Brazzil

In a region where there are virtually no terrorist groups seeking to attack the United States, or deployment or even development of nuclear arsenals, it is time for a civilian and not a military approach to define and lead U.S. foreign relations in Latin America.

The announcement of the IV Fleet setting sail does not represent any major change in U.S. military activity, but it does reveal how the U.S. government's approach to Latin America can be an element of division in the hemisphere.

Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Gary Roughead announced on April 24 the re-deployment of the IV Fleet.(1) He said that "[r]e-establishing the Fourth Fleet recognizes the immense importance of maritime security in the southern part of the Western Hemisphere, and signals our support and interest in the civil and military maritime services in Central and South America."

Effective July 1, the new command structure will have operational responsibility for U.S. Navy ships that operate in the SouthCom area  - one of the six regions of the world that the Pentagon divides into unified commands.

Spokespersons for the U.S. Navy affirm that the announcement of the IV Fleet's redeployment does not imply new military assets to the region. "There has been some misperception that with the re-establishment of U.S. Fourth Fleet comes more ships to the region. In Navy culture the word 'fleet' can mean two things - a 'physical' fleet of ships or an 'organization' staffed to fulfill a planning and coordination mission. U.S. Fourth Fleet will be an organizational fleet," clarified Lieutenant Joe "Myers" Vasquez, U.S. Navy Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command (SouthCom).(2)

The new organizational structure thus implies an additional duty for U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command headquartered in Mayport, Florida. The IV Fleet will concentrate efforts on the fight against illicit trafficking and providing humanitarian aid and disaster relief, officials say.

But leaders from South America are not convinced. They point to the poor response of the U.S. government when Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans as reason to question the official explanation. "The United States must have some information above and beyond what we know, which made them make this decision," said Venezuelan Rear Admiral César Augusto Manzano.(3)

The June headline for Le Monde Diplomatique's Brazil edition states "The Empire Strikes Back: Worried about the leftward drift of Latin American governments and the discovery of formidable oil reserves and abundance of natural resources, the United States restarts its IV Fleet."(4)

While Le Monde's headlines may appear as fear-mongering since no new military forces have been earmarked for deployment, it does call attention to suspicions that increased U.S. military presence aims at economic control over natural resources and political control to rein in South American efforts to chart a course less oriented to the United States. The Union of South American Nations (Unión de las Naciones del Sur - UNASUR) symbolizes this latest attempt.

U.S. Hegemony on the Wane

South America's relationship with the rest of the world has changed substantially in recent years. While the United States has been preoccupied with the War on Terrorism and focusing its attention mainly in the Middle East, South America has increased its trade relations with the rising economies of Asia.

The Council on Foreign Relations recently released a report saying the United States is losing hegemony in the region and new direction is needed.(5) The Council's Task Force on Latin America bluntly states this new reality: "If there was an era of U.S. hegemony in Latin America, it is over."

But in the same breath, the authors of the report say that as a region Latin America has "never mattered more" to the United States, since it is the largest supplier of oil, one of the fasting growing trading partners, and largest source of immigrants. The Task Force concludes with recommendations, stressing that the United States should focus on common areas of concern - poverty and inequality, public security, migration, and energy security - and recognize that Latin America's fate is largely in Latin America's hands."

The latest move toward building continental unity was announced on May 23. The presidents of 12 South American nations gathered in Brasília, the capital of Brazil, to sign on to UNASUR. This follows up on efforts begun in December 2004 when the region's countries pledged to create the South American Community of Nations.

The latest gathering may seem like yet another attempt at unifying under a new name, alongside Mercosur, Andean Community, and Pacific Arc, to name a few. However, the new institution will be recognized as a formal international organization and will create a stronger forum to work toward integration among the 12 countries of South America, home to 360 million people and a gross domestic product (GDP) of US$ 2.5 trillion (in 2006 dollars).

UNASUR pledges to work on developing a common customs union, currency, and passport. As outlined in previous agreements, the Union plans to establish executive headquarters in Ecuador, a South American parliament in Bolivia, and the Bank of the South in Venezuela.

The twist on this effort is Brazil's proposal to create a South American Defense Council comprised of the region's ministers of defense. Celso Amorim, Brazil's minister of foreign affairs, said that the purpose of the council is to provide a "space for dialogue between the militaries of the countries of the region in order to formulate policies and prevent conflicts."

