[Marxism] More Speculation about the murder of Raul Reyes

[Anthony Boynton]

More Speculation about the assassination of Raul Reyes
in Ecuador

Yesterday I posted a note speculating about the
possibility that the assassination of Raul Reyes by
the Colombian military was part of a well planned
campaign which has much bigger aims than merely
killing one leader of the FARC. Among those aims could
be to cause a war between Colombia and Venezuela in
which an attempt would be made to assassinate Hugo
Chavez, and which would change the terms of debate in
the US elections in favor of John McCain. One aim I
did not mention, but should have mentioned, is passage
of “The Colombian Trade Promotion Act” (usually called
a Free Trade Agreement, here in Colombia).

Today’s New York Times carries an interesting article
showing exactly how this goal of Colmbia’s government
fits into the plan. ( Colombia Is Flashpoint in
Chávez’s Feud With U.S.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/05/world/americas/05venez.html?pagewanted=2&ref=world
By SIMON ROMERO Published: March 5, 2008).

Here are the key paragraphs:

“Meanwhile, President Bush fiercely defended Colombia,
which receives $600 million a year in American aid to
fight the leftist rebels and drug trafficking. He used
the diplomatic crisis to push Congress to approve a
Colombia trade deal that has languished for more than
a year because of concerns among senior Democrats over
human rights abuses there.

“Mr. Bush, who telephoned Colombia’s president, Álvaro
Uribe, on Tuesday morning, told reporters at the White
House, “I told the president that America fully
supports Colombia’s democracy, and that we firmly
oppose any acts of aggression that could destabilize
the region.”

“Employing a new strategy to portray the trade
agreement with Colombia as an issue of national
security, Mr. Bush used the occasion to call on
Congress to ratify the deal as a way of countering
leaders like Mr. Chávez who had emerged as scourges of
American policies in the region.

‘“If we fail to approve this agreement, we will let
down our close ally, we will damage our credibility in
the region and we will embolden the demagogues in our
hemisphere,” Mr. Bush said.”

Given the strong statement of support to Colombia made
by both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, the
Democratic Party in Congress may very well decide to
pass the Colombian trade package, despite the strong
opposition of US unions. 

Anthony




      ____________________________________________________________________________________
Never miss a thing.  Make Yahoo your home page. 
http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs