The Cochabamba Declaration (UNASUR) (on the assault on President Morales)

[Catherina]

Last edited Fri Jul 5, 2013, 03:02 AM - Edit history (2)

Cochabamba Declaration

Cochabamba, Plurinational State of Bolivia

On this Thursday night Presidents of South American Nations, gathered in Cochabamba, Bolivia, and issued a joint statement in which they affirmed their rejection of recent actions against President Evo Morales and required the governments of Portugal, France, Italy and Spain to explain the situation and asked for public apologies.

The Presidents of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro; Argentina, Cristina Fernandez; Uruguay, José Pepe Mujica; Ecuador, Rafael Correa; Suriname, Desi Boutersi; as well as delegations from other South American nations, held an extraordinary meeting to support the President of Bolivia, Evo Morales, in the recent situation that took place in Europe at the time he was returning to his country.

Following the intervention of presidents and delegations, and ratification of the rejection of the violation of multiple rights of the Bolivian president, the presidents issued a document securing its position concerning the attack. Several of the leaders questioned the effectiveness of the work of counterintelligence and investigations of the nations involved that led them to commit an error of this magnitude.

At the same time (the Presidents) seek rectification, a presentation of explanations of the case and ask for apologies for the assault on the indigenous South American Indian leader, which in turn is considered an attack against all the peoples of the region.

Below is the full text of the document signed by all the presidents:

Cochabamba Declaration

Given the situation that the President of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Evo Morales, was subjected to by the governments of France, Portugal, Italy and Spain, we denounce before the international community and various international organizations:

-- The flagrant violation of international treaties governing peaceful coexistence, solidarity and cooperation between our states, that took place is an unusual act, unfriendly and hostile, configuring an unlawful act that affects freedom of movement and displacement of a head of state and his delegation.

-- The abuse and neocolonial practices that still exist on our planet in the XXI century.

-- The lack of transparency about the motivations of policy decisions that prevented air traffic for the Bolivian presidential vessel and its president.

-- The injury suffered by President Evo Morales, which offends not only the Bolivian people but all our nations.

-- The illegal spying practices that threaten the rights of citizens and friendly coexistence among nations.

In view of these denunciations, we are convinced that the process of building the Patria Grande (Integrated Latin America) to which we are committed must be consolidated with full respect for the sovereignty and independence of our peoples, without interference from global hegemonic powers, conquering the old practices of imposing first and second class.(status on) countries.

The male and female heads of state and governments of countries of the Union of South American Nations, gathered in Cochabamba on July 4, 2013:

1- We declare that the unacceptable restriction on the freedom of President Evo Morales, making virtually him a hostage, is a rights violation of not only the Bolivian people but of all countries and peoples of Latin America and sets a dangerous precedent for existing international law.

2- We reject the actions that clearly violate norms and principles of international law, the inviolability of the heads of state.

3- We call on the governments of France, Portugal, Italy and Spain to explain the reasons for the decision to prevent the presidential plane from the Plurinational State of Bolivia from overflying through its airspace.

4- Similarly, we urge the governments of France, Portugal, Italy and Spain present the corresponding public apologies for the serious incidents that occurred.

5- We support the complaint filed by the Plurinational State of Bolivia to the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights for the serious violation of human rights and specific endangerment of the life of President Evo Morales; we also support the right of the Plurinational State of Bolivia to take all actions it deems necessary to the courts and relevant agencies.

6- We agreed to form a monitoring committee, entrusting the task to our foreign ministries to perform the actions necessary to shed light on the facts.

Finally, in the spirit of the principles set forth in the treaty establishing UNASUR, we urge all the heads of state of the union to stand by (accompany) this declaration.

Similarly, we call on the United Nations and regional organizations that have not done so yet, to make a pronouncement on this unjustifiable and arbitrary event.

Cochabamba, July 4, 2013

http://www.reporteconfidencial.info/noticia/3197247/lideres-de-unasur-exigen-disculpas-a-paises-europeos/#.UdY_P3mI4q0.twitter


I'm not an expert Spanish speaker, especially not for something so stilted, so if anyone has corrections for my translation, please let me know and I'll update the translation.

[morningfog]

1. Recommend!

[Cleita]

2. Now things are going to get interesting.

I wonder if John Kerry and President Obama realize that they have a diplomatic crisis here. I hope they offer the nations the apologies that they want and then start working on fixing the relations with them. Or, are they going to be arrogant and treat them like naughty children, which is what I think will probably happen.

[ProSense]

4. This needs to

"Now things are going to get interesting. I wonder if John Kerry and President Obama realize that they have a diplomatic crisis here."

...be put into context.

-- The injury suffered by President Evo Morales, which offends not only the Bolivian people but all our nations.

-- The illegal spying practices that threaten the rights of citizens and friendly coexistence among nations.

There is a lot of hyperbole and hypocrisy being thrown around.

[Cleita]

7. By whom? The only hypocrisy I see is ours.

We talk the big talk about democracy and freedom, but we feel, as Morales said, that we can go into any country and help ourselves to their resources, much as the Romans felt they could go in and help themselves to other nations gold and silver. It's been going on since we became a nation ourselves. Then when we don't get our way, we do stuff like this, embarrass the leader of a sovereign nation, and make our allies join us in our little petty vendettas. There was no reason to do this to Morales. All he said is that he would consider an asylum request from Edward Snowden. That was it. Even he said, what did they think that Snowdon was a suitcase that he could carry on board his airplane? He said the whole notion was ridiculous. I tell you we have made giant fools of ourselves for one, but there is even a graver danger of a diplomatic crisis here.

[ProSense]

10. By

"By whom? The only hypocrisy I see is ours."

...a lot of people, including human rights organizations.

Latin American leaders, on first-name basis, unite against critics

By Juan Forero

<...>

It’s a closeness shaped by a singular worldview — that over the past decade, with a string of leftist leaders elected to office from Central America to Tierra del Fuego — the region has at last freed itself from Washington’s tentacles. That makes for dramatic speeches and rousing regional summits — often with the United States playing the role of foil.

<...>

But Jose Miguel Vivanco, a Chilean who heads the Americas division of Human Rights Watch, spoke of a dark side to all the back-slapping.

Presidents accused of violating norms — as in Ecuador, where Correa is corralling the media, or in Venezuela, where the April presidential election was marked by irregularities — know their fellow leaders will side with them against human rights groups.

“They don’t question each other,” Vivanco said. “I think they act with the conviction that at least no one from the club is going to cross the line and publicly question their internal affairs.”

- more -

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/united-against-world-in-latin-america/2013/07/04/dc38c59e-e4f4-11e2-bffd-37a36ddab820_story.html

The hyperbole is getting thick.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023163029

[Pretzel_Warrior]

17. scary. If U.S. cuts ties, they could devolve into situation like post-colonial Africa

a bunch of dictators and thugs raping their own countries for personal power and profit.

[Cleita]

24. No that's what happened in the last century because of American hegemony.

They are trying to get rid of us so they can live better and they can't do it with us taking everything from them.

[idwiyo]

106. Yeah, because US sponsored, installed, and protected dictators like Pinochet are shining examples

Of Democracy (tm) US style.

But wait! If only they will play nice with US (and rest of the arseholes, UK included), they could have the likes of Saudi royal family for government! They could start building skyscrapers UAE style! And there is nothing wrong with Afghanistan, Iraq or Lybia's New & Improved Democracy (tm), curtesy of tender loving care of US and UK.

Don't like that? How about Operation Condor v2.0, you ungrateful commie bastards:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Condor

Condor's key members were the governments in Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia and Brazil. The United States provided technical support and supplied military aid to the participants until at least 1978, and again after Republican Ronald Reagan became President in 1981. Ecuador and Peru joined later in more peripheral roles.[6] These efforts, such as Operation Charly, supported the local juntas in their battle of anti-communism.[7] In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Israel earned more than $1 billion a year selling weapons, many of them American in origin, to the military dictatorships in Argentina, Chile and Brazil.[8]

[Cleita]

18. Strange you would mention Chile a country I was born in and lived in for the first twenty years

of my life. When I lived there it was one of the few democracies in the continent surrounded by banana republics run by ruthless dictators. Instead they had elected Presidents who completed their complete terms without being overthrown or assassinated, while next door in Bolivia they were having revolutions and coups on a regular basis. Then a guy named Henry Kissinger came along and staged a coup with the police, killing an elected President because he was a socialist attempting to nationalize the mining resources of Chile because the Americans were exploiting that resource for their own profit. They installed a dictator they liked better who was willing to bend the knee to American interests. Of course they killed a lot of people who dissented. Nasty stuff in a South American country that had up until then one revolution, the one that freed them from Spain.

Well, the Bolivians finally got their shit together, forming unions and electing one of their own instead of the usual monied elites. Whatever happens in those countries that you say are having election irregularities, like Venezuela, Jimmy Carter would disagree with you. He headed election oversight in Venezuela and found it to be one of the cleanest elections he had seen. You have the hypocrisy to criticize their oversight of media and elections when we have the crookedest elections and a media that can't tell the truth right here. What South America needs is for our interference to stop so they can figure out how they want to govern their countries.

[ProSense]

39. You asked who, and I stated human rights groups.

Well, the Bolivians finally got their shit together, forming unions and electing one of their own instead of the usual monied elites. Whatever happens in those countries that you say are having election irregularities, like Venezuela, Jimmy Carter would disagree with you. He headed election oversight in Venezuela and found it to be one of the cleanest elections he had seen. You have the hypocrisy to criticize their oversight of media and elections when we have the crookedest elections and a media that can't tell the truth right here. What South America needs is for our interference to stop so they can figure out how they want to govern their countries.

No country is perfect, but don't expect me to support hyperbole in defense of other countries that have clear human rights issues.

It was only a few weeks ago when those most critical of the administration rose in screaming defense of the media in this country.

South America can do what it needs to do. As for Bolivia, someone made a suggestion: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023172626

[Cleita]

40. South America needs this country to be friends to them for a change not

exploiters, colonialists and bullies.

[ProSense]

46. Needs? You think hyperbole is going to make this work? n/t

[Cleita]

48. Well, I know you and I will never come to an agreement here.

But your attitude is very counter productive and if everyone thought like you we would never get to a better world, one that many of us want.

[ProSense]

53. What's

"But your attitude is very counter productive and if everyone thought like you we would never get to a better world, one that many of us want."

..."counter productive" is using hyperbole to inflame a situation. As I posted elsewhere, it will draw attention to the situation, but eventually he's going to have to tone it down or act on it.

[Cleita]

55. Whatever. You win. I don't give a shit.

You are just wrong in your assumptions and you can't trust the English media to tell you the truth about what is actually happening in South America, because they often get in wrong. They don't understand how things work.

[ProSense]

56. My original point was based on the OP. n/t

[HooptieWagon]

59. The father of a good friend of mine...

...was a student of Victor Jara. He fled to Brazil during the US-backed coup. I was able to recently obtain some recordings of Jara, and recorded them to CD as a gift which he greatly appreciated. Hes reluctant to talk about the days of the coup, however.

[Cleita]

64. They killed him for sure and there is a suspicion that they killed Pablo Neruda too.

Nasty stuff and yet that Goering clone, Kissinger still walks around free as a bird.

[HooptieWagon]

68. About a year ago arrests were made in Jara's murder.

I haven't heard further details. And yes, the murdering scumbag Kissinger still walks free. Too big to jail, I guess.

[BrotherIvan]

23. You're using the same smear of "hyperbole" you use against liberals on this board

against heads of state of South American countries. Does that mean under the bus with them too? So ANYONE who criticizes Obama in ANY way is indulging in hyperbole and hypocrisy? Got it.

[CakeGrrl]

32. "Hyperbole" is not a smear.

A smear impugns one's character.

Hyperbole is the type of inflamed language one chooses to describe a situation. It's exaggeration for the sake of blowing a situation out of proportion.

[BrotherIvan]

42. Whoosh

[HooptieWagon]

69. LOL!

[JDPriestly]

77. "They don't question each other . . . they act with the conviction that at least no one from the

club is going to cross the line and publicly question their internal affairs." Sounds like Washington, D.C. to me. Sounds like our intelligence community including the many corporations that live off these highly compensated government contracts.

Meanwhile, the Republicans want to cut back on the money spent on food stamps. Why? So we can fund boondoggle surveillance programs. Please. Let's get real and rethink our values as a nation. We need intelligence, but not these kinds of programs that intrude on the privacy of law-abiding individuals.

Thanks to Udall and Wyden for asking their questions. Thanks to all the whistleblowers including Snowden who have brought these dangerous and foolish programs to our attention.

These programs place every American, every person on the planet whose communications are caught in this matrix into a vise. Combined with the fact of armed drones used against "enemies" around the planet, this is a horror movie come to life. That's why people are so upset. If you "get it," you feel like you are in a bad, bad horror movie.

[cali]

98. whatever. do you agree that this is a crisis in the relationships

between the U.S. and these countries?

[Swagman]

104. and what has this claptrap got to do with Morales?

[Scootaloo]

37. I'm sure the Latin American heads of state are incorrigable liars, one and all

[sabrina 1]

49. I don't think the opinion of anyone in this country matters much in this instance. These are all

sovereign states with democratically elected leaders who are in a far better position to assess this diplomatic mess without your opinion I am sure.

Latin America has many economic options now since the strengthening of their sovereignty by the formation of their version of NATO, a very smart move on the part of all of those nations, understanding the constant threat from Western Imperialism.

The arrogance of the former Colonialists is simply stunning, and now thoroughly exposed by this incident. It will serve to only unite all those nations and reaffirm the need for the Organization in the first place.

It's hard being an Empire, as the FFs warned. No one has ever succeeded in ruling the world, although many have tried. We are weakened as a nation now due to our interference militarily in so many sovereign nations around the globe. And our former 'colonies' Latin America are no longer under the thumbs of our Dictators, thankfully.

Every word spoken by these leaders will resonate, not just in Latin America but in the ME and in Africa also. It is sad to see this country so distrusted everywhere. If only we had ended Bush's policies, embraced the sovereign nations south of the border and ended all of our illegal invasions of other people's countries. This could be such a great country, but so long as we continue these old Cold War policies, long after the rest of the world is moving forward, we will never have the respect or trust of the rest of the world. And standing in the wings waiting, is China, quietly signing contracts rather than dropping bombs on those whose resources they need.

[JDPriestly]

70. Please. The US needs to apologize to Morales.

And . . . . the US needs to own up to what it is doing in terms of surveillance.

If it is doing what Obama has admitted -- collecting and categorizing all of our internet data -- it is violating our human rights.

We are not the sum and product of government algorithms applied to the records of our phone, internet and other electronic communications.

The program must be stopped. They dehumanize their victims. As I wrote elsewhere, these surveillance programs are a massive rape of all whose personal records are ingested, processed and spit out by the monstrous machine that our intelligence services have created in order to put us all and each one under their microscopes.

Treat all human beings with respect including our neighbors to the South. And stop the surveillance program or at least limit it only to the investigation of crimes that have taken place.

And let Americans enjoy travel without so much harassment. We can have a decent amount of security, but not this crazy stuff.

Personally, I think these programs are motivated more by corruption and by the desire to pay off the people who profit from the sales of the equipment than by catching criminals or terrorists. This is corruption, and it has taken over our country.

[caseymoz]

88. No, it's the Pax Americana, remember?

Was President Obama supposed to abolish that? I don't think he made that promise.

What's the hyperbole? Our European allies denied Morales' plane permission to enter their airspace. Fact or fiction? Has this been in some way exaggerated?

The Austrians searched Morales' plane for Snowden. Again what's the exaggeration? Since he's a fugitive from US Justice, and the Austrians had no known motive of their own suspicion would be on the US. True or false. Where's the hyperbole or the hypocrisy.

Are you saying they're exaggerating how upset they are and are being hypocritical about it. How could they be. They are not going to calm down about this. And considering the rest of the world is pissed at us over the surveillance, this is a bad development.

[morningfog]

9. I am sure they are aware. They need to come out and clear the air and apologize.

[geek tragedy]

13. You're not going to get the groveling you crave.

I know the prospect of Obama begging for forgiveness in a rite of public humiliation has a certain appeal for those who despise him, but ain't gonna happen.

[Cleita]

19. He doesn't have to humiliate himself. All he has to do is admit he was wrong

and promise to change his policy so everyone is happy. But you are right this nation is too arrogant to do that.

[geek tragedy]

28. Yes, yes, and then you will pat him on

the head and warn him to not do it again.

Imagine that, a President so arrogant he defies people who hate his guts.


Sorry, you're not getting your global apology tour.

[Cleita]

30. That's too bad, because this country won't get the friendship they want. n/t

[geek tragedy]

41. Countries do not have friends, they have interests.

If Obama wants a friend, he can play with Bo. Otherwise business is business.

[Cleita]

44. And that's what's wrong with American relations with other countries, right

there in a nutshell. This is why Americans are hated all over the world.

[geek tragedy]

51. Oh please. This isn't middle school.

Americans are not hated all over the world, sorry that little myth has literally never been true.

The US is a sovereign state. So is Bolivia. So is China. So is Venezuela.

Venezuela and Bolivia are not friends, they are temporary allies. All it takes is for Maduro or Morales to lose one election, and their countries will stop being allies.

[Cleita]

54. They most certainly are.

As for Maduro or Morales losing an election, I'm sure our CIA is willing to help out in that situation, like they have in the past.

[geek tragedy]

61. So, Maduro and Morales are incapable of losing

a fair and free election?

If Maduro loses, Morales will be describing the guy who beats him as a poodle for the USA. So much for that friendship.

[CakeGrrl]

50. The explanations and apologies were asked of France, Portugal, Italy, and Spain.

Why are you suggesting that the U.S. President apologize and make everybody "happy"?

[Cleita]

52. They all need to do so. We need to apologize for assuming that he was going to

spirit Snowden away when it was Ecuador who had entertained the thought. If President Obama doesn't want to fine, but John Kerry should. It's his job.

[dickthegrouch]

115. Because those countries were doing US bidding

The US was attempting to tighten its noose around Snowden's neck. Freeze him out onto an airport tarmac where he could be bagged and renditioned by US clowns, when Bolivia felt too much heat from having him in their aircraft. Problem was Bolivia had balls and didn't feel the heat as much as reflect it back as light on a steaming pile of manipulation and lies so large that no-one of conscience can ignore it.

I applaud both Snowden and Morales for their actions over the last few weeks. Get more light on this steaming pile and disinfect the planet of those who would cowardly and surreptitiously take away our rights.

[Kurovski]

92. Dictators? Because you say so?

No.

[BrotherIvan]

26. Fuck's Sake

[Swagman]

105. American imperialism on show

The president of a South American country and his compatriots ask for an apology over a wrong translates into "the prospect of Obama begging for forgiveness in a rite of public humiliation".

[geek tragedy]

110. He also accused the US of giving Chavez cancer.

His accusations are not taken seriously.

[Mojorabbit]

116. The head of the european union delivered a wonderful apology today.

I did not find it a humiliating event.

[geek tragedy]

117. Who's the 'head' of the EU? nt

[Mojorabbit]

118. Article in LBN

Past my bedtime. Have a good one!

[Catherina]

58. Maybe they foolishly think they're winning at chess.

What with all the cheering from the "Dingbat Factory", their confusion is understandable.

[Cleita]

62. Don't know. There has been some hateful and ignorant posts here. n/t

[Catherina]

75. I can't see them. DU is just the way I like it.

Intelligent and productive with no propaganda, no stupid maps, and no self-referring blue links. It only took putting a couple of hundred on ignore, because they multiplied this month, but it works. I figure if I wouldn't talk to such people in real life, why waste time reading their posts?

[Cleita]

78. I've gotta start doing that again. n/t

[HardTimes99]

82. You missed out on some exquisitely hilarious EPIC FAIL

earlier today, speaking of maps.
.

[Catherina]

89. I saw that one! Someone sent me a direct link so there it was. ROFL'd so hard lol

Maybe it's just me but if I made a total fool out of myself, I would shut up, sit down and think hard. That was unbelievable!

[Judi Lynn]

93. You made a point all Democrats here should see:

I figure if I wouldn't talk to such people in real life, why waste time reading their posts?

Perfect.

The disruptors are most clearly people one wouldn't give the time of day to in daily life. You most surely would ignore them, not see them, and turn away if they were around. Why make the effort trying to communicate with them just because they try to make a noise here? They are NOTHING.

We come here to learn and to share the things we care about as progressives, as democratic people, not feel a need to defend ourselves from people for whom we have no respect, and consider to be pathetic wastes of skin who smell up the place.

Far more important things going on now.

"Ignore" is a wonderful device.

[Catherina]

94. Judy, see this thread as soon as you can

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023173070 You know the sensitivities of this subject.

[Judi Lynn]

99. Horrendous. Those race hatreds are exploding in the air about us, like fireworks.

People just don't like it when Latin American brown people stand up for themselves against the insults, indignities, and of course far FAR worse than that. It has caused the Americas' people unending suffering because they don't take abuse quietly and shut up about it.

It brings the goblins out of the woodwork, doesn't it?