Centrifugal Forces

The initial steps of the organization demonstrate the challenges ahead. The first two candidates for the rotating secretary-general of UNASUR turned down the offer before Chile's President Michelle Bachelet accepted the post.

The position was first offered to Colombia's President Alvaro Uribe who refused because no other member of the union would recognize the National Revolutionary Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia-FARC) as a "terrorist group." The other regional leaders follow the United Nations' denomination of the group as a "belligerent force."

Ecuador's ex-President Rodrigo Borjas also turned down the secretary-general position because his proposal to accelerate the merger of Mercosur with the Andean Community fell on deaf ears. UNASUR was legally constituted despite its political problems concerning who would be the first leader.

The next bump in the road was Colombia's differences with its neighbors. The recent intrusion of the Colombian military on Ecuador's soil to attack a FARC encampment revealed both the need for such a forum and the difficulties of forming it.

An editorial in Colombia's El Pais said that Uribe has resisted the idea of the Defense Council since it would provide another space for Hugo Chavez and his allies to take advantage of South American solidarity to denounce the United States and to create military bodies for political ends.(6)

To avoid ruptures at the outset of UNASUR, members decided to create a working group to analyze the creation of the Defense Council for 90 days. Both El Pais and Brazil's business daily Valor Econômico consider the Defense Council another useless bureaucracy. But other news media considered its creation an increasing urgency: "If at the beginning the Defense Council seems little more than a forum, this is its most pressing necessity," wrote Brazilian weekly Carta Capital.(7)

Border disputes continue to be the main source of conflict in the region. Not only did Ecuador (followed by its ally Venezuela) mobilize their forces after the Colombian incursion, but in 1995 Ecuador and Peru exchanged artillery over a border skirmish. Also, there are a number of internal conflicts, besides Colombia's decades-long civil war, such as separatist movements in Bolivia and dissidence in Venezuela.

Nelson Jobim, Brazil's Minister of Defense, who turned down U.S. offers to participate in the Defense Council, foresees its mission as coordinating disaster relief efforts and peacekeeping missions.

If the nations' leaders finally are able to breathe life into the South American Defense Council and obtain the active participation of all the member countries, it could achieve two long-desired objectives. First, while South American unity remains far removed from the degree of institutionalization of its model entity - the European Union - at least the region will have achieved what the African Union has accomplished in policing its area. Second, instead of relying on the Organization of American States (OAS), seen as dominated by the United States, the continent's leaders will have formal space to resolve internal conflicts and define a common agenda.

U.S. Strategic Posturing

South America's growing political independence as a region raises the question: what is the United States' role in the area? To answer, first it is necessary to define U.S. interests. According to Lieutenant Vasquez of SouthCom, "Thirty-eight percent of U.S. global trade is with countries in the Western Hemisphere and we import 34% of our oil from the region. Two-thirds of ships that transit the Panama Canal are bound for U.S. ports."

SouthCom's priorities also include counter-terrorism, counternarcotics, and engagement of the region's militaries via joint training exercises. Secondary missions are arms control and non-proliferation, humanitarian and civic assistance, search and rescue, and disaster relief.(8)

In this scheme, re-activating the IV Fleet would seem to respond to objectives aimed at keeping sea lanes open for trade and closed to illicit trafficking. "The stature of a Fleet sends the right signal even to those that are not our greatest supporters," Admiral Jim Stevenson told a Bloggers Roundtable.(9)

One scenario he depicted in which the IV Fleet could be called into action is if the Cuban people do not accept the leadership of Raul Castro's leadership and decide to flee in mass - thus repeating the Mariel Boatlift of 1980. "If you don't have the capability to rescue these people, you have a disaster on your hands. I don't think anyone can sit around and watch hundreds and hundreds of thousands of people die at sea," the Admiral said.

U.S. presence in South America continues to grate on the nerves of nationalists who fear that the United States' primary interest is access to natural resources. The most important and recent relevant fact was Brazil's announcement of large oil deposits discovered in the Tupi field off its southeast coast, estimated to produce 5-8 billion barrels.

