U.S.-Latin Diplomatic Crisis Deepens

Bolivia, U.S. Expel Each Other's Ambassadors; Venezuela Kicks Out Its Top U.S. Diplomat

(AP)  Violent clashes over this fractured nation's political future have claimed eight lives and unleashed a three-way diplomatic crisis, with Bolivia and the U.S. expelling each other's ambassadors, Venezuela kicking out its top U.S. diplomat and the South American allies demanding that Washington stay out of their affairs.

Anti-government protesters fought backers of President Evo Morales in Bolivia's pro-autonomy east with clubs, machetes and guns Thursday, killing at least eight people and injuring 20, authorities reported.

The demonstrators also seized natural gas fields, halting half of Bolivia's gas exports to Brazil, its No. 1 customer, for nearly seven hours, according to the affected Transierra pipeline company.

"We're going to tolerate only so much. Patience has its limits," Morales told supporters on Thursday. The Aymara Indian and former coca growers' union leader has so far hesitated to mobilize the military, fearing major bloodshed.

Vice President Alvaro Garcia announced a day of national mourning.

Meanwhile, U.S. officials angered by Morales' decision to expel Washington's ambassador for allegedly inciting opposition protesters responded Thursday by kicking out Bolivia's envoy to the United States.

"In response to unwarranted actions and in accordance with the Vienna Convention (on diplomatic protocol), we have officially informed the government of Bolivia of our decision to declare Ambassador Gustavo Guzman persona non grata," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said. Diplomats declared "persona non grata" are generally given 72 hours to depart.

Earlier Thursday, Bolivian Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca told reporters that he had requested U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg's expulsion but added that he also wrote Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to say Bolivia "wishes to maintain bilateral relations."

Morales had accused Goldberg of conspiring with Bolivia's conservative opposition. Goldberg met last week with Santa Cruz Gov. Ruben Costas, one of the Bolivian president's most virulent opponents.

In Venezuela, President Hugo Chavez, in a show of solidarity with his ally Morales, gave the U.S. ambassador to his country, Patrick Duddy, 72 hours to leave and announced the recall of Venezuela's ambassador to Washington.

Chavez also once again accused the United States of backing a coup to overthrow him, a claim the U.S. has repeatedly denied.

"That's enough ... from you, Yankees," Chavez said during a televised rally, using an expletive. Waving his fists in the air, he added: "I hold the government of the United States responsible for being behind all the conspiracies against our nations!"

The conflict in Bolivia centers on Morales' plans to redo the constitution and redirect gas revenues. Bolivia's conservative, energy-rich eastern provinces oppose those plans, and on Thursday two weeks of protests turned violent as demonstrators stormed public offices, blocked roads and seized the gas fields.

Eight people were killed in a clash between pro- and anti-government bands outside Cobija, capital of the eastern province of Pando, said Sacha Llorenti, a deputy minister for social movements.

Presidential spokeswoman Nancy Teixera said at least 20 people were injured. Radio reports said the groups fought with clubs, machetes and shotguns. Interior Minister Alfredo Rada confirmed the use of firearms.

The protests forced the closure of various regional airports, and American Airlines canceled all flights to Bolivia. Company spokeswoman Martha Pantin said it expected flights to resume beginning Sunday.

Bolivia's finance minister, meanwhile, said gas deliveries to Brazil would be curtailed by 10 percent for up to two weeks as workers fix a pipeline ruptured by protesters on Wednesday. Bolivia supplies Brazil with 50 percent of its natural gas.

Brazilian state energy company Petrobras said it has adopted a contingency plan to decrease natural gas use in its units and replace gas with other fuels.

Protesters also stormed Bolivia's Pocitos gas installation, which supplies neighboring Argentina. Plant technicians shut off gas to the country as a precautionary measure, an engineer at Pocitos told The Associated Press.

An executive with Transportadora Gas del Norte, the Argentine pipeline company that receives the Bolivian gas, said the gas flow was unaffected, however.

Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity, saying they were not authorized to comment on the matter.

