Latin America

[supesalemgr2]

Please help me understand how assisting another country fight drug cartels is fascist.

1. Read about the rise of fascism in the 1930's in Europe. Look at what factors contributed to its growth. Consider the major components, such as:

A. "Charismatic Leadership: Leaders like Mussolini ("Il Duce") and Hitler used populist, emotional rhetoric to appeal to disenchanted citizens, presenting simple solutions to complex problems.

B. Key Ideology: Fascism promoted a "bundle of sticks" concept—total national unity under a dictator—emphasizing order, discipline, and military strength.

C. Violence and Totalitarianism: Fascist regimes used paramilitary violence (e.g., Blackshirts) to crush communists and socialists, eventually removing all political opposition and implementing state-driven economies

2. Compare the concepts, leadership style, and objectives to that found in the US now.

3. Look at events and actions deeper than just the surface propaganda like "helping fight cartels"

Thanks for the effort, but none of those address fighting drug cartels.

[O Really]

Re-read item #3. Consider it not as an isolated event, separate from any other aspects of the administration*. Consider how accurate you believe the information on those Equatorian cartels and the 'assistance" is.

[Vrede too]

1. Read about the rise of fascism in the 1930's in Europe. Look at what factors contributed to its growth. Consider the major components, such as:

A. "Charismatic Leadership: Leaders like Mussolini ("Il Duce") and Hitler used populist, emotional rhetoric to appeal to disenchanted citizens, presenting simple solutions to complex problems.

B. Key Ideology: Fascism promoted a "bundle of sticks" concept—total national unity under a dictator—emphasizing order, discipline, and military strength.

C. Violence and Totalitarianism: Fascist regimes used paramilitary violence (e.g., Blackshirts) to crush communists and socialists, eventually removing all political opposition and implementing state-driven economies

2. Compare the concepts, leadership style, and objectives to that found in the US now.

3. Look at events and actions deeper than just the surface propaganda like "helping fight cartels"

Thanks. Also, there are very important reasons that the US has shunned 'boots on the ground' in Central America for 50 years and South America for longer than that. Now, we've done it twice in a couple of months counting Ecuador and the kidnapping coup in Venezuela. This hearkens back to the fascist expansionism in Ethiopia, remilitarising the Rhineland, the invasion of Manchuria, the Spanish Civil War, the invasion of China, the annexation of Austria and the seizure of the Sudetenland.

These were all fascist militaristic 'baby steps' BEFORE WW2. Now, add this to two wars launched on Iran and Israel's proxy wars on Gaza and Lebanon/Hezbollah, not to mention ICE's war on America, and it's clear where we're heading.

[neoplacebo]

Please help me understand how assisting another country fight drug cartels is fascist.

1. Read about the rise of fascism in the 1930's in Europe. Look at what factors contributed to its growth. Consider the major components, such as:

A. "Charismatic Leadership: Leaders like Mussolini ("Il Duce") and Hitler used populist, emotional rhetoric to appeal to disenchanted citizens, presenting simple solutions to complex problems.

B. Key Ideology: Fascism promoted a "bundle of sticks" concept—total national unity under a dictator—emphasizing order, discipline, and military strength.

C. Violence and Totalitarianism: Fascist regimes used paramilitary violence (e.g., Blackshirts) to crush communists and socialists, eventually removing all political opposition and implementing state-driven economies

2. Compare the concepts, leadership style, and objectives to that found in the US now.

3. Look at events and actions deeper than just the surface propaganda like "helping fight cartels"

Thanks for the effort, but none of those address fighting drug cartels.

It was Reagan, and to a lesser extent Bush II, that pumps massive amounts of money into right wing Latin American regimes, equipped their "police" with vehicles and weapons and equipment. Many of those "police" forces became nothing more than criminal gangs, resulting in many locals leaving the area or even the country. A lot of them came here and they've been coming for decades. So, "fighting cartels" is at best useless (whoever they take out will soon be replaced...capitalism in action) and at worst counterproductive in several ways. Hope this helps.

[Anonymous too]

Some brave enough to say "Come get me, I'll wait here."

The current U.S. administration obliged, snatched Maduro real quick.

[Vrede too]

It was Reagan, and to a lesser extent Bush II, that pumps massive amounts of money into right wing Latin American regimes, equipped their "police" with vehicles and weapons and equipment. Many of those "police" forces became nothing more than criminal gangs, resulting in many locals leaving the area or even the country. A lot of them came here and they've been coming for decades. So, "fighting cartels" is at best useless (whoever they take out will soon be replaced...capitalism in action) and at worst counterproductive in several ways. Hope this helps.