Haroldo Lima, the head of the National Petroleum Agency (Agência Nacional do Petróleo), boasted that the country's oil reserves could reach 33 billion barrels and possibly much more, a huge jump from proven reserves of 12 billion barrels as of last year.(10)

Minister of Defense Jobim said that the IV Fleet will not enter Brazilian waters without authorization: "Here they do not enter," he told military authorities. But the question of how far Brazilian sovereignty extends still remains an open question. The Convention of Montego Bay establishes the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) at 200 nautical miles but could be extended to 300 if the continental shelf extends outward.

Both Brazil and the United States are signatories of the convention but the United States has yet to ratify it. Lima stoked nationalist fears when he said last May that the United States has repeatedly violated the EEZ. But U.S. Admiral James Stavridis countered that the U.S. Navy indeed does respect it.(11)

Despite fears from Brazilian nationalists, Brazil-U.S. relations have tightened lately, especially on issues of energy security. Brazil's state-owned oil giant Petrobras continues to rely on a number of foreign sub-contractors, including Halliburton, but more important is the recent biofuels partnership between George W. Bush and Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

The agreement pledges to expand technical assistance to Central American and Caribbean countries to develop the use of ethanol. Also, Brazil has never pressured foreign investors to renegotiate contracts as have the governments of Venezuela, Bolivia, and Ecuador.

The IV Fleet is designed to improve the administrative and command structure of the U.S. Navy in SouthCom's joint operations with other countries in the theater. The most important event is the Partnership of the Americas, a six-month naval deployment in the Caribbean, Central, and South America. The partnership includes a number of multinational exercises carried out by U.S. forces with the region's militaries.

The biggest naval operation of the partnership is UNITAS Atlantic & Pacific, held since 1959, which includes two annual maritime scenario training exercises aimed at enhancing security cooperation and improving coalition operations. Other naval exercises include Teamwork South, Siforex, Community Relations, New Horizons, Counter-Drug Operations, Panamax, and Disaster Relief (see endnote 8).

U.S.: Unifier or Divider?

With so many different military exercises held in willing partnership with South American militaries, the restart of IV Fleet without any ships and equipment may seem like a minor development. Are those fearful of U.S. encroachments just crying wolf? But within SouthCom's region, U.S. naval operations complement the ring of U.S. military bases.

These include Comapala, El Salvador; Manta, Ecuador; Guantánamo, Cuba; Atuba, Curacao; and Comayuga, Honduras. The U.S. forces have also undertaken training exercises at the Mariscal Estigarribia airport in Paraguay(12) although a recent look at the alleged U.S. base in Paraguay discovered a nearly deserted airstrip.(13)

The formally established bases in the region have been more active - the most polemical with regard to U.S.-Latin American relations is Manta. Ecuador's President Rafael Correa refused to renew the base's contract that expires in 2009, so the United States is discussing with Colombian authorities to move it to La Guajira, near the Venezuelan border (see endnote 4).

Moving the base to La Guajira would undoubtedly inflame tensions between Venezuela and Colombia and by extension, the United States. Uribe claims that Chavez supports the FARC, while the Venezuelan government characterizes Colombia as a puppet of the United States. In fact, the Latin American press considers Colombia's attack on Ecuadorian soil to be based on information from U.S. intelligence services.

The Chavez government has reacted angrily to the U.S. bases surrounding Venezuela and U.S. generals listing "radical populism" a major new security threat.(14) One dangerous scenario (outright war would be worse) is an acceleration of the alleged arms race occurring in South America. Former Brazilian President José Sarney and other regional leaders warn about Venezuela increasing its military strength. "If [Venezuela] truly becomes a military power, an arms race in Latin America will ensue. It will lead to a strategic disequilibrium on the continent," Senator Sarney cautioned.(15)

Based on percentage of GDP, however, Venezuela is the Andean country that spends the least on defense at 1.39%, with Ecuador in the top spot at 3.14%. But other sources claim that Venezuela is spending billions of dollars in recent years that are not included in the regular budget.
According to Military Power Review, which measures military power in terms of brute measures of military hardware, Brazil continues to occupy the top spot in all of South America, and Venezuela the fifth, followed by Colombia.(16)

One problem according to this ranking is that it does not account for the fact that much of Brazil's equipment is near obsolete, while Colombia has been receiving the latest military hardware from the U.S. government as part of Plan Colombia.

