US Troops to Paraguay

[coffeenap]

US troops to Paraguay
...

On May 27, Servicio Paz y Justicia (SERPAJ) Paraguay condemned an agreement approved by the Paraguayan Congress which will allow US troops into the country for an 18-month training and advisory mission from June 1, 2005 through December 31, 2006. The agreement grants full immunity from prosecution to all US personnel involved in the mission. Congress approved the agreement--apparently at the end of last year--with no debate and behind closed doors, and the public was largely unaware of it, according to SERPAJ Paraguay. "No one knows the extent of these accords and the dangers of a US strategy to violate them," the group warned.

SERPAJ also noted that the type of instruction that US troops will provide to the Paraguayan military is unclear, "which is very dangerous to us, especially taking into account that it was US soldiers who taught torture and other forms of human rights violations in courses at the School of the Americas under the National Security Doctrine." US soldiers are already a common sight in the Chaco region of Paraguay, reports Stella Calloni, a correspondent for the Mexican daily La Jornada. (La Jornada, May 31; TerritorioDigital.com, June 1)

From Weekly News Update on the Americas, June 5



http://www.ww4report.com/node/587?PHPSESSID=142986024c54517dfe59ea6fd5fc6c19

[wakeme2008]

1. Excuse me what does Commander Cuckoo Bananas want in Paraguay

[htuttle]

2. Bolivia, perhaps?

Lotsa gas and oil there in Bolivia. And our NED cardtricks don't seem to be working there anymore.

[bemildred]

6. Yes, the Chaco is up towards the Bolivian border.

And guess what, those two countries have fought a war
in the Chaco before.

[0007]

15. .....and perhaps well trained mercenaries to fight in Iraq

[K-W]

38. I think its obviously Bolivia. EOM

[confludemocrat]

27. Neocons say there are terrorists there-B.S. of course, but good cover

There was a writer for the New Yorker by the name of Goldberg, not the one killed in Pakistan, who wrote a lengthy (what else, it's the New Yorker--thanks David Remnick for hiring this joker, good call) piece (as part of a series covering other localities, too) about Paraguay as a terrorist haven.

Sickening. Anyway its next to Bolivia where they can try to intimidate that 76% native country with ongoing unrest that concerns what else-OIL!

Don't put anything past these people (Bush crime family). They are greedy bloody killers.

[ScotTissue]

43. It is about CIUDAD DEL ESTE

Not oil, not Bolivia, not Lula, not Chavez.

Ciudad del Este, on the Paraquay/Brazil border, is the most criminal town in the hemisphere. Think Mos Eisley. More money and more stolen cars and more narcotics go through that burg than you will want to believe. And where there is money laundering, and arms, there are terrorist groups. Ciudad del Este is up to its armpits in, I'm not kidding, Islamic terror groups.

[LynnTheDem]

3. "full immunity from prosecution to all US personnel" PARTY!

PARTY! rape! PARTY! kill! PARTY!

Why do they hate us?

[Roland99]

14. It's obvious anything done by the U.S. is for the good of the world

[Dhalgren]

4. Ok, so we got soldiers in Columbia and now Paraguay

Bolivia? (I can't keep track). Chile? Who knows? South Korea, Japan, Germany, Italy, UK, Iraq, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Australia, Kuwait, Turkey; what about Eastern Europe? Are we there, yet? Where are these soldiers coming from? Why aren't they in Iraq? We obviously don't have nearly as bad a "manpower" problem as we've been let to believe - I wonder why?

[Mika]

10. Gotta 'restore balance' since Chavez threw US mil out of Ven. n/t

[Coexist]

17. don't we still get 15% of our oil from Venezuela?

Are we going to help Chavez's neighbors to do a "regime change" there for the safety of the free world?

