How the United States conducts business in the world

[BanzaiBonnie]

I have an excerpt of a letter from a native of Honduras. This is the disgusting way our government is behaving toward our South American neighbors. Not new in the way business has been conducted if you've read "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man". Just another example of slime.


In the meantime, just see what the US Government is doing: Honduras, like the poor country she is, has been awfully burdened with fuel prices so last week, she signed an agreement with Mr. Chavez/Venezuela to buy fuel at priviledged prices and financing at very, very low interest and long, long grace-period. (This is also true of Nicaragua and possibly El Salvador and Guatemala -- we are all small countries with gigantic poverty indexes). In reprisal, the FDA (USA agency) -- the following day after the Venezuela agreement was published -- declared Honduran musk-melons and canteloupes "unfit" due to salmonella contamination..........as well as our shrimp!!!!! Five independent laboratories (and FDA's, included) have taken tests and no contamination is present -- all Honduras exporters have received is a private and very weak "I am sorry" message!!!!!!!!!!! The produce is being held -- tests run with negative salmonella contamination but the FDA is not lifting the sanctions any time soon --and much loss to be taken by producers and exporters--period!! The company has let 17,000 workers go: 13,000 pickers and 400 packers and everyone concerned is taking an incalculable loss!!! If the fruit is not released in the next 2 weeks, I understand it will be a total loss.......

In the meantime, our name has been dragged into the "could be", "maybe", "dubious" world in no consideration that the exporting company has been doing so successfully and responsibly for 30 years -- never presenting any problems of any kind!!! At the moment, Europe is also weary of our produce, waiting for FDA actions: shrimp, melons, grapefruit, oranges, etc. when SLANDER has been spread!! This is a rippling effect on the trust placed by other markets as well. Our President was interviewed by CNN and he cut a melon and ate it in front of the cameras so that people all over the world could believe that there is nothing wrong with the fruit. Also, and according to news being reported, these exporters are getting together with the producers to discuss sueing for SLANDER and huge losses, the FDA and whichever other agency involved..........GOOD LUCK........YEAH, RIGHT!!!!!

Same thing happened not too many years ago when Chile ousted and prohibitted the entry to officers of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund when these entities wanted to force Chile to "accept" imposed loans which would surmount obscene amounts of international debts -- all exportations of grapes and wine (then, almost the basis of Chilean economy) to the USA were blocked with allegations of DDT-poison and salmonella contamination. All ships in American ports were held and the produce disposed of, of course. Fortunately, not all ships had arrived and Chile was able to sell all her production to Japan and the Far East -- thus preventing the country from total financial disaster, literally. Do you remember this? Today, Chile has no foreign debt and is one of the richest economies in Latin America, no iliteracy, free education and available medical services, highest standard of living -- no thanks to the "saviours" IMF and WB!!!! Chile is a very wealthy country in minerals, oil, natural gas as well as other natural resources, agriculture, and fishery and her economy does not depend solely on the USA markets. She is a well respected and important exporter to Europe and Asia -- she trades with the USA of course, but her biggest commercial activity does not depend solely on one country or region -- Chile learned her lesson at a very high cost!!

[NMDemDist2]

1. K&N

:mad:

[knitter4democracy]

2. It's not the first time, that's for sure.

We're known for this kind of bullying throughout Central and South America. It's our way of trying to control the hemisphere.

[Cant trust em]

3. I read Confessions

I could never tell if I liked the book because of the moral ambiguity of the author. I could never really escape the idea that he knows that shenanigans are going down but isn't willing to leave his cushy lifestyle. A bit frustrating.