Opinion

From Chernobyl to Santrich: or doomed microcephalic bureaucracies

In April 1986 the dwellers of Chernobyl, Ukraine saw a plume of fire and smoke rise in the clean sky  as reactor 4 began melting down after a steam explosion led to a fire. The people of Chernobyl and nearby villages were severely injured by the  incident. A chain of denials thus covers the truth every time anything goes wrong. In Colombia another Chernobyl has just happened without being noticed.  A silent and invisible radioactive explosion was triggered by the Supreme Court. It let Jesus Santrich free after being caught closing a sale of cocaine to the Gulf Cartel in Mexico. Mr Santrich was thus caught in violation of the Peace Agreements, but The Supreme Court found that Mr. Santrich has to be let free to take his seat in parliament. This was despite a US request for extradition substantiated with evidence. And just like Chernobyl the Santrich decision will affect millions of Colombians who will experience the lethal consequences of impunity. Notably among them,  the swift and silent penetration of Colombian political institutions by organized crime.

The Venezuelan Situation Requires Taking Asymmetric Warfare Into Account

Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, points out that the Venezuelan president responds to Cuban dictates. If the U.S. were successful in pressuring Cuba to withdraw troops from Venezuela, the Maduro regime would collapse. If Cuba refuses, Senator Graham suggests mobilizing troops to the region. It is now important to start cutting the weapons supply from Russia, flights from Iran, and any aid coming from China. A naval and aerial blockade, would be a good start. The U.S. is doing the right thing by insisting on regime change in Venezuela; however, it must be done with thoughtful planning and careful analysis of Venezuela’s internal situation.

ALMAGRO BETRAYS AND CONTRAVENES OAS’ SYSTEM IN ORDER TO SUPPORT EVO MORALES

Mr. Luis Almagro has contravened the OAS’ General Secretariat to benefit Evo Morales. Bolivia;  with the referendum election of 21 February of 2016 (21F) rejecting the reelection, with a constitution that was supplanted and had already been defiled so that Morales could reelect himself in 2014, with the guarantees of Article 32.2 of the American Convention on Human Rights that was in effect, with the absence of all of the essential components of democracy listed in Article 3 of the IDC, with political prisoners, and over 1,200 political exiles, a nation turned into a “narco-state” and with the findings of the Venetian Commission . . . has not given Secretary Almagro any institutional instrument to oppose Evo Morales’ dictatorship!!??

Saint Therese of Britannia

Theresa May met her foretold destiny with elegance and softness. For too long a time she knew she could not bring Humpty Dumpty together again but needed to attempt to restitute political strength to her party. When she finally realized that the latter goal was unreachable, she submitted her resignation. Theresa May was thus trapped by the popular revolt and the refusal to address it by  political leadership. She will most probably be remembered by posterity as the patron saint of headaches just like her predecessor and namesake St Theresa of Avila.

The New Russian Empire

Today while Russia could not effectively compete in the military and political dimension with either the US or China, it can certainly look them in the eye in cyber space. The real strategy of Russia is to destabilize the U.S. through its democratic process, and this aim is to be achieved through cyber means. Should the U.S. continue to deny the inroads made by Russia in cyber space, a serious precedent could be created. This includes the Bolivarian regime and its allies that also are Russia’s chums.

ALMAGRO’S MURKY ENDORSEMENT OF EVO MORALES WIPES OUT OAS’ CREDIBILITY

Secretary Almagro, in the company of Evo Morales, at the government’s offices in La Paz, has stated:  “to say that Evo Morales today cannot participate, that would be absolutely discriminatory with the other presidents who have participated in electoral processes, based on a judicial ruling acknowledging the guarantees of their human rights”. It is a “murky endorsement” because it contradicts that which was sustained and expressed by Almagro in this very same case, it has neither clarity, nor transparency, it falls in the area of that which is dishonest and of a questionable legality. With Almagro’s endorsement, Morales will fulfill his plan. This is why it is urgent to clarify if Almagro can fight against Venezuela’s, Nicaragua’s, and Cuba’s dictatorships while at the same time, he is consolidating a dictatorship of the same criminal group in Bolivia.

MAXIMUM PRESSURE ON IRAN IS GOOD POLICY BUT A BOTTOM-LINE NEEDS TO BE DEFINED

Tensions have escalated recently between the United States and Iran. The bigger problem lies with the administration’s lack of public clarity with regard to its strategic approach. Continued pressure on Iran is absolutely necessary. Iran must not be allowed to become what it wants to be. The Middle East is a deeply volatile region, plagued by civil war, high levels of unemployment, economic underdevelopment and social discontent. Iran must not be allowed to take advantage of those social problems. The administration needs to take these complex factors into account in order to develop a policy that puts a dignified and peaceful end to the Iranian threat.