Bolivia orders U.S. ambassador expelled

[Laworkerbee]

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/3946/42282490nc4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
By

A government office is targeted during a protest in the Bolivian city of Santa Cruz, where official sites have been sacked and burned. The city is the epicenter of opposition to leftist President Evo Morales.


BUENOS AIRES -- Bolivian President Evo Morales ordered the expulsion Wednesday of the U.S. ambassador to his country, accusing him of fostering divisions in the deeply fractured Andean nation.

The move comes as tensions rise and violence increases in states opposed to the leftist policies of Morales. The president has regularly accused Washington and its ambassador of plotting against him.

"The one who conspires against democracy and above all seeks the division of Bolivia is the ambassador of the United States," Morales said during a speech at the presidential palace.

Ambassador Philip S. Goldberg, a veteran diplomat who has served more than two years in La Paz, Bolivia's administrative capital, was declared persona non grata and will have to leave the country, probably within 48 to 72 hours.

"We don't want people who are separatists, who foment divisions, who conspire against unity," Morales said, referring to Goldberg.

U.S. officials in La Paz said that Goldberg was surprised by the decision and that the embassy was awaiting an official statement from the Bolivian government.

The expulsion order is the culmination of tension between Morales and Goldberg that mirrors the deteriorating state of U.S.-Bolivian relations.

Morales, who took office in January 2006 as Bolivia's first Indian president, is an ally of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, the region's preeminent critic of Washington.

Despite Morales' frequent assaults on U.S. policy, Bolivia receives more than $100 million a year in U.S. aid, much of it to fight the drug trade. Bolivia is the world's third-largest producer of the coca leaf, the raw ingredient in cocaine.

Even though he is president, Morales still heads a major federation of coca producers. He has defended farmers' right to plant coca, but has also cooperated with U.S.-backed efforts to block trafficking.

Goldberg heard of Morales' decision Wednesday during a meeting with Bolivian Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca, the U.S. Embassy said. Goldberg had requested the meeting to discuss Bolivia's decision to expel agents of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration from the Chapare, a major coca-producing zone and Morales' home base.

State Department spokesman Gordon Duguid called the accusations against Goldberg "baseless," the Associated Press reported from Washington. There was no immediate word on what reciprocal steps Washington might take.

Violent protests have convulsed Bolivia in recent days. Demonstrators on Tuesday sacked and burned government offices in the city of Santa Cruz, the epicenter of opposition to Morales.

A pipeline blast reportedly forced the country to reduce exports of natural gas to Brazil. What caused the blast remained unclear. Bolivia has South America's second-largest natural gas reserves, after Venezuela.

The governors of five of Bolivia's nine states are aligned against Morales and his agenda of nationalization and empowering the poor Indian masses.

Morales has accused the rebellious states of plotting against him with the U.S. ambassador. Goldberg has repeatedly denied any interference in Bolivian affairs.

[Winger]

Bolivian gov. looking for a scapegoat, directly accusing the ambassador. As if any covert operation would involve him.

[Ordie]

What usually happens is a tit for tat.
Expect the Bolivian Ambassidor in Washington to be expelled.
State Department will most likely issue a travel warning which is a big deal for tourism and commercial travel.

[Kilgor]

Looting = life's good

[California Joe]

Bolivia needs it in the ass.

[Bombtrack]

Good for them.

[SBL]

Evo Morales has an awesome haircut.

[Hogan]

Advisor: There is civil unrest and violence...the people don't like your policies...
El Presidente: Where's the nearest American to blame?

[Dominique]

Bolivian gov. looking for a scapegoat, directly accusing the ambassador. As if any covert operation would involve him.

Any covert action would involve him.

[Kilgor]

Update:

Monkey boy Chavez has now told the American ambassador to GTFO

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/09/11/venezuela.us/index.html

[Bombtrack]

Advisor: There is civil unrest and violence...the people don't like your policies...
El Presidente: Where's the nearest American to blame?

Advisor: There is civil unrest and violence...the people don't like your policies...
POTUS: I'm gonna go clear some brush.


It's all relative.

[brainplay]

Advisor: There is civil unrest and violence...the people don't like your policies...
Bolivian President: I'm gonna go grow some brush.