Analysts continue to debate on how to measure military power in Latin America, but all agree that if a "strategic imbalance" exists in the hemisphere, it continues to favor the United States. SouthCom's communications officers did not respond to requests concerning its operating budget, but documents available on the Internet put it around US$ 170 million for 2008.(17)

This amount does not include military aid. Oddly enough, since the end of the Cold War when U.S. economic aid was more than the amount of military aid, now the two are growing closer. In 2005, Congress appropriated US$ 921.07 million in economic aid and at least US$ 859.69 million in military aid.(18)

The Pentagon continues to lead U.S. foreign policy in the region. For all of the Pentagon's talk of partnership with South American countries, the U.S. Navy's presence felt more ominous than amicable when its warships docked in Rio de Janeiro last April. The only ones celebrating were the city's brothel owners, who registered a marked increase in business.

Matthew Flynn, a doctoral student in sociology at the University of Texas at Austin, is conducting field research on Brazil's pharmaceutical policies. His most recent publication is "Between Subimperialism and Globalization: A Case Study in the Internationalization of Brazilian Capital," in Latin American Perspectives. He is an analyst for the Americas Policy Program at www.americaspolicy.org.

Comments (124)

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Keep in mind the Soviet Union's collapse.
written by Ricardo Amaral, July 15, 2008

In reality today there is a lot less reason to Panic regarding the United States show of power than a few years ago.

There are many trends that are at work today that will take care of any possible US threat to South America.

By the time the US is done in Afghanistan and in Iraq, and even possibly in Iran the US Army is going to look like the Soviet Army after they lost their war in Afghanistan in the late 1980’s and from that point on the US Army probably will look like the Russian Army after the Soviet Empire collapse.

Please don’t forget that many foreign countries are getting tired of supporting US government constant deficit spending to finance its adventures around the world and these people are aware that the piles of US dollars they have been accumulating are declining in value by the second in world markets.

The other major trend is the Baby Boom generation that is finally here and it will cost the United States every dime that they can muster; almost overnight the US population aged over 65-years old is ballooning from the current 40 million people to about 75 million people and every year that goes by in the coming years the US economy has to carry the extra cost of another wave of 3 million retirees on its back.

Never mind the current state of the US economy that still running on fumes and on foreign money with collapsing major institutions, and even run in major banks have started at this point. It is not a pretty picture of a collapsing and imploding old Empire.

In a nutshell: who is going to finance the US new adventures in South America?

The Chinese?

I don’t think so.

In essence the South Americans are afraid of a ghost.

.

HM
written by RaplostT, July 15, 2008

Hm, what can i say......

OMG Nao li nada pq to uma preguissa de ler esse livro a cima...

The real killer of superpowers.
written by Ricardo Amaral, July 15, 2008

By the way, for the people who did not grasped my point.

In a nutshell: Military over spending killed the last two world superpowers – the British Empire and the Soviet Empire.

Military over spending does the trick every time.

.

new dynamic in south america
written by asp, July 15, 2008

any one trying to make this out to be some kind of usa military maneuver to threaten enemies in south america , is way off base of reality.

there is no way the united states is going to try to use military force to get something in south america .if it is going to do something, its going to be under the table with manipulation.

its not in the united states interest to do anything like that now, militarily or under the table manipulation.this article is right in the sence that the united states doesnt have control over what happens in south america , at this time. correa will close the base in equador. like they said, there was little activity in the paraguay base.its all pretty flimsy.

notions of some delta force military base in the amazon, ready to go rambowing their way into possecion of the riches there , are fairy tales.

it reminds me of the jornal do brasil article, pointing out false rumors , lies about a text book in united states schools, saying a part of the amazon was under international domain ( meaning they had the right to invade if something was done wrong) ,were untrue. they had been spread by nationalists in brazil trying to scare people .even after this article came out, there were teachers in schools trying to say it was still true.

the united states should be trying to figure out how to do good ,solid , integrity type business with brazil, for the new oil discoveries, so they dont have to be tied to chavez or the middle east or russia.

ratcheting up old ghosts from the cold war just isnt the way it is now. its a differant dynamic in south america.

Reply to Asp
written by Ricardo Amaral, July 15, 2008

Just look at what is happening