Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Daniel Ortega returns to presidency of Nicaragua

  1. #1
    L'Etranger Senior Member Banquo's Ghost's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Hunting the Snark, a long way from Tipperary...
    Posts
    5,604

    Default Daniel Ortega returns to presidency of Nicaragua

    I'd intrigued by Orgahs's views of this political comeback and it's impact on American politics (American as in the whole continent).

    There's quite a left alliance building down there now - how will this affect the future of these countries?

    I suppose there's one saving grace. There's an opportunity to recapture the glory of the Reagan years and sell Iran the bomb they want in return for cash to make Ortega's life a misery again. After all, Mahmoud will be in town on Sunday.

    Two birds with one stone and all that.

    Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 
    US faces alliance of the left as Ortega sworn in

    By David Usborne
    Published: 11 January 2007


    Daniel Ortega, the former Sandinista revolutionary who held power in Nicaragua through the 1980s and became a Cold War foe of the United States, completed his political comeback yesterday as he prepared to be sworn in as his country's new president after winning an election last November.

    Among several world leaders expected to attend the inauguration in the capital, Managua, was Hugo Chavez, who was himself sworn in for a new term as President of Venezuela yesterday after his decisive electoral win there last month.

    The Ortega ceremony was to be an uncomfortable reminder to the US of the recent return of leftist leaders to several Latin nations south of its borders, many of whom are likely to prove important allies of Mr Chavez, who has nurtured his popularity in part through anti-US rhetoric.

    Also in Managua was Evo Morales, the President of Bolivia, who has aligned himself with Mr Chavez and the regime of Cuba's ailing Fidel Castro. In a recent chilly gesture towards Washington, he ordered that all US citizens would henceforth need visas to enter Bolivia.

    Mr Chavez, meanwhile, used his swearing-in to declare he was committing his "entire life to the construction of Venezuelan socialism". Earlier this week, he rattled financial markets across Latin America with a pledge to nationalise key segments of his country's economy, including its electric and telecommunication's industries. He also asked the National Assembly to give him power to rule by decree.

    The Venezuelan leader has pledged to use its oil resources to help Mr Ortega fulfil his campaign promises to ease poverty in Nicaragua, ranked the second poorest country in South America, with 80 per cent of its population living on about £1 a day.

    Mr Ortega's Sandinista revolution seized power in 1979 and he ruled Nicaragua until losing elections in 1990. He presided over a gradually crumbling economy and fought a civil war against Contra rebels. Hoping to see Mr Ortega toppled, the Reagan administration funnelled cash to the Contras raised by the clandestine sale of arms to Iran - an illegal scheme that caused a domestic scandal in Washington.

    Mr Reagan's successor, George Bush Snr, described Mr Ortega as "this little man" while attending a central American summit in 1989 as well as an "unwanted animal at a garden party".

    Both sides seem to be at pains, however, to put the past behind them and stress there are constructive links between Washington and Managua. Nor is there much sign, meanwhile, that Mr Ortega will be inclined to follow Mr Chavez down a radically socialist path. Rather, he has vowed to respect private property rights in Nicaragua and take a cautious approach to economic policy.

    The US Health Secretary, Michael Leavitt, was to attend last night's inauguration. In an earlier meeting with Mr Ortega he said: "I want to make it very clear that our desire is to work with you". Officials added that Mr Ortega and Mr Bush had spoken with each other by telephone on Monday.

    Jaime Morales, a former Contra leader who reconciled with Mr Ortega and will serve as his vice-president, has also sought to allay fears about the new leader's intentions. "We will totally respect private property, entrepreneurial liberty and the market economy," he said.

    A member of the main opposition party appeared less confident, however. "May God light the path of the new president and his government... so they don't fall victim to totalitarian temptations or even think of setting back our democracy even a centimetre," warned Wilfredo Navarro.

    President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran was originally expected at the Ortega inauguration but officials said yesterday that, although he would not be present at the ceremony, he was expected to arrive on Saturday and become the first world leader to pay Mr Ortega an official visit.
    "If there is a sin against life, it consists not so much in despairing as in hoping for another life and in eluding the implacable grandeur of this one."
    Albert Camus "Noces"

  2. #2
    Master of Few Words Senior Member KukriKhan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2001
    Posts
    10,415

    Default Re: Daniel Ortega returns to presidency of Nicaragua

    I guess it was inevitable. We're pals with China, buds with Viet Nam, on speaking terms with Russia, and nodding acquaintences with Danny O. It seems Marxists have learnt to stop banging tables with their shoes, and asserting "We will bury you!"; instead offering to buy or sell stuff to us, which apparently rehabs them in the eyes of US powers-that-be.

    Twenty, twenty-five years from now, I expect we'll be chumming it up with Iraq, Iran, Syria... heck maybe even a re-unified Korea (!).

    Not that that's a bad thing. Just weird seeing it all unfold before my old eyes, which used to read about the evil communist conspiracy just waiting to kill us all.
    Last edited by KukriKhan; 01-12-2007 at 15:43.
    Be well. Do good. Keep in touch.