It sure does here! Wingers are jumping on board to give us the benefit of their opinions as they'll die if they can't jam us up in a hurry as long as this topic is hot.

The Americas just bring out the racists, just as it did when Barack Obama ran for office. They start bouncing off walls.

[Melinda]

3. I am appalled by these illegal actions of the European countries

But more so knowing that the land of my birth - the 'Land of the Free' - is behind this.

At least previous administrations tried to mask the hegemony.

K&R, thanks again, Catherina.

[BeyondGeography]

5. Very good, very good

And now, back to the day job.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

6. grow up, amigo. no one forced your plane down

you decided to fly a tiny little jet that needs gas every 500 miles, apparently, so countries chose NOT to let you land in their country.

Get a plane with longer range.

[Cleita]

8. You know that "amigo" thing that you got from spaghetti westerns makes you

look like a very prejudiced fellow. Would you call President Obama, amigo? Grow up.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

11. amigo is Spanish for friend

[ProSense]

14. "Amigo" is

much better than "douche"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023172329#post9
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023172329#post15

[Pretzel_Warrior]

16. good point. the folks here are willing to defend this el gordo

but will not use common decency and RESPECT when talking about our own duly elected president.

[Cleita]

21. Oh, el gordo now?

You really don't like Spanish people do you?

[Pretzel_Warrior]

25. I love people from Mexico, Peru, etc. I hate Bolivians!!! j/k

I think this ass hole is a typical South American el presidente (there I go again) with his machismo and grandstanding.

I'm just calling bull shit on this two bit leader.

[Cleita]

38. Bolivians are 99% Native American.

I guess you don't like brown people much do you.

[chimpymustgo]

65. Paula Deen. is that you?

[Pretzel_Warrior]

67. hey, I didn't start this cat fight

Cleita's all up in arms because I said "amigo" and we're off to the races.

I never wished aloud for a coffee plantation themed wedding replete with native South Americans serving the guests in their vibrantly colored traditional garb.

[Comrade Grumpy]

72. Your schtick is veering close to Ugly American-style racism.

I suppose next you'll be telling us about his silly sombrero.

[muriel_volestrangler]

109. It *is* Ugly American-style racism

Telling a head of state to 'grow up', and that he needs a bigger jet, because his has to refuel too often (it's an 8000 mile journey from Moscow to La Paz - hardly any plane in the world could do it in one go). And 'el gordo'.

That kind of kneejerk chauvinism belongs on Free Republic, not DU.

[Judi Lynn]

101. Jesus Christ. You don't know much about him, do you? You're not doing yourself any favors. n/t

[xocet]

113. Why not write what you really mean?

Clearly, you meant to write "...this fat fuck..." instead of "...this el gordo...."

Pretzel_Warrior

16. good point. the folks here are willing to defend this fat fuck

but will not use common decency and RESPECT when talking about our own duly elected president.

There - I fixed your cowardice for you, so that all may see your bigotry. You're welcome.

[Savannahmann]

100. Damn, I'm dissapointed

I was hoping to be highlighted on your list of nasty posters. What do I have to do to make the list of people you find insulting?

[Cleita]

20. I know what amigo is. You don't call a President amigo unless you are his best friend and

I know you aren't. Formalities in addressing people are very important to Spanish speaking people. So if you can't respect the culture, stick to English.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

22. amigo is as good as he deserves. he's being an anti-American punk like a teenager

who thinks it's all the rage to rebel against power.

Well, he better get ready. You reap what you sow. How do you say that in Spanish?

[Cleita]

27. You know. I really hope you stay out of hispanic neighborhoods because

your insulting attitude would not be very well received. I would rather speak to you in German.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

31. I actually have no problem in Spanish neighborhoods. I have great coworkers who are Latino

and we all have fun. I am just laughing that this bozo thinks he has a case to make. He is self aggrandizing right now. It stinks on him.

[Cleita]

34. I bet. I'd like to listen to what they say about you when you aren't around.

You see Spanish people will be polite to your face no matter how much they dislike you and then laugh about you when you aren't around...amigo.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

36. funny. mean white people often do the same thing.

kumbaya

[HardTimes99]

87. More like pinche gringo :) - nt

[bobduca]

112. XD

jajajajajaja

[HiPointDem]

29. he's a head of state that was detained by another state power. and your comments are

punkish. winger-style.

