Bolivian Imbroglio

I recently watched John Pilger's documentary about US influence in the world and particularly its role in Latin America entitled 'The War on Democracy'. Pilger outlines numerous attempts by the US and the CIA to destabilise and overthrow regimes in Latin America which were not to its liking.

Now it would appear that there has been an attempt on the life on President Morales on Bolivia. Obama has claimed at the Americas Summit at the weekend that the US was not invovled in any way and that coup attempts such as this were to be condemned. But the Bolivians continue to assert that the US was involved.

There is also an Irish connection in that one of the alleged mercenaries who was involved in the plot and killed by Bolivian police was an Irishman and this has produced a great deal of interest in Ireland. Some years ago we had the Irish training the FARC leftwing guerillas in Colombia, and now there is an Irishman involved in a Right wing plot in Bolivia. The Irish press is full of stories about this individual's background and possible motives. Some details are here http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0419/breaking41.html?via=mr

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2009/0420/1224245023410.html?via=mr

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0419/breaking14.html?via=mr

There has long been an Irish connection with Latin America from the days of Bernardo O'Higgins in the War of Independence against Spain.

Two of the mercenaries are still alive so a lot may yet come out at the trial. This could prove interesting for Obama's relations with both Bolivia and Venezuela and if it is proved that there was CIA involvement, may really poison the atmosphere.