Limits in Latin America
by Tim Sullivan

I agree with Paul Weyrich's piece in the last edition that there is the beginning of a Marxist alliance in South America; but outside of a watchful eye there is very little we can do about it except worry.

The conduct of the war in Iraq indicates that we do not have the overall military strength to intervene everywhere in the world to prevent leaders hostile to the United States from staying in power. Donald Rumsfeled's foolish belief that he did not need more troops in Iraq has prolonged the war and the insurgency in that country. Now Rumsfeld would reduce the size of our ground forces even more thereby further reducing our global military reach.

Paul Gaffney of the Committee for the Present Danger has now proposed that the United States take action to prevent the spread of Marxism in Latin America. The question to be asked is how to stop it and with what.

During the cold war the United States supported vicious anti-communist groups and regimes to prevent the spread of communism in Latin America. Nevertheless the center right oligarchs and their political allies have continued to enrich themselves at the expense of the citizenry. Indigenous people continue to be kept in conditions of penury often approaching slavery.

It is time the United States left Latin America alone. As a nation we can no longer intervene in the affairs of nations which seem to be unable to govern themselves with peace and amity. If the people of Latin America want governments that are honest with a decent regard for human rights, then they must create those governments themselves.

Most of the governments of Latin America, both left and right, are characterized by cruelty, corruption and indifference to human rights as well as a long term resentment of the United States. It is time for Latin America to solve its problems both political and economic without advice or interference from this country.

Can Latin America do it ? No one knows is the only honest answer.

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