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pdavid,
What do you disagree with what I said about Chavez?
I understand you’re not exactly a liberal lefty, but you seem to think everything people on the left are writing here is hogwash without saying why. You may think the Sandinistas were bad, and obviously you’d be right in many ways, but you have to admit that Somoza was pretty bad in many other ways as well. There’s a reason why the Sandinistas had so much support.
I believe that during the Cold War both the US and the USSR did some pretty despicable things in other countries, much like how kings and queens protect themselves in a chess match by sacrificing the pawns. We can argue whether or not our actions were justified in this context, but there should be no argument that we caused a great deal of pain and suffering which is now coming back to haunt us.
It was especially hard to witness how we maimed Costa Rica during the Sandinista regime. It seems that Reagan, in his obsession with destroying the Sandinistas, was actively pressuring Costa Rica to build up an army to fight Ortega (for us). He coerced President Monge to allow the Contras use of CR airspace and airstrips, all in secret and completely against the law. I believe he even approved a CIA black op to have agents dressed as Sandinistas in a fake “invasion” on one of Costa Rica’s beaches in an effort to provoke Monge. This is not a “fact”, but third-hand knowledge from someone who had a friend in the CR embassy at the time. As such I hesitate to mention it, but given the things we know happened, secret airstrips, Iran-Contra, drugs for arms, etc., it’s VERY believable. Reagan actively used the Honduran military in his fight against the Sandinistas, it’s only natural that he would have wanted a southern front as well.
To think that Costa Rica’s sovereign choice to abolish their military was almost overturned because of our obsession with one democratically elected socialist leader of the 3rd poorest county in the hemisphere, well, that makes me mad. I can only think that the Costa Rica we know and love would have been gone forever had he been successful. Now THAT would have inhibited investment in Central America.
GringoTico,
I don’t think this is really the forum for this discussion but if you send me your email I’ll give you my thoughts.
Oh! No you don’t ‘pdavid’..
After dismissing my ideas as “nutcase political theories” without justification you can post your comments here for all of us to read.
There are more people that think more like me than you probably imagine.
good grief, when i read such uninformed b.s. i am thankful to be out of the fourth reich and living in the land of pura vida. you might want to read Gary Webb´s book — can´t remember the name now but it´s an 800 page documentation of our involvement in nicaraguan politics and drug running by the CIA, and yes, Somoza was our pawn — the US put him in power, if you think it was any different than you really are clueless. poor Gary mysterious showed up dead with a bullet in his brain, suicide they say, but there are some doubts about that. when i was first thinking of getting the heck out of teh US iwas going to go to Nicaragua but was told by a spook friend of mine to move to CR instead because the navy seals were being positioned to quell a potential uprising. guess the campesinos just don´t like being lorded over by US interests.
“i am thankful to be out of the fourth reich and living in the land of pura vida.”
We in the “fourth reich” are also thankful as well. Oh, and for the record, according to Wikipedia:
“In addition to reviews by the CIA, the Senate Intelligence Committee, and the Los Angeles sheriff that found no evidence to support Webb’s conspiracy theory, several investigative articles found his evidence lacking. The Washington Post determined that “available information does not support the conclusion that the CIA-backed contras – or Nicaraguans in general – played a major role in the emergence of crack as a narcotic in widespread use across the United States.” The Los Angeles Times stated flatly that “The crack epidemic in Los Angeles followed no blueprint or master plan. It was not orchestrated by the Contras or the CIA or any single drug ring.” The New York Times found “scant proof” to support the allegations. These and other debunkings did force the Mercury News to backtrack somewhat; the editor insisted that “Dark Alliance” had only stated that individuals associated with the CIA sold cocaine that ended up on the streets of Los Angeles, not that the CIA approved of the sales. In addition, the CIA insignia disappeared from the World Wide Web site.[8]”
Oh! Wikipedia, now there’s an in depth authoritative source for you! You’ll be quoting Fox News next and how objective they are.
