insurrección

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, left, waves as Mexican billionaire businessman Carlos Slim stands behind at a press conference in Mexico City, Monday, Aug. 4, 2008. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

TOP STORY - Bill Clinton's new mission in Latin America: Shoring up lap-dog governments (Canada NewsWire)

Bolivia - President suspicious over helicopter crash (Agence France-Presse)

Bolivia - Morales Says He 'Doesn't Fear' Results of Recall Referendum (Bloomberg)

Mexico - Mexico's Poor Forgo Goods as Income From U.S. Drops (Bloomberg)

United States - Militarizing the Social Sciences (Global Research.ca)

Venezuela - New Books by Marta Harnecker and Michael A. Lebowitz for Debate on Socialism (Monthly Review)

World - Privatisation and the World Bank (The Daily Star)

World - Don’t cry for Doha (Daily News)

Colombia's President Alvaro Uribe speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the Presidential Palace in Bogota, March 8, 2007.

By Rodrigo Acuña

On Line opinion

August 5, 2008

Excerpt from commentary:

As a detailed story in the magazine Extra! has documented, the US press has largely remained silent (or tried to put the best spin on) issues of corruption and human rights abuses under Uribe’s government in order to support a free trade deal between the US and Colombia...

(click here to view entire commentary)

Inka Kola News

August 1, 2008

Big news breaking in the region. The body of Guillermo Rivera was found buried in a garbage dump, apparently having been strangled. Rivera, a leader of an important opposition group in Venezuela, went missing on April 15th. His family were told at the time he had been taken into custody by the National Police Force.

This promises to set off an international scandal of the highest order. With the political situation tense as it is, this form of suppression of opposition political leaders is an affront to the spirit of democracy, protests should be made to the government of Hugo Chávez immediately and without doubt Venezuela and its government should be IMMEDIATELY SANCTIONED BY ALL INTERNATIONAL BODIES.

Here's the link to the full story. Oh....wait a minute....it's in Colombia, not Venezuela. Oops, silly me! And it was news there two weeks ago. Amazing how that one wasn't reported in English, isn't it?

(L-R) Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva meets with Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez at the Palacio San Martin in Buenos Aires, August 4, 2008. REUTERS/Presidency/Handout (ARGENTINA)

TOP STORY - South American leaders mull transportation plan (Associated Press)

Brazil - Brazil mulls sugar cane limit to protect wetland (Reuters)

Colombia - NGO Will Stamp Out Colombian Violence Forever Using Passive Aggressive Letter-Writing Techniques (BoRev.net)

Colombia - Declaration of TeleSUR in Response to the Affirmations of Minister Santos (Colombia Support Network News)

Colombia - New threats and intimidation in Narino State (Colombia Support Network News)

Ecuador - Ecuador seizes failed-bank owners' stocks (Associated Press)

Paraguay - New leader's first challenge: land reform (Associated Press)

Venezuela - The “Bridge” in the Coup: The IRI in Venezuela (Council on Hemispheric Affairs)

TOP STORY - Ecuador says US must leave Manta air base (Associated Press)

Colombia - US-Based Lawyers to Defend Victims of Paramilitaries (Inter Press Service)

Ecuador - Chevron hires lobbyists to squeeze Ecuador in toxic-dumping case (Newsweek)

Mexico - Mexicans vote 'no' on oil reform (Associated Press)

United States - International Republican Institute Gives Donors Access to McCain (New York Times)

United States - Noam Chomsky Interviewed by Vincent Navarro (Canadian Dimension)

United States - Obama On NAFTA: Name This “Change We Can Believe In” (Council on Hemispheric Affairs)

Venezuela - Taking Stock of the Bolivarian Revolution: Changing Venezuela by Taking Power (American Armageddon)

Venezuela - New Hampshire accepts Venezuelan heating oil (Concord Monitor)

World - WTO Talks Collapse Amidst Developing Countries' Reluctance to Sacrifice Food Security (Center for Economic and Policy Research)

