Diplomatic tensions between the two countries have been brewing since Morales took office in 2006. He has consistently accused the U.S. of conspiring with others to overthrow his leftist government. In 2008 Morales declared the then American ambassador persona non grata, and also closed a local office of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which he alleged was meddling in internal affairs. The U.S. retaliated by sending home top Bolivian officials in Washington. Since then diplomatic business has been handled by lower level functionaries in both capitals.
"I want to warn them again publicly that I'm not afraid. If the United States embassy keeps on messing in Bolivian affairs, as it's been dong for a long time, then it will be better just to close it. We're anti-imperialists and anti-capitalists," Morales told a regional meeting of the Socialist Movement, the national political party which he heads and which catapulted him into the country's highest office six years ago. In November the U.S. and Bolivia signed an agreement directed at the normalization of diplomatic relations, but last month Morales complained that the American embassy had once again engaged in "espionage, for the fifth time." He did not elaborate on the details of his claim.
Calling capitalism "the worst enemy of humanity," during his 2006 inaugural address Morales said, "In the world there are large and small countries, rich countries and poor countries, but we are equal in one thing, which is our right to dignity and sovereignty." Morales is firmly committed to the development of socialist policies in his impoverished nation, and argues that capitalist powers have tried to seize and exploit scarce natural resources, taking advantage of underdeveloped countries in many regions of the world.
At the root of his dispute with the U.S. is Morale's active promotion of the cocoa leaf -- a cash staple as well as a popular item of consumption in his country for generations -- as one of the principal national products of Bolivia. Since cocoa is the key and indispensable ingredient in the production of cocaine, the U.S. is a vigorous opponent of Morale's policy. Unlike Colombia, which for decades has tried to eliminate the cocoa trade if not entirely eradicate the plant itself, Bolivia under Morales has gone in just the opposite direction.
The Morales government is on close terms with the Castro regime in Cuba. Last Sept., while receiving an honorary degree in Havana, Morales blasted the U.S. for being the biggest drug consuming nation in the world (post below). He said the United States bears primary responsibility for the drug wars afflicting Central America and Mexico, which in the latter has caused about 50,000 deaths since December 2006.
May 1, 2013 - Bolivian president Morales expels "subversive" USAID
Bolivia's Eva Morales condemns U.S. at Havana ceremony: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2011/09/bolivias-eva-morales-condemns-united.html.
Mexican drug cartels expand operations to Peru and Bolivia: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/10/mexican-drug-cartels-expand-operations.html.
47,515 have died in Mexico's five year drug war: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/01/47515-have-died-in-mexicos-five-year.html.
Honduras ships tons of cocaine to U.S., "where the consumers are": http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2011/12/honduras-invaded-by-drug-traffickers.html.
Mitt Romney talks tough on foreign consequences of U.S. drug usage: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/01/mitt-romney-talks-tough-on-us-drug.html.
Obama says U.S. drug usage responsible for damage to Mexico, Central America: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2011/12/obama-us-drug-demand-responsible-for.html.
U.S. is "9% stoned," say senators: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2011/09/united-states-is-9-stoned-say-two-us.html.
Unfortunately they are right. Many people in the USA consume legal and illegal drugs. But, the problem is much larger than many care to admit, it even goes as far as job security for many different types of professions. Attorneys, police, prisons, case workers at prisons and other staff not to mention prison guards. The list goes on. I believe that the USA government does not really want to stop the consumption of drugs legal or illegal. It is a corner stone in job creation. The use of drugs also weakens the masses making them easier to control. Let us face the facts drugs are a big problem in inner city public schools in particular. How many politicians send their kids to these schools? How about other types of professionals? Just think about all the propaganda that television puts out there, news, sitcoms etc. Who controls these conglomerates? Who benefits? Not the common people or their children. What war on drugs? It is all lies, the economy of the USA would be devastated if drug consumption and distribution stopped. The people who make money off drug use indirectly would have to find another job. Maybe then they would actually become contributing members of society instead of hypocrites. The sad fact is that many of these people who point the finger at drug users and so simply say lock them up and throw away the key are often users themselves or consumers of alcohol, another drug. Why not outlaw alcohol the true gateway to other drugs. If they legalized drugs at least they could control the quality and tax it. But, what would happen to all the jobs created from chasing drug users, sellers and abusers? Lets not forget the enormous amount of money made by companies who own private prisons. Many people and organizations do not want to help users or rehabilitate them, they want recidivists so the terrible cycle can continue. I am a realist and that is what the statistics tell me. The USA has the largest prison populous in the world per capita. The whole argument and especially the news misinformation disgusts me. Best wishes world
ReplyDelete