[leftstreet]

12. Amigo?

[Pretzel_Warrior]

15. so does your upside down flag mean you are in distress

and need urgent aid?

[HiPointDem]

33. does your nick mean your job is to twist the truth?

[Pretzel_Warrior]

35. no. mine is from way back around 2004. referencing Bush's "pretzel choke"

and subsequent black out and face smash on a coffee table while watching football.

[BrotherIvan]

45. Fuck. This. Shit.

[DeSwiss]

47. You're the one in need of growing up. n/t

[HooptieWagon]

73. Wow, what a douche-bag comment. nt

[go west young man]

74. You put up a post like that...

and imply someone else should grow up? DU, as I used to remember it, had respectful debate with differing views. The difference between us and right wingers was that we had more humanity, maturity, class and the detailed information to back it all up. That point mirrors this debate in a way. As many DU'ers, like yourself, rationalize the wrong doings of our government as the "norm". To put it simply, it is lowly and unbecoming of a great nation to do some of the things we have recently been doing. This board is a microcosm of what the larger country is up to lately. We seem to have lost it. "It" being all that we once held to be good and true about ourselves. DU and the US can do better, much, much better.

[quinnox]

83. perfect impression of an ignorant, "ugly American" style comment

congrats.

[Judi Lynn]

95. That's really low. The plane is all his very small country can afford. Jesus H. Christ.

Why on earth don't you spend some time learning about South America?

[Judi Lynn]

96. In addition, this man, as soon as he was elected, had them reduce his salary,

at least by half, probably more, and did away with the vanity, the unnecessary frills previous Presidents had been enjoying. at the people's great expense.

He also pressed other government officials to cut back on their own salaries, as well, as in serving the PEOPLE of Bolivia, instead of themselves, for the first time in his government's history.

Unbelievable look at the world you've taken the time to share with Democrats here.

[idwiyo]

103. Thank you for a fine example of bigotry routinely found on RW websites.

[nashville_brook]

111. wow -- oblique racism much?

[DeSwiss]

43. K&R

- And when Karma does visit, no one will need ask why......

[Kurovski]

57. A small point but I'm sure "Flagrant" was meant where "fragrant" is stated.

First point of the declaration, at the top.

K&R

I hope folks remember/learn from this mess that it's important to keep the goodwill of every nation. I believe Thomas Jefferson, among others, expounded upon that very point.

[Catherina]

63. Thank you so much

That makes a big difference! It's "flagrant" for sure. I hope a real translation comes out so I can edit the OP with a professional one. Thanks again

[Kurovski]

71. You're welcome.

And thank you, Catherina.

[Catherina]

80. You corrected that just in the nick of time

I'm seeing tweets to the declaration for other websites and when I go, they all used this post!

Like here: http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-cochabamba-declaration-by-unasur-on.html

So I'm checking to make sure none of them say *fragrant*. So far so good, you rescued me in the nick of time. I owe you big time!

[pinboy3niner]

81. To be fair...

...you could say that the violation was both flagrant and fragrant.

[Kurovski]

85. Hello!

Now you wanna get fair all of a sudden? What kinda American are you anyway?

[JDPriestly]

60. Thanks. K&R.

This pretty much puts aside all the denials of wrongdoing on the part of the US government. The UNASUR is protesting against the violation by France, Spain, Italy and Portugal of their duties pursuant to a treaty. And asking those countries for an apology.

Meanwhile all of these South American countries are condemning the surveillance program itself.

So there it is for all the deniers.

This is an international reproach.

[JDPriestly]

90. We need them -- and their natural resources and raw materials.

And what is more, they are our neighbors, and we need their respect and friendship in order to insure our place in a peaceful world. What we apparently did is perceived by South Americans to be a violation of diplomatic laws and agreements about immunity.

[struggle4progress]

66. Not an UNASUR declaration: they didn't get a quorum

[Catherina]

91. Spanish FM just said Spain doesn't owe any apology to Bolivia!

Spain's Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel García-Margallo, stated on an interview on TVE that Spain "doesn't need to make any apology to Bolivia" and that they were informed that the former CIA agent Edward Snowden was traveling on the plane.

El ministro español de Exteriores, José Manuel García-Margallo, aseguró en una entrevista en TVE que España “no tiene que pedir ninguna disculpa a Bolivia” y que fueron informados de que el ex colaborador de la CIA Edward Snowden viajaba en el avión.