TOP STORY - Ecuador says US must leave Manta air base (Associated Press)

Colombia - US-Based Lawyers to Defend Victims of Paramilitaries (Inter Press Service)

Ecuador - Chevron hires lobbyists to squeeze Ecuador in toxic-dumping case (Newsweek)

Mexico - Mexicans vote 'no' on oil reform (Associated Press)

United States - International Republican Institute Gives Donors Access to McCain (New York Times)

United States - Noam Chomsky Interviewed by Vincent Navarro (Canadian Dimension)

United States - Obama On NAFTA: Name This “Change We Can Believe In” (Council on Hemispheric Affairs)

Venezuela - Taking Stock of the Bolivarian Revolution: Changing Venezuela by Taking Power (American Armageddon)

Venezuela - New Hampshire accepts Venezuelan heating oil (Concord Monitor)

World - WTO Talks Collapse Amidst Developing Countries' Reluctance to Sacrifice Food Security (Center for Economic and Policy Research)

The commander of Colombia's Armed Forces, Gen. Fredy Padilla, left, listens to Colombia's Army commander, Gen. Mario Montoya, right, after being decorated by Cundinamarca State Gov. Andres Gonzalez, unseen, during a ceremony in Bogota, Wednesday, July 16, 2008. Colombia's President Alvaro Uribe, unseen, said at the ceremony that a member of the military mission that tricked rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, into freeing 15 hostages on July 2, 2008, wore the insignia of the International Red Cross during the operation. Uribe also said his government had apologized to the Red Cross for the incident, which he called an unauthorized error by a nervous soldier. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

Colombia - Community Leader Assassinated (Justice for Colombia)

Colombia - Environmentalist and Human Rights Activist Threatened (Justice for Colombia)

Colombia - Community Leader Killed (Justice for Colombia)

Colombia - Trade Union Bodyguard Tortured and Murdered (Justice for Colombia)

Colombia - Paramilitaries Kill Communist Party Member with Chainsaw (Justice for Colombia)

Colombia - Human Rights Defender Murdered (Justice for Colombia)

Colombia - Swiss Government Call on Colombian Regime to End Attacks (Justice for Colombia)

Colombia - Colombian State Accused of Torture and Murder of Trade Union Leader (Justice for Colombia)

The commander of Colombia's Armed Forces, Gen. Fredy Padilla, left, listens to Colombia's Army commander, Gen. Mario Montoya, right, after being decorated by Cundinamarca State Gov. Andres Gonzalez, unseen, during a ceremony in Bogota, Wednesday, July 16, 2008. Colombia's President Alvaro Uribe, unseen, said at the ceremony that a member of the military mission that tricked rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, into freeing 15 hostages on July 2, 2008, wore the insignia of the International Red Cross during the operation. Uribe also said his government had apologized to the Red Cross for the incident, which he called an unauthorized error by a nervous soldier. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

Colombia - Community Leader Assassinated (Justice for Colombia)

Colombia - Environmentalist and Human Rights Activist Threatened (Justice for Colombia)

Colombia - Community Leader Killed (Justice for Colombia)

Colombia - Trade Union Bodyguard Tortured and Murdered (Justice for Colombia)

Colombia - Paramilitaries Kill Communist Party Member with Chainsaw (Justice for Colombia)

Colombia - Human Rights Defender Murdered (Justice for Colombia)

Colombia - Swiss Government Call on Colombian Regime to End Attacks (Justice for Colombia)

Colombia - Colombian State Accused of Torture and Murder of Trade Union Leader (Justice for Colombia)

Colombian Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos discusses the recent hostage rescue and how the government is regaining its territory, Friday, July 25, 2008, at the National Press Club in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

BoRev.Net

July 25, 2008

Excerpt from report:

The sad part is not that the Colombian government attempts to manipulate the US and Colombian media in their fight against the FARC. The sad part is that the media allows itself to be manipulated when the truth is fairly obvious...

