MB Civic

Will there be war in South America? They gotta lot of oil and other goodies…

A “liberal” in the White House, gives conservative forces the kind of coverage they had hoped for. It is no coincidence that Venezuelan opposition commentators applauded the naming of Clinton to the State Department claiming that they now had an ally in the administration … Coup leaders in Honduras and their allies continue to play for time. Washington’s continuing vacillation is allowing them to exhaust this option … After all, this coup is not just about Honduras but also about left success in Latin America … But Honduras is only part of the equation. Colombia’s decision to accept as many as 7 new U.S. military bases dramatically expands the U.S. military’s role in the country and throughout the region … A base on the Caribbean coast of Colombia would also offer a convenient harbor on the South American mainland. In short, Venezuela would be literally encircled … None of these developments are forgone conclusions, but they nonetheless speak to the fact that conservative forces in Latin America and their allies in the U.S. are mounting a concerted counter offensive that could increase the potential for conflict in the region

– Salas is Professor of History at Pomona College and author of The Enduring Legacy: Oil, Culture and Society in Venezuela .. read more