[Debau2005]

12. Central America

In case anyone doesn't know we have a base in Hoduras, as well. We share it with the Hondurian Air Force

[tlcandie]

34. Here's a key to help unlock the confusion...

http://www.cpa.org.au/garchve05/1224cult.html

The Guardian 20 April, 2005

Culture and Life

by Rob Gowland

"War on drugs"


<snip>
Stephen Peacock's perusal of the procurement documents revealed that "the US Dept of Defense (DoD) and the State Dept are preparing to intensify and expand" their military and quasi-military activities "in South America, Central America and the Caribbean" under the convenient cover of greatly expanded efforts at "drug interdiction and aerial crop- eradication".
<snip>

<snip>
Amongst the signs found by Stephen Peacock of Narco News pointing to a major expansion of the US policy of intervention in South America, Central America and the Caribbean, was the discovery that "the US government is actively soliciting the help of mercenaries whose sole function will be to locate and rescue missing or captured Drug War personnel".
<snip>

<snip>
A DoD work statement obtained by Peacock says that "The countries identified for immediate contractor support are Peru and Bolivia". Both these countries are the scene of popular movements against US policies and for national independence and programs of social progress.

The work statement blithely goes on to say: "Future support may be required in other Central and South American countries and is likely in the countries of Colombia, Panama, Ecuador and Venezuela."
<snip>

[DemoTex]

5. Restoring the throne to Alfredo Stroessner (or his ilk)?

Another dictator through whom the Bu$h-boy can live vicariously.

http://hrw.org/english/docs/2000/12/11/paragu632.htm

[enlightenment]

18. My father was assigned to Paraguay in 1952, to

teach Paraguayan (is that the right spelling?) Air Force pilots how to fly. My family was there for 4 years. He has amazing stories about that period -- like Stroessner's week long birthday celebrations at his ranch, where all the guests had to wear white.
He and my mom went to one of the parties -- along with a number of other US military. The upshot of that week is a rather hysterical story involving a wild boar carcass in a metal drum, a DC-2, the base commander's wife, and fleas.

The US has been pulling this kind of crap for decades.

[DemoTex]

20. There was an excellent piece on Stroessner in "Granta" 31.

In fact, the April 1, 1990 issue of Granta (#31) was titled "The General" after Isabel Hilton's excellent essay on Stroessner in that issue (p. 13-83). Long, but well worth the read.

http://www.granta.com/shop/product?usca_p=t&product_id=226

[enlightenment]

31. Cool!! Thanks for the link

I'm going to trot back over there now and start reading (after I forward the link to my dad)
Thanks again.
:yourock:

on edit: okay, I'll order the issue instead (but check my university library first)!

[DemoTex]

35. Great. Glad to hear that you are that interested.

When you get that issue (31), read the other stories/essays. Then, IMHO, you will subscribe to Granta. It is the quarterly that I, as a writer, cannot miss.

Mac

[enlightenment]

40. I probably will, since my university's subscription started in

1996. Issue 60 or something.
I'm a historian (deliberate 'a' there, BTW -- since you're a writer) -- teaching largely clueless college kids. But not uninterested, just not knowledgeable.

Personally, I'm curious about everything. Not always productive, but always rewarding.

My field is 18th c. Britain, but I've always been fascinated with the machinations of nations in the 1950s.

Thanks again.

[leveymg]

7. Stroessner Would be Overjoyed. The Cavalry Has Arrived

Old Friend of Paraguay




New Friends of Paraguay

[izzie]

8. We are every where. The empire lives.

Now for keeping chainsaw killers out of the country I am sure we can not do. Specially one that looks like the run-a-way- bride.

[converted_democrat]

9. I am so pissed right now I can't see straight...............

When is this shit going to stop? I'm really having a problem with the actions of our "leaders." Why must we pick fights with everybody?

[aneerkoinos]

25. Not with everybody

Just those that oppose US & Global Corporatocrasy control of their oil.

This shit is going to stop only when US economy collapses making Empire's Army unaffordable, and hopefully USans come sane again, or if not, die in hordes and cease to be threat to the world.

It's not bad, it's worse. When will you stop being sheeple and take decisive action against your two-party oligarchy? Not just for other people's sake, but for your own sake too?

