Guatemala City - Sometimes it is very dificult to understand the miopic and ill conceived anti drug war strategies designed by the US and implemented in Colombia and Mexico.
Mexico gets resources to make war on narcos, Colombia gets resources to make war narcos, result: massive narco migration to Guatemala.
The US consideres Mexico a priority: they are neighbors, it is a national security concern. Colombia is a priority because of the sheer volumes of revenues the narco trade generates, that concerns the US, it is an economic concern. The US have their own problem with drugs -users -crime and corruption.
Guatemala is in the middle, Guatemala does not concern the US because we are uniportant to them. No economic interest, no security interest, no political interest.
So the geniuses of the US Drug war, give resources to Colombia and Mexico, but no to Guatemala. Result: Guatemala will soon have more narcos then chikens. But who cares. Geopolitically Guatemala is disposable.
We have seen a brutal increase of narco violence in recent months. It is not by chance. It is related to the migration of narco cartels to Guatemala.
President Colom stated on December 2, 2008, that the war against narcoactivity has to be regional and coordinated among the affected nations. He is right, a regional coherent and consistent strategy is needed.
Meanwhile what will happen to Guatemala? We predict an increase in violent crime related to narcos. We predict a serious rupture of the social structures in the ocuntry. Mexican narcos are already in the country and have launched a war among the diferent cartels. The Colombian narcos will come soon enough, or they are already here. And what about a new hiding place for the FARC?
Is Guatemala going to become the garbage dump for narcos and guerillas because of the failed regional anti narco strategy of the US?
The US is the customer of the drug. The US has responsabilities.
Is Guatemala to be sacrificed on the international chessboard of geopolitics and economic interests? Who will act in our interest?
Or will we see the Guatemalan military coming back to run the country because everyone wants security, no matter what the cost to freedom?
Photo Photo Presidential Press Office
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You have a right to be outraged.
As far as a practical solution, I recommend peacefully leaving the cartels to do their business. You need harm control; don't waste resources or law enforcement lives fighting them.
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You're 100% correct, excellent article!
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There is only one way to make a true lasting differance in Guatemala.
Yes drugs are a problem, yes violence is a problem, but until you change the mindset of the people it is hard to combat the problems.
What Guatemala needs to do is focus on education, education opens up a world of opportunity, it provides a ladder for the oppressed to rise above their station.
If you give them a good education, if you provide them with moral guidance and direction through faith in God then you are planing the seeds for lasting changes that will resonate for lifetimes to come.
For more information on how to make dream a reality visit:
www.smallbeginningsgreaterends.org
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Editors response
We separate very specifically the people and the current government policies of the USA.
But we do need the help of the American people to lay the issue of Guatemala on the table. We need your help to get it in the media, in Congress, the Senate and with your new Secretary of State.
Show us that the american people care.
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response to Tim
So you kno wthe only true way? Very interesting.
Yes, education is development.
The history of the 35 year civil war is certainly a serios factor in the current violence. However, Guatemala´s 35 year civil war was a product of the proxi wars of the cold war fought between Russia and the US.
We have the same scars from the cold war as Pakistan, Afgahnistan and everywhere else where the proxi wars where carried out.
And the military dictatorships in Guatemala where implemented, financed and sustained with the help of the CIA. Just like so many in Latina America and other continents.
Read histroy.
And what we need is not aid but fair trade. We do not want your charity.
About missionaries: we have enough trouble because of the powrfull conservative Catolic Church, we do not need more religious fervor.
Look what happened to the US when the religious conservative evangelicals put George W. Bush in the White House.
That is the last thing we need. Thank you, but no thanks.
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Guatemala needs to take responsability
The usual suspects - CACIF- does not want to pay taxes.
There are monopolies (The Chicken Kings), oligopolies (sugar produceres in Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador), TV in Guatemala- Mexican owned, and many many other examples.
The civil society in Guatemala needs to participate actively.
You can not leave the burden of change to any goverment, they can´t do it alone.
The years of "smaller government " and privatization as recommndet by the neoliberals has left a pretty skinny state structure. The Guatemalan State is weak.
The Police is weak, the judicial sysytem is weak, the legislature is weak.
Guatemalan´s need to pull together and do their share, not just complain.
By the way: having lots of little Sarah Palins and George W. Bushes missionaries running around in Guatemala preaching and brainwashing people, that is really scary.
Teenage pregnancy will raise, that is exactly what Guatemala needs.
God help us.
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