Here are some reliable, on the ground expert sources for you:
1. “I have put thousands of Americans away for tens of thousands of years for less evidence for conspiracy with less evidence than is available against Ollie North and CIA people. . . . I personally was involved in a deep-cover case that went to the top of the drug world in three countries. The CIA killed it.”
– Former DEA Agent Michael Levine. CNBC-TV, October 8, 19962. “The connections piled up quickly. Contra planes flew north to the U.S., loaded with cocaine, then returned laden with cash. All under the protective umbrella of the United States Government. My informants were perfectly placed: one worked with the Contra pilots at their base, while another moved easily among the Salvadoran military officials who protected the resupply operation. They fed me the names of Contra pilots. Again and again, those names showed up in the DEA database as documented drug traffickers. “When I pursued the case, my superiors quietly and firmly advised me to move on to other investigations.”
– Former DEA Agent Celerino Castillo
Powder Burns, 19923. “The Subcommittee found that the Contra drug links included:
1. Involvement in narcotics trafficking by individuals associated with the Contra movement.
2. Participation of narcotics traffickers in Contra supply operations through business relationships with Contra organizations.
3. Provision of assistance to the Contras by narcotics traffickers, including cash, weapons, planes, pilots, air supply services and other materials, on a voluntary basis by the traffickers.Payments to drug traffickers by the U.S. State Department of funds authorized by the Congress for humanitarian assistance to the Contras, in some cases after the traffickers had been indicted by federal law enforcement agencies on drug charges, in others while traffickers were under active investigation by these same agencies.”
– Senate Committee Report on Drugs,
Law Enforcement and Foreign Policy
chaired by Senator John F. Kerry4. “I really take great exception to the fact that 1,000 kilos came in, funded by U.S. taxpayer money.” – DEA official Anabelle Grimm, during a 1993 interview on a CBS-TV “60 Minutes” segment entitled “The CIA’s Cocaine.” The 1991 CIA drug-smuggling event Ms. Grimm described was later found to be much larger. A Florida grand jury and the Wall Street Journal reported it to involve as much as 22 tons.
5. ALLEGATIONS OF CIA PROVIDING DRUGS TO AMERICAN CITIES (House of Representatives – September 27, 1996) http://www.idfiles.com/congrecord.htm “What is interesting about one of the introductions to the John Kerry committee report was, everybody knew that there were drug runs. Several agencies of the Federal Government had distinct knowledge that drugs were being flown into the United States, and the proceeds were being used to fund the Contras. My point is this: Whether the CIA or the DEA or the Justice Department or anybody knew and did nothing, turned their heads, allowed it to go on, or directly participated in it, they are guilty of undermining the citizens of this country. They are guilty of creating the devastation of many of the communities in this country.”
6. “Cocaine Politics tells the sordid story of how elements of our own government went to work with narcotics traffickers, and then fought to suppress the truth about what they had done. The ways and means by which U.S. government officials joined forces with cocaine criminals, and then engaged in a largely-successful cover-up to hide the truth, are meticulously documented by Marshall and Scott, making Cocaine Politics essential reading for anyone interested in understanding the real Iran/Contra story.”
– Jonathan Winer, Counsel, Kerry Subcommittee on Terrorism and Narcotics7. “Combing through hundreds of documents, conducting interviews with government officials, journalists, mercenaries and drug dealers, Scott and Marshall piece together the complex picture of the convoluted contra-drug trafficking scandal, U.S. involvement in covering it up and how the entire episode mirrors past CIA handling of right-wing narcotics operations.”
