← Autodidact Archive · Original Dissent · xmetalhead
Thread ID: 20890 | Posts: 9 | Started: 2005-11-04
2005-11-04 16:34 | User Profile
[I]They hate us for our freedumbs![/I]
[B][SIZE="4"]Thousands protest Bush in Argentina [/SIZE][/B]
[URL="http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051104/wl_nm/latam_summit_dc_12;_ylt=Ahj1wX0DrX4nZ9jYzquGAsL.ucsA;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl"]Yahoo Link[/URL]
MAR DEL PLATA, Argentina (Reuters) - Thousands of marchers on the streets of a heavily policed Argentine resort protested on Friday against U.S. President George W. Bush and his free-trade push as leaders from the Americas convened for a contentious debate on improving Latin America's economy.
The protesters' voice inside the summit meeting room will be Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, the leftist leader who opposes Bush's economic model. He arrived early Friday vowing to stop the stalled Free Trade Area of the Americas or FTAA.
"I think we came here to bury FTAA. I brought my shovel," Chavez told reporters.
Chavez is due to speak at an alternative Peoples' Summit at midday before the two-day meeting of leaders begins in the afternoon.
A train sponsored by Chavez pulled in at dawn Friday carrying celebrity sympathizers including Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona and joined busloads of university students, rights activists and labor-union members.
Marchers urged the region's leaders to pursue options to the U.S.-backed free-market recipes that dominated here in the 1990s, but failed to reduce poverty and inequality.
"We are here to show our proposals and alternatives to build a new dawn in Latin America," said Argentine Nobel Peace Prize winner and author Adolfo Perez Esquivel.
While protests were so far peaceful and kept far from the meeting's hotel, more radical groups were expected to challenge the several rings of police security in downtown Mar del Plata. A flotilla of coast-guard boats and helicopters patrolled the shore.
Schools and most businesses were closed. Shop windows were boarded up against possible violence and looting, while U.S. interests like Citibank branches and Blockbuster video stores were armored with corrugated metal.
2005-11-04 17:04 | User Profile
XM,
Overlooked with all of this is that Bush's reason to be there is to further destroy US sovereignty with the [url=http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.asp?feed=AP&Date=20051102&ID=5247030]FTAA[/url] crap. That, of course, is way the hell over the heads of the professional patriots.
2005-11-04 17:45 | User Profile
The idea of a free trade is a good one BUT only among the countries of Latin America and without the US in it.
I noticed that Cuba was the only country not invited per orders from the US and that dosent sit very well with most latin countries.
Don't forget that the US are at this time sending a lot of troops to Latin America and also building bases.......for what? to fight "terrorists"?, and you think that it is bad in Iraq?????? ever see a crazy latino going after someone with a machete?
2005-11-04 17:53 | User Profile
[QUOTE=Sertorius]XM,
Overlooked with all of this is that Bush's reason to be there is to further destroy US sovereignty with the [url=http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.asp?feed=AP&Date=20051102&ID=5247030]FTAA[/url] crap. That, of course, is way the hell over the heads of the professional patriots.[/QUOTE]
Sert, The rest of the world knows the score so much better than America's "super patriots", who regurgitate whatever FOX news and Rush spew forth. It's amazing since my resident "super patriot" co-worker thinks FTAA is good! I say that it's only going to take away more jobs from Americans and exploit poor workers in Latin America. His response is that if it's good for our corporations it's good for Americans. I simply cannot argue with these morons any longer. Worse is better, baby. Let them eat their words when millions of Americans are poor and destitute and jobless.
2005-11-05 16:33 | User Profile
[quote=Sertorius]XM,
Overlooked with all of this is that Bush's reason to be there is to further destroy US sovereignty with the [URL="http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.asp?feed=AP&Date=20051102&ID=5247030"]FTAA[/URL] crap. That, of course, is way the hell over the heads of the professional patriots.
Some folks use any excuse they can for a bit of vandalism. Not sure how looting and arson in any way help the cities and nations where the "protests" are taking place. They aren't hurting GWB by burning the local tire store, by looting the local record store. Of course, these are the same sorts of folks who riot at soccer games and kill refs, so maybe it is a cultural thing. shrugs
I noted from this morning's paper that Chavez of Venezuela is waxing loud and long on how he will fight this initiative. He's got the money oil provides to support his strategic aims, just as Saddam did in the 70's - 80's before he blew it all on the Iran war; as he Saudis have had for decades; and as Iran still has.
I don't think his goals and aims can be taken lightly. Underestimating one's enemy is a big no no, thanks Sun Tzu, yet the lads in Washington continue to patronize the Latin Leadership. Gee, just like Carter and company underestimated a guy called Khomenei.
:wallbash:
Dumb and dumberer.
AE
2005-11-05 18:09 | User Profile
[QUOTE=Angeleyes]I noted from this morning's paper that Chavez of Venezuela is waxing loud and long on how he will fight this initiative. He's got the money oil provides to support his strategic aims, just as Saddam did in the 70's - 80's before he blew it all on the Iran war; as he Saudis have had for decades; and as Iran still has.
