Alex Ward — John Bolton just gave an “Axis of Evil” speech about Latin America

Socialism is "tyranny," you see.

The US has been after regime change in Cuba —unsuccessfully— since the Bay of Pigs invasion. But it has done its best to ruin the economy. Because "socialism is tyranny."

So now we an "axis of evil" on Latin America in addition to the Bush era axis of evil — Iraq, Iran, and North Korea — and Russia and China named as chief adversaries.

Anyone else hear the sound of war drums beating getting louder?

VOX
John Bolton just gave an “Axis of Evil” speech about Latin America

Alex Ward

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“The recent elections of like-minded leaders in key countries, including Ivan Duque in Colombia, and last weekend Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil, are positive signs for the future of the region, and demonstrate a growing regional commitment to free-market principles, and open, transparent, and accountable governance,” Bolton said in his speech at Miami-Dade College.

He did not address widespread concerns about Bolsonaro’s stated admiration for Brazil’s 21-year military dictatorship and its use of torture, and portrayed repression in Latin America as an exclusively communist phenomenon.

“[T]oday, in this hemisphere, we are also confronted once again with the destructive forces of oppression, socialism and totalitarianism” Bolton said.

“Under this administration, we will no longer appease dictators and despots near our shores in this hemisphere. We will not reward firing squads, torturers, and murderers … The troika of tyranny in this hemisphere – Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua – has finally met its match.”

The reality is that the "dictators" Bolton mentions were not socialist leaders but US puppets like Pinochet in Chile and Samoza in Nicaragua.  It was the Sandinistas led by Ortega, the sitting president of Nicaragua, whom Bolton wants to remove, that ousted the repressive Samoza regime.

The Guardian
Bolton praises Bolsonaro while declaring ‘troika of tyranny’ in Latin America

Julian Borger

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Bolton also announced plans to sanction Cuba and Nicaragua, which, together with Venezuela, he dubbed the "Troika of Tyranny."

"This triangle of terror stretching from Havana to Caracas to Managua is the cause of immense human suffering, the impetus of enormous regional instability, and the genesis of a sordid cradle of communism in the Western Hemisphere," he said. "Under President Trump, the United States is taking direct action against all three regimes to defend the rule of law, liberty, and basic human decency in our region."

Last week, a U.S. Treasury official said the United States should publicize Turkey's involvement in the Venezuela gold industry. Marshall Billingslea, assistant secretary for terrorist financing at Treasury, said the Turkish government skirted international sanctions by purchasing tons of Venezuelan gold in recent months.

The US policy under acting–president John Bolton is engaging in economic warfare with any nation that refuses to submit to the American Empire. "America First" acquires a necon meaning. What happened to the elected president who campaigned on reducing foreign entanglement.

I am puzzled. How did liberal interventionism in the mode of HRC, whom the American people rejected, replace the America First of DJT? And how did the national security adviser become acting–POTUS?

UPI
U.S. sanctions Venezuela's gold exports
Danielle Haynes

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The US gets the finger again. 189 to 2 (US and Israel), with 2 abstaining (Ukraine and Moldova). The US couldn't even get Ukraine aboard. Talk about sending a message.

The United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly adopted its 27th annual resolution calling for an end to the U.S. economic embargo on Cuba after a failed bid by Washington to amend the text to push Cuba to improve its human rights record.

The U.N. vote can carry political weight, but only the U.S. Congress can lift the more than 50-year-old embargo. The United States and Israel voted against the resolution, 189 countries voted in favor and Ukraine and Moldova did not vote.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley told the General Assembly that the resolution was an opportunity for countries “to feel they can poke the United States in the eye.”…

The United States voted against the U.N. resolution last year along with its ally Israel. The General Assembly’s remaining 191 members voted in favor....

Has the US lost all its soft power and now sees its hard power dwindling, too?

One America
U.N. urges end to U.S. embargo on Cuba, U.S. raises rights concerns

Michelle Nichols