The student weekly of St. Olaf | Wednesday, June 19, 2013 | Subscribe
Shattered windows and charred buildings line the empty Avenida Colon. As the members of the peaceful demonstration became violent, protesters smashed anything and everything that represented international money. The café where I sit displays a poster reading Fuera Bush beneath a large Argentine flag. Unlike the neighboring Banco Frances, it is untouched. They spared us by Gods grace yesterday, said Jorge Salas, a waiter.
The scene is indicative of the current mood throughout Argentina. Graffiti reading Iraq no! and Bush Asasino lines nearly every block. For months posters equating Bush and the Iraq war with Nazi fascism have covered the walls at the University of Buenos Aires.
For protesters, the war is evidence of a larger scheme to give U.S. corporations global dominance. Leftists view Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez and Bolivian presidential candidate Evo Morales as leading a continental movement towards socialism and the rejection of the United States. Both men were present at a counter-summit Nov. 4 at which Chavez denounced a U.S. proposal for a Free-Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA).
What makes these Argentine protests interesting is that they are crossing into unexpected sectors of the population. Apart from the actions of a few hundred crazies is a nearly unanimous disapproval of the U.S. president and widespread discontent with U.S. actions.
Of course we want good relations with the United States, explained Juan Pistani, a corporate lawyer and self-proclaimed fiscal conservative. But what is happening in Iraq is unpardonable. It is comments like these, from people who have little distaste for Bushs liberal economic policies, which should concern Washington.
While supposedly promoting democracy in the Middle East, the war in Iraq is providing the impetus for authoritarian leaders like Chavez, who feed off of the perceived image of U.S. imperialism.
Iraq is also undermining U.S. political capital for legitimate economic and social initiatives. Bush has no credibility to promote the FTAA with the external politics he has, Pistani said.
The United States is not respected here. In order to regain any legitimacy in Argentina, the United States should leave Iraq and begin to refocus on economic partnerships in this hemisphere, preferably not from behind the barrel of a gun. Bushs planned visit to Brazil is a first step, but the journey will be long.
Mar de Plata is calm today as waves crash onto the beach and shops reopen. While it remains doubtful that Chavezs socialist revolution is really at hand, many believe Bush is reaping the harvest of a flawed foreign policy. The world really is watching.
Staff writer Jesse Horst is a senior from Minneapolis, Minn. He is studying in Argentina this semester. He majors in history with a concentration in Hispanic studies.
Shattered windows and charred buildings line the empty Avenida Colon. As the members of the peaceful demonstration became violent, protesters smashed anything and everything that represented international money. The café where I sit displays a poster reading Fuera Bush beneath a large Argentine flag. Unlike the neighboring Banco Frances, it is untouched. They spared us by Gods grace yesterday, said Jorge Salas, a waiter.
The scene is indicative of the current mood throughout Argentina. Graffiti reading Iraq no! and Bush Asasino lines nearly every block. For months posters equating Bush and the Iraq war with Nazi fascism have covered the walls at the University of Buenos Aires.
For protesters, the war is evidence of a larger scheme to give U.S. corporations global dominance. Leftists view Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez and Bolivian presidential candidate Evo Morales as leading a continental movement towards socialism and the rejection of the United States. Both men were present at a counter-summit Nov. 4 at which Chavez denounced a U.S. proposal for a Free-Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA).
What makes these Argentine protests interesting is that they are crossing into unexpected sectors of the population. Apart from the actions of a few hundred crazies is a nearly unanimous disapproval of the U.S. president and widespread discontent with U.S. actions.
Of course we want good relations with the United States, explained Juan Pistani, a corporate lawyer and self-proclaimed fiscal conservative. But what is happening in Iraq is unpardonable. It is comments like these, from people who have little distaste for Bushs liberal economic policies, which should concern Washington.
While supposedly promoting democracy in the Middle East, the war in Iraq is providing the impetus for authoritarian leaders like Chavez, who feed off of the perceived image of U.S. imperialism.
Iraq is also undermining U.S. political capital for legitimate economic and social initiatives. Bush has no credibility to promote the FTAA with the external politics he has, Pistani said.
The United States is not respected here. In order to regain any legitimacy in Argentina, the United States should leave Iraq and begin to refocus on economic partnerships in this hemisphere, preferably not from behind the barrel of a gun. Bushs planned visit to Brazil is a first step, but the journey will be long.
Mar de Plata is calm today as waves crash onto the beach and shops reopen. While it remains doubtful that Chavezs socialist revolution is really at hand, many believe Bush is reaping the harvest of a flawed foreign policy. The world really is watching.
Staff writer Jesse Horst is a senior from Minneapolis, Minn. He is studying in Argentina this semester. He majors in history with a concentration in Hispanic studies.
Printer friendly version |
Email this |
Write the editors |
More articles by Melanie Meinzer