SECSTATE Kerry - Latin America Relations (and Drugs)

What about John Kerry, the new SECSTATE? Here's one piece of advice for Secretary Kerry, but it's advice that Kerry's master, President Obama isn't likely to agree with:

En su nuevo cargo de secretario de estado norteamericano, John Kerry tiene una gran oportunidad para compensar el desinterés con el que Obama trató a América Latina durante su primera presidencia. Como veterano observador de los asuntos de América Latina, creo que las principales prioridades de Kerry en la región deberían ser: (1) revivir un enérgico programa de libre comercio, (2) aumentar el apoyo que presta Estados Unidos a las instituciones que hacen cumplir la ley en países plagados por la violencia como Honduras y Guatemala, y (3) hacer de la Organización de Estados Americanos (OEA) un vehículo más efectivo para promover y defender la democracia. Esas iniciativas enviarían señales positivas a los aliados y asociados democráticos de Washington. (Jaime Daremblum -- fue embajador de Costa Rica en los Estados Unidos) 

A friend of mine who works for USGOV explained the US ambivalence toward Mexico this way: It's difficult to get people to notice trouble in their own backyard. It's just tough - sort of like not cutting your own lawn because the neighbor across the street is shooting porno movies with the windows open.

President Otto Perez Molina

Secretary Kerry will continue to hand-hold with the authoritarian governments in Latin America because President Obama is more comfortable with them than he is with those governments who trend on the democratic side of politics. At the moment, George Soros (think what you will of him) is spending a lot of time in Guatemala, sleazing around with President Otto Perez Molina. Soros' official position is that he wants to combat illegal narcotics trafficking. If that's his intent, perhaps Perez Molina isn't the best of people to do it with because the esteemed president has been strongly alleged to be a major precursor dealer with Mexican drug cartels, Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion being the foremost. Maybe that's only in his past? Perhaps he has reformed and reinvented himself.

Even though Secretary Kerry doesn't seem to know it (yet), there are tense times coming for the Republic of Mexico as President Enrique Pena Nieto stands at the helm of the Mexican ship of state. That ship will be running over a lot of rocks and shoals this summer as they fight established drug cartels, all the time managing the drug business themselves more and more outside of traditional narco circles (with the intent of avoiding violence). It's like dancing on quicksand with a pogo stick. If Kerry and the Obama Administration link themselves too closely with the Mexican regime, they could very easily be accused of drug dealing themselves as the US closes on the 2014 mid-term elections.

The US is unlikely to give any serious attention to Latin America under an Obama Regime  (see the porno movie analogy above) because the President and the NSC is focused on Africa and the Middle East.

Kaibiles de Guatemala

Every Kaibil must ascribe to this motto."If I advance, follow me. If I stop, urge me on. If I retreat, kill me."  It's not unlike the ancient Spartan statement made by mothers to their warrior sons, "Come back with your shield or on it." Recruit training includes biting the head off of a live chicken to prove your worth.

The Kaibiles are the Guatemalan Military's response to an identified need for jungle warfare commandos who focus on counter insurgency operations. They are distinguished from other Guatemalan troops by their maroon beret with blazing sword patch.

President Otto Perez Molina, a long time methamphetamine precursor dealer/importer, has announced that he will send Los Kaibiles to fight (rival) drug interests within Guatemala. Other members of Los Kaibiles have formed their own version of the Mexican Los Zetas mercenary narcotics cartel. http://youtu.be/3YOpQatySMQ In this video you will see Kaibiles crawling through the jungle wearing camouflage and red berets.

Hand grenades sold to the Guatemalan military by Israel for military applications and issued to Los Kaibiles have made their way into the hands of various drug cartels. (oops)

Propaganda: Kaibil y soldado que en tiempos de guerra, defendiste la libertad, la soberanía y la independencia de tu patria, que pasaste noches de frío, y días sin agua, que moriste en la selva, que dejaste esposa e hijos, padres y hermanos, no te sientas triste, pues cumpliste con tu deber, aunque hoy se te persiga, se te humille, y te llamen genocida, no importa que tarde o temprano se hará justicia. 

Translation: Kaibil and soldiers in wartime, defend freedom, sovereignty and independence of (Guatemala) their country, they spend cold nights and days without water, they die in the jungle, they leave wives, children, parents and siblings, and do not feel sad, as they their duty. Today they are chased and humiliated and are referred as death squads but eventually justice will be done.

I have nothing against Los Kaibiles. They fall into much the same mold as many military groups in Latin America where loyalties would seem to be divided. And those who are true believers are usually betrayed by their elected leaders.