Obama kicks out Ecuadoran ambassador

[rabs]

Luis Gallegos

-- reprisal for Correa kicking out Heather.
-- Gallegos declared persona non grata as was Hodges.
-- Told to leave as soon as possible, as was HH.
-- Arturo Valenzuela CALLED Gallegos to tell him, did not have the decency to summon him, as was HH.
-- Ecuadoran sources said the USG had suspended a new round of "bilateral talks" with Ecuador scheduled for June (Tax perferences for Ecuadoran exports to U.S.)

http://www4.elcomercio.com/politica/EEUU-expulsa-embajador-Ecuador.aspx

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Obama messing up relations with LatAM at the same rate as dubya did ... or worse.

[Judi Lynn]

1. Ugly decision, rabs. Wouldn't have thought he would ever act as small and dirty as Bush.

I would hope by all means all Latin American leaders are aware this president is saying his ambassadors must be treated as if they have absolute carte blanche, may do anything they wish in another country, or there will be repercussions from the large, actively violent country.

Would you consider adding your post to the thread you have going in LBN, to keep those who read it but who don't have time to check here a chance to see it?

Thanks for posting this new, but ugly developement. It's important to know about it.

Rec.

[Judi Lynn]

2. I posted a link back to this thread from the LBN post, rabs. n/t

[rabs]

4. Thanks Judi, spotted the story during lunch

and was out rest of the afternoon. Just got back and catching up.

[Peace Patriot]

3. Perhaps Ecuador is better off without a U.S. ambassador?

The U.S. embassies in Latin America are central headquarters for funding and organizing rightwing groups and coups. This seems to be yet another Obama policy that is indistinguishable from the Bush Junta. So maybe these countries are better off without whatever enticements (bribes) the U.S. can provide in exchange for favors to transglobal corporations and war profiteers? It's simply not worth it. Latin American countries have been developing other trade partners and trade deals, especially "south-south" deals (trading with each other, or with "Global South" countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East). Really, what do they need a U.S. ambassador in residence for? High level subversion? U.S. aid that goes to rightwing groups? The constant anti-democracy, anti-left propaganda? Destabilization? Collusion with fascists and militarists? They don't need it! U.S. travelers? Lower level embassy people can handle those needs. The U.S. has been NOTHING BUT TROUBLE for Latin America, in the modern era (since the "New Deal"). (--and, of course, before). Frankly, I like this trend. (U.S. ambassadors kicked out of Venezuela and Bolivia as well.) I'm damn sick of my tax dollars funding this shit. Expensive high-end parties with all the creepiest people on the country as honored guests at the U.S. embassy? Skulduggery and plots? Using Peace Corps volunteers as spies? U.S. infiltration of the military and the police? Spying? Pushing the corpo-fascist agenda that is killing our own democracy? They don't need it. And we don't need to be paying for it.

[rabs]

5. Okay, there is a reaction from Correa

Trinidad and Tobago, summit of the Americas, April of last year.


He says the impasses can be resolved in two ways:

-- Obama can appoint a new ambassador.

-- The USG can hand over all the wikileaks cables for Ecuador to check their veracity. Correa says "watch out because Wikileaks cables sometimes contain erroneous information."

-- He said Hodges has been the "in-house enemy" because "this lady knew everything, and the first thing she should have done was to inform the (Ecuadoran) government about what she knew."

-- Correa said he was not concerned about the Guayaquil (opposition) newspaper El Universo publishing the leaked cables, which he said could be "manipulated." For that reason he asked that the USG provide the cables to avert manipulation of the information.

-- Referring to the information in the Hodges cable, he said "they are more lost than Santa Claus in June."

-- Correa dismissed the preferential trade tax breaks the USG grants on some Ecuadoran exports. "They say we can sell more if we become a better colony.

-- He said what was at stake was not the honor of Rafael Correa, nor the honor of the president of Ecuador, but the honor of the nation. "We cannot permit that a functionary with animosity offends the government."

-- He did not dismiss the possibility that if the revelations in the HH cable were confirmed, there would be investigations.

(Spanish)

http://www.eluniverso.com/2011/04/07/1/1355/correa-hay-dos-posibilidades-superar-impasse-eeuu.html?p=1354&m=2766

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In other stories out of Ecuador tonight, the economy minister said any dropping of preferenatial tax breaks by the USG would have "minimal effects."

Also, Correa is seeking regional support in the spat.

(edit for typoe

[Judi Lynn]

7. It's terrific seing that photo of Tony Saca standing next to Obama, knowing he's gone, now!

Thank you for the additional information from El Universo and the thought he will be actively discussing this with the other Presidents, getting the whole story to them. It goes without saying this could happen to any of them, any time.

We do remember that he already cut the Argentina part of his tour out as soon as there was that trouble concerning the way materials were being brought into Argentina without appropriate transparency, which is the only decent way to go about things. They chose to act offended, and punish Fernandez for thinking of her country first.

Bush's history with the region was full of nasty insults and far, far worse. Sure hope Obama doesn't top his record.

[Zorro]

6. Yay!

Good for Obama.

[roody]

8. "Change" I can hardly believe.

My fifth graders know better than to act like that.

[Zorro]

9. Your fifth graders know better than to govern by hotheaded hissy fits?

Sounds as if they're more level-headed than Correa.

[roody]

10. They know. Doing is another thing. Maybe Obama knows too.