Obama on Latin America: "Small Change", If Any

A Miami organization which, according to a July 1998 New York Times article, funded a series of deadly terrorists bombings in Cuba, and which may be connected to the 1976 bombing of a Cuban airliner killing 73 people, hosted Democratic presidential nominee-apparent Barack Obama last week. Before this illustrious audience, Obama sketched the broad outlines of his agenda for “change” in Latin America.

While much of the rest of the media drones on about flag pins, race cards and imaginary assassination threats, Black Agenda Report takes this opportunity to provide its readers analysis, highlights and links to the full text of that address, along with along with commentary by our special correspondent Roberto Lovato.

Obama on Latin America: "Small Change", If Any
by BAR Special Correspondent Roberto Lovato

Many of us had great "hope" for the much-vaunted "change" in U.S. policy towards Latin America. But listening to Barack Obama's "substantive" speech on U.S. Latin America policy last week and reading his "New Partnership with the Americas" policy proposal, it's pretty clear that Obama will do nothing to alter the basic structure of George W. Bush's Latin America policy: trade backed by militarism.

Given the painful failure and generalized destruction wrought by the last century of U.S. policy in the hemisphere, the basic outline of "substantive" policy towards America Latina should look something like this

Immediate de-escalation of tensions between Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia and US ally/surrogate Colombia. One would hope that, in the face of the atrocities in Colombia, Ubama would add a condemnation as loud as those Democrats wield at Cuba, whose violation of sovereignty (condemned by OAS) and human rights record-death squad killings, disappearances, torture of thousands-pales before that of Colombia;

Holding up Colombia's multi-billion dollar military aid package would also indicate some substance;

Dismantling NAFTA, CAFTA and other trade and economic policies (ie some IMF and World Bank programs) that destroy livelihoods and communities (nay regions), bust government budgets and further enrich the elites in these countries; continued>>>

http://www.blackagendareport.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=642&Itemid=1

He would be really following in the footsteps of RFK and I hate to say that.

There's gonna be bunches of the disillusioned if Obama wins. Those suggestions for real change in the Black Agenda Report piece are spot on and minimal requirements for effecting justice and stability. They are something you're not gonna see from any candidate that's allowed within spitting distance of the White House.

Why do people insist on fooling themselves?

Why do people insist on fooling themselves?

I think it's easier for people to think that a new leader will *save* them, than to realize that everything we've ever been taught and believed in is a sham.

Just MHO.

If he is not, he must be challenged. The USA should be a partner in our hemisphere, not a belligerent intruder. In addition, we should not try to overthrow legitimate governments anywhere, especially in South America. Someday in the near future we may be the recipient of the same treatment. Our day as top dog is long gone; we just haven't admitted it yet. Europe was smart not to join us in the Iraq War; I am shocked England did. I guess that was all Tony Blair. They have had enough of war in the last 100 years. We have not had any invasion here and so we do not have the history to know its damage. The US under Bush/Cheney did not have the smarts to listen to anyone, at home or abroad.