Latin America: Article 98 Agreements & US Empire Influence & Control Arsenal

Article SOURCE *PART 4 https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/55410 Latin America: Article 98 Agreements & US Empire Influence & Control Arsenal SUMMARY / Understanding: SOURCE - *PART 4 https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/55410 Title:  "WikiLeaks shows how US threatened Ecuador" Tuesday, November 19, 2013 By Linda Pearson More: Part 1 https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/55239 Part 2 https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/55285 Part 3 https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/55320 SUMMARY / Understanding: *PART 4 Re:  4-part series | WikiLeaks revelations | US attempt to secure immunity for war crimes International Criminal Court (ICC) -- established at The Hague:  2002 -- investigate & prosecute: war crimes crimes against humanity crime of genocide 2002-2009 George W Bush admin  IMPOSES sanctions re:     1.  military aid     2.  economic aid         - Economic Support Funds (ESF) assistance re states refusing to sign Article 98 Agreements -- agreeing not to transfer US nationals to -- International Criminal Court (ICC) -- without consent of US govt -- Article 98 Agreements arose due to Bush admin fear -- US leaders & military could face court at The Hague -- for trial re war crimes & abuses committed during 'global war on terror'  *sanctions policy eventually lifted in order to give US domestic influence leverage, that it had denied itself as an unintended consequence of imposing sanctions. Reasons lifted / unintended consequences: -- US loss of influence LatAm -- reduction of LatAm sanctioned countries'    capacity to support US 'war on terror' -- reduction of LatAm sanctioned countries'    capacity to support US 'war on drugs' -- concern for unintended consequences of sanction policy on other US policy agendas   *example of unintended consequences:     eg. International Military Education Training (IMET) restricted by sanctions     *therefore US influence over military limited due to US sanctions     *concern that other countries (eg China) fill the gap     = unintended loss of overall US *influence* Including loss of ability to influence outcomes re key US agenda:  -- Free Trade Agreement -- Forward Operating Location (at Manta) -- security cooperation x12 LatAm Countries refused to sign Article 98 Agreement -- Ecuador one of those countries & was sanctioned by US Other US/Western means of influencing sovereign state: -- eg. via Ecuadorian military, urging them to lobby govt for Article 98 Agreement -- so Ecuadorian military could *regain* US military assistance -- withholding of equipment (eg. helicopters) -- joint special forces counter terrorism ops - using fancy US helicopters -- in hope of inducing officers to push superiors for similar  -- other US embassy intended efforts involved: personal diplomacy media 'education' *hosting round-tables w/ journalists to correct 'misconceptions' *potential INTERNATIONAL VISITOR (IV) PROGRAM for country's         -- think-do tanks         -- media circuit talking heads -- recasting existing US govt. assistance efforts as political ‘payback’ re Article 98 -- repackaging existing programs for maximum political benefit -- ESF cutbacks as pressure to reconsider     *not sure what ESFs are:  possibly 'Economic Support Fund' -- embassy seizes on new appointments to push agenda -- attempt to exploit military interest angle as leverage -- say to military leaders to 'concurrently lobby' their envoy -- lure: extradition of corrupt bankers suspected of embezzlement -- as trade off -- using International Military Education Training (IMET) -- as a cheap means of influencing another country's military 'DEMOCRACY' PROMOTION -- neocolonialist practice -- used by Western powers as a means to INFLUENCE POLITICAL & ECONOMIC CHANGE -- in countries of STRATEGIC INTEREST Ecuador -- neoliberal economic policies -- carried out by successive governments -- Western-backed -- increasing public opposition to neoliberal policies -- with THIRD-LARGEST OIL RESERVES in South America -- *Ecuador prime candidate for 'democracy' promotion US influence-seeking neocolonialist practice Sanctions on such a country by US / West:     1.  hinder ability to influence & effect change     2.  deny US influence over an entire generation of military staff     3.  undermines US govt. influence over local govts re reform tools (on central govt institutions)         -- incl. electoral tribunal         -- courts         -- trade & environment ministries Alfredo Palacio President Ecuador 2005-2007 VP 2003-2005 -- proposed constitutional referendum (to be negotiated w/in Ecuador congress) -- development considered involving *risk to US govt interests   US embassy, as part of it's 'democracy promo' Western neoliberal propaganda & influence ops routine: *planned on encouraging 'informed abate' re prosed reforms:      -- electoral      -- political US aimed protect following US interests from any proposed referendum: -- Free Trade Agreement -- Forward Operating Location (at Manta) -- security cooperation 2006:  Bush then lifts sanctions -- on the basis of US national interests *election of Palacio  -- successor Rafael Correa (2006) -- insufficiently controlled by US, hence justified US concern re lack of influence -- lack of influence/control risk to US strategic interests -- Ecuador had annulled operating contract (US firm:  Occidental Petroleum Corp) -- US deemed this 'seizure' of assets of US company -- *Ecuador would not sign free trade agreement with US -- 2007:  Correa follows through on electoral promise: -- US lease re Ecuador Manta airbase (US surveillance base) -- declined to be renewed by Ecuador -- 2008:  Ecuador adopts new constitition -- foreign military bases & foreign facilities for military purposes -- banned on Ecuadorian soil -- 2011:  Ecuador discontinues sending military to: -- US School of the Americas *graduates of US army training schools responsible for executing: -- US-sponsored:     -- coups     -- massacres     -- torture -- in LatAm since 1950s  SUMMARY SOURCE - *PART 4https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/55410 ---------------------- ---------------------- COMMENT THE MEANS OF INFLUENCE on foreign affairs from within foreign nations are extensive. It's hard to understand why anyone would want a US embassy around, when the US is looking to influence even the military along with other sections of society, in order to manipulate those inside their host nations to act towards manifesting what is favourable to US interests (and not necessarily favourable to the host population). No foreign nation ought to have any kind of influence on a sovereign nation's military. Ecuador did an amazing job of standing up to the US ... but that potentially makes Ecuador's politicians, institutions, activists etc, either targets of US aggression, or tools the subject of US influence ops, to be deployed to further US-serving aims.  Especially, seeing Ecuador has large oil reserves, which must be so attractive to the exploiting and pillaging empire. Iran and Cuba had better watch out, too, I think. [ Formatting this is sending me mental.  Blogger keeps inserting codes I don't want.]