US imperialism despised and isolated in South America

Vanguard May 2012 p. 5
Bill F.

(Above: "I don't think they like us anymore....")

The recent meeting of the Organisation of American States in Cartagena, Colombia, did not go well for the manager of US imperialism, President Obama.



In spite of appeals from many of the 33 countries present, the United States and Canada refused to drop their veto on the attendance of Cuba at future meetings.

Ecuador and Nicaragua had already boycotted this year’s meeting over Cuba, and were joined by Bolivia, Venezuela and several others in declaring they will not attend next year without Cuba’s admission. Even host President Santos of Colombia, a close ally of US imperialism, said that Cuba needs to be included next year. “The isolation, the embargo, the indifference, looking the other way, have been ineffective.”

Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Harper were further exposed by their refusal to discuss Argentina’s claim against Britain for the Malvinas Islands (Faulklands). A furious President of Argentina, Cristina Nestor, walked out in disgust, followed by Evo Morales of Bolivia. Any chances of a ‘unifying’ final declaration also went out the door.

Adding to Obama’s discomfort came the news of US Secret Service and military personnel cavorting with prostitutes in a nearby luxury hotel.

Extracts from Cuban statement

A statement released by the government of Cuba put the isolation of US imperialism in perspective.

“The unitary and solid stand adopted by Our America on the blockade, the exclusion of Cuba and the Malvinas Islands was truly impressive. The resolve and dignity upheld by the President of Argentina in her strong defense of these causes were indicative.

“We felt proud when the President of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff, expressed with serene dignity, in front of Obama, that the Greater Homeland can only be treated as an equal and reaffirmed the common position in support of Argentina and Cuba.

 “The United States never wanted to discuss the terrible consequences of neoliberalism for Latin America and the Caribbean; or the situation of immigrants in the United States and Europe, who are separated from their families, cruelly deported or murdered at walls like the one that has been built along the Río Bravo. The U.S. government never agreed to talk about the poor either, who account for half of humanity.

“The novelty at the Cartagena meeting was that many of the governments, with natural differences and different approaches, demanded an alternative model that gives priority to solidarity and complementarity over competition based on selfishness; guarantees a harmonious relationship with nature rather than the plundering of natural resources or frenzied consumption. They called for the protection of cultural diversity as opposed to the imposition of values and lifestyles that are alien to our peoples. They asked for the consolidation of peace and rejected wars and militarization.

“They launched an appeal to recover the human condition in our societies and build a world that promotes respect for the plurality of ideas and models; the democratic participation of society in government affairs, including consultation about economic and monetary policies; the battle against illiteracy, infant and maternal mortality and curable diseases. They called for greater access to both free and truthful information and potable water. They recognized the existence of social exclusion and the fact that human rights are to be exercised by all and should not be used as a political weapon by the powerful.

“This time, the United States government was forced to listen, not to an almost unique voice as had been the case for decades or to a slender minority as occurred until very recently. Now it was the majority of peoples which expressed itself at the Summit to promote this indispensable debate either through their Presidents and Heads of Delegations or through the stand adopted by those who did not attend. The Summit was censored because the empire listens with deaf ears.”

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For further information, see Extractive Capitalism and the Divisions in the Latin American Progressive Camp by Prof. James Petras