US extorting votes for its favorite banana republic, Guatemala

October 19, 2006 -- In the battle for the temporary Latin American UN Security Council seat between Venezuela and U.S.- and Israel-backed Guatemala, UN General Assembly votes are influenced by a number of countries' domestic politics. For example, even though Maoists and government officials in Nepal are engaged in a shaky truce, the talks between Nepalese Foreign Minister K. P. Sharma Oli and Guatemalan Foreign Minister Gert Rosenthal, likely secured Nepal's vote for Guatemala in the General Assembly. And that has the Maoists, who favor Venezuela, steaming mad. Chile's coalition government of pro-Venezuelan Socialists and pro-Guatemala Christian Democrats in the Concertation coalition ensured that nation's abstention. Lebanon's post-Syrian occupation coalition government, still outraged over Israel's attack and invasion, strongly backs Venezuela over Guatemala. A run-off presidential election in Ecuador between a pro-US billionaire and a populist leftist has resulted in that nation's continued abstention in the vote. For years, the Bush administration has leaned on tiny tax havens to open up their books to international law enforcement officials and tax inspectors. The Bush administration turned up the heat on Liechtenstein, Andorra, San Marino, Monaco, Nauru, Vanuatu, Tonga, Samoa, Luxembourg, Seychelles, and Mauritius to vote for Guatemala, or else. That equated to a quick 11 votes for Guatemala. Add the three former US Pacific territories of Palau, Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands (which are nothing more than American versions of the old Byelorussian and Ukrainian SSR UN seats of the Soviet Union), and Guatemala is ensured 14 votes. Paul Wolfowitz has used his World Bank to threaten poor nations with withdrawal of grants and loans unless they toe the line in supporting the United States -- yet more extorted votes for the US client banana republic of Guatemala.
US extorting votes for its favorite banana republic, Guatemala

Without the U.S. strong arming, Venezuela would be ahead in the vote count and more assured of a victory.

WayneMadsenReport