I don't think his goals and aims can be taken lightly. Underestimating one's enemy is a big no no, thanks Sun Tzu, yet the lads in Washington continue to patronize the Latin Leadership. Gee, just like Carter and company underestimated a guy called Khomenei.
:wallbash:
Dumb and dumberer.
AE[/QUOTE]
Chavez opposes the FTAA. I oppose the FTAA. Therefore, Chavez is my guy on this issue. More power to him down there. Let's hope he tanks the whole deal.
Screw Vicente Fox and his poodle Bush. Viva Chavez!
2005-11-06 02:20 | User Profile
Sert.
Thanks for reminding us of the treason being perpetrated on the American sheeple by traitor Clouseau & his fellow travelers.
[QUOTE]Overlooked with all of this is that Bush's reason to be there is to further destroy US sovereignty with the FTAA crap. That, of course, is way the hell over the heads of the professional patriots.[/QUOTE]
An overveiw of this treason: [url]http://www.sweetliberty.org/issues/nafta_gatt/community.html[/url]
[B]Building a North American Community Report of the Independent Task Force on the Future of North America [/B]
What follows is a brief summary of the report. Note the involvement of the Council on Foreign Relations in the development of this report and its policy "recommendations". For further background information about the CFR and its role in establishing the one world system, see our Shadow Government section. Scroll down to the bottom of this page for the complete report, which follows the summary. The report is in portable document format (pdf) and must be read with Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Report originally located at [url]http://www.usembassycanada.gov/content/can_usa/northamericancommunity_TF_final.pdf[/url]
Special thanks to Connie Fogal of the Canadian Action Party, who wrote the summary below and to Wanda Benton of the PRC-Digest for calling it to our attention.
Summary:
The North American continent is being transformed from three sovereign nations (Canada, USA, Mexico) into one regional corporate power base, the North American Union.
Unlike the creation of the European Union, there is no public political/ academic discourse on the merits, or pros and cons of a North American Union building up to a vote within each nation as to the wish of the people to join such a union. Instead the union is being created by stealth, is already well on its way to fruition, and is being imposed on us by our own "elected" representatives and government with no opposition.
The ultimate enforcement mechanism for the North American Union is a police state. The tools for the police state are "anti-terrorist" laws. Anti Terrorist laws are a ruse to strip the people of their liberties in order to prevent dissent. The Orwellian justification is "security", "safety".
The plan of this Canada-U.S.-Mexico task force is to establish a continent-wide customs union with a common approach to trade, energy, immigration, law enforcement and security that would virtually eliminate existing national borders. The task force released its recommendations for a common North American in May 17/18, 2005.There was minor reference to it in mainstream media - no headline presentation.
The recommendations include:
* a common security perimeter by 2010
* a North American Border Pass with biometric identifiers.
* a unified border and expanded customs facilities
* a single economic space
* a common external tariff.
* seamless movement of goods within North America.
* A North American energy strategy -as a regional alternative to Kyoto.
* Review those sectors of NAFTA that were excluded.
* A North American regulatory plan that would include "open skies and open roads" and a unified approach on food, health, and the environment.
* Expand temporary worker programs and create a "North American preference" for immigration for citizens of North America.
* A North American Investment Fund to build infrastructure to connect Mexico's poorer regions in the south to the market to the north.
* Restructure and reform Mexico's public finances.
* Fully develop Mexican energy resources (Mexico wisely kept their energy out of NAFTA)
* A permanent tribunal for trade and investment disputes.( Here is where any vestige of democratic government disappears)
* An annual North American summit meeting.
* A Tri-national Competition Commission with a common approach to trade remedies.
* Scholarships for a network of Centers for North American Studies. (To serve the corporations)
* Below is the list of the Members of the Independent Task Force on North America- Many are members of the Trilateral Commission - a similar corporate interest group from the USA, Japan and Western Europe )
Full report: [url]http://www.sweetliberty.org/issues/nafta_gatt/northamericancommunity.pdf[/url]
2005-11-06 04:56 | User Profile
BK,
Leaders Fail to Agree on Free Trade Talks By ALAN CLENDENNING, AP Business Writer 46 minutes ago
Leaders from across the Americas ended their tumultuous two-day summit Saturday without agreeing to restart talks on a U.S.-favored free trade zone stretching from Alaska to Chile.
Argentine Foreign Minister Rafael Bielsa said the 34-nation summit's declaration would state two opposing views: one by 29 nations favoring the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas, and another by the remaining five saying discussions should wait until after World Trade Organization talks in December.
The decision came after negotiations extended eight hours past the scheduled deadline. Almost all the leaders ââ¬â including President Bush ââ¬â left during the discussions and put other negotiators in charge.
