by Jim Kouri
Dec 28, 2005
It didn't take long for the newly elected Bolivian President to intensify
his verbal attacks against the United States. But the new Bolivian leader,
an avowed Socialist and friend of President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela and
Fidel Castro of Cuba, is going even further than rhetoric. He's threatening
to take action against the US.
President Evo Morales, according to a news story in the Washington Times,
leveled allegations at the United States that its advisors secretly removed
Chinese-made anti-aircraft missiles from Bolivia. US military and law
enforcement personnel serve as advisors to the Bolivians in their drug
control activities and counterterrorism training.
Morales, an Indian and former coca farmer, has pledged to end United States
drug eradication programs in the country. The US had been invited to help
Bolivian authorities by the previous administration which was more centrist
than the incoming neo-Marxists. A Morales campaign promise to legalize coca
plant cultivation is expected to increase cocaine production in the region.
Bolivia's new President is leader of the Movement to Socialism (MAS). He was
quoted in press reports this week as saying he would evict US military
advisers from Bolivia and punish those responsible for the removal from the
country this year of 28 HN-SA hand-held surface-to-air missiles (SAM).
The missiles are similar to the U.S. "Stinger" missiles used by Afghan
insurgents with devastating effectiveness against low-flying Russian
aircraft during the Russian invasion and occupation of Afghanistan in the
1980s.
"I will press for a full investigation to establish responsibilities. We
cannot tolerate international intervention," Mr. Morales was quoted as
saying of the missile incident.
However, a leaked intelligence report that was presented to the Bolivian
legislature actually accuses Bolivia's military of permitting the United
States to secrete the missiles out of the country when it was clear the
Socialists would take control of the government.
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