Never forget...

..the first 9/11, arguably a greater act of terror and certainly a bigger disaster for Chile then the later, and more famous, 9/11 was to America.

"Hasta la vista Yanqui"

Clearly Ecuador is just begging to get invaded. How else to explain the country's incredibly irrational decision to evict the US military from its airbase at Manta?

"I told you not to fuck me Tony"

Why, oh why does Ecuador hate freedom so much that they would dare to insist that their national sovereignty outweighs the "right" of Chevron to make ever more obscene profits?

My Congressman does good!

The McGovern-Sestak(my congressman)-Bishop amendment to the Defense Authorization Bill passed in the House. The amendment requires the "public release of names, rank, country of origin, courses and dates of attendance of WHINSEC’s graduates and instructors to the public". WHINSEC is the school run by the US military to train Latin American military officers formerly known as the School of the America's. WHINSEC/SOA graduates have been tied to some of the worst crimes of the worst regimes across Central and South America.

Yank's Question of the Day

Is Alberto Fujimori more stubborn and delusional than Hillary Clinton?

If only he had sodomised an alter boy instead

Fernando Lugo, the newly elected centre-left President of Paraguay, who is also a Roman Catholic bishop may be defrocked by the Pope. Sr. Lugo resigned from the priesthood before he entered politics but the Vatican refused to accept it.

In case you weren't watching...

...another right wing, pro US-business government in Latin America has fallen to the centre left. The new Paraguayan President, former Catholic bishop Fernando Lugo, is devoted to helping the indigenous and the indigent rather than corporate powers in the Anglo north. When do we invade?

Time for an anti-boycott!

Expect twisted right wing knickers over Absolut's latest ad campaign in Mexico. Well since it is Saturday perhaps this evening I'll have an Absolut and tonic and Cuban cigar (or two)!

I hope they know what they have let themselves in for

If I were looking to liberalise a controlled and centrally planned economy I would not start by opening up access to mobile phones (or personal music players with external speakers). I hope that the Cubans enjoy their exposure to the impolitic and irritating cacophony of public spaces. It is, of course, possible that Raúl Castro is simply extremely clever and he has decided that starting with mobiles should put the Cubans off of capitalism and the free market for life. I would have worked with me!

A stealth reconquista afoot?

The Mexican government is claiming that it is just trying to stem drug war related violence in the northern state of Chihuahua but I fear there may be more sinister motivations behind the massing of Mexican forces on the US border in Ciudad Juárez. After all it is obvious that US forces are bogged down in Iraq and Afghanistan. Could Mexico be planning a invasion to take back the territories stolen from it in 1846-1848? You have been warned!

How many times do we have to tell you...

...that the "Freedom Agenda" only applies if you elect folks we like. When you don't we'll have to do something about it. As an example let us review Bolivia which recently elected dangerous left winger Evo Morales so Captain Codpiece has seen to it that his right wing opposition gets US taxpayer money to ensure that this failure of democracy is not repeated! (Don't we ever learn?)

This won't do the oil price any good

Both Ecuador and Venezuela have moved troops to the border with Colombia, already site of one of the planet's longest running wars, after Colombia's military incursion into Ecuador at the weekend. Given that the Colombian government is one of Washington's favourites, despite serious human rights concerns, there is little question which side Captain Codpiece and his minions will support.

Is Neil Bush a Moonie...

...or is he just in it for the money? The President's younger brother has spent some time in Paraguay, visiting with government officials, as part of an entourage from the Universal Peace Federation which is run by Sun Myung Moon's Universal Life Church. Are there no depths that this family will not plumb?

Why does God hate Jesus?

Let the sin begin!

It's carnival time in Brazil and that means a party. Meanwhile here on Old Blighty we will be eating pancakes in preparation for Lenten sacrifice. Not really a good trade off in my opinion.

Lots of class (all of it low)

A US State Department spokesmodel, Tom Casey, just simply refused to acknowledge or applaud the leading role played by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in the release of the hostages held by FARC in Colombia. Mr. Casey also refused to agree that the US government would work with the Venezuelans if that could lead to the release of three American intelligence operatives who have been held by FARC since 2003. I'm sure that makes the families of Thomas Howe, Keith Stannsen and Marc Gonsalvez feel rather good.

Today in infamy- edición especial Islas Malvinas

On this day in 1833 the British Empire stole the Falkland Islands from Argentina. (Are you listening Baroness Thatcher?)

Today in infamy - fast boat to china edition

On this day in 1999 the United States turned control of the Panama Canal over to the government of Panama, the country from which it was stolen. There is still no word on when Panama is to be returned to Colombia.

One might ask how this anniversary affects the race for the US Presidency in 2008. That is still unclear but I do know that at least one Republican hopeful was against it at the time.

Today in infamy - Illegal Invaders Anonymous edition

On this day in 1989 the United States illegally invaded a sovereign nation, without any authorisation, to topple a former ally and dictator who the US had helped to gain and retain power who was no longer dancing to their tune.

Invasion? I thought we invaded Iraq like in the springtime or something.

We did. This was some other dictator who the US had helped to gain and retain power who was no longer dancing to their tune.

¡No al Presidente!

Chavez loses. Democracy wins. Now I hope that Sr. Chavez will get back to being a thorn in Captain Codpiece's side and that Operation Pliers will just disappear.

Elsewhere Putin wins. Democracy loses.