(click here to view entire report)

Colombian Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos discusses the recent hostage rescue and how the government is regaining its territory, Friday, July 25, 2008, at the National Press Club in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

BoRev.Net

July 25, 2008

Excerpt from report:

The sad part is not that the Colombian government attempts to manipulate the US and Colombian media in their fight against the FARC. The sad part is that the media allows itself to be manipulated when the truth is fairly obvious...

(click here to view entire report)

Colombian Senator Carlos Garcia, the president of the political party of Colombian leader Alvaro Uribe, has been arrested for links to paramilitary groups.

[Editor's note: Notice that the Associated Press report below fails to even mention that the arrested Senator leads Alvaro Uribe's own political party. The oversight is not likely to be a coincidence.]

TOP STORY - Leading Colombian party chief arrested (Associated Press)

Latin America - The South American Defense Clusterfuck (BoRev.Net)

Latin America - New report blasts trade policies (Whenua Fenua Enua Vanua)

Mexico - Ready for another defeat in the war on drugs (The Olympian)

Mexico - Privatization of Mexican Oil Will Advance SPP Objectives (Granite Bay Press Tribune)

Venezuela - Smiles and laughter: Hugo Chávez meets King Juan Carlos (London Times)

Venezuela - Chavez doubts relations with US will improve if Obama is elected (Associated Press)

Colombian Senator Carlos Garcia, the president of the political party of Colombian leader Alvaro Uribe, has been arrested for links to paramilitary groups.

[Editor's note: Notice that the Associated Press report below fails to even mention that the arrested Senator leads Alvaro Uribe's own political party. The oversight is not likely to be a coincidence.]

TOP STORY - Leading Colombian party chief arrested (Associated Press)

Latin America - The South American Defense Clusterfuck (BoRev.Net)

Latin America - New report blasts trade policies (Whenua Fenua Enua Vanua)

Mexico - Ready for another defeat in the war on drugs (The Olympian)

Mexico - Privatization of Mexican Oil Will Advance SPP Objectives (Granite Bay Press Tribune)

Venezuela - Smiles and laughter: Hugo Chávez meets King Juan Carlos (London Times)

Venezuela - Chavez doubts relations with US will improve if Obama is elected (Associated Press)

Colombian Senator Carlos Garcia, the president of the political party of Colombian leader Alvaro Uribe, has been arrested for links to paramilitary groups.

[Editor's note: Notice that the Associated Press report below fails to even mention that the arrested Senator leads Alvaro Uribe's own political party. The oversight is not likely to be a coincidence.]

TOP STORY - Leading Colombian party chief arrested (Associated Press)

Latin America - The South American Defense Clusterfuck (BoRev.Net)

Latin America - New report blasts trade policies (Whenua Fenua Enua Vanua)

Mexico - Ready for another defeat in the war on drugs (The Olympian)

Mexico - Privatization of Mexican Oil Will Advance SPP Objectives (Granite Bay Press Tribune)

Venezuela - Smiles and laughter: Hugo Chávez meets King Juan Carlos (London Times)

Venezuela - Chavez doubts relations with US will improve if Obama is elected (Associated Press)

¿Qué Es Lo Que Quiere Juan Manuel Santos? The Colombian Defense Minister’s Visit to Washington and His Likely Bid for the Presidency in 2010

Council on Hemispheric Affairs

July 24, 2008

Excerpt from report:

Juan Manuel Santos, one of the few political figures in the Uribe administration who has been practically left untouched by the para-politics scandal, is now extremely popular as a result of the enormous success of Operation Jaque. According to a Gallup poll Colombia survey taken after the rescue mission, Juan Manuel Santos enjoys a 70 percent favorability rate. Unquestionably, he is an Uribista hardliner and very close to President Uribe. At the same time, his close associates acknowledge that Santos is predisposed to do whatever is necessary to advance his presidential ambitions, even if it means challenging Uribe in 2010 in a pitched battle for the seat. Moreover, if Uribe decides to step down after 2010, a Santos candidacy could result.

