"Long live coca, death to the gringos"

Albatross says on Jan 23, 2006, 04:19:

I know... It's not about Colombia directly. (although I think it's related)

“Democracy - a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance." - H.L. Mencken

juancegomez says on Jan 23, 2006, 08:09:

Fine with me It seems that Morales has said that he's opposed to cocaine and to the drug trade, even if he supports the cultivation of coca for all other purposes.

Other than that, it's good to see an indigenous leader in power in Bolivia. However, in itself that act has more symbolic than practical importance, until we see what the results of his administration end up being.

Mr. Hollywood says on Jan 23, 2006, 09:55:

Morales needs to learn the concept of picking your battles wisely. While it's politically expedient at home to be seens as "anti-imperialist" and all that, I really don't think he wants to pick a fight with Uncle Sam, especially if he's really hoping to get that foreign debt forgiven. Chavez can act like a bull in a China shop because he's got shitloads of petroleum. Bolivia has coca and a lot of pretty rocks.

cali373 says on Jan 23, 2006, 11:16:

This guy is going to fail miserably. This is one of those rare ocassions where a politician actually cares about his country instead of how they can get themselves and their cronies rich (or richer). but even those kinds need to have experience and education to successfully run a nation. I wish him the best but I doubt that he will create an economy that has free market activity with some positive government intervention. State run companies do not benefit anyone unless they are run like a true business and control corruption. You can have a "Telecom" or a "Statoil".

Smile if you are a thinker!

Lowell says on Jan 23, 2006, 16:30:

No coke with out Gringo's - get a clue I guess when the neighbors up the street came home at 4:30 in the morning today, moved their sterio speakers outside, disturbing all around up, screaming..... they were not high. No job, no visible means of support... Neighbor says her house constantly smells of pot. One other time a neighbor complained. Responce = next time you complain, you get shot. It's so very clear that Gringo's are the root of others problems. Who made coke for sale illegally in the first place. oh yea, I forgot, Gringo's.

Alfred E. Newman. "What. Me Worry?"

BE1900 says on Jan 23, 2006, 19:54:

Farewell for TINTO TINTO:do not send a TIE to EVO, keep it for yourself so you can eat.

no comments

BE1900 says on Jan 23, 2006, 20:01:

EVO MORALES GRINGOS MUST BE DANCING AND CELEBRATING WITH EVO IN POWER, NOW THEY WILL HAVE A LOT OF COCA TO LIVE LA VIDA LOCA.

no comments

HODAD26 says on Jan 23, 2006, 22:40:

VIVA Morales, Castro and Chavez Michael Johnson Senor Pescado
great post by Lowell and right on Ortiz and Guerrillero
Viva El Frente!
eat mo' fish
www.senorpescado.com
Paz

Michael Johnson Senor Pescado

Mr. Hollywood says on Jan 24, 2006, 00:21:

no Coke without gringos Don't worry kids, even though they keep the "secret recipe" locked up in Atlanta I still think Colombians or at least Mexicans will be able to keep making Coca Cola after there are no gringos. If you're saying there will be no cocaine without gringos, I urge you to visit your very own Gold Museum and reconsider history.

landcruiser77 says on Jan 24, 2006, 11:22:

WHY ONLY GRINGOS you bastards!!! THERE'S MORE THAN NORTH AMERICA,STOP THE LAY BLAME ON U.S.A FOR EVERYTHING

£æ

vladimiro says on Jan 24, 2006, 15:53:

tie symbol of the west I think Morales doesn't wear a tie becuase its considered to be a symbol of the West, even though he otherwise wears western clothing.

Mr. Hollywood says on Jan 24, 2006, 16:22:

Better no tie, I guess, than a "Colombian necktie."

vladimiro says on Jan 24, 2006, 18:15:

I had not heard of that, although I don't doubt that we will hear more provacative statements. Its part of an internal power struggle:

http://hoder.com/weblog/archives/014923.shtml

utopiacowboy says on Jan 24, 2006, 21:51:

I'm a big fan of Evo's. It's about time the Bolivians had a chance to fuck up their own country. At least when they're done, they can say, "Boy we really fucked this up!"

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

Dolfi says on Jan 25, 2006, 00:35:

Americans should get used to the fact that more and more countries in the world are trying to get more independent from US policies. Latinamerica is a leader in this process, soon there will be elctions in Peru and later in Mexio probably leading to Manuel Lopez Obrador being president and joining Chavez, Evo and the rest.

By the way: I heard lots of people (average middle lass people)in Colombia expressing their sympathy for Chavez.

aztec says on Jan 25, 2006, 05:25:

As an American(US) taxpayer... ..."Americans should get used to the fact that more and more countries in the world are trying to get more independent from US policies."

Best thing that could happen to me and my heirs. NO MORE of my tax dollars reallocated to South America. Some of you people are not aware that the US Government has no funds(money). The US Government confiscates hard earned wages from the American(US) people and sends it to you.

juancegomez says on Jan 25, 2006, 09:54:

aztec Not exactly.