[NNN0LHI]

11. Couple of things. This was Submitted by Bill according to the link

Who is Bill? Anyone know? I never heard of this www.ww4report.com before either. Secondly I think the US has always had US soldiers in Paraguay and Nicaragua, and Colombia, and El Salvador, etc.

Don

[bemildred]

13. Yeah, Paraguay is a major trans-shipment point

for most any kind of contraband you could name,
I think they just grabbed a big load of coke that
went through there, and the US not having some
troops there is what would be noticeable.

Stroessner was a little egotistic tin-pot dictater
just like Shrub.

[coffeenap]

16. Hey Don--he is the editor of an investigative news magazine--

hosts a Pacifica radio show (for info only). My son has found him to be an honest critic of current "leadership" and his reports have turned out to be true. Please look at the sources he used. I did not link to them because they are subscription only. Just trying to help us be informed. Feel free to do more research--if only this WAS wrong--I would gladly eat my hat. (tin foil or otherwise)

[Supersedeas]

19. without public notice and behind closed doors - Busholini style of course

[Karenina]

46. S.O.P.

:kick:

[genius]

21. I guess the School of the Americas in in full operation.

Didn't "State of Seige" take place in Paraguay?

[Lydia Leftcoast]

39. It took place in Uruguay, actually

Uruguay was not a dictatorship until the military overthrew its government with the stated objective of "fighting terrorism."

The kidnapping and killing of American Dan Mitreone by the Tupamaro guerillas was one of the excuses for the military coup. Mitreone was ostensibly an AID (Agency for International Development) employee, but the Tupamaros accused him of being CIA.

[aneerkoinos]

22. Bolivia, very obviously

Seems that Noriega's plan is that Vaca Díez, next in line after resigning Mesa, takes power, declares Marshal law and starts massacring the demonstrators. This would no doubt lead to civil war (Aymara warriors and other social movements would sure as hell not back down and the army and police would split down). Vaca Diez would then call military help from outside "to protect the constitutional order and democracy", guess who? :evilgrin:

Gladly, it does not seem that this plan is going forward, Generals of Bolivian army are not game and would rather choose Chavez as their role-model. Hence Noriega's frustrated outburst at Chavez, accusing him of what is going on in Bolivia.

This speculation is based on especially this piece from Al Giordano of Narconews:
http://narcosphere.narconews.com/story/2005/6/8/91629/48549

[aneerkoinos]

23. Further thoughts

The real US plan seems to be to take control of only the Bolivian oil and gas fields located in the eastern province of La Paz, not the whole country which would be too costly. This must be the logic behind demand for "autonomy" from the rich La Paz oligarchy (with orchestration and support from CIA, NED etc. etc.), seceding from the poorer part of the country and becoming US vassal.

In other news, Bolivian social movements occupy peasefully the hydrocarbon fields and installations.
http://narcosphere.narconews.com/story/2005/6/8/145449/0216

This is it guys, global oil war round two. Lets hope Bolivian Generals stay united and loyal to the people, and keep telling Noriega to go fuck himself.

[Coexist]

24. I have a friend who is in Special Forces

and has recently been emailing me from South America. I wondered why. I guess now I know.

[aneerkoinos]

26. Breath

Breath deaply my friends, breath deaply and peacefully, center yourselves and let the anger and fear pass. I advice that to all of you as well as to myself.

This time call's for cool and merciless thought and action, because anger and frustration will not help anyone. What can you do, each of you, good people of US, to stop this madness that is done in your name?

[aneerkoinos]

28. Post him link to this thread

His responce would be interesting to see.

Do you know which country he's located in, BTW?

[Coexist]

30. Bogata and Lima were the last two

(on edit) I can send him this link, but his computer access is spotty at best - I am always happy to hear from him, but each email is from a different country, sometimes months apart. He did two tours of Afghanistan before South America.

[aneerkoinos]

32. Thanks

Take care. Posting this info (well speculation really, but sadly I don't think I missed the mark) to a SpecOp guy will probably put some red flags on you under NSA etc. surveillance. :)

Which is good thing in the sense that they will know they are being watched and that their plans are exposed. But take care, and decide for yourself balancing courage and wisdom.