As Peruvian writer and politician Vargas Llosa stated in his article “Operation Jaque,” for the newspaper El Pais, “The Minister of Defense Santos can replace Uribe when the latter’s mandate ends.” Santos’ obdurate and hard line stance on the guerrilla problem in Colombia, is one of the reasons why the FARC has been wary of entering into negotiations with Colombian authorities. At the Center for American Progress meeting on July 23, Santos blamed the guerrillas for not negotiating with the “generous hand of the government.” In spite of invading Ecuador on March 1, killing their leaders and offering to pay a high reward for the murder or turning in of top leaders, Santos naively seems to believe that the FARC should be grateful to the one figure who has shown the greatest malevolence to it. Surely the Uribe government’s policy does not reflect the attitude of a government committed to achieving a peace agreement with the guerrilla armies...

(click here to view entire report)

¿Qué Es Lo Que Quiere Juan Manuel Santos? The Colombian Defense Minister’s Visit to Washington and His Likely Bid for the Presidency in 2010

Council on Hemispheric Affairs

July 24, 2008

Excerpt from report:

Juan Manuel Santos, one of the few political figures in the Uribe administration who has been practically left untouched by the para-politics scandal, is now extremely popular as a result of the enormous success of Operation Jaque. According to a Gallup poll Colombia survey taken after the rescue mission, Juan Manuel Santos enjoys a 70 percent favorability rate. Unquestionably, he is an Uribista hardliner and very close to President Uribe. At the same time, his close associates acknowledge that Santos is predisposed to do whatever is necessary to advance his presidential ambitions, even if it means challenging Uribe in 2010 in a pitched battle for the seat. Moreover, if Uribe decides to step down after 2010, a Santos candidacy could result.

As Peruvian writer and politician Vargas Llosa stated in his article “Operation Jaque,” for the newspaper El Pais, “The Minister of Defense Santos can replace Uribe when the latter’s mandate ends.” Santos’ obdurate and hard line stance on the guerrilla problem in Colombia, is one of the reasons why the FARC has been wary of entering into negotiations with Colombian authorities. At the Center for American Progress meeting on July 23, Santos blamed the guerrillas for not negotiating with the “generous hand of the government.” In spite of invading Ecuador on March 1, killing their leaders and offering to pay a high reward for the murder or turning in of top leaders, Santos naively seems to believe that the FARC should be grateful to the one figure who has shown the greatest malevolence to it. Surely the Uribe government’s policy does not reflect the attitude of a government committed to achieving a peace agreement with the guerrilla armies...

(click here to view entire report)

¿Qué Es Lo Que Quiere Juan Manuel Santos? The Colombian Defense Minister’s Visit to Washington and His Likely Bid for the Presidency in 2010

Council on Hemispheric Affairs

July 24, 2008

Excerpt from report:

Juan Manuel Santos, one of the few political figures in the Uribe administration who has been practically left untouched by the para-politics scandal, is now extremely popular as a result of the enormous success of Operation Jaque. According to a Gallup poll Colombia survey taken after the rescue mission, Juan Manuel Santos enjoys a 70 percent favorability rate. Unquestionably, he is an Uribista hardliner and very close to President Uribe. At the same time, his close associates acknowledge that Santos is predisposed to do whatever is necessary to advance his presidential ambitions, even if it means challenging Uribe in 2010 in a pitched battle for the seat. Moreover, if Uribe decides to step down after 2010, a Santos candidacy could result.

