Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: E who wrote (23987)	1/12/2004 10:59:10 AM
From: LindyBill	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 793671

The goal the United States hopes to reach in Iraq—a successful counterinsurgency that does not drag on for years and does not involve a large amount of killing—has never been achieved by any army.” ..." The War the liberated Iraq has never been achieved by any Army before, either. What we did in Japan and Germany after WWII has never been achieved either. etc, etc. In any case, the Iraqis will have to achieve it. This article, and other articles, have made that very clear. lindybill@cheerup.com

To: E who wrote (23987)	1/12/2004 11:07:32 AM
From: LindyBill	Respond to of 793671

Time to drop a MEU - Marine Expeditionary Force - off in Venezuela? One thing the Marines know how to do is kick ass in South America. :>) Jan. 11, 2004, 6:23PM Editorial HUGO & FIDEL Working together to destabilize democracies Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle Birds of a feather flock together and apparently so too do Latin America's left-wing bad boys, Hugo Chavez of Venezuela and Fidel Castro of Cuba. It's no secret the two have enjoyed their own mutual admiration society for years, with Chavez publicly calling the elder Castro his mentor and Fidel openly praising Chavez's ham-fisted rule in Venezuela. So there is reason for legitimate concern -- in the opinion of leaders of several Latin American countries and the U.S. State Department -- that Castro and Chavez have secretly joined together to destabilize democratic, pro-American governments in the hemisphere. It's a potent combination of Castro's revolutionary experience and Chavez's oil revenue. State Department sources tell The Associated Press that October's ouster of Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada, Bolivia's elected, pro-American president, may have been determined by the use of resources from Venezuela. There is also evidence that Venezuelan money and personnel are being used to support anti-government groups in Uruguay and Ecuador. Chavez is also believed to be giving sanctuary and financial support to Colombian rebel groups, State Department officials say. Castro has provided advice, training and logistical help for leftist groups in the hemisphere, according to U.S. officials. How much time is left for the two rulers to stir up trouble in Latin America remains in question. Castro is 77 and apparently in poor health. Chavez and many supporters in his rubber-stamp Parliament face a possible recall referendum this summer. Interestingly, the State Department's comments about the ties between Castro and Chavez have been made more quietly than one would normally expect, with the intention of not giving either ruler ammunition they could use to feed anti-Americanism. But the alliance between Fidel and Hugo and their antidemocratic influence in Latin America are subjects that should be put on the front burner at the summit meeting this week of Latin American leaders in Monterrey, Mexico. President Bush is expected to attend, as is Chavez. Ignoring Chavez and Castro won't make them go away. Ignoring them is dangerous for freedom and democracy. This article is: chron.com