Chile Forum

Well put Charles. On the Columbia, Ecuador, Venezuela issue, I think it's alot of saber rattling by Hugo. The scary thing is though...all it would take is one misstep by someone on one of those borders to trip them into war. The discharge of a weapon, an accidental stray bullet killing a soldier, to set things in motion. As far as a declaration of war, or intentional strike...at this point I don't think so. It's most likely face-saving action at this point and a little goading by Hugo. Hugo may be nuts, but he's a lot of fun to watch when he visits the UN. Anyway, I don't see a war there, unless, like I said, someone bungles something and sets off a firestorm.

Crisis Over Colombian Raid Ends in Handshakes

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/08/world ... ref=slogin

US kicks off Latin military drill
Mon, 28 Jul 2008 18:13:35
Exercise "Exchange 2008"
US marines have landed at Puerto Belgrano naval base in Argentina to launch a joint amphibious drill with Brazil, Chile and Argentina.

“The intention of the exercise is a common language for when the moment comes a UN mission needs this kind force services. The significance of the exercise is given by the continuity factor: Chile in 2007 and Brazil next year, with Peru subscribing as another candidate to join forces”, said Sunday an official release from the Argentine command.

Three hundred men, half of them Argentine marines (36 US marines with Iraq experience) took part in the exercise code-named "Exchange 2008". The drills included amphibious landings from Argentine Navy light transport plus combined operations on the ground.

Peruvian officers next to observers from Uruguay, Colombia and Bolivia were present at the exercise as well as Brigadier General John Croley, Commander of the US Southern Command Marine Corps.

The purpose of the joint exercise has been described as training forces to act combined in peace missions under the UN command. But some experts in the field say that military drills is aimed at weakening the anti-US front already present in the region.

The United States encourages military pacts among its regional allies like Colombia and Brazil to ward off the influence of the socialism fostered by Venezuela, Cuba, Ecuador and Bolivia in its backyard.

Vicki Lansen wrote:. . . . Three hundred men, half of them Argentine marines (36 US marines with Iraq experience) took part in the exercise . . . .

'Pretty small-scale!

Vicki Lansen wrote:The United States encourages military pacts among its regional allies like Colombia and Brazil to ward off the influence of the socialism fostered by Venezuela, Cuba, Ecuador and Bolivia in its backyard.

Umm, not especially. Who's the author of this off-kilter reporting, Vicki?

It seems to me the public relations efforts between armies, as usual. The aim may be to contact promissory officers and establish friendship ties with/among them.

RWS wrote: Who's the author of this off-kilter reporting, Vicki?

Quite right! I forgot to include the link back.

http://www.spiderednews.com/SouthAmeric ... id=3510203

RWS wrote:

Vicki Lansen wrote:The United States encourages military pacts among its regional allies like Colombia and Brazil to ward off the influence of the socialism fostered by Venezuela, Cuba, Ecuador and Bolivia in its backyard.

Umm, not especially. ...

That seems like a reasonable statement to me. The US has a history of meddling in regional politics to counter political movements it believes are contrary to 'Merican values. And, we've always had a schizo attitude toward "socialism." I.e., the US embraces a huge amount of socialism. And yet, the word itself draws kneejerk, frothing reactions. All one has to do to sway (or terminate) a discussion is pull out the "socialism" word, and 9 out of 10 US citizens begin waving their fists, gnashing their teeth, and muttering John Bircher slogans.

I've never understood that kind of denial, as if it's an either/or proposition. All the socialism we have *isn't* socialism just because we refuse to call it such. But, if someone wants more of what we have, that's socialism (in the anti-'Merican sense of the word).

Mark

tombrad2 wrote:It seems to me the public relations efforts between armies, as usual. The aim may be to contact promissory officers and establish friendship ties with/among them.

Yes, Tomas. The voice of reason, as usual. I posted the article simply because it was relevant, but it's really no big deal in the big old world scheme at all.

Vicki

standard intercambio de fuerzas armadas...nada mas que comprar uno al otro unas cervezas despues de las maniobras...

p out

Viky, Puelche muy cierto
Now I am working in Perú and chatting with peruvian military they told me that those friendship ties with lot of cervezas played an important role to avoid the war between Chile and Peru in 1976-1980 (we was very near)

The only thing that surprises me (after eighteen years' ununiformed military service) is that these limited manuevers were so small in scale: clearly more a cement-the-alliance gesture than a real attempt to impart much practical training. (Generally, manuevers entail a few tens of thousands of troops, not just three hundred men.)

THis was an inter-marine program...in the us, the marines are the poor cousins of the whole routine...they get everything after its broken and when its new they give them pesos to pay for it...the us marine corps does exchanges with high exposure marine groups in different regional areas, like in Thailand for asia etc (whats interesting is that the chilean marine anthem has the music of the us marine corps and their own words...the marine ethic of an elite amphib force is a us concept that other countries have adopted, hence the chilean copy)

p out


...politicians in latin america and especialy the southern cone depend on these military alliances and connections...the word gets passed under the table and so the milicos can ...delay efforts before something stupid happens...I remember when stroesner of paraguay was deposed and the military hospital in santiago went on alert and they lit the mother like a christmas tree...major action there, and I thought ...what?...I called a friend in the FACH and he said that strnr might come but that it was more a deflection so he could get out to brasil, which is where he went...

Chilenos copiones as always
However the first amphibious disembark at big scale in modern war it seems it was in Pisagua by Chilean troops in 1890
(9500 troops and equipment)
"Este hecho constituye el primer desembarco anfibio orgánico efectuado en el mundo y se ha convertido en un ejemplo típico, tanto por su organización, como por su ejecución."
http://www.armada.cl/arm_tradicion_hist ... 21247.html

el puelche wrote:... (whats interesting is that the chilean marine anthem has the music of the us marine corps and their own words...the marine ethic of an elite amphib force is a us concept that other countries have adopted, hence the chilean copy)

Ah Ha! Another "click". There is a nearby award winning banda colegio privado and I have occasionally heard what sounded like the USMC anthem. Was scratching my head, but now I know.

Salud