Comments on: Washington Revives the Fourth Fleet: The Return of U.S. Gun Boat Diplomacy to Latin America http://www.coha.org/washington-revives-the-fourth-fleet-the-return-of-us-gun-boat-diplomacy-to-latin-america/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=washington-revives-the-fourth-fleet-the-return-of-us-gun-boat-diplomacy-to-latin-america COHA is an NGO specialized in monitoring Latin American and Canadian Relations for more than 30 years... Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:39:51 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: octavian http://www.coha.org/washington-revives-the-fourth-fleet-the-return-of-us-gun-boat-diplomacy-to-latin-america/comment-page-1/#comment-26906 octavian Tue, 19 Aug 2008 19:05:39 +0000 http://www.coha.org/2008/06/02/washington-revives-the-fourth-fleet-the-return-of-us-gun-boat-diplomacy-to-latin-america/#comment-26906 Franco, I think you missed the point of the article. The United States has aided the development of Latin American countries over the last ten years with huge aid packages across different areas, including those of military/security, economic stimulus, education and training, humanitarian etc. This article discusses U.S. policy in the region, the geopolitical situation, and regional security as the authors sees it. This article discusses the Bush administration's lack of noticeable policy and the region's shifting political climate. Despite the lack of perceived focus and U.S. intervention in South American politics, the region continued to show signs of improvement: the economy grew and security is improving, even though there are still and will continue to be issues. The author uses the term "gunboat" as a way to describe policy. The reestablishment of the U.S. 4th fleet is a move to shore up a hole in South American policy, to enhance U.S. programs and even improve the economic conditions in affected areas, and to establish power and projection in an area that lacked it before. This is called strategic deterrence, countering any regional threat and thereby denying a potential enemy use of the sea lanes of communication while deterring direct military action. Political, economic, and military issues are thus improved by the reestablishment of the U.S. 4th Fleet. Do you realize what the U.S. Navy's economic effect can be in an improvised area? It can boost the local economy 1000%. A more autonomous South America, using the military as a diplomatic tool, is a result of "gunboat diplomacy." This article is not about Hugo Chavez, or self respect, but rather U.S. policy in South America and the regional effects of that policy, as well as the use of "gunboat diplomacy" to fill a political hole in a South America that is becoming more autonomous. You, Franco, need to read the article more carefully before blasting the authors, because they have it right on. Franco,
I think you missed the point of the article. The United States has aided the development of Latin American countries over the last ten years with huge aid packages across different areas, including those of military/security, economic stimulus, education and training, humanitarian etc. This article discusses U.S. policy in the region, the geopolitical situation, and regional security as the authors sees it. This article discusses the Bush administration’s lack of noticeable policy and the region’s shifting political climate. Despite the lack of perceived focus and U.S. intervention in South American politics, the region continued to show signs of improvement: the economy grew and security is improving, even though there are still and will continue to be issues.

The author uses the term “gunboat” as a way to describe policy. The reestablishment of the U.S. 4th fleet is a move to shore up a hole in South American policy, to enhance U.S. programs and even improve the economic conditions in affected areas, and to establish power and projection in an area that lacked it before. This is called strategic deterrence, countering any regional threat and thereby denying a potential enemy use of the sea lanes of communication while deterring direct military action. Political, economic, and military issues are thus improved by the reestablishment of the U.S. 4th Fleet. Do you realize what the U.S. Navy’s economic effect can be in an improvised area? It can boost the local economy 1000%. A more autonomous South America, using the military as a diplomatic tool, is a result of “gunboat diplomacy.” This article is not about Hugo Chavez, or self respect, but rather U.S. policy in South America and the regional effects of that policy, as well as the use of “gunboat diplomacy” to fill a political hole in a South America that is becoming more autonomous.

You, Franco, need to read the article more carefully before blasting the authors, because they have it right on.

]]> By: Franco http://www.coha.org/washington-revives-the-fourth-fleet-the-return-of-us-gun-boat-diplomacy-to-latin-america/comment-page-1/#comment-24050 Franco Wed, 04 Jun 2008 01:30:17 +0000 http://www.coha.org/2008/06/02/washington-revives-the-fourth-fleet-the-return-of-us-gun-boat-diplomacy-to-latin-america/#comment-24050 You got it all wrong. The US has the secret support of more LA States then you realize. Hugo Chavez and his buddies are not welcome anymore. Your thinking is about 14 months behind. Things move a lot faster now, this is not old world gun boat agendas. The US is happy for LA states that are finally getting it together and have grown independent self respect, and most of these states do not what that respect challenged by the likes of Uncle Hugo and friends, who will end up doing themselves in at the hands of their own people, and if the US gun boats give them more confidence to do them in, all the better for them. You’re stuck in some other time zone my friend. Take some time to think it through next time. You got it all wrong. The US has the secret support of more LA States then you realize. Hugo Chavez and his buddies are not welcome anymore. Your thinking is about 14 months behind. Things move a lot faster now, this is not old world gun boat agendas.

The US is happy for LA states that are finally getting it together and have grown independent self respect, and most of these states do not what that respect challenged by the likes of Uncle Hugo and friends, who will end up doing themselves in at the hands of their own people, and if the US gun boats give them more confidence to do them in, all the better for them.

You’re stuck in some other time zone my friend. Take some time to think it through next time.

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