It's all relative.

Fixed it for you. :)



Bolivia needs it in the ass.


When they lose their aid, exports slow down, and tourism declines Bolivia shall be grabbing their ankles. Of course they'll also blame it on the US but whats new?

[Lt-Col A. Tack]

Update:

Monkey boy Chavez has now told the American ambassador to GTFO

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/09/11/venezuela.us/index.html

Thanks for the update. What does he hope to accomplish, I wonder?

[SBL]

Thanks for the update. What does he hope to accomplish, I wonder?
An opportunity to get cozier with the Kremlin, methinks.

[Lt-Col A. Tack]

An opportunity to get cozier with the Kremlin, methinks.

Maybe he's hoping for a discount?

[SBL]

Maybe he's hoping for a discount?
Well, it's no secret that the Russians are feeling their oats since South Ossetia. Doubtless they see now as a good opportunity to stick it to us. Russia sees an opportunity to get a better corner on the oil market perhaps, and Venezuela gets a little more muscle.

[Ordie]

Thanks for the update. What does he hope to accomplish, I wonder?

Nothing.

Bolivia needs us more than we need them. Much of its military aid comes from the US through anti-narcotics grants. Many Bolivians have friends and family members living in the US that depend on the US Embassy for visas, family emergencies and legal aide.

Venezuela is doing the same but I doubt it will escalate. The US and Venezuela are mutually dependent. The US and Venezuela may not have mutual ambassadors until Bush leaves, but day to day embassy business will carry on.

[Laworkerbee]

Bolivia needs us more than we need them.

Tell me about it, I have a Bolivian brother in law.

[Buffalo_soldier]

Latin America is to America, as Eastern Europe is to Russia.

They both resent the meddling of the larger powers in their affairs.

[Lt-Col A. Tack]

Nothing.

Bolivia needs us more than we need them. Much of its military aid comes from the US through anti-narcotics grants. Many Bolivians have friends and family members living in the US that depend on the US Embassy for visas, family emergencies and legal aide.

Venezuela is doing the same but I doubt it will escalate. The US and Venezuela are mutually dependent. The US and Venezuela may not have mutual ambassadors until Bush leaves, but day to day embassy business will carry on.

Thank you, sir.

[Wonsild]

Oh well, we had enough "colored revolutions" already, glad Bolivia reacted quick

[Buffalo_soldier]

If Bolivia needs the US more than vice versa, then i'm sure they won't mind when they strike up strategic relationships with Russia and China. After all, it's no biggie.

[Laworkerbee]

If Bolivia needs the US more than vice versa, then i'm sure they won't mind when they strike up strategic relationships with Russia and China. After all, it's no biggie.

Rather pointless but why not?

[Buffalo_soldier]

Rather pointless but why not?

I wouldn't say its rather pointless. The Bolivians believe that the US is formenting unrest in the gas-rich regions of the country so that these resources are kept in the hands of the elite of the country - much like Venezuela. Morales is trying to change that dynamic. It wouldn't suprise me if the developments brought in by Morales upset certain people. At the same time i find it almost ludicrous that the same strategy would be employed against Morales as it was against Chavez. It's almost incredulous.

Bolivia has lots of gas and other natural resources.

[Laworkerbee]

I responded as "pointless" because a strategic partnership (to me) implies mutual defense as well and since the Russians and the Chinese don't have blue water navies capable of coming to their aid in time of conflict I find such a partnership rather short sided and pointless.

The Bolivian people have strong cultural and family ties to the states, like I said earlier my own brother in law is from there. The peasants down there who empower their current leader are another story though, most are uneducated and have no such ties.

[Steaks]

The US doesn't exactly have a honest history in the Southern Cone

[Buffalo_soldier]

I responded as "pointless" because a strategic partnership (to me) implies mutual defense as well and since the Russians and the Chinese don't have blue water navies capable of coming to their aid in time of conflict I find such a partnership rather short sided and pointless.

The Bolivian people have strong cultural and family ties to the states, like I said earlier my own brother in law is from there. The peasants down there who empower their current leader are another story though, most are uneducated and have no such ties.

That's democracy. Every vote is equal.

It's not just for the elitists.

[Laworkerbee]

That's democracy. Every vote is equal.

