Page 892 – Toward Freedom

What is the U.S. Military Doing in Paraguay?

Benjamin Dangl August 2, 2005 Benjamin Dangl

The U.S. military is conducting secretive operations in Paraguay and reportedly building a new base there. Human rights groups and military analysts in the region believe trouble is brewing.However, the U.S. embassy in Paraguay denies the base exists and describes the military activity as routine. According to an article in the Bolivian newspaper, El Deber, a U.S. base is being developed in Mariscal Estigarribia, Paraguay, 200 kilometers from the border with Bolivia. The base will permit the landing of large aircraft and is capable of housing up to 16,000 troops. A contingent of 500 U.S. troops arrived in Paraguay on July 1^stwith planes, weapons, equipment and ammunition. (1)

With Bolivia's recent uprisings, their enormous gas reserves, and a presidential election on the way, this questionable activity could pave the way for a U.S. intervention.Rumors of Al Qaeda training grounds near Paraguay may also work to the Bush administration's advantage as it makes a case for military operations in the region.

Congress and Corporate Lobbyists Rewrite Telecom Act

Sandy Leon Vest August 1, 2005 Sandy Leon Vest

Nearly a decade ago, Congress passed the Telecommunications Act of 1996 by huge bipartisan margins-91 to 5 in the Senate and 414 to16 in the House. The bill was touted as "the most deregulatory telecommunications legislation in history." President Bill Clinton had become a believer. The Telecom industry was just getting warmed up. Today the threat posed by that industry to what remains of citizen representation looms larger than ever as a new slew of mergers - including the takeover of AT&T by SBC Communications - threatens to sail through the regulatory process.

Guatemalan Government’s Apology Leaves Unanswered Questions

Tim Willard July 28, 2005 Tim Willard

{mosmedia} On July 18th, Guatemala's Vice President, Eduardo Stein, flew to the remote village of Plan de Sanchez to formally apologize for the government-directed 1982 massacre of more than 200 Achi Mayans in that region. "We are here today to ask forgiveness in the name of the Guatemalan state from all of the victims of the conflict," the Vice President said.

Stein confessed that the army had "unleashed bloodshed and fire to wipe out an entire community," and told the residents that the Berger administration was committed "to push the investigation into the events that occurred to allow for the clarification of what happened and permit us to identify, try and punish the intellectual and material authors of these offenses."

A People’s History of Iraq

Bob Feldman July 27, 2005 Bob Feldman

Nearly 140,000 U.S. troops are currently in Iraq trying to influence Iraqi history by waging an imperialist war on behalf of U.S. corporate interests. Yet most people in the United States probably didn't learn very much about Iraqi history in their high school social studies courses. Some knowledge of pre-1950 Iraqi history may be of use to U.S. anti-war activists when arguing with opponents of an immediate withdrawal from Iraq.

Global Notebook 7-27-05

Super User July 26, 2005 Super User

GLOBAL

Theroux blames big oil for Ecuador ‘catastrophe’

CAPE CODE, MA – Describing a trip through the oil towns of Ecuador, writer Paul Theroux recently called the area an “ecological and social catastrophe” that includes spilled oil, brothels, gun running, deforestation, poverty and displaced people. In an interview with HalliburtonWatch.org, he placed the blamed on Occidental Petroleum and Halliburton, accusing both of exploiting the region and damaging the ecosystem. read more

An Interview with Chris Crass

Matt Dineen July 26, 2005 Matt Dineen

{mosmedia} In his book A Language Older Than Words, Derrick Jensen articulates the dilemma of following one’s passions while surviving in a capitalist society: “Wishing away the wage economy did not make it cease to exist, and my determination to stop selling my hours did not lessen my need for food, nor for a place to stay. In other words, despite my highfalutin philosophy, I still had to find a way to earn some cash.” Chris Crass is a political organizer who has grappled with this dilemma for years.
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