Opposition groups also are demanding that Morales cancel a Dec. 7 nationwide vote on a new constitution that would help him centralize power, run for a second consecutive term and transfer fallow terrain to landless peasants from Bolivia's poor indigenous majority.

A top aide to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said high-ranking members of his government and that of Argentina are ready to go to Bolivia to try to negotiate a deal between Morales and his opponents.

Also Thursday, leftist Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega announced his support for Bolivia's decision to expel Goldberg, while Chavez threatened military intervention if Morales were to be overthrown.

"It would give us a green light to begin whatever operations are necessary to restore the people's power," he said.

[petro49l]

South America is the land of opportunity. Why listen to George W. Bush''s demented politics? That continent is filled with off shore petroleum. The Coca Growers are reasonable people. They are not dealing deadly concentrates of opiate like Arab Militants. A better diplomacy will bring a great profit to the United States.

[moosebait]

Wherever there is oil, the US and unrest is soon to follow.

[samsel3]

Venezuela, has struck oil and natural gas deals with Iran & Malaysia , as well as China and Russia .

China & Russia. will aid and protect Venezueala if needed .
It s all about BIG OIL. The administration wants regime change in Iran & Venezuela. Conoco-Phillips, Exxon Mobil & Chevron would not accept new conditions for their oil leases. They wanted significant control in new areas of the gulf of Venezuela, but the Venezuelan s are looking after their own interests and offered a diminished role in developing oil reserves or nothing. As a result all three companies were terminated. The owners of these companies are Richard Cheney s friends and now look for the administrations strong arm tactics.

In 2006 & 2007 Iran & Venezuela vested oil deals and partnered to develop tracts in Venezuelas Orinoco Reserve. One tract Iran will help develop contains approximately 30 billion barrels of oil.
Venezuela s total oil reserves are estimated at 265 billion barrels which could top the Saudi s Reserves.

[babooph]

Latim Am has been ill at ease with the US for 100years or more-a smart new policy was needed in the 21st century -we had no hope of this for the past 8 years& little hope for the next 4.

[downsteamjim]

I cannot wait for Bolivia to send back all that nasty aid money the US has sent them.

[samsel3]

The oil producing nations over played their hand and now the move away from oil is irreversible.
Posted by tbweb at 12:36 AM : Sep 13, 2008

tb, their will be a move away but not soon. Their are hundreds of oil & gas projects in the works . The Saudis and BIG OIL will continue to manipulate the market. They will increase prices and trim them continuously to maximize profits. If the Neo-cons get in do not expect any major moves to alternative energy sources. They will offer token service in these areas nothing more nothing less. They are a well oiled & disciplined machine whose agendas will continue. PNAC members are a club and in constant touch with each other. Money talks .....

Even Obama plans to continue TAPI in Afghanistan. I honestly don t think their are many people in the Congress who fully understand the behind the scenes planning happening everyday for the BIG Business agendas. You have to be the Godfather (GHW Bush )or a member of the inner circle to know the truth. It s like one big corporation with many departments all run out of White House or Walker Point for their own gain. Money=Power, and Power=Money...................

[thegoodtexan]

dan_8951 says that third world countries are taking little bites of the US. They don''t seem to want anything to do with the US. They used to buy manufactured goods from the US, but those are all made in China now. They buy their oil from Iran and Venezuela at discount prices and seem content to develop on their own. The US should concentrate on developing our own country. The rail network for example is falling behind world standards, and needs a complete upgrade. What we call the third world is telling us to butt out and mind our own business.

[elpaulito]

polpot

are we supposed to take anything you say seriously while you name yourself after a deadly dictator? Get a life and read a book.

[tbweb]

Posted by samsel3 at 08:29 AM : Sep 13, 2008,,,

The West in general and the U.S. in particular have made a decision to abandon oil and create alternative energy resources. The oil producing nations over played their hand and now the move away from oil is irreversible.

[samsel3]

Venezuela, has struck oil and natural gas deals with Iran & Malaysia , as well as China and Russia .