True, but I wouldn't just blame Repugs. Historically there's been less difference between the parties on foreign and military policy than either side would like to admit. For example, Carter resumed arming the brutal regime in El Salvador despite the death squads, the assassination of Archbishop Óscar Romero, and the 1980 rapes and murders of four U.S. missionaries, something I will never forgive Jimmy for.

Then, there's the drug war, itself. This bipartisan calamity has created the Latin American drug cartels, doing little to limit the availability of drugs but creating the justification for fascist police and military response.

[neoplacebo]

It was Reagan, and to a lesser extent Bush II, that pumps massive amounts of money into right wing Latin American regimes, equipped their "police" with vehicles and weapons and equipment. Many of those "police" forces became nothing more than criminal gangs, resulting in many locals leaving the area or even the country. A lot of them came here and they've been coming for decades. So, "fighting cartels" is at best useless (whoever they take out will soon be replaced...capitalism in action) and at worst counterproductive in several ways. Hope this helps.

True, but I wouldn't just blame Repugs. Historically there's been less difference between the parties on foreign and military policy than either side would like to admit. For example, Carter resumed arming the brutal regime in El Salvador despite the death squads, the assassination of Archbishop Óscar Romero, and the 1980 rapes and murders of four U.S. missionaries, something I will never forgive Jimmy for.

Then, there's the drug war, itself. This bipartisan calamity has created the Latin American drug cartels, doing little to limit the availability of drugs but creating the justification for fascist police and military response.

Yeah, there's plenty of blame to go around on this. My comment was intended to tell supes how the "war no drugs" actually fueled the rise of drug cartels and even fostered somewhat of an alliance between them and the "police." He seemed to be confused about the entire thing.

[O Really]

He seemed to be confused about the entire thing.

Naa, he just lives in a different world. Despite being apparently well-educated and with a successful career behind him, he reminds me sometimes of the young woman from New Orleans' 9th Ward during evacuation from Katrina. She had literally never been outside New Orleans before - rarely out of her neighborhood and was now on a bus on the way to the "safety" of Oklahoma. She saw nothing but White people and wide fields of cotton and was frightened that "they gonna slave us - they gonna make us pick cotton." Where did she get that fear? From her own imagination based on a lack of knowledge of actual fact. But it wasn't necessarily unreasonable when you look at her world perspective, which was very limited to say the least. She literally did not live in the same world as us and we can sympathize and somewhat understand her fear.

Intelligent, well-educated, well-traveled Supes, however, also live in a different world, but it's one of his own knowing creation and one that has a very strong Pollyanna filter for any information that might make him thing they're not really gonna slave us and make us pick cotton after all.

[neoplacebo]

He seemed to be confused about the entire thing.

Naa, he just lives in a different world. Despite being apparently well-educated and with a successful career behind him, he reminds me sometimes of the young woman from New Orleans' 9th Ward during evacuation from Katrina. She had literally never been outside New Orleans before - rarely out of her neighborhood and was now on a bus on the way to the "safety" of Oklahoma. She saw nothing but White people and wide fields of cotton and was frightened that "they gonna slave us - they gonna make us pick cotton." Where did she get that fear? From her own imagination based on a lack of knowledge of actual fact. But it wasn't necessarily unreasonable when you look at her world perspective, which was very limited to say the least. She literally did not live in the same world as us and we can sympathize and somewhat understand her fear.

Intelligent, well-educated, well-traveled Supes, however, also live in a different world, but it's one of his own knowing creation and one that has a very strong Pollyanna filter for any information that might make him thing they're not really gonna slave us and make us pick cotton after all.

Yeah, it's the kind of worldview that considers diversity, equity, and inclusion to be discriminatory to white people.

[Anonymous too]

AOC stated that whiteness is an imaginary thing.

The uproar of black Americans if she had said blackness is an imaginary thing.

[Vrede too]

He seemed to be confused about the entire thing.

It's his base line.

Intelligent, well-educated, well-traveled Supes, however, also live in a different world, but it's one of his own knowing creation and one that has a very strong Pollyanna filter for any information that might make him thing they're not really gonna slave us and make us pick cotton after all.

