S. America: Paraguayans protest US ; Uruguay next military foothold?

There were protests against the presence of US troops in the country in the streets of Asuncion, Paraguay on Tuesday (17-I-06).  http://www.abc.com.py/...

These were mostly by young people and members of workers' and other leftist parties.  The umbrella organization is "Plataforma Antimperialista Fuera Yankees de Paraguay y América Latina" (no translation necessary).  The objection is to the ongoing series of 13 monthly joint maneuver exercises with US troops (scheduled through December 2006), and to the HUGE military base that has been in place for 30 years (since Stroessner), but has been recently upgraded.  The base is in Mariscal Estigarribia, in the Paraguayan Chaco, not too far from the Bolivian border (200 km).  The other issues surround immunity from prosecution for US troops (remember the International court at the Hague?), and speculation on big personnel plans (16,000 men) for the base. More about the base: http://www.politicalaffairs.net/article/view/2479/1/140/

"La habilitación de entrada a las tropas norteamericanas con inmunidad especial, hasta diciembre de 2006, provocó una profusa especulación en torno de las reales intenciones de EE. UU. En cientos de artículos en periódicos de papel y digitales se advierte el presunto plan estadounidense de crear una base militar en el Chaco paraguayo, con 16.000 hombres, en Mcal. Estigarribia, donde existe una villa militar medio abandonada y un aeropuerto consolidado, capaz de soportar aviones de gran envergadura." (ABC Color Digital, Jan. 17)

[transl.] "The authorization of entry of North American troops with special immunity up to December 2006, provoked in turn great speculation of the true intentions of the US.  In hundreds of articles in print and electronic newspapers notice has been taken of the current US plans to create a military base in the Paraguayan Chaco, with 16,000 men, in Mariscal Estigarribia, where there is a half-abandoned military camp and a fortified airport able to support large aircraft."

Background:
There have been several excellent diaries here on Latin America generally, and Bolivia, Chile, Venezuela, Peru, and Mexico specifically over the last month or so:

http://www.dailykos.com/...
http://www.dailykos.com/...
http://www.dailykos.com/...
http://www.dailykos.com/...
http://www.dailykos.com/...
http://www.dailykos.com/...
http://www.dailykos.com/...

I thought that this issue finally getting some attention from the people of Paraguay was important.

Paraguay is about the third poorest country in the hemisphere, just above Haiti and Bolivia.

The right-center Colorado Party government of President Nicanor Duarte Frutos has been walking a line between showing some independence from Washington, as when Duarte rebuffed efforts to get Paraguay to send troops to Iraq last year, and to continue to be in good graces with the IMF and World Bank and to receive aid from the US.  Some of this involves acquiescing to Washington on "terrorist activities" in the Triple Frontera area (Paraguay-Argentina-Brazil border, especially Ciudad del Este, formerly Puerto Stroessner).  US military aid is too hard to pass up in this poor country, I suspect.  And someone could probably elaborate on the kind of strings that economic aid packages are coming with from Washington to countries like Paraguay these days.

Then there's the ongoing trans-shipment of drugs and pirated CDs and software that Paraguay has been (in)famous for in the past.  The poor country struggles against a history of the longest-reigning dictator in the world (Alfredo Stroessner) and an agricultural- and "exporting"-based (illegal items and contraband) economy.  The Mercosur has been some help, but not much when it is dominated by Brazil and Argentina (Uruguay complains, too).

And now here's the US military "eavesdropping" on all the surrounding countries it can (Bolivia, Argentina, Brazil, Chile) from this base in the sparsely-populated Chaco.  It would happen to be a conveniently and centrally-located place from which to "send support" to any of these coutries if Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld/Rice et al felt it was in the interest of "fighting terra".

Oh, and let's not forget the natural gas in Bolivia.  Evo Morales' election as President is a real challenge to the Bush Administraiton; so is Michelle Bachelet's presidency  in Chile.  And that terrible Lula in Brazil is a large pain in the rear.   And that Tabaré Vásquez in Uruguay is a problem, too - - oh, wait a minute.  He's directed his economy minister to start separate trade talks with the US, in violation of the rules of the Mercosur: http://www.miami.com/...  "''We're bargaining with all sides,'' Uruguay's agriculture minister, José Mujica, a former Tupamaro guerrilla and one of the most powerful members of the government, said in a telephone interview. ``We must sign trade agreements with the United States, China and as many countries as possible, without turning our backs to the [South American] region.''  Hmm., perhaps score one for the Bushistas.  Or maybe it has to do with this: http://www.politicaydesarrollo.com.ar/...
"El bien informado sitio de Internet argenpress.info el 17 de diciembre pasado, encabezaba una nota así: "El jefe del Comando Sur de los EEUU, general John Craddock dijo estar interesado en instalar en Uruguay una base regional, para preparar militares con destino a las misiones de paz de la o­nU". Esta novedad la trajo el diario El País de ese mismo día, donde el general habla de una reunión en Miami con "altos jefes militares latinoamericanos", dando solo los nombres de algunos de los participantes  uruguayos.

[transl.] "The well-informed internet site Argenpress.info headlined an article last December 17 thus: "The chief of the US Southern Command, General John Craddock, is said to be interested to install a regional base in Uruguay, to prepare military personnel destined for UN peace missions."  This piece of news was carried by the El Pais newspaper the same day, in which the general spoke of a meeting in Miami with "high military leaders from Latin America", giving only the names of some of the Uruguayan participants."

Great, so we're wooing Uruguay for a base, in addition to the one in Paraguay?  Are we perhaps seeing a (re-)militarization of South America, against those countries' own inhabitants?  Can you say "Operation Condor"?  And just connect that with the ongoing "eavesdropping" (as NPR called it this morning) on US citizens going on here.  This picture is not good.