It's not just for the elitists.

I agree, and I believe over time their democracy will mature over time so it is not the rule of the mob so to speak.

[Ordie]

I agree, and I believe over time their democracy will mature over time so it is not the rule of the mob so to speak.

They need to work out the social-economic differences and centuries of discrimination. That is the root of all problems in Bolivia.

Not the US, Venezuela, Chile, drugs or natural gas.

[donllano]

Well, there are rumors in Venezuelan media that Chavez may send Venezuelan troops to help contain the civil unrest in Bolivia.

[Laworkerbee]

Well, there are rumors in Venezuelan media that Chavez may send Venezuelan troops to help contain the civil unrest in Bolivia.

I doubt Bolivians would stand for such a thing, nor Venezuelan's.

[LineDoggie]

Greater South American Co-Prosperity Sphere anyone?

[Bombtrack]

Latin America is to America, as Eastern Europe is to Russia.

They both resent the meddling of the larger powers in their affairs.

I've always seen it the same way. It's hard to be seen on the moral high ground in the whole Russia/Georgia conflict with the past 100 years of meddling in South America.

[Ordie]

Well, there are rumors in Venezuelan media that Chavez may send Venezuelan troops to help contain the civil unrest in Bolivia.

If that is the case, then the situation will get from serious to worst. Latin American leaders may gloat over Latin American unity, but are very guarded over soveriegnty rights.

[donllano]

I doubt Bolivians would stand for such a thing, nor Venezuelan's.

Yeah, but what can they actually do? I mean, Chavez as of right now is probably sacking half of his officer's corps and looking to implicate most opposite leaders in the plot to assassinate him, and meanwhile Bolivia is going down the path of armed conflict (as not to say civil war) between centralists and autonomists.

[Laworkerbee]

Yeah, but what can they actually do? I mean, Chavez as of right now is probably sacking half of his officer's corps and looking to implicate most opposite leaders in the plot to assassinate him, and meanwhile Bolivia is going down the path of armed conflict (as not to say civil war) between centralists and autonomists.

Lets hope for the best :|

[donllano]

Just a little update, it seems that the Bolivian Military said they will not accept foreign military intrusion from any one, addressing directly Hugo Chavez (who had previously said he would intervene in Bolivia or any other Latin American country if the government was removed by the people of that country) and the international community.
(http://www.noticias24.com/actualidad/?p=17520 (http://www.noticias24.com/actualidad/?p=17520) = in Spanish)

I guess that does it for Chavez since now he does not have an excuse to intervene. Now, to wait and see what is the reaction of Morales...

[Notlim]

Honduras postponed the accreditation of the U.S. ambassador on Friday, expressing solidarity with Bolivia's complaint that the top U.S. diplomat there incited violent protests.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/09/12/news/Honduras-US-Ambassador.php

[LineDoggie]

I've always seen it the same way. It's hard to be seen on the moral high ground in the whole Russia/Georgia conflict with the past 100 years of meddling in South America.
Would that in comparison to say the last several centuries Meddling in India, Ireland, Burma, Afghanistan, Middle East, Africa, etc.? :roll:

[Bombtrack]

Would that in comparison to say the last several centuries Meddling in India, Ireland, Burma, Afghanistan, Middle East, Africa, etc.? :roll:

Well it started out as overt as those, winding down to propping up sketchy governments with their dodgy militias.

[chasqui]

I'm Bolivian, it's a sad thing what has happened to my country over the last years.

It all began with the failure of the economic reforms of Sanchez de Lozada, since then, bolivians no longer beleive in market economy. If you tell them that the road to progress go through foreign investment and private enterprise they will say that you are a lackey of the "Yankis" that wants to give away all of our "great treasures".

Unfortunaly Evo still has a lot of support as evidenced by the last referendum, the unrest right now comes from the low populated eastern provinces where he got the least votes. It was a clever move from him to expel the american ambassador, this convinced a lot of people in Bolivia and Latin America that the US is behind the conflict and make them ignore the real issues that caused the uprising.

[Kilgor]

Latin America is to America, as Eastern Europe is to Russia.

They both resent the meddling of the larger powers in their affairs.

I can't remember America Annexing and occupying latin america for 50 years.

