Gap Between Latin America and Washington Still Growing

[Judi Lynn]

Gap Between Latin America and Washington Still Growing
by Mark Weisbrot

Washington's foreign policy establishment -- and much of the U.S. media -- was taken by surprise this week when President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela, stated that the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) should lay down their arms and unconditionally release all of their hostages. The FARC is a guerrilla group that has been fighting to overthrow the Colombian government for more than four decades.

Chávez's announcement should not have come as a surprise, because he had already said the same things several months ago.

On January 13, for example, Chávez said: "I do not agree with the armed struggle, and that is one of the things that I want to talk to Marulanda (the head of the FARC who died last March) about." Chávez also stated his opposition to kidnapping, and has made numerous public appeals for the FARC to release their hostages.

Chávez had also explained previously that the armed struggle was not necessary because left movements could now come to power through elections, something that was often difficult or impossible in the past because of political repression.

The surprise in U.S. policy and media circles is a result of a misconception of Chávez's recent role in Colombia's conflict. A comparison: former President Jimmy Carter has recently called upon the United States to negotiate with Hamas -- dismissed as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and its allies in Israel and Europe. Carter is not an advocate of Hamas nor of armed struggle. He has met with Hamas and called for negotiations because he is trying to promote a peace settlement.

More:
http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/weisbrot110608p.html

[unhappycamper]

1. I'm sure that SOA/WHINSEC isn't helping much.

http://www.soaw.org/