I'm not sure about "Intelligent". Leaving aside ignorance of facts he struggles with simple logic.

I'm not disagreeing, but is he "well-educated, well-traveled"? I don't recall discussion of degrees or international travel, but I've missed many of his posts.

Yeah, it's the kind of worldview that considers diversity, equity, and inclusion to be discriminatory to white people.

We are so very abused.

[O Really]

I'm not sure about "Intelligent". Leaving aside ignorance of facts he struggles with simple logic.

I'm not disagreeing, but is he "well-educated, well-traveled"? I don't recall discussion of degrees or international travel, but I've missed many of his posts.

I don't know, I'm just offering benefit of doubt. I'm pretty sure he's sandbagging us to some degree, and has to be smarter than to think current ICE behaviour is just "securing borders." If he weren't, he wouldn't be able to feed himself.

[Vrede too]

I don't know, I'm just offering benefit of doubt. I'm pretty sure he's sandbagging us to some degree, and has to be smarter than to think current ICE behaviour is just "securing borders." If he weren't, he wouldn't be able to feed himself.

SoupySales has illegal Honduran servants to do that for him.

[neoplacebo]

I suspect trump's new "Shield of the Americas" will just be another massive infusion of military grade equipment to dozens of local police forces. They will then use that equipment and vehicles to terrorize the local population, creating conditions that will cause those who are able to to leave the country, possibly coming to the US. And now since it's been revealed that Gnome will be a part of this fiasco, it's virtually guaranteed to be massively incompetent.

My own personal servant, Siamese twins from El Salvador, fled their home years ago because of the "war on drugs" and have been with me ever since. It's nothing but a shit deal, though, since they never agree on anything and are always arguing about the best way to do what I ask them to do, thus nothing gets done unless I do it. Asking those fellows to do anything is like hanging fire.

[O Really]

I don't think anything had been published about this "Shield" nonsense until ICE Barbie was boxed, but it's interesting that while the first announcement was that she was to be "Special Envoy", when the first meeting was hurriedly organized she wasn't at the main table. You may not be able to put Baby in the corner, but apparently you can put Gnome.

I just wonder why Trump's putting up this charade for her instead of just relegating her to the "I hardly knew her, she just brought coffee sometimes" zone.

Anybody want to predict whether she'll stay with him or turn? I say she turns when she realizes what a true internationally ridiculed fool she's made of herself on behalf of his ungrateful ass.

[Vrede too]

I don't think anything had been published about this "Shield" nonsense until ICE Barbie was boxed, but it's interesting that while the first announcement was that she was to be "Special Envoy", when the first meeting was hurriedly organized she wasn't at the main table. You may not be able to put Baby in the corner, but apparently you can put Gnome.

I just wonder why Trump's putting up this charade for her instead of just relegating her to the "I hardly knew her, she just brought coffee sometimes" zone.

Anybody want to predict whether she'll stay with him or turn? I say she turns when she realizes what a true internationally ridiculed fool she's made of herself on behalf of his ungrateful ass.

Shield of the Americas

Could be a flop from the get-go, but if given money and real authority Friendly Fire Barbie could be as destructive as she has been domestically. Otoh:

Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Venezuela and Colombia were notably absent from the summit and did not participate in the initial meeting of the initiative.

[O Really]

"Special Envoy" doesn't sound like it's gonna be all that special.
Kinda like companies used to do when they wanted some woman to do all the work without the pay and authority they'd call her a "coordinator."

Special Envoy sounds more like the Japanese practice of moving somebody's desk to the window and not giving the work.

[supesalemgr2]

"Special Envoy" doesn't sound like it's gonna be all that special.
Kinda like companies used to do when they wanted some woman to do all the work without the pay and authority they'd call her a "coordinator."

Special Envoy sounds more like the Japanese practice of moving somebody's desk to the window and not giving the work.

Trump did not desire a full "public execution" for a loyal supporter. She just got way ahead of her skis.

[Vrede too]

"Special Envoy" doesn't sound like it's gonna be all that special.
Kinda like companies used to do when they wanted some woman to do all the work without the pay and authority they'd call her a "coordinator."

Special Envoy sounds more like the Japanese practice of moving somebody's desk to the window and not giving the work.

We may see cosplays across Latin America. Barbie is "special".

[GoCubsGo]

Trump did not desire a full "public execution" for a loyal supporter. She just got way ahead of her skis.

"Ahead of her skis."

That's adorable.