Hard to buy Ortega’s makeover

In a month that has seen a number of second acts begin (Trent Lott, Robert Gates) and falter (John Kerry), the biggest is surely that of Daniel Ortega, the former Sandinista guerrilla leader elected as Nicaragua’s president in a comeback after his 1985-90 reign. Ortega, whose candidacy was championed by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, contends that he’s a new man whose administration will respect property rights and trade agreements. It’s hard not to be skeptical. In his first trip outside the country since the election, to Guatemala, Ortega blasted plans for a U.S. border wall and called for the United States to learn to live with Latin America’s leftists and “work for the unity of the Americas,” while “taking into account the asymmetries between the countries.” Does that mean accepting all comers?
Posted by Rhonda Holman

7 Comments

  1. CapnAmerica
    Posted November 23, 2006 at 8:42 am | Permalink

    Considering that the US led an illegal and covert war against Nicaragua under the Sandinistas, mining their harbors and funding the Contras, the fact that Ortega doesn’t embrace revenge against us is truly amazing.

    Maybe this time America — who shines like a beacon of freedom and democracy according to Bush (TM) — will actually let their duly elected government stand . . .

  2. WSClark
    Posted November 23, 2006 at 9:42 am | Permalink

    It is interesting that our “Spread Democracy” foreign policy considers Hugo Chavez to be a dictator, even though he has twice been overwhelmingly elected by his fellow countrymen.

    At the same time, Saudia Arabia is controlled by the Royal Family and women are not allowed to vote.

    I guess, for Bush, democracy is in the eye of the beholder.

    Viva America!

    May the next two years pass quickly!

  3. steve
    Posted November 23, 2006 at 10:32 am | Permalink

    Where are the Sandinista’s when you need them? Right Rhonda?

  4. Ben Huie
    Posted November 23, 2006 at 11:44 am | Permalink

    WS – it is also interesting that we rant against terrorism when we funded terrorist activities against the government of Nicaragua. Lets just hope that the legitimately elected leader there can put that behind him – and that the Bush administration will not repeat the mistakes of the past.

  5. CapnAmerica
    Posted November 23, 2006 at 6:44 pm | Permalink

    Right, you are Ben.

    In fact, we’re still doing it.

    It’s called the “School of the Americas” in Georgia somewhere. They use taxpayer dollars to teach subversion, torture and sabotage.

    Real nice.

  6. Richard Heckler
    Posted November 25, 2006 at 7:01 am | Permalink

    Reagan/Bush were arming both Iraq,Iran and bringing on the Taliban. So between George W. Bush, GHW Bush and James Baker III our country now has many Iran Contra figures sitting in important positions within the government. Wonder why we are pre-occupied with the mideast?

    Defense Secretary Nominee Robert Gates Tied to Iran-Contra Scandal and the Secret Arming of Saddam Hussein.

    George Herbert Walker Bush pardoned these Iran Contra Criminals:

    1 Elliott Abrams2 Charles Allen3 Duane ‘Dewey’ R. Clarridge4 Manucher Ghorbanifar5 Robert C. McFarlane6 Edwin Meese III7 John Negroponte8 Oliver North9 John M. Poindexter10 George P. Shultz

    George W. Bush put some some of these back on his payroll. James Baker III brought Ed Meese back for a position on his committee. James Baker asked Robert Gates to be Defense Secretary. Is it any wonder why the Bush admin dislikes transparency? The Iran Contra group are running this government to include James Baker III.

    http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?sect...

    http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?tit...

    http://www.hereinreality.com/irancontra….

  7. Jed
    Posted November 27, 2006 at 4:56 am | Permalink

    Bush seems to feel that democracy is where the people’ choice is subject to his approval.