Texto completo en: http://actualidad.rt.com/actualidad/view/99238-espana-disculpa-morales-snowden

El ministro español de Exteriores, José Manuel García-Margallo, aseguró en una entrevista en TVE que España “no tiene que pedir ninguna disculpa a Bolivia” y que fueron informados de que el ex colaborador de la CIA Edward Snowden viajaba en el avión.
Todo sobre este tema

Spain's Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel García-Margallo, stated on an interview on TVE that Spain "doesn't need to make any apology to Bolivia" and that they were informed that the former CIA agent Edward Snowden was traveling on the plane.

García-Margallo asegura que desde un principio les “dijeron que los datos estaban claros” que, en efecto, Snowden viajaba dentro del avión del presidente de Bolivia Evo Morales.

García-Margallo assured that from the beginning they "said the information was clear" that, in effect, Snowden was traveling in the plane of the President of Bolivia Evo Morales.

“Nos pidieron una escala de sobrevuelo y hacer escala en Canarias porque no podían hacerla en las Azores, y se la concedimos”, indicó el ministro, aclarando que su ministerio recibió una notificación de La Paz en la que se aseguraba que el ex analista de la CIA no viajaba en el avión que partía desde Viena. Y nosotros —dice— “no dudamos en la palabra de un país amigo”

"We were asked for an overflight and stopover in the Canaries because they could not make one in the Azores, and we conceded" the minister said, noting that his ministry received notification from La Paz in which they claimed that former CIA analyst was not on the plane that was leaving from Vienna. And we - he said- "do not doubt the word of a friendly country."

Texto completo en: http://actualidad.rt.com/actualidad/view/99238-espana-disculpa-morales-snowden

Spain says no reason to apologize to Bolivia in Snowden saga

Reuters

3:22 a.m. EDT, July 5, 2013

MADRID (Reuters) - Spain said on Friday it had no reason to apologize to Bolivia over an incident earlier this week when Bolivian President Evo Morales' plane was diverted on suspicions that fugitive U.S. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden was aboard.

"Spain doesn't have to ask pardon in anyway because its airspace was never closed," said Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo in an interview on state television.

http://www.vagazette.com/news/sns-rt-us-spain-bolivia-20130705,0,7059464.story

Unbelievable!

[Bonobo]

97. At the heart of all global politics, even in 2013, lies the ugly history of Western Imperialism.

No matter where you look, be it the Middle East, Asia, South-Asia, SE Asia, Central or South America, the arrogance of Western Imperialism lies skulking at its core.
The wars of the 20th century all find their beginnings there if you are honest about it.
There lies the background that explains Japan's behavior in WW2, there lies the Vietnam War and most certainly there lies the uneasy relationships between the US and Central and South America.

[idwiyo]

102. K&R They have my support.

[dipsydoodle]

107. Forcing down the Bolivian president's plane was an act of piracy

Imagine the aircraft of the President of France being forced down in Latin America on "suspicion" that it was carrying a political refugee to safety - and not just any refugee but someone who has provided the people of the world with proof of criminal activity on an epic scale.

Imagine the response from Paris, let alone the "international community", as the governments of the West call themselves. To a chorus of baying indignation from Whitehall to Washington, Brussels to Madrid, heroic special forces would be dispatched to rescue their leader and, as sport, smash up the source of such flagrant international gangsterism. Editorials would cheer them on, perhaps reminding readers that this kind of piracy was exhibited by the German Reich in the 1930s.

The forcing down of Bolivian President Evo Morales's plane - denied air space by France, Spain and Portugal, followed by his 14-hour confinement while Austrian officials demanded to "inspect" his aircraft for the "fugitive" Edward Snowden - was an act of air piracy and state terrorism. It was a metaphor for the gangsterism that now rules the world and the cowardice and hypocrisy of bystanders who dare not speak its name.

In Moscow for a summit of gas-producing nations, Morales had been asked about Snowden who remains trapped in Moscow airport. "If there were a request [for political asylum]," he said, "of course, we would be willing to debate and consider the idea." That was clearly enough provocation for the Godfather. "We have been in touch with a range of countries that had a chance of having Snowden land or travel through their country," said a US state department official.

http://johnpilger.com/articles/forcing-down-the-bolivian-president-s-plane-was-an-act-of-piracy

[idwiyo]

108. K&R

[WillyT]

114. K & R !!!