists? Or will he be LEADING us toward a SANE policy based on social justice, human rights and REAL police work, where it is necessary, to address REAL--not phantom--dangers?
That's all for now. I will be listening to Obama's speech with both ears.
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"The Smart Way to Beat Tyrants Like Chávez," by Donald Rumsfeld, 12/1/07http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/30/AR2007113001800.html