As Peruvian writer and politician Vargas Llosa stated in his article “Operation Jaque,” for the newspaper El Pais, “The Minister of Defense Santos can replace Uribe when the latter’s mandate ends.” Santos’ obdurate and hard line stance on the guerrilla problem in Colombia, is one of the reasons why the FARC has been wary of entering into negotiations with Colombian authorities. At the Center for American Progress meeting on July 23, Santos blamed the guerrillas for not negotiating with the “generous hand of the government.” In spite of invading Ecuador on March 1, killing their leaders and offering to pay a high reward for the murder or turning in of top leaders, Santos naively seems to believe that the FARC should be grateful to the one figure who has shown the greatest malevolence to it. Surely the Uribe government’s policy does not reflect the attitude of a government committed to achieving a peace agreement with the guerrilla armies...

(click here to view entire report)

Torture as a ‘Side Effect’ of Forced Disappearance, Killings

By Constanza Vieira

BOGOTA, Jul 22 (IPS) - The body of trade unionist Guillermo Rivera, who was missing since April, was finally found after 84 days of desperate searching by his family and friends.

The forensic experts reported that the body showed "clear signs of torture," Jorge Gómez, the widow's lawyer, told IPS.

The 52-year-old Rivera was last seen when he took his daughter to her bus stop on the morning of Apr. 22. A witness said she saw him arguing with the police as they handcuffed him and shoved him into a police car. "Why are you taking me?" she heard him ask the officers.

Security cameras located near Rivera’s home on the south side of Bogotá "showed that several police cars were present at the time and place where the gentleman disappeared," a source at the Attorney General’s Office told IPS...

(click here to view entire report)

Torture as a ‘Side Effect’ of Forced Disappearance, Killings

By Constanza Vieira

BOGOTA, Jul 22 (IPS) - The body of trade unionist Guillermo Rivera, who was missing since April, was finally found after 84 days of desperate searching by his family and friends.

The forensic experts reported that the body showed "clear signs of torture," Jorge Gómez, the widow's lawyer, told IPS.

The 52-year-old Rivera was last seen when he took his daughter to her bus stop on the morning of Apr. 22. A witness said she saw him arguing with the police as they handcuffed him and shoved him into a police car. "Why are you taking me?" she heard him ask the officers.

Security cameras located near Rivera’s home on the south side of Bogotá "showed that several police cars were present at the time and place where the gentleman disappeared," a source at the Attorney General’s Office told IPS...

(click here to view entire report)

Torture as a ‘Side Effect’ of Forced Disappearance, Killings

By Constanza Vieira

BOGOTA, Jul 22 (IPS) - The body of trade unionist Guillermo Rivera, who was missing since April, was finally found after 84 days of desperate searching by his family and friends.

The forensic experts reported that the body showed "clear signs of torture," Jorge Gómez, the widow's lawyer, told IPS.

The 52-year-old Rivera was last seen when he took his daughter to her bus stop on the morning of Apr. 22. A witness said she saw him arguing with the police as they handcuffed him and shoved him into a police car. "Why are you taking me?" she heard him ask the officers.

Security cameras located near Rivera’s home on the south side of Bogotá "showed that several police cars were present at the time and place where the gentleman disappeared," a source at the Attorney General’s Office told IPS...

(click here to view entire report)

McCain Campaign Running Obama-Castro Ad

By Sam Stein

Huffington Post

July 24, 2008

The McCain campaign has a new web ad out placing Barack Obama, for the second time, side-by-side with a foreign dictator. This time, it's Fidel Castro.

A Democrat in south Florida alerted the Huffington Post to the image, which shows Obama and Castro, profiled side-by-side, above a quote from the Cuban leader praising the Illinois Democrat as "the most advanced candidate."

Picture association is a time-honored tool in political campaigns (think: former Georgia Sen. Max Cleland having his mug pasted beside Osama Bin Laden's during the 2002 congressional elections). And indeed, this is not the first time that the presumptive Republican nominee has used the tactic. Early in June, McCain's campaign launched a web ad placing Obama beside Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad underneath the caption: "Is it OK to unconditionally meet with anti-American foreign leaders?"

(click here to view entire report)