Enero 10, 2006
Contrasting Offers
Bolivia has finally arrived. Evo Morales was the lead story on Comedy Central's The Daily Show, a television program where many Americans admitted getting their news from. Basically Jon Stewart announced that a new leader was elected that will give the Bush administration fits, especially for the proposed coca policy. The State Department announced that they will wait and see the kind of conduct displayed by Bolivia before making a judgement. Perhaps Bolivia should wait and see the kind of conduct displayed by the U.S.
Adam Isaacson from the Plan Colombia and Beyond blog came up with a comparison between the aid offered by Hugo Chavez and the kind of aid offered by the U.S.:
* A projected $8.5 million, or 5 percent, cut in aid (military plus economic) from 2004 to 2006, from $157.8 million to $149.3 million.
* From that amount, a cutoff of at least $2.6 million in military aid and up to $8 million in economic aid per year, because Bolivia hasn’t granted U.S. military personnel on Bolivian soil immunity from the International Criminal Court.
* The risk of being de-certified, and having even more aid and credit cut off, if it is determined that Morales’ government is not sufficiently cooperating in the war on drugs. Not to mention a likely big fight over forced coca eradication, on which the U.S. government currently spends well over $11 million per year.
* A take-it-or-leave-it approach to a free-trade agreement, even though the U.S. terms would cause a severe shock to Bolivia’s agricultural sector.
* A dwindling likelihood that Bolivia will get aid through the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA), though Bolivia is among only four Latin American countries invited to submit proposals for assistance.
Fuel assistance from Venezuela, cancellation of debt from Spain, free eye care for the neediest of Bolivians from Cuba, and potentially huge investment from China seem a lot more tempting than the goods that the U.S. is offering. But perhaps the most important visit will come later this week, when Morales and Company will visit Lula in Brasil, a country which holds a large piece of the oil investment in Bolivia. If Brazil comes on board with the re-negotiation of contracts, then it may be smooth sailing for the plans for nationalization.
Posted by eduardo at Enero 10, 2006 12:35 AM
Comments
I saw the program yesterday and I didn't find it very amusing, partly because the jokes were kinda weak. You are right about young people getting their news from late night comedy shows, from a news clip: "[The] Pew Research Center report, which queried 1,506 adults between Dec. 19 and Jan. 4. found that 'Twenty percent say they learned something regularly from 'The Daily Show,' 'Saturday Night Live' or shows like that," said Carroll Doherty, the report's editor. "This has doubled over the last four years.'"
I personally like colbert and the daily show but I think is pathetic to rely on them for news information. Got your meme thing, will reply.
Posted by: Jonathan at Enero 10, 2006 10:41 AM
What were the jokes on The Daily Show?
Here's the deal on foreign investment: It's not one or the other. Just because China wants to invest in the energy industry (a good thing for both, they need the resources as badly as Bolivia needs the investment) doesn't mean intentionally turning one's back on the U.S. Bolivia needs the US whether Evo wants to admit it or not.
That said, it doesn't mean accepting US policy on 100-percent American terms. The good thing about Chavez is that it forces the US to readjust its policy and makes it less likely (hopefully) that the US will dictate matters.
Both the US and Evo are equally, and foolishly, stubborn. But if Evo insists on retaining his 'street cred' by antagonizing the US, Bolivia will lose more than the US will.
I agree that Lula is the key -- showing the easily influenced Evo that it is possible to maintain at least a cordial relationship with the US while still maintaining the appropriate degree of independence.
Posted by: O at Enero 10, 2006 11:50 AM