Bolsonaro to send army to fight huge fires in the Amazon

[Mike 03]

From CNBC:

Under international pressure to contain fires sweeping parts of Brazil’s Amazon, President Jair Bolsonaro on Friday authorized use of the military to battle the huge blazes while thousands took to the streets to protest his environmental policies.

Brazilian forces will deploy starting Saturday to border areas, indigenous territories and other affected regions in the Amazon to assist in putting out fires for a month, according to a presidential decree authorizing use of the army.

The military will “act strongly” to control the wildfires, Bolsonaro promised as he signed the decree.

The armed forces will collaborate with public security and environmental protection agencies, the decree says.

“The protection of the forest is our duty,” the president said. “We are aware of that and will act to combat deforestation and criminal activities that put people at risk in the Amazon. We are a government of zero tolerance for crime, and in the environmental field it will not be different.”

SKIP

U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that he spoke with Bolsonaro.

“Our future Trade prospects are very exciting and our relationship is strong, perhaps stronger than ever before,” Trump tweeted. “I told him if the United States can help with the Amazon Rainforest fires, we stand ready to assist!”

In escalating tension over the fires, France accused Bolsonaro of having lied to French leader Emmanuel Macron and threatened to block a European Union trade deal with several South American states, including Brazil. Ireland joined in the threat.

More at link: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/08/24/bolsonaro-to-send-army-to-fight-huge-fires-in-the-amazon.html

[Duppers]

1. If true, why did he take so long?

Or is this just a pretense he conjured up? He has tRump's level of credibility.

[Zambero]

2. Now that the fires are safely out of control

"We did everything we could, really...". Oh well, time to get those first generation soybean fields planted!

[Eugene]

3. And we really can trust Jair Bolsonaro, can't we?

Will Bolsonaro direct the army to:

a. Cut many roads
b. Clear many hectares of trees (removing fuel)
c. Stick it to the indigenous peoples
d. All of the above

[progree]

4. Brazilian military armed with flame throwers n/t