Latin America

Bolivian President Morales’ Flight Diverted On Suspicions He Was Transporting Edward Snowden

"Bolivia's foreign minister David Choquehuanca has told reporters that France and Portugal abruptly cancelled air permits, causing the plane to make an unscheduled landing in Vienna, Austria. He said the cancellations were made over 'technical issues' but that further investigation revealed 'there appeared to be some unfounded suspicions that Mr. Snowden was on the plane'. 'We don't know who invented this lie,' Mr Choquehuanca added. Austrian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Schallenberg told The Associated Press that Snowden is not with Morales and that the Bolivian president is spending the night at a Vienna hotel." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBolivian President Morales’ Flight Diverted On Suspicions He Was Transporting Edward Snowden

Rafael Correa says Ecuador helped Edward Snowden by mistake

"Ecuador is not considering Edward Snowden’s asylum request and never intended to facilitate his flight from Hong Kong, president Rafael Correa said. Snowden was Russia’s responsibility and would have to reach Ecuadorean territory before the country would consider any asylum request, the president said. The president, speaking to the Guardian at the presidential palace in Quito, said his government did not intentionally help Snowden travel from Hong Kong to Moscow with a temporary travel pass. 'It was a mistake on our part,' he added, clashing with expressions of gratitude the 30-year-old fugitive issued hours later, before Correa’s views had been published." Continue reading →

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Edward Snowden’s letter to the president of Ecuador

"While the public has cried out support of my shining a light on this secret system of injustice, the government of the United States of America responded with an extrajudicial man-hunt costing me my family, my freedom to travel and my right to live peacefully without fear of illegal aggression. As I face this persecution, there has been silence from governments afraid of the United States government and their threats. Ecuador however, rose to stand and defend the human right to seek asylum. The decisive action of your consul in London, Fidel Narvaez, guaranteed my rights would be protected upon departing Hong Kong – I could never have risked travel without that." Continue reading →

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Argentine president battles inflation by launching government clothing line

"Just in the last few years, she’s imposed capital controls. Media controls. Price controls. Export controls. She’s seized pension funds. She fired a central banker who didn’t bend to her ‘print more money’ directives. She even filed criminal charges against economists who publish credible inflation figures. Even Cristina acknowledges that prices are way too high. But rather than rein in spending and stop the money printing, she’s digging her high heels in even further by launching a new clothing line. This new brand– NYP will be owned and run by the government, selling everything from jeans to shirts to shoes at prices below 100 pesos (less than $20 officially)." Continue reading →

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Who Are These ‘Bankers’ Ecuador Keeps Referencing?

"Roberto and William Isaias Dassum were the president and vice president of Filanbanco, Ecuador's largest bank. In the late '90s, Ecuador descended into a severe banking crisis, so it pumped $1.16 billion into Filanbanco to keep it afloat. That failed and, according to the government of Ecuador, the Dassums fled to Miami after allegedly embezzling millions. Ecuador was asking the U.S. to confiscate about $20 million worth of assets the Dassums allegedly have in Miami. The U.S. court refused Ecuador's request. What's more, to allow Ecuador to confiscate property in the U.S. would 'signify a substantial deviation from U.S. law and policy.'" Continue reading →

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Paul Craig Roberts: Washington Is Driving The World To The Final War

"It is not possible for a true patriot to support a government that destroys the Constitution. The United States is the Constitution. Our country is not the Obama regime, the Bush regime, or some other administration. Our country is the Constitution. The Constitution is our country. Beyond obligations to one’s own country, all humans have a responsibility to human life itself. Washington’s puppet states, such as the NATO countries, Japan, and Colombia, by providing cover and support for Washington’s aggression are enabling Washington to drive the world into World War III." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPaul Craig Roberts: Washington Is Driving The World To The Final War

Biden calls Ecuador’s president about NSA leaker Snowden

"Ecuador’s President Rafael Correa on Saturday said Vice President Joe Biden had called him to urge the South American country to deny an asylum request from National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden, according to reports. Correa added that no decision would be made on the asylum request unless Snowden was on Ecuadorian territory and said that the admitted leaker would 'have to assume his own responsibilities' for his actions. Correa disclosed the phone call from Biden during a television interview in Ecuador. National Security Council spokesperson Bernadette Meehan said Biden and Correa spoke on Friday, but would not provide more details." Continue reading →

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More Dark Side From The Empire

"It was interesting to learn that when everyone thought that Snowden was on his way to Ecuador via Cuba, American journalists were not permitted to fly to Cuba from Russia because they didn’t have visas. Perhaps they were lucky because if they hadn’t secured a 'license' to spend money in Cuba, they were subjected to being prosecuted for a felony offense by … their own government! Yes, the U.S. government—the government that was poking fun at China and Russia for their systems of government—actually puts Americans into jail for traveling to Cuba and spending their money there. How’s that for a little 'Thank God I’m an American because at least I know I’m free'?" Continue reading →

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Ecuador breaks US trade pact to thwart ‘blackmail’ over Snowden asylum

"Ecuador has ramped up its defiance of the US over Edward Snowden by waiving preferential trade rights with Washington even as the whistleblower's prospect of reaching Quito dimmed. President Rafael Correa's government said on Thursday it was renouncing the Andean Trade Preference Act to thwart US 'blackmail' of Ecuador in the former NSA contractor's asylum request. Officials, speaking at an early morning press conference, also offered a $23m donation for human rights training in the US, a brash riposte to recent US criticism of Ecuador's own human rights record." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEcuador breaks US trade pact to thwart ‘blackmail’ over Snowden asylum

Brazil Millionaires Should Pay for Protest Demands, Party Says

"Brazil’s ruling party is reviving a proposal to tax millionaires’ wealth to help pay for measures demanded by protesters staging the largest demonstrations in two decades. The move is part of a congressional rush to pass laws that placate demands from protesters for cheaper transportation, better education, and less corruption. Over the past three weeks, more than 1 million Brazilians have taken to the streets. The proposal, which has been considered for at least 25 years, came back to life as pressure for more spending coincides with a tighter budget. President Dilma Rousseff’s Workers Party, known as the PT, agreed this week to push for the approval of the bill." Continue reading →

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