Articles and opinion columns by Latin American analysts who take an unwavering stand for freedom, including members and directors of the IID.

REALIGN LATIN AMERICAN GOVERNMENTS’ FOREIGN POLICY WITH CUBA’S DICTATORSHIP

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The greatest threat to democracies’ stability in the Americas is Cuba’s dictatorship with its control over Venezuela and Nicaragua’s dictatorships, its pretension to regain its regimes in Ecuador and Bolivia, and its strategy of constant sedition with crime as the means to do it. Foreign policy “is that part of the general policy comprised by the set of decisions and doings through which a State’s objectives are defined and means are used to generate, modify, or suspend its relations with other actors from the international community”. the region’s factual reality shows that in this 21st century, there are two Americas divided by the nature of their governments and systems:  The democratic one and the organized crime’s dictatorial other.  One that is legitimate and the other that is de-facto.  The first with the rule of law, and the second with shameful regimes.  The democratic one with freedoms and the dictatorial other with political prisoners and exiles. Organized crime’s dictatorships, under the direction of Cuba, have disguised their criminal undertaking as politics with the worn-out propaganda of the Cuban revolution, to the point that failure can no longer be hidden and its role as producers and exporters of misery and crime is shameful. This summary of criminal acts that in this 21st century was perpetrated by Castrochavism, is only the reoccurrence of similar crimes committed by Cuba’s dictatorship since the decade of the sixties, a time in which it blood-stained the region with guerrillas, terrorism, narcotics’ trafficking.  It is only more of the same and is from Cuba’s 61-year dictatorship. The questions are:  Why do democratic governments still do not openly see Cuba’s dictatorship as an “aggressor state”, as an “enemy regime”, or as “an organized crime system”?  Why do democracies insist in embracing foreign policies of simulation and defenselessness when facing dictatorial aggression?  Why do they continue relating and trading with Cuba instead of adjusting their foreign policies for the protection of their own stability?

Choosing the Suicide Weapon

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Another caravan of migrants seeking asylum in the US has started its journey in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. About 30% of them will never make it to the U.S. or even to Mexico. Everywhere they have to surrender a possession to make the next mile. When they have given up all their possessions, then they become servants to organized crime through drug cartel recruitment. Servitude comes in many packages, the most obvious is prostitution for both women and men. There also is kidnapping. Finally, there are two jobs that tie migrants to organized crime. These are drug distribution and transportation and spying for the criminal gangs. Today the genie is out of the bottle and is spreading havoc in the region. For the U.S. government it is raining unwanted immigrants. For Central America organized crime is taking away freedom and economic progress. Mexico on its part is being devoured by a wave of violence that claims more casualties than the war in Syria. In short, everyone is losing except organized crime. The clock is thus ticking for the U.S. as leader of the free world to realize that these developments merit a hemispheric treatment. One that brings together law enforcement resources while facilitating prosecution of the mafia leadership and drying out organized crime’s sources of economic gain. Or maybe it is too late to do anything effective, like it is too late to save a significant proportion of migrants from an assured death.

Elimination of Soleimani Shows US Has Power of Deterrence

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The killing of Quds Force leader Qassim Soleimani and its aftermath turned into a huge, misleading farce. In this farce an important sector of American public officials, media, and others fell into the trap of a public relations campaign orchestrated by the Islamic Republic. First, the elimination of Mr. Soleimani shows that the United States has power of deterrence and determination to fight its enemies; that it is not afraid of revenge, and that it would double down if necessary. In the case of Iran, the perception after the Iranian missile attacks against American bases in Baghdad was that many in the United States considered the attack legitimate in the face of U.S. “bad behavior” or “provocations” to use Pelosi’s own words. The second trap in which America fell was the general belief among key members of Congress and important sectors in the media that the killing of Soleimani rallied and unified the Iranian people around the regime. That is a huge farce. We should not be misled about Iran. Iran is not a legitimate regime and it is very much on the defense, terrified of regime change. Protests happened precisely because the regime is seen as negligent and reckless, which dismisses the argument that Soleimani turned into a catalyzer of national unity. Therefore, the challenge of a nuclear Iran is still a threat whose solution is highly uncertain.

Beyond Impeachment Despair Reigns in America

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Beatrice Rangel outlines the hollowing out of the U.S.A.’s industrial base and the depression it causes as jobs flow to Asia and the likely results of that despair. As Ms Pelosi finally sends the articles of impeachment to the Senate and aspirants to the democratic nomination to duel President Trump gather in Iowa every hour there will be 8 Americans dead by drug overdose, 67% of them victims to opioid addiction. And as we examine other health related statistics the future fails to be rosy. And most probably none of these Americans will have a voice in Iowa or anywhere else during the campaign. Let alone in the US Congress that will be taken by the impeachment procedures that will end with President trump’s acquittal. To be sure, this legion of despair does not make it to the CNN-Fox primetime. But will determine the future of their country as they are the spring of political divisiveness while eroding the economy’s competitiveness . As the situation progresses, these left behinds will not deserve serious treatment of their calamity by democrats or even President Trump. Democrats will emphasize President Trump’s numerous shortcomings. And truth be told, this catastrophe precedes President Trump. the Us might well face over the next years violent protests that could make the Gilets Jaunes movement in France and the youngsters’ rebellion in Chile look as summer jamborees.

