A peek inside Heather Hodges’ jewelry box: From Franco to Quito and all points in between

Hodges received a medal identical to this one. The image is from an online auction of fascist memorabilia: http://www.intariamilitaria.com/CatJun09.htm

The U.S. Ambassador in Quito, Heather Hodges, Knows All About Coups D’Etat as Well as Blockades – español

By Jean Guy Allard

Translation: Machetera

The United States Ambassador in Quito is “distinguished” for her numerous links with USAID, the public face of U.S. intelligence which dedicates scores of millions of dollars annually to the attempt to destabilize progressive governments in Latin America.  In her diplomatic career, she had the “privilege” of personal familiarity with the bloody dictatorship of the putschist Guatemalan Rio Montt and of conspiring as a high level official in the U.S. State Department’s Office of Cuban Affairs.

Heather Hodges is the former U.S. Ambassador to Moldova, a country that was part of the former USSR, where she dedicated herself to exacerbating the differences that Moldova had with Russia over the Trans-Dniestr region.

In Ecuador, it’s known that “Her Excellency” has not lost any opportunities to foment the sordid work of her intelligence personnel and exacerbate controversy in the debate about a separatist Guayaquil, promoted by certain rightwing elements.

Behind the Coup in Ecuador

Behind the Coup in Ecuador – The Rightwing Attack on ALBA - español

By Eva Golinger

Translation: Machetera

The latest coup attempt against one of the countries in the Bolivarian Alliance For The People of Our America (ALBA) is attempt to impede Latin American integration and the advance of revolutionary democratic processes.  The rightwing is on the attack in Latin America.  Its success in 2009 in Honduras against the government of Manuel Zelaya energized it and gave it the strength and confidence to strike again against the people and revolutionary governments in Latin America.

Quito’s Police: CIA breeding ground

“I applied and was accepted at the Escuela superior de policía de Quito, and studied there from September 1992 to August 1995.”

Guy Philippe, speaking to Peter Hallward about his background prior to leading an armed insurgency that contributed to the removal of Haiti’s elected president, Jean Bertrand Aristide.

Report Confirmed: U.S. Intelligence Thoroughly Penetrated the Ecuadoran Police – español

By Jean-Guy Allard

Translation: Machetera

The uprising by putschist elements of the Ecuadoran police against President Rafael Correa confirms an alarming report about the infiltration of the Ecuadoran police by U.S. intelligence services released in 2008, which indicated that many members of the police corps developed a “dependence” on the U.S. Embassy.

Colombia’s Uribe takes dictation one last time

Image courtesy http://www.borev.net

Colombia: Uribe’s Farewell Spectacle - español

Atilio A. Boron

Translation: Machetera and Manuel Talens

Álvaro Uribe, the empire’s unconditional pawn, took his leave from the Colombian presidency with a new provocation: the denunciation of FARC camps which he claimed to be established on Venezuelan territory.  Being neither dimwitted nor lazy, the U.S. State Department came out in unconditional support of the accusation put forth by Bogotá at the Organization of American States (OAS), encouraged by the supposed “resounding” proof presented by Uribe, denouncing the government of Hugo Chávez for allowing the FARC camps to be set up and for carrying out various military training programs for some 1,500 guerrillas on Venezuelan soil.  With amazing insolence, Philip Crowley, the State Department spokesperson declared that Venezuela’s response [in terminating diplomatic relations with Colombia] was “unfortunate” and “petulant” and threatened that “if Venezuela fails to cooperate in whatever follow-on steps are made, the United States and other countries will obviously take account of that.”  It must be remembered that since 2006, the United States has included Venezuela in the list of countries that are unwilling to cooperate in the struggle against terrorism.  Assistant U.S. Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Arturo Valenzuela issued a declaration along the same lines, saying that Uribe’s denunciation was “very serious.”  Both statements cast a heavy shadow of doubt about the intellectual capabilities of both officials and, what’s worse, feed the suspicion that with their fondness for lies, the moral caliber of both is not all that different from that of Álvaro Uribe.

The magic elixir

As a parent, Machetera can easily imagine doing and saying almost anything to get her child out of being chained up in the jungle. Yet even though there’ve been some cynical things written (some of which Machetera has translated) about Ingrid Betancourt’s family, specifically her mother, Yolanda Pulecio, and Hugo Chávez Frias, suggesting Pulecio was somehow being less than genuine in all the statements she made in his company, and Chávez himself was being used, Machetera disagrees.

Hernando Calvo Ospina, who was there, also disagrees, and Chávez, as far as Machetera can see, is nobody’s fool. Machetera has no love for the oligarchy, but families are complicated things and, newsflash! They don’t always agree. No-one’s interviewing Yolanda Pulecio at the moment.

Please remember that Machetera’s first priority is the translation of items from the Spanish language press that otherwise do not appear in the English language press. Usually they follow her editorial line, but not always. Machetera trusts her readers to distinguish between the two, but you’ll have to pay attention!

Ingrid Betancourt: “Ingratitude” and State Interests?

Hernando Calvo Ospina – Rebelión

Translation: Machetera

All Ingrid Betancourt needed was a microphone in front of her in order to begin to praise the Colombian president, the Defense Minister and the Armed Forces. That was only a few minutes after getting off the plane and being presented to the journalists in attendance, along with the 11 policemen and Colombian soldiers, and the three U.S. mercenary soldiers (read that carefully: U.S. mercenary soldiers). From that moment she hasn’t stopped expressing beautiful words toward those who, in Colombian history, have filled the streets and countryside of Colombia with more blood than anyone.

Since it seems that they’ve forgotten some “tiny details,” it’s good to remind them of other “tiny details.”

Popular, not populist

In this interview with Argentina’s Mario Wainfeld, Ecuador’s president, Rafael Correa says, “…the policies of George Bush have been so clumsy in the region that they’ve favored us. The progressive governments have a lot to thank him for, he’s helped us a lot.”

Also in this interview, this breaking news: An Ecuadoran who survived the Colombian/U.S. bombing of the FARC camp in Ecuador on March 1 was killed with a blow from a rifle butt to his neck, not by gunfire or the bombs themselves.

Winning Elections is Not the Same as Winning Power

Mario Wainfeld – Página 12

Translation: Machetera

In an interview with Página 12, Ecuador’s president spoke of his opposition’s coalition, the role of the media and banking. As well, he spoke of the relationship between democracy and power factions, and his socialist project and its limits. Of the influence of the dollar and remittances. Of the relationship between countries in the region, with Colombia, with the United States. And much more, even a goal made in overtime.