– Louie Estrada, The Times of the Americas8. “Barry Seal. Facing prison after a drug conviction in Florida, Seal flew to Washington, D.C., where he put together a deal that allowed him to avoid prison by becoming an informant for the government. As a government informant against drug smugglers, Seal testified he worked for the CIA and the DEA. In one federal court case, he testified that his income from March 1984 to August 1985, was between $700,000 and $800,000. This period was AFTER making his deal with the government. Seal testified that nearly $600,000 of this came from smuggling drugs while working for – and with the permission of the DEA. In addition to his duties as an informant, Seal was used by CIA operatives to help finance the Nicaraguan Contras. The CIA connection to the Mena operation was undeniable when a cargo plane given to Seal by the CIA was shot down over Nicaragua with a load of weapons. In spite of the evidence, every investigator who has tried to expose the crimes of Mena has been professionally destroyed, and those involved in drug smuggling operations have received continued protection from state and federal authorities.” http://www.idfiles.com/
These people have gained NOTHING from telling their stories and have often run great perosnal risks in telling the truth whereas none of the ‘established’ sources you quote want to rock the boat. They will simply regurgitate the ‘official’ sanitized version of events.
You don’t know that by now?:
Wake up pdavid!
Bradbard, I think that tropical sun is overheating your tinfoil hat.
“Oh! Wikipedia, now there’s an in depth authoritative source for you!”
Most people would say it’s pretty objective, actually. The fact that you object to it is unsurprising, and also a good reason why there’s really no point in fleshing out any arguments with you. Meanwhile, you quote from John Kerry, Maxine Waters, and former Black Panther Barry Seal and you are somehow unable to see what they might have gained by attacking a Republican administration’s war against communism in Central America.
You’re kind of amusing with your hysterics, Bradbard, but not worth an in depth discussion.
Maravilla says “good grief, when i read such uninformed b.s i am thankful to be out of the fourth reich and living in the land of pura vida.”
Pura Vida can easily be found in rural America – no need to go to CR for Pura Vida. Turn on CNN in Pura Vida whether in CR or rural America and your Pura Vida sours. Pura Vida is less about “where” you live – it is more about “how” you live.
The older I get the less I care about anything political. Leave the political crap to the younger folks, they have to deal with the world longer than I so it is more their responsibility (if they so choose).
Just FYI – If you are still p***** about 20 year old political messes then you aren’t living the Pura Vida no matter where you are…. let it go.
Well said Dwayne! Pass me another Imperial, will ya’? I figure two or three more and I’ll be able to let it go…
Way to go Bradbard!!! Finally someone down here in Costa Rica challenges all these right wing ers living here in Costa Rica. It always spooks me that after reading so many of these boards that it is just full of people like this guy who all he seems to be concerned about is whether an election in a foreign country will affect his pocket book. The fact that Nicaraugua is one the poorest countries in the world has absolutely no concern to him whatsoever.
Being a Canadian, it just drives me crazy that so many Americans think it is thier “god-given” right to meddle in so many other countries political affairs. And so many of the rest that don’t have “passionate opinions” on the subject is just to “have another cervasa”. Just what the Republicans are counting on. They can not deal with rationality. They have to change the subject and if that is not possible they have to leave the room.
I was watching this interview with people that had voted for George Bush and what their current opinions were. It just floored me. One guy said… “I can not believe I was so stupid to have voted for that guy a second time”.
Now,… what does he mean “Was” HELLO!!!! I don’t believe this guy had not one but 2 momenatry lapses in judgement.
Please don’t stop expressing the truth. The world is counting on you.
And if you are in Puerto Viejo. I would love you to stop in. You will also note the lack of right leaning types here in PV. Too many hippies, blacks, indians etc.
Cheers, Colin.
My Life in Puerto Viejo ~ http://www.Colinsito.comI can’t but help to laugh at this blatant disinformation generated by the minister of propaganda and enlightenment. Do you actually BELIEVE anything the CIA or the SIC actually spews? If you do, therein lies your problem. You’ve been propagandized.
Oh, I’ve let it go, until people start vomiting propaganda, and then I know why I’ve left: I can see the depth to which people have been brainwashed by the establishment and are totally incapable of critical thinking. I don’t watch TV, read the newspaper, or listen to the radio news when I’m in Costa Rica — I’m too busy with daily life that is peaceful and not peppered with paranoia, fear, propaganda, and corruption at every level.
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