CASTROCHAVIST DICTATORSHIPS ARE PROPPED UP BY ARGENTINA, MEXICO, AND SPAIN

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This new decade there continues to be two Americas, a democratic one and a dictatorial other. The dictatorships have lost some ground and are facing terminal crisis situations, but now they are being propped up by the governments from Argentina, Mexico, and Spain. Features of the democratic America are the “alternance of power and the predictability. Features of the dictatorial America, or Castrochavist dictatorships, are “the indefinite permanence in power and its de-facto execution thereof” that ranges from narcotics’ trafficking, terrorism, corruption, heinous crimes against humanity and more. In Spain, with the government of Pedro Sanchez / Pablo Iglesias, Castrochavism has taken over power because the political party PODEMOS is the dictatorial America’s creation to penetrate and destroy Spaniard’s democracy. Friends of enemies are not friends.  America’s democracies must be clear and concise in assessing and denouncing Argentina, Mexico, and Spain’s position, not permit a “double standard” and act accordingly.

The Wisdom of the Electoral College

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The United States is a republic, not a democracy. The Electoral College is constituted every four years for the sole purpose of electing the President and the Vice President. The number of electors for each state equals the combined total of the state’s Congressional representation – the number of House members, plus the state’s two senators. Together with the separation of powers, the Electoral College is fundamental to American federalism. As Alexander Hamilton explained: “We are now forming a republican form of government. Real Liberty is not found in the extremes of democracy, but in moderate government.” With democratic governance, individual freedoms can be subverted by majority rule. The Constitution seeks to advance liberty, not democracy. When it comes to the Electoral College, we should defer to the wisdom of the Founding Fathers. After all, we should not forget that the crucifixion of Jesus Christ was an event of democratic popular support.

IN THIS 2020 THE CRISIS IS IN CUBA; THE TIME HAS COME FOR NEW AND TERMINAL “MALECONAZOS” UPRISINGS

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The term “maleconazo” describes “the demonstrations against the dictatorship that took place in Cuba on 5 August of 1994 that are considered as the most serious popular rebellion against the Castroist regime”. The maleconazo was a spontaneous revolt that was caused by the situation of misery and deprivation caused by the “special period in time of peace”. From the dictatorship’s point of view, the “maleconazo” is the feared popular reaction that places its indefinite tenure in power at risk, it is the nightmare the regime does not want to be repeated. The communications’ revolution the world lives through due to the internet, cellular phones and beyond, is a liberation instrument for oppressed peoples, such as the Cuban people. The contact with the island’s overseas world is a factor that erodes the dictatorship’s omnipotence. For Cuba’s dictatorship all is growing internal weaknesses and external threats. It is not an ideological matter; it is a depleted system.  The time for new and terminal maleconazos against the Castroist system throughout Cuba’s territory has arrived, and 2020 will prove it.

A new Nash equilibrium for the Middles East?   

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What the loss of Iran General Soleimani means for Iran, Iraq and the Middle East. The AI based strike that removed Iranian General Soleimani from the Middle East war theater could herald a return to the Nash equilibrium in geopolitics. In other words, no player has anything to gain by only changing his or her strategy .  Under such circumstances any strategic change would not spell gain for the house shaker unless the rest of the players change their strategy. And these perhaps were the thoughts sliding through the minds of the US policy makers when deciding to wipe General Soleimani out while in Iraq. This would see terrorist activity multiply everywhere in the world with the ancillary impact upon sensitive economic activities such as tourism, trade and sports exchanges. Eventually the player with stronger defense systems will overcome and a new equilibrium will be reached. Let’s pray that the new equilibrium is established through negotiations and not through terror.

2019 A YEAR OF AGONY AND PUSH FORWARD FOR ORGANIZED CRIME’S DICTATORSHIPS IN THE AMERICAS

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For Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Bolivia’s dictatorships, 2019 has been the year that has identified them as; a group of Transnational Organized Crime that holds power through the daily commission of crime, and as a criminal undertaking and not a political one. 1- Cuba, in a growing economic crisis due to its situation as a parasite state. 2- Venezuela, in a humanitarian crisis and governed by a criminal regime operated by Cuba, a narco-state. 3- Bolivia, with an economy dressed up by data manipulation and a growing political crisis due to Evo Morales’ persistence to be a candidate for the fourth consecutive time. 4- Nicaragua, subjected by the violence of massacres, political prisoners, torture, and tens of thousands of exiled. The Castrochavist offensive is acknowledged and celebrated by; Castro, Maduro, Cabello, Morales, Diaz-Canel, Ortega, and their spokesmen.  They control Argentina’s government with Fernandez/Kirchner and openly manipulate Mexico’s government with Lopez Obrador.  They lost Bolivia, but criminally conspire to recover it with the open complicity of Argentina, Mexico, and Spain. Thus 2019 comes to an end, with a violent and fierce agony of Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua’s dictatorships that know they are lost and that the only alternative to extend their dying condition and criminal enterprises is by attacking democracies.

Why I am Not an Immigrant

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My purpose now is to explore the mindsets that differentiate economic immigrants from political exiles. I do so with the caveat that, this is a blurred distinction when applied to those leaving states that exert engulfing control over both, political and economic domains. Economic migration and political exile share many characteristics, but are differentiated primarily by the action of return. Neither economic migration, nor political exile are actions that, in themselves, ennoble or degrade. Neither action defines life, but economic migration and political exile do frame our life experiences differently. However, those that emigrated primarily for economic reasons aspire to return when their personal economic situation allows it, perhaps in their golden years. In contrast, political exiles are not prepared to return until the oppressive conditions that prompted their exodus are no longer present. Life has been good, and I do not long nostalgically for the past.  Thus, I will label myself: an exile in recess.