All the best, and if you so decided spread the message if you got usefull mailing lists etc.

VINCEREMOS!

[bpilgrim]

44. Crisis-hit Bolivia 'on brink of civil war'

The Scotsman
Thu 9 Jun 2005

BILL CORMIER
IN LA PAZ

BOLIVIA is on the verge of civil war, its departing president, Carlos Mesa, has warned. He also called for snap elections to be held to ease growing tension which his offer to stand down has done little to defuse.

Congress is due to vote today on whether to accept Mr Mesa's resignation, which was prompted by mass protests that have brought the capital, La Paz, to a standstill.

Hormando Vaca Diez, a lawyer and landowner who heads the Senate, is first in line under the constitution to replace Mr Mesa, should his resignation be accepted.

But the protesters who forced Mr Mesa to resign also demanded immediate polls, which could lead to the election of Evo Morales, the house deputy who leads a left-wing party, whose power base is drawn from Indian coca-leaf farmers.

In a televised address late on Tuesday, Mr Mesa said he was stepping aside for the good of the country, called for a halt to the protests while early elections can be arranged and accused Mr Vaca Diez of putting personal aspirations above the needs of a country facing more violence.

"The country cannot continue playing with the possibility of splitting into a thousand pieces. The only solution for Bolivia is an immediate electoral process," he said. "This is from a president who is on his way out. It is a call to a country on the brink of civil war."

source...
http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=631832005

peace

[bpilgrim]

45. Repsol Shares Decline as Energy Protests in Bolivia Grow

June 8 (Bloomberg) -- Shares in Repsol YPF SA, Europe's fifth-largest oil company, led the decline in Europe's top energy companies after protests intensified in Bolivia, where Repsol holds the country's largest natural-gas reserves.

Repsol shares fell as much as 2.2 percent to 19.78 euros and traded at 19.91 euros at 2:52 p.m. in Madrid, compared with a 0.4 percent drop in the Bloomberg Europe Energy Index.

``Analysts had valued Repsol's move to acquire reserves away from Argentina, and Bolivia has a significant weight in its growth prospects,'' said Ignacio Polavieja, a fund manager at Gefonsa SA in Madrid. ``The short-term uncertainty regarding elections is weighing down on the stock, as well as a fall in oil prices and the dollar.''

Demonstrators led by Bolivia's second-biggest party, the Movement Toward Socialism, are demanding that the country nationalize its oil and gas industry. President Carlos Mesa, 51, said June 6 he would resign to end the street violence that began after Congress passed a smaller increase in taxes on oil and gas output than the Movement Toward Socialism demanded at the time.

Repsol, which last week presented its growth strategy under the chairmanship of Antonio Brufau, expects to more than double production in Bolivia to 227,000 barrels of oil equivalent a day by 2009. Its assets in Bolivia are valued at about $1 billion.

more...
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000086&sid=aHpyQ44rNoF0&refer=latin_america

peace

[aneerkoinos]

29. Al Giordano replies

I posted this news about Paraguay and link to this thread to Narconews. Here's Al's reply:

"I very much appreciate your keeping the fire burning at this crucial
hour. I sent the original La Jornada story on the Paraguay thing to
our journos in Bolivia, and they appreciate it too. The next 48 hours
are going to be super heavy. All the attention and scrutiny we can put
on it will be to the benefit of the angels and limit the maneuvering
room of the devils in the shadows. This is one of the biggest stories
unfolding I have ever seen. Keep up the pressure! And Thanks!

Al Giordano"

[aneerkoinos]

33. Kick n/t

[Rex]

36. Looks like Hugo Chavez was right!

It is either that or this is to help the drug flow controlled by the BFEE.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

37. Gotta keep the street price of coke high.

CIA stockholders are demanding it.

[bpilgrim]

41. ---------------- ----------------- ------------------ > MAP

peace

[Coexist]

47. great stuff!

[olddad56]

42. good thing we have Arnold, or they would send troops to Ca.