  3. #3
    L'Etranger Senior Member Banquo's Ghost's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Hunting the Snark, a long way from Tipperary...
    Posts
    5,604

    Default Re: Daniel Ortega returns to presidency of Nicaragua

    Quote Originally Posted by KukriKhan
    Twenty, twenty-five years from now, I expect we'll be chumming it up with Iraq, Iran, Syria... heck maybe even a re-unified Korea (!).

    Not that that's a bad thing. Just weird seeing it all unfold before my old eyes, which used to read about the evil communist conspiracy just waiting to kill us all.
    Absolutely agree. In my youth I was training to repel the communist horde of Russians, and now I'm married to one.

    It just begs the question - can't we try and cut out more of the intervening killing, maiming and threatening?
    "If there is a sin against life, it consists not so much in despairing as in hoping for another life and in eluding the implacable grandeur of this one."
    Albert Camus "Noces"

  4. #4
    Member Member Alexander the Pretty Good's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    New Jersey, USA
    Posts
    4,979

    Default Re: Daniel Ortega returns to presidency of Nicaragua

    You married a horde?

    The slippery slope argument is correct!

  5. #5

    Default Re: Daniel Ortega returns to presidency of Nicaragua

    Quote Originally Posted by Alexander the Pretty Good
    You married a horde?

    The slippery slope argument is correct!
    ROFL!
    BG, that only proves that they improved and diversified their tactics

    Quote Originally Posted by Banquo's Ghost
    I suppose there's one saving grace. There's an opportunity to recapture the glory of the Reagan years and sell Iran the bomb they want in return for cash to make Ortega's life a misery again. After all, Mahmoud will be in town on Sunday.
    Besides, if they sell Iran the bomb, it will be that much easier in a few years to find them WMD's - after all, they'll know exactly what they're looking for

    On topic: the impact of this upcoming "alliance" on the whole of the American continent: not much, imo. They're all small players, without the capability to stir the waters (other than the domestic ones). Sure, you can expect a lot more rhetoric (anti-US) and all that crap, but it's gonna be just talk the talk, not walk the walk. As long as the US ignores them - and they can safely do so -, nothing will come out of it. If they get involved, AGAIN, repeating mistakes of the past (or, who knows, making new ones ), more scandals will ensue - but likely not much more than that.

    Besides, I can definitely sympathize with the urge to set up your own puppet dictators in Central/South America - I mean, come on, you guys of all people should be able to imagine how much fun that would be, only judging by how much fun y'all have/had by instituting your own Pope in MTW/M2TW
    Therapy helps, but screaming obscenities is cheaper.

  6. #6
    L'Etranger Senior Member Banquo's Ghost's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Hunting the Snark, a long way from Tipperary...
    Posts
    5,604

    Default Re: Daniel Ortega returns to presidency of Nicaragua

    Quote Originally Posted by Alexander the Pretty Good
    You married a horde?

    The slippery slope argument is correct!


    Believe me, there are days when it feels like it.
    "If there is a sin against life, it consists not so much in despairing as in hoping for another life and in eluding the implacable grandeur of this one."
    Albert Camus "Noces"

  7. #7
    Master of useless knowledge Senior Member Kitten Shooting Champion, Eskiv Champion Ironside's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Sweden
    Posts
    4,902

    Default Re: Daniel Ortega returns to presidency of Nicaragua

    Quote Originally Posted by Blodrast
    Besides, I can definitely sympathize with the urge to set up your own puppet dictators in Central/South America - I mean, come on, you guys of all people should be able to imagine how much fun that would be, only judging by how much fun y'all have/had by instituting your own Pope in MTW/M2TW
    But population of the puppet countries seems to be more pissed off when you do this nowadays.
    We are all aware that the senses can be deceived, the eyes fooled. But how can we be sure our senses are not being deceived at any particular time, or even all the time? Might I just be a brain in a tank somewhere, tricked all my life into believing in the events of this world by some insane computer? And does my life gain or lose meaning based on my reaction to such solipsism?

    Project PYRRHO, Specimen 46, Vat 7
    Activity Recorded M.Y. 2302.22467
    TERMINATION OF SPECIMEN ADVISED

  8. #8
    TexMec Senior Member Louis VI the Fat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Saint Antoine
    Posts
    9,935

    Default Re : Daniel Ortega returns to presidency of Nicaragua

    Oddly enough, I somehow assumed Ortega to have been dead and buried a long time ago. Talk about a blast from the past. Next thing you know, the coming Argentine elections will be won by Evita Peron...
    Anything unrelated to elephants is irrelephant
    Texan by birth, woodpecker by the grace of God
    I would be the voice of your conscience if you had one - Brenus
    Bt why woulf we uy lsn'y Staraft - Fragony
    Not everything
    blue and underlined is a link


Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Single Sign On provided by vBSSO