A sizable amount of those funds go right into the pockets of U.S. companies or contractors, in one way or another.

aztec says on Jan 25, 2006, 11:03:

juancegomez...no more U.S. tax dollars for any "U.S. companies or contractors" located in or doing business with South America. Apparently the Countries will be much better off without any assistance from the Great Satan of the North. Maybe the U.S Government could drastically lower the taxes on its citizens.

greg says on Jan 25, 2006, 12:09:

JC is right Most of the funds never make it to the people. Just look at Iraq
Not much is being accomplished but security, truck drivers,etc. are making thousands each week. My nephew is currently in Iraq for the second time. He had a choice to either go back with his reserve unit for six months or take a job with KBR(a subsidiary of Halliburton) for one year. The job with KBR is on a large base and much safer so he took it. He makes good money and mostly just sits on his ass doing nothing. He hates it, but his chances of getting back safely are much better. More wasted tax dollars

vladimiro says on Jan 25, 2006, 12:09:

That was the US attitude towards Bolivia Better than nothing, was the attitude of the US towards Bolivia when they complained that a disportainatley small percentage of its gas proceeds would go to Bolivia, with something like %85 going to US companies.

The US was blocking investments to Bolivia from certain countries (the US blocks investments in Colombia from certain countries, too). But it looks like that has changed with the election of Morales:

A $1.5 billion investment by Chinese energy giant Sinopac for gas fields in eastern Bolivia is going ahead, according to Chinese Embassy officials who say the bid, first made over a year ago, was blocked until now by "political and administrative complications."

A consortium of companies from India and China is among five groups bidding on a $5 billion project to develop Bolivia's iron-ore deposits at El Mutun, according to confidential documents shown to The Washington Times.

And perhaps united in thier disdain for ties:

The Venezuelan leader also said that during his talks with Mr. Morales in Caracas, the two men took a call from the president of Iran, who "promised to send a commission to Bolivia to cooperate in development in all areas."

http://www.wpherald.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20060124-100104-8853r

greg says on Jan 25, 2006, 12:16:

Evo Morales I am happy to see Evo Morales is the new president. I believe he will try to do the right thing and his new cabinet members look good, but he has a tough road ahead. Even though the U.S. ambassador and other U.S. officials say they want to work with him, i doubt they are sincere and will probably try to undermine his presidency
just like they have done with Chavez in Venezuela.

Elbigie says on Jan 25, 2006, 18:14:

Go EVO! With a tie or without it LATIN America needs more Morales and less Uribes.

juancegomez says on Jan 25, 2006, 19:08:

... While his intentions are generally admirable, I wouldn't be so quick to say that, since the guy's barely been in power for a short while.

Whether Morales delivers on his promises, or even manages to finish his term without being couped by the military or toppled by mass protests, remains to be seen.

And in the end, the simple fact that Bolivia is Bolivia and Colombia is Colombia pretty much sums up the rest of the differences.

aztec says on Jan 26, 2006, 06:11:

"The Economist says 10% of Bolivia's GDP is U.S.-controlled foreign aid." Lets hope he replaces it with aid from Cuba and Venezuela.

platano says on Jan 26, 2006, 09:49:

...and socialist Chile... and Uruguay. Aid can come from many places.

plátano

Mr. Hollywood says on Jan 26, 2006, 09:54:

Word is I've heard from informed sources that many of the big-money Colombian families (think ex-presidents and that type) have been investing in lots of land in Bolivia in the last 3-4 years. I wonder what influence that will exert on Morales?

aztec says on Jan 26, 2006, 13:03:

...and socialist Chile... and Uruguay. Aid can come from many pl platano, I could care less where the aid comes from just so long as it is not from the overburdened U. S. taxpayer.

jccg says on Jan 27, 2006, 08:22:

... Reading this post... it seems that gringos really are scare of those how think different. By the way, I also would like not to have more "UAS tax payers aid" falling from the sky, bombing up the rest of the word.

This is just the true!!

aztec says on Jan 27, 2006, 09:10:

Right on... ... jccg. We need more like you who will refuse any and all U.S. aid!

juancegomez says on Jan 27, 2006, 12:22:

... Unfortunately, aztec, if the U.S. spends so much money on Colombia, Israel, Egypt and so on, it doesn't do it merely out of "generosity", but because it believes that it's defending its interests, as the sole superpower, and, arguably, by extension those of its citizens (btw, Iraq and Afghanistan would be at the top of the list, though their situation is a bit different, since logically the U.S. should at least promote a degree of reconstruction there in order to compensate some of the damage that resulted from the invasion and the ensuing chaos in both countries).

aztec says on Jan 27, 2006, 16:45:

juancegomez Now we will be transmitting US monies confiscated from its citizens in the form of taxes to Hamas. Many of us are simply not in agreement that it is our self interest to fund our enemies. A plague on all their houses.

Expropriated wages from US citizens will make no difference in Colombia. They will continue to kill each other and will hate us and blame us (the evil white gringo) for their failure.

utopiacowboy says on Jan 27, 2006, 16:59:

I completely agree with your isolationism, Aztec. Unfortunately our present government is anything but isolationist. Imagine if all the money we flushed down the toilet in Iraq we spent on new technology to remove our dependence on foreign oil? I would like to see us tend to our own business and let the rest of the world go to hell. Or not.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

Sr Tertius says on Jan 27, 2006, 17:26:

Nothing would be better for the US and the world Than a truly conservative leader in the White House. See how nobody bitches about Switzerland or Austria? Guess why... because they don't mess with anybody else's business. As long as successive US governments continue force-feeding its thinly-veiled brand of "altruism" (BIG air quotes) to the rest of the known universe, they will continue as the favorite target of criticism.

That's a pipedream though. If Bush could run for a third term, he'd probably be re-elected.

UC: Imagine how much money would be saved if all the US military bases in virtually every nation in the world were dismantled. That won't happened though: that would be "appeasing" the enemy.

"When the finger points to the moon, the fool looks at the finger" (Chinese proverb)

utopiacowboy says on Jan 28, 2006, 16:52:

I agree with you, Sr Tertuius I agree with you, Sr Tertius.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.