Oldie but a goodie. Tariq Ali's Pirates of the Caribbean

[EFerrari]

Tariq Ali talked about his book Pirates of the Caribbean: Axis of Hope, published by Verso. In his remarks he talked about the rise of Latin American leaders Hugo Chavez and Evo Morales and the new populist movement that they represented. He also talked about the Bush administration's policies towards Venezuela and the influence of Fidel Castro in the region. Following his remarks he answered questions from the audience.

(Filmed at the Venezuelan Embassy in D.C. in 2006, video & transcript at link.)

http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/id/166804

[Peace Patriot]

1. Somebody un-recommended this, and I can't imagine why anyone would un-recommend

an informative interview such as this, by a published author and expert on Latin American affairs, except to make their small contribution to keeping people stupid about Latin America. It is ESSENTIAL that people here in the USA and throughout the developed world understand what is happening in Latin America--a widespread leftist democracy movement, of historic proportions and of huge importance to the western hemisphere, to us in the U.S. and to many others around the world, that has produced the election of leftist leaders in Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, and, until the U.S.-supported rightwing coup, in Honduras, with an almost in Mexico (--where the leftist lost the last presidential election by only 0.05%, in what is widely regarded as a stolen election).

This movement means far more than just the election of leftist leaders and the positive impacts of their governments on the lives of most people, in specific countries. It is REGIONAL movement, with regional goals, and strong friendships and alliances, and cooperation, AMONG the various new leftist leaders, which has, for instance, accelerated South America's move toward a common market. This movement has been marked by Latin American rejection of U.S. "neo-liberal" (pro-corporate) economic policies, rejection of the U.S. "war on drugs" militarization of the region, and rejection of U.S. interference in Latin America, among other startling new developments. If the U.S. handles this profound political/social/economic movement in the wrong way--and, thus far, the U.S. could not be more wrong in its response to it--it will result in long term or even permanent alienation between the northern and southern halves of our hemisphere, to OUR detriment. It will be great for Latin America, and NOT great for us, even from the viewpoint of U.S. corporations and financial interests, which are not the same as those of most people in the U.S., AND for us peons of corporate rule in the U.S.

Thus, it is VITAL that our people understand what is going on in Latin America and in U.S./Latin American relations. Tariq Ali wrote an important book about this Latin American political movement--'The Pirates of the Caribbean"--which is must reading for anyone who wants to be informed about Latin America, and he is one of the best commenters on this political movement, for his grasp of the bigger picture. WHATEVER your political views, you NEED to know who he is and what he has to say. To un-recommend a thread on this subject is to opt for the "know-nothing" stance of being deaf, dumb and blind.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Thanks for posting the link for this author. Looking forward to watching it later today.

I have the book, this should push me into taking the time to read it. He's tremendous.

Thank you. Recommending.

[EFerrari]

3. It is an excellent lecture!

:hi: