Sunday, July 19, 2009
Zud Distributers In Canada
Right The Pope Strikes
Immanuel Wallerstein La Jornada
's presidency George W. Bush was far more electoral devastation by the center-left parties in Latin America in the last two centuries. Barack Obama's presidency risks being the moment of vengeance on the right in Latin America.
The reason may well be the same: the combination of the decline of American power with the continued centrality of the United States in world politics. At the same time, Washington is unable to impose itself and everyone expected to enter the field of play in their side.
What was what happened in Honduras? Long ago this country is one of the pillars of the Latin American oligarchies insurance: ruling class has a cocky and unrepentant, keeps close ties with the United States and is the site of a major U.S. military base.
The reason may well be the same: the combination of the decline of American power with the continued centrality of the United States in world politics. At the same time, Washington is unable to impose itself and everyone expected to enter the field of play in their side.
What was what happened in Honduras? Long ago this country is one of the pillars of the Latin American oligarchies insurance: ruling class has a cocky and unrepentant, keeps close ties with the United States and is the site of a major U.S. military base.
In the last elections, Manuel (Mel) Zelaya was elected president. Being a product of the dominant classes, was expected to continue playing the game on the way Honduran presidents have ever played. Instead, he bowed his policies toward the left. Launched internal programs that actually did something for the vast majority of the population: schools built in remote rural areas, by increasing the minimum wage, health clinics were opened. He began his term supporting FTA with the United States, but two years later joined ALBA, the organization of states that created the President Hugo Chávez. The result was that Honduras obtained cheap oil from Venezuela.
then proposed holding a referendum on whether people thought it a good idea to review the Constitution. The oligarchy shouted that this was an attempt to Zelaya to change laws and allow him to agree to a second term. Since the consultation was expected to happen on the day his successor was elected, this is clearly a fabricated reason.
Why, then, the army staged a coup backed by the Supreme Court, the Honduran Congress and the Catholic hierarchy? Two factors come together here: his vision of Zelaya and his perception of the United States. In the thirties, the U.S. right attacked Franklin Roosevelt as a "traitor to his class." For the Honduran oligarchy, that means that Zelaya, "a traitor to his class," is someone who should be punished as an example for others.
And what about the U.S.? When the coup occurred, some commentators on the left screaming in the blogosphere called it "a coup for Obama." That you miss the point of what happened. Zelaya and his supporters or the street, nor Chavez or Fidel Castro, who take this view as simplistic. All they notice the difference between Obama and the American right (political leaders or military figures).
seems clear that the last thing the Obama administration wanted this coup. It was an attempt to force the issue. No doubt this was the breath of key figures in the U.S. right as Otto Reich (the Cuban-American and former Bush adviser) and the International Republican Institute.
Since the coup occurred in Honduras, Obama, constrained between two strong positions, merely to gain time winking to one and all without taking a clear stance.
We witness some of their exorbitant claims. The Foreign Minister of the coup government, Enrique Ortez, said Obama was a "black man who knows nothing about anything." There is some controversy on how pejorative the term "black" in Castilian. In any case, the U.S. ambassador strongly protested at the insult. Ortez apologized for his "unfortunate expression," and was changed to another job in government. Ortez was interviewed by Honduran television saying: "I have no racial prejudice, I like the little black sugar mill that is presiding over the United States."
Undoubtedly, the American right is shorter but no less Obama denunciatory. Sen. Jim DeMint, Rep. Cuban American Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, and conservative lawyer Manuel A. Estrada, have all insisted that the coup was justified because it was not a coup, but just a defense of the Honduran Constitution. And the right-wing blogger Jennifer Rubin, published a text on July 13 entitled: Obama is wrong, wrong, wrong over Honduras. Honduran equivalent, Ramon Villeda, published an open letter to U.S. president on 11 July, where he said: "It is not the first time Washington makes a mistake and leaves, at critical moments, an ally and friend." Right Honduran
ago looking to win their game time, until the period ends Zelaya. If they achieve their goal, have won. And right Guatemalan, Salvadoran and Nicaraguan seen from the side, and already bitten the desire to start their own coups against their governments are no longer right.
right may win the election this year and next year in Argentina and Brazil, perhaps in Uruguay and Chile. Three major Southern Cone analysts have published their explanations. Atilio Boron speaks of the "futility of the strike." Brazilian sociologist Emir Sader said that Latin America faces a crossroads: "The deepening of anti-neoliberalism or the conservative restoration." Uruguayan journalist Raúl Zibechi analysis titled The irresistible decline of liberalism.
Zibechi think that the weak policies of Lula, Vazquez, Kirchner and Bachelet (Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina and Chile) have strengthened the right (which envisions adopting a style Berlusconi) and divided the left.
I think there is a more direct and simple. The left came to power in Latin America because of American distraction and good economic times. He now faces a continuing distraction, but the economic times are bad and starting to blame because he is in power, although there is little they can do the center-left governments regarding the world economy.
Can America do something about this coup? Of course. First, Obama can officially label the coup as a coup. This could trigger a U.S. law that cut off all U.S. assistance to Honduras. Can encroach on the Pentagon continued relations with the Honduran military. You can withdraw the U.S. ambassador. You can say that there is nothing to negotiate rather than insist on the "mediation" between the legitimate government and the coup leaders.
Why not do all that? It is very simple, too. Has at least four other super items on its agenda: confirmation Sonia Sotomayor in the Supreme Court, a continued turmoil in the Middle East, their need to pass health care legislation this year (if not in August, December), and suddenly a huge pressure to open investigations of illegal acts Bush administration. Sorry, but Honduras is the fifth in the list.
So Barack Obama does not take a clear stance. And nobody will be happy. Zelaya can be restored in the post, but maybe only three months from now. Too late. Put her attention to Guatemala.
Translation: Ramón Vera Herrera
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