The summit was marked by street battles between riot police and protesters opposed to Bush and the FTAA. The protesters ransacked and burned businesses just 10 blocks from the theater where the summit opened. Sixty-four people were arrested, but police reported no deaths or major injuries.
Security remained tight in Mar del Plata on Saturday. A huge section of downtown was closed off by metal barriers, and police and soldiers toted semiautomatic weapons.
Mexico, the United States and 27 other nations wanted to set an April deadline for talks on the free trade zone, but that was opposed by Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Venezuela.
The United States says the proposed FTAA would open up new markets for Americans and bring wealth and jobs to Latin America.
The zone's main opponent, Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez, said it would enslave Latin American workers. He came to the summit vowing to "bury FTAA."
Chavez, a self-declared rival of Bush, declared the meeting a victory, saying the long "unedited, intense and frank debate was like none other in a summit."
In the declaration, the five dissenting countries stated: "The conditions do not exist to attain a hemispheric free trade accord that is balanced and fair with access to markets that is free of subsidies and distorting practices."
Bielsa said, "We are not going to negotiate something that is harmful to the interests of our people."
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe volunteered to try to negotiate a consensus next year.
The last-minute haggling at the summit of Latin American and Caribbean nations came after Brazil ââ¬â Latin America's largest economy ââ¬â hedged at setting a firm date for talks because it wants to focus on the WTO talks in Hong Kong aimed at cutting tariffs around the world and boosting the global economy.
"Anything we do now, before the WTO meeting, could confuse the facts and we'd be creating an impediment to the WTO," Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva told reporters on the sidelines of the meeting at Argentina's most renowned summer resort.
The decision capped a week of tensions between the United States and Venezuela, as Bush traveled to the region to mend fences in Latin America.
Bush kept a low profile at the meeting and did not speak publicly on Saturday.
U.S. national security adviser Stephen Hadley downplayed the meeting's differences, saying it was not necessary to reach an agreement at every summit.
"All 34 countries actually talked in terms of enhanced trade and an FTAA, recognizing there are challenges," he told reporters aboard Air Force One as Bush flew to Brazil for a much-anticipated visit with Silva.
Bush spent Saturday night in the Brazilian capital, Brasilia, and will be Silva's guest at a Sunday barbecue before flying to Panama.
The visit is aimed at strengthening relations with Silva, who initially was distrusted by Washington after becoming Brazil's first elected leftist leader in 2003. Since then, Silva ââ¬â a former shoeshine boy, grade-school dropout, lathe operator and radical union leader ââ¬â has abandoned his leftist rhetoric and has stabilized Brazil's economy.
The summit declaration also addressed such key regional issues as job creation, immigration and disaster relief for an area often devastated by hurricanes and earthquakes.
But the trade zone issue dominated the meeting, with Chavez pushing for the creation of a zone just for Latin America and the Caribbean based on socialist ideals.
Mexican President Vicente Fox argued that the 29 countries wanting to forge ahead should form the FTAA on their own ââ¬â even though that would dash hopes of creating a bloc eclipsing the European Union.
The summit was the latest international meeting to fall victim to regional divisions over free trade. WTO talks broke down in Seattle in 1999 and in Cancun, Mexico, in 2003.
Negotiators trying to lay the groundwork for the FTAA also could not agree in Miami in 2003.
Anti-American and anti-FTAA protests have become commonplace at such meetings. Friday's violence was on a much smaller scale than clashes in 2001 during the Americas Summit in Canada, when police detained 400 people and scores were injured.
Associated Press reporters Nestor Ikeda, Deb Riechmann, Vivian Sequera and Dan Molinski contributed to this report.
On the Net:
[url]http://www.summit-americas.org[/url]
Copyright é 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. [url]http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051106/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/americas_summit&printer=1[/url] ================ This is just one more thing for Bush and the plutocrats to be mad about. This rejection might cause the media up here to cover this latest Wall Street ripoff. [QUOTE] Mexican President Vicente Fox argued that the 29 countries wanting to forge ahead should form the FTAA on their own ââ¬â even though that would dash hopes of creating a bloc eclipsing the European Union.[/QUOTE] Fox is ticked off as well. He'd love to have a European Union type open border. [QUOTE]"I think we came here to bury FTAA. I brought my shovel," Chavez told reporters.[/QUOTE] LOL! Anyway, !Viva Hugo!
2005-11-06 06:01 | User Profile
[quote=Texas Dissident]Chavez opposes the FTAA. I oppose the FTAA. Therefore, Chavez is my guy on this issue. More power to him down there. Let's hope he tanks the whole deal.
Screw Vicente Fox and his poodle Bush. Viva Chavez!
I don't mind him opposing the deal, I too find V Fox to be a turd in the Western Hemisphere Punch Bowl. I can't see how this deal does anything other than screw the American worker anyway, great sucking sound and all that.
What I don't think is wise is handing Chavez free material to work with, like this nonsense initiative, to increase his support base via an "anti globalism" platform.
He probably ought to write GWB a thank you letter.
AE