MIke Malloy's blog on Daniel Ortega's comeback

[Greeby]

TUESDAY Aug. 22 2006

In the 1980s, the Republican team of Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush tried to destroy the Central American nation of Nicaragua. After a century of U.S. support for yet another right-wing dictatorship dedicated to the protection of America’s corporate interests, Nicaraguan freedom fighters – the Sandinistas - overthrew the Somoza family and began the difficult work of salvaging their country. The leader of the Socialist revolution was Daniel Ortega and for most of the decade the Regan-Bush team tried to kill him, his family, his army and his country. The killers – the Contras – hired by the Regan-Bush hit team failed. Daniel Ortega served as president from 1985 to 1990 and was defeated in the 1990 election. Now there is news that Ortega is leading in the latest poll of that country’s top presidential contenders. A footnote to US intervention in Nicaragua in the 80s is the fact that so many of the hired killers, whose objective was murder and counterrevolution, are once again working in a Bush Administration: The criminal enterprise of George W.


http://www.mikemalloy.com

[Straight Shooter]

1. Daniel Ortega.

I bet he wins. This is a very interesting development, indeed.

I don't know much about Ortega. What little I do know leaves me inclined to support his aspirations.

[Peace Patriot]

2. Here is a Counterpunch article that is rather sobering about Ortega.

I'm not sure he would be the best thing for Nicaragua. He would have to show more responsiveness to the Sandinista grass roots, and it doesn't sound like that is going to happen. This article clearly shows the corrosive and destructive results of Reagan's brutal interference in Nicaragua's revolution. It appears that at least some of the charges of corruption in the FLSN (the Sandinista political party) are true, and that Ortega is not clean. (Note on this article: Herty Lewites, who is mentioned in this article, died of a heart attack this year, in July. He was Ortega's most significant opposition.)

Another Look at Daniel Ortega and the Sandinista Struggle
By JOE DeRAYMOND
http://www.counterpunch.org/deraymond05072005.html

------------------------

I cheered when I learned that Daniel Ortega was making a comeback. He was heroic and brave in the initial revolution, and especially in the '80s, when Reagan's death squads were unleashed against him and the Nicaraguan people. I read the Wikipedia article on him, and figured it was written by the Bush CIA. But this Counterpunch writer makes pretty much the same case against Ortega. I don't believe everything I read--even in CounterPunch, which has a pretty good record on providing real information--but often presents a dark and negative view as to reaching and activating the American people, whom I believe are much more progressive than our war profiteering corporate news monopolies would lead us to believe--and I hate that leftist attitude that Americans are lazy "sheeple." I don't think it's true at all. I think the American people are the most propagandized, exploited and slyly manipulated of any people on earth--including, recently, direct control of election results by private electronic voting corporations with close ties to the Bush junta, using TRADE SECRET, PROPRIETARY programming code. Americans have stuck to their progressive views despite 24/7 propaganda and feelings of powerlessness and hopelessness. The way to help them is NOT to dis them further, but to work on RE-ENFRANCHISING and re-empowering them.

Anyway, that's my rant on CounterPunch. This author does not promote that CP view. But he's pretty down on Daniel Ortega. That's kind of disheartening. I was so hoping that Nicaragua could now join the rest of Latin America in the awesome, peaceful, democratic, leftist revolution that is sweeping the hemisphere--with leftist (majorityist) governments elected in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, Venezuela and Bolivia, with strong movements also in Peru, Nicaragua and Mexico. But U.S./Bushite influence seems too strong in Nicaragua--and such influence can have unpredictable side impacts, such as the loss of morale of a revolutionary leader like Ortega and his succumbing to venal temptation. I am still not certain if it's true--or just slander. More research is necessary. It is just a little too convenient to the Bushites that "swiftboating" material is so handy, to smear one of the icons of the modern Latin American revolution.

[Peace Patriot]

3. Research note: The name Daniel Ortega has a typo in it, in the

CounterPunch article title--in case you're trying to look it up. The published title spells Daniel wrong, as Daneil: "Another Look at Daneil Ortega and the Sandinista Struggle."

[Peace Patriot]

4. Research note 2: DeRaymond recommends the following info site:

Nicaragua Network website, www.nicanet.org.

I haven't checked it out yet, but will.

[Straight Shooter]

5. I'm quite sure, as he is a powerful person, Ortega is not "clean"

But I am inclined to think he'll win. It's been quite a few years since I've even given serious thought to him.

I guess the point being, Reagan and his gang could not destroy this man, so it's up to Ortega as to whether that made him a better man and a better leader for his people.

We'll see ...

Thanks for the link. I'm going to keep my eye on this.