South American Defense ministers meet to identify threats

[Judi Lynn]

CARACAS, Monday March 09, 2009

South American Defense ministers meet to identify threats

Western Hemisphere
The South American Defense Council (CSD) will meet in Chile to outline a common perspective of the problems facing the region and identify risk factors and threats that may affect regional peace. The CSD also will define the region's common stance at multinational defense groups and promote sovereign defense of natural resources in the region.

The council is one of the bodies comprising the Union of South American Nations (Unasur) which includes Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela.

The meeting to be held in Santiago intends to analyze how to implement among its members a mechanism similar to the one used by Chile and Argentina to make military spending more transparent, and promote exchange and cooperation in the defense industry.

http://english.eluniversal.com/2009/03/09/en_pol_art_south-american-defen_09A2248125.shtml
right wing opposition newspaper

[rabs]

1. Guess who was not invited to the party

The United States.

This new Defense Council replaced the Rio Pact (also known as the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance) that was formed in 1947 to thwart any Soviet inroads in Latin America. The Rio treaty, of which the United States was the big dog, called for Latin American nations to come to the aid of any member attacked from within Latin America or from abroad.

The Rio Pact fell apart after the War of the Malvinas (Falklands) in 1981 when Argentina invaded the British-occupied islands. The United States sided with Thatcher, calling Argentina the agressor. Now, with this new Defense Council, the United States has been left out in the cold.

You can expect that we will be reading about fireworks at the conference, because of Colombia's invoking the "pre-emptive strike" doctrine in recent days. That will not be favorably received by the other members.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Oh, boy! Things have changed a little since 1947, haven't they?

This country really misplayed its hand with its neighbors.

Looking forward so much to any news from this new conference. I hope they will be a solid success. Am certain they need it after decades of hell directed at their citizens from outside their borders.

[rabs]

3. Big news already

The defense ministers of five countries, Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile and Uruguay told the United States that it is time to lift the economic blockade of Cuba if the Obama administration wants to improve relations with Latin America.

Brazilian Defense Minister Nelson Jobim, said it was "important that (the United States) change its policy with Cuba."

"The five ministers agreed that with the end of the Cold War, there are no reasons to see Cuba as a threat and therefore there is a need to incorporate it into (the hemisphere's) multilateral organizations."

(Semana article adds that the atmosphere at the conference is heated because of Colombia's stance on pre-emptive strikes against FARC and ELN guerrillas outside of its territory.)

(Spanish)

http://www.semana.com/noticias-america-latina/cinco-paises-unasur-pidieron-cambio-eeuu-hacia-cuba/121572.aspx

[Judi Lynn]

4. Do I understand it correctly that Santos is there in person?

I guess it would be a big step up for his Presidential ambitions if he can get someone to even speak to him at this conference.

Hoping they will present a united front against this plan Colombia has to invade any country around claiming they are after those pesky FARCs, blow the hell out of things, maybe plant some more of those bogus FARCs they love to kill and misrepresent, even claim they are being fired on and really open up a firestorm.

A government officially giving itself permission to take its troops into other countries is asking for it. I hope they will stand firmly together on this.

It must have been someone in Rumsfeld's office who encouraged them to start up with this murderous, dishonest plan in the first place. It would be so decent if President Obama cleaned up some of this leftover dirty, underhanded business, as it does NOT represent the will of the American people, even after years of constant dishonesty from the corporate media.

[rabs]

5. He sure is

fifth one from the right in the doorway ...






Santos is there in a dual capacity, defense minister and pre-candidate to replace Uribe in the presidency next year. Look for Santos to resign in the next couple of months to dedicate himself to his campaign for the presidency.

Btw, the lady is Nilda Garré, defense minister for Cristina. Nice, a woman president and a woman defense minister. :-)

[Judi Lynn]

7. He's looking suitably subdued, isn't he? Not his real face, of course!

http://www.virginmedia.com.nyud.net:8090/images/thejoker-431x300.jpg
Didn't know Argentina had a female defense minister. That is interesting. Good for them.

Thanks for adding the photo, rabs. :hi:

[rabs]

8. Move over macho boys

http://www.huntalternatives.org/download/346_1_27_07_move_over_machismo_women_defense_ministers_new_trend_in_south_america.pdf
and here a bunch more ....

http://www.guide2womenleaders.com/Defence_ministers.htm

[Judi Lynn]

9. Great article. So this Defense Minister is herself involved in

the tremendous movement to cleanse Argentina's sorrowful history and hideous aftermath of the fascist Dirty War. They've got so much ugly business to straighten out, after those fascist monsters nearly destroyed their world.

Love the wry, and accurate wit shown in the remarks from the Chilean Defense Minister, as well. Had no idea who it was who punished that evil son of Pinochet's after he attacked Chileans regarding his butcher criminal father's funeral. He made a spectacular fool of himself. Runs in the family.

[Bacchus39]

6. anything new on the summit? doesn't seem criticism of Colombia is on the agenda

The agenda for the first meeting includes the analysis of a standard system to help measure defence expenditure of the twelve country members, as well as planning combined exercises for situations of catastrophe or natural disasters.

http://en.mercopress.com/2009/03/09/south-america-launches-council-on-defence-cooperation

they did criticize the embargo though.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2009/03/10/news/LT-Chile-Defense-Ministers.php