China & Russia. will aid and protect Venezueala if needed .
It s all about BIG OIL. The administration wants regime change in Iran & Venezuela. Conoco-Phillips, Exxon Mobil & Chevron would not accept new conditions for their oil leases. They wanted significant control in new areas of the gulf of Venezuela, but the Venezuelan s are looking after their own interests and offered a diminished role in developing oil reserves or nothing. As a result all three companies were terminated. The owners of these companies are Richard Cheney s friends and now look for the administrations strong arm tactics.

In 2006 & 2007 Iran & Venezuela vested oil deals and partnered to develop tracts in Venezuelas Orinoco Reserve. One tract Iran will help develop contains approximately 30 billion barrels of oil.
Venezuela s total oil reserves are estimated at 265 billion barrels which could top the Saudi s Reserves.

[olfishgut]

These diplomats, Holzhauer in Venezuela, Goldberg in Bolivia and Szubin of the Treasury Department, are all a bunch of thieves. They are out to steal the oil in those countries, just like the state and treasury departments are out to steal the oil in Iraq, Iran, and Georgia.

[tbweb]

Overextended and weak, the U.S. is watching Banana Republics who wouldn`t dare challenge America when it was strong become arrogant and emboldened. It`s like a scene played out daily around the World, a fresh body is laid to rest and a million ants start approaching to devour it! This is why the U.S. needs to change course, rebuild and get strong! The Iraq war has now lasted longer than WWII and the U.S. has not regrouped and recharged its batteries, the U.S. Military is running on vapors! Since this is now the longest War the U.S. has been in its uncharted waters and America`s enemies know it and are rolling the dice challenging America`s supremacy!

[downsteamjim]

Sounds like ''community organizers'' are creating problems in Bolivia.

[rickstas]

Its great to see the Empire getting called in an arena where its doesn''t have the upper hand.

[babooph]

Send in a few drones to blast their schools -that will win back their hearts & minds-Pat Robertson will make it easy "take them out".

[polpot4]

Ramos -

There will always be people in the world that hate freedom and prosperity.

Forget all of the utopian bulls**t that you may have been fed.
THere will always be winners and losers..It''s nature.
The USA, will always win.....one way or the other...

[polpot4]

Hey Nancy

I see you only capable of regurgitating sound bites.
(90% of the time)

Your scared, and when losers get scared, they lash out instead of facing reality....

That is why you have been historical losers for almost half a century !!

Good Job !!

[polpot4]

Again, you cowardly liberals put the word "CRISIS" next to everything.....as if you know how to handle an actual crisis!!

If we were actually experiencing all of the "CRISIS" scenerio''s that you believe exist, YOU would be the first ********** to die !! You would cry & type yourselves to death behind your keyboards.....get a F**king grip already.....Jesus !

[newlector]

The American ambassador was accused of instigating a group of revels against an establish government, those are the reasons the Bolivian government offered, we don''t know if that information is correct or not, and probably we won''t get to now it.

Most of the times ambassadors are involved in affairs that conflict with the interest of the countries where they represent their country, this is very common.

In the case of the American ambassador, if he was cut was doing something wrong he has to pay a price for interfering with the Bolivian affairs, and an apology have to be written by the United States administration.

The best thing to do is to conduct an investigation, formed by U.S. and Bolivian representatives to find out the truth about this serious accusations.

What the Bush administration, did looks like an act of revenge and immaturity, because the Bolivian ambassador, haven''t commit any illegal or wrong doing, to be penalized like that.

Using common sense, we wouldn''t like if an ambassador from any given country instigates any group against our government, the same thing apply to Bolivia...it doesn''t matter if a country is big or small, each government owns respect to the sovereignty of other countries.

We want respect from other countries, we have to offer respect to other countries to.

Is just common sense!!!

[skyk239]

We are faced with a World Wide Problem I''m afraid. What NEEDS to happen right now is people who actually TALK to each other should sit down and work this out. When you have INVADED another nation without justification... it''s a little difficult to even appear to be reasonable. The LAST thing we need is ANOTHER "Hot Spot" for an already worn out Military.