[Stefan850]

I can't remember America Annexing and occupying latin america for 50 years.

They occupied an European one, Serbia, 10 years ago.

[Laworkerbee]

They occupied an European one, Serbia, 10 years ago.

Serbia was occupied by America? perhaps in another dimension maybe p-)

[LineDoggie]

They occupied an European one, Serbia, 10 years ago.


Crack is Wack dude :) I wasnt aware Belgrade was under US Occupation. Could you perhaps show me a Link to that?

[pedro_rafael]

The media reports about what can be qualified as poor judgment by the US Ambassador to Bolivia.

1/ US student in Bolivia, JOhn Van Shaick informed that the US Embassy in Bolivia invited him to a meeting with the Security Advisor Richard Cooper to solicit him to report about movements of Cubans and venezuelans in Bolivia. Similar request appear to have been made to other US Students in Bolivia.

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Story?id=4262036&page=1

2/ US Ambassador appearantly held a meeting with Authorities of Bolivian separatists regions before protest erupt in Santa Cruz and other regions.

...

Chavez is indeed acting like a butt-monkey. The venezuelan rep to the OAS (Organization of American States) has accused Peruvian reporter Jaime Baily - Baily has a TV program in Miami - and US Reporter Maria Elvira Salazar as accomplices in a complot to murder Hugo Chavez.

[Bandeirante]

The military action in Pando has resulted in almost 50 unconfirmed dead. Morales has retaken the airport in a firefight and declared state of siege there. In Santa Cruz the regional government and the Comites Civicos have taken almost all national infrastructure.
The steam is heating the country. Chavez declared that he will send troops to Bolivia if necesssary but Venezuela has not a border with Bolivia and he will not be allowed to do it.
Brazil has a plan to take 5000 Brazilians out from Santa Cruz in the case of a full conflict.
Too bad ...

[muttbutt]

Is it ticking over into a civil war type deal?

[Hogan]

They occupied an European one, Serbia, 10 years ago.

I'm trying to find any reference to America occupying Serbia or any South American country....and yet I can't....hrmmmm...

[Bombtrack]

Check out Stefan's post history, he's just a butthurt Serb.

[V.I.D.]

Check out Stefan's post history, he's just a butthurt Serb.

Butthurt or not, he's not really lying here. The important part (Kosovo) of the country (Serbia) is occupied since 1999's "humanitarian bombing". You can dance around the issue as much as you want, but you can't disguise it for what it is: a blatant thievery & occupation.

[LineDoggie]

Butthurt or not, he's not really lying here. The important part (Kosovo) of the country (Serbia) is occupied since 1999's "humanitarian bombing". You can dance around the issue as much as you want, but you can't disguise it for what it is: a blatant thievery & occupation.

Horse****e, the USA never Occupied serbia and fanboi propaganda wont change that. It is a Fact that serbia has been Occupied by the Ottoman, Venetian, Hungarians, and Austrians. Your specious argument aside, Kosovo was part of the Byzantine, Roman, Bulgarian, & Ottoman empires Before it was ever claimed by serbia.

[Bombtrack]

http://www.chs.org/graphcoll/images/1995_36_1304.jpg

[V.I.D.]

Horse****e, the USA never Occupied serbia and fanboi propaganda wont change that. It is a Fact that serbia has been Occupied by the Ottoman, Venetian, Hungarians, and Austrians. Your specious argument aside, Kosovo was part of the Byzantine, Roman, Bulgarian, & Ottoman empires Before it was ever claimed by serbia.

Please, do tell me how Serbia was EVER occupied by its old medieval ally Venetian Republic (perhaps you're thinking of some Croatian, not Serbian islands), or Hungary for that matter? Austria did occupy Serbia for the short period of time, esp. in WWI when your country still knew who its allies were. Otherwise, please do not talk about history you have no knowledge of. Kosovo was and is Serbian center of culture and religion throughout its most important part of history, and just because you have no grasp of its importance it does not change a single thing. Read a little bit more about it in two fine books by your countrymen: John Reed's "War in Eastern Europe", and John A. Fine's "Late Medieval Balkans". Perhaps this will help you get your facts straight.