On the other hand, the Bushistas lost one last year with the selection of José Miguel Insulza (former Chilean Interior Minister) to head the Organization of American States (OAS).

Here's a point of view from the Dominican Republic (El Nacional): http://www.elnacional.com.do/...

"Con gobiernos de izquierda o con posiciones progresistas en Uruguay, Chile, Brasil, Venezuela, Argentina y Bolivia, y la posibilidad de triunfo del indígena Ollanta Humallah en Perú, la Administración Bush impulsa el proyecto reeleccionista de Uribe Vélez en Colombia e incrementa la presencia militar en Paraguay y la utilización del territorio de ese país para labores cuya identificación no requiere esfuerzo alguno."

[trans.] "With leftist or progressive-positioned governments in Uruguay, Chile, Brasil, Venezuela, Argentina and Bolivia, and the possible win by indigenist Ollanta Humallah in Peru, the Bush Administration has pushed the reelection campaign of Uribe Vélez in Colombia and has increased the military presence in Paraguay and the use of that country's territory for purposes that require no effort to identify."  The writer goes on to identify more US troop joint exercises in the dominican Republic, on the Haiti border.

Here's an article from the "Linea Capital" paper in Posadas, Misiones Province [north], Argentina (Jan. 18): http://www.lineacapital.com.ar/...
"El aeropuerto semiclandestino que existe desde hace algunos años en el Chaco paraguayo tiene posibilidades para albergar hasta 16 mil militares, aterrizar aviones B-52 y Galaxy, y desembarcar material bélico pesado."
[transl.] "the semi-clandestine airport which has existed for some years in the Paraguayan Chaco has the capacity to house 16,000 troops, to land B-52 and Galaxy aircraft, and to off-load heavy military equipment."  Sounds like the Argentines aren't too keen on all this, either.  (sorry, my Portuguese stinks - - I would welcome any press coverage from Brazil that anyone can link/excerpt.)

How on earth (literally) are we to fund, staff, and supply these adventures around our hemisphere?  This situation bears watching in South America.

•  Brickbats, contributions, tin foil?

  I'm open to any and all.  What do YOU think is up with all this "activity" in South America?

  by tom 47 on Thu Jan 19, 2006 at 09:56:32 AM PDT

•  Uruguay

  I was in Uruguay last month.  Every person I spoke to--granted, no one in the military or in the Uruguayan government--thought that Bush was an idiot, almost the paradigmatic ugly American.  It would surprise me greatly if any permanent U.S. military presence was solicited or effectuated there.  Perhaps because Uruguay is small, and tends to be forgotten by almost everyone other than the Argentines who use the country for vacations and emergency bank accounts, its people are fiercely protective of their independent identity.  I can't see any political figure urging the establishment of a U.S. base.

  The U.S. embassy, on the Rambla in Montevideo, actually is referred to as "the bunker."

  by eightlivesleft on Thu Jan 19, 2006 at 10:43:05 AM PDT

  •  So, was General Craddock blowing smoke?

    I don't doubt that under the current political climate, Uruguay would probably not welcome a base - - though it's not as poor as Paraguay.  

    I find it ineteresting that Uruguay is bucking the Mercosur trade agreement, and that we are fishing for another base (even if we may not be likely to get it).  The US administration seems to be working on a lot of fronts in S. America.  

    I submit by the press coverage that most countries aren't buying it, but also that we are still trying.  Enough money, aid, other incentives?  If our government is as corrupt as it appears, how strong can the resistance to temptation be in other countries?  And the price is not as high as here...

    Thoughts appreciated and welcome.

    by tom 47 on Thu Jan 19, 2006 at 11:05:26 AM PDT

•  Excellent Diary

  Bushco are getting defensive, they have taken for granted that throwing money at corrupt governments has worked in the past, but the people have found a voice. And not before time.

   I only wish well for the people of Latin America, it is time for them to throw off Imperialism and let the sun shine in their new found energies. They have a struggle ahead but the struggle may have a happier ending.

  by ohcanada on Thu Jan 19, 2006 at 10:45:25 AM PDT

•  more links on Mariscal Estigarribia base

  to info in English on the US military presence in Paraguay and the "immunity" issued by the Government of Paraguay that will allow them to stay.

  http://pokies.typepad.com/...
  http://www.politicalaffairs.net/...

  by tom 47 on Thu Jan 19, 2006 at 11:28:53 AM PDT

  •  I think it's about oil & gas,

    and resuming the Reagan era's denial of self-determination of the majority in the countries who have elected progressive leaders. (Imagine: they had un-rigged elections!)

    Here's an article from last fall: US Military in Paraguay Prepares To "Spread Democracy". They're also training private military contractors there. Lord knows how they can keep borrowing money to pay for their wars.

    Also: Bolivia's Morales makes China overture, "The left-leaning Morales has alarmed Western governments with his plans to nationalize Bolivia's gas resources....Morales, a former Indian activist, said he hoped to build ties between Bolivia's socialist movement and China's ruling Communist Party."

    by Halcyon on Thu Jan 19, 2006 at 11:51:55 AM PDT

•  Foreign US military bases

  invariably attract a web of sin to themselves, making them highly unpopular with the locals. Strip joints, brothels and sleazy bars are the order of the day. Some say that it was the US military presence that created the sex industries of Thailand and the Philippines, that continue to this day, long after the bases have closed.

  Japan, Germany and Korea have ongoing problems with the GI's; Panama did when they were there. Bahrain now has a US Navy base... and a prostitution problem.

  The misgivings of the people of Paraguay are nothing new... it's the same old story the world over.

  by mosesfreeman on Thu Jan 19, 2006 at 11:55:39 AM PDT