U.S. military intervenes in Latin America, Marines going to Honduras
U.S. military intervenes in Latin America, Marines going to Honduras
by: W. T. Whitney Jr.
April 6 2015
Honduran military authorities announced March 27 that some 250 U.S. Marines arriving soon will be based at the U. S. airbase at Soto Cano. Equipped with a high-speed "JHSV Spearhead" catamarans at least four "CH-53E Super Stallion" helicopters," and possibly "MV-22 Osprey tilt rotors and KC-130 Hercules tankers," they are part of the "Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-South." The official version of their mission is to carry out "training for forces in the region, humanitarian assistance missions, and anti-drug operations."
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The announcement of the Marines' arrival coincided with the opening in Tegucigalpa of the Central American Regional Security Conference. The official purpose was to build a "shield against organized crime." Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez welcomed the gathering of military, intelligence and drug-war officials from 14 nations. U.S. Marine General John Kelly, commander of the U.S. Southern Command, told attendees that, "There is a large contingent of U.S. officials here ... Ms. Erin Logan is here from the White House. ... This is the first time we've had someone from the White House, at that high a level, attend this conference." The region is among President Obama's "top four national security and national policy priorities."
The Soto Cano airbase has been emblematic of the U.S. military's long presence in Honduras. It's home-base for 500 U.S. troops and was the organizational center for U.S. support for the anti-Sandinista Nicaraguan Contras in the 1980's. Critics of a U.S. role in the 2009 military coup that overthrew elected President Manuel Zelaya often cite the Soto Cano base. They point to the stopover there of the plane carrying Zelaya from the capital to exile in Costa Rica.
Others displeased with the U.S. military presence in Honduras note the recent construction there of three Navy bases costing millions of dollars . Defense Department officials have identified Honduras as the center for U.S. military communications in Central America and drug - interdiction efforts. The country, which claims one of the highest murder rates in the world, is in fact a way station for illicit drugs moving from south to north.
More:
http://peoplesworld.org/u-s-military-intervenes-in-latin-america-marines-going-to-honduras/
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