[LineDoggie]

Please, do tell me how Serbia was EVER occupied by its old medieval ally Venetian Republic (perhaps you're thinking of some Croatian, not Serbian islands), or Hungary for that matter? Austria did occupy Serbia for the short period of time, esp. in WWI when your country still knew who its allies were. Otherwise, please do not talk about history you have no knowledge of. Kosovo was and is Serbian center of culture and religion throughout its most important part of history, and just because you have no grasp of its importance it does not change a single thing. Read a little bit more about it in two fine books by your countrymen: John Reed's "War in Eastern Europe", and John A. Fine's "Late Medieval Balkans". Perhaps this will help you get your facts straight.

Really? explain this then:

Was Kosovo not part of the Thraco-Illriyan's until defeated and annexed by Rome in 59BC?

Did not Kosovo become part of the First Bulgarian Empire in the late 9th Century?

From 1455 to 1912 was not Kosovo part of the Ottoman Empire? (or speaking in years 457 to serbias 380 something years).

Face it, serbia occupied Kosovo until bigger dogs came along and took it away from them. serbia has as much claim to the land as France does to Algeria. They lost their colony, serbia lost its colony. No amount of whining will change it, time to accept it, and move to make friends with the Kosovars for Trade, Defence, culture, etc.....:hug:

In the long run why would you want Land where the citizens who live there want nothing to do with being Serbs?

[Buffalo_soldier]

I can't remember America Annexing and occupying latin america for 50 years.

So?

I said it represented foreign meddling in their affairs. That doesn't necessarily have to involve annexation.

[Wrangel]

Really? explain this then:

Was Kosovo not part of the Thraco-Illriyan's until defeated and annexed by Rome in 59BC?

Was not England populated by Celtic population,before Anglo-Saxon settlement?



Did not Kosovo become part of the First Bulgarian Empire in the late 9th Century?

Entire Serbia was part of First Bulgarian empire,as most of Balkans....

Did not most of Europe become part of Hunnic empire under Atilla?


From 1455 to 1912 was not Kosovo part of the Ottoman Empire? (or speaking in years 457 to serbias 380 something years).

Yes,part of Ottoman empire,not independent state,nor part of any Albanian state.
But entire Serbia was part of Ottoman empire back then,plus large chunk of entire Balkans,plus most of Hungary,Romania...etc.
Kosovo entered Ottoman empire as part of Serbian state,and entered state of Yugoslavia as part of Serbia.

There was never such thing as 'state of Kosovo',until US and its satellites decided to create it.

By the way southern Spain was under rule of Islamic caliphate from 711-1492...:roll:



Face it, serbia occupied Kosovo until bigger dogs came along and took it away from them.

So you admit that USA took away Kosovo from Serbia?

Face it,since Kosovo was never independent state,and therefore it was not occupied.

Those 'bigger dogs' that took away this from them were USA and its satellites...not some countries from the region of Balkans...
After all,it is your army,not Albanian that exists there to stop Serbs from retaking it.



serbia has as much claim to the land as France does to Algeria.

Algeria is a land on other continent from France,and first became part of France in early 19 century.
Before that it was semi-autonomous state,under the rule of Bey of Algeria.

Same could not be said about Kosovo.

What claim do Americans have over their entire state,that was created by ethnic cleansing of Indians,that practiced racial discrimination until 60-es?


. No amount of whining will change it, time to accept it, and move to make friends with the Kosovars for Trade, Defence, culture, etc.....

Only thing Serbs have to 'accept' is US military presence there,and face it,without it there would never be any 'Kosovar' state.

Who are those 'Kosovars' anyway? p-)

After all Georgians must accept independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and to move to make friends with them....


In the long run why would you want Land where the citizens who live there want nothing to do with being Serbs?

In the long run,why US union wanted Southern Confederacy,when Southern States wanted nothing to do with them?

In the long run,why Bosnian Serbs cannot create their own country,in regions where they are majority,when they want nothing to do with Bosnia?

Why Serbs of Northern Kosovo cannot break from Kosovo,when they want nothing to do with Kosovo?

In the long run why US does not support Ossetians and Abkhazians in their attempts to break from Georgia,when they support Kosovo Albanians?

In the long run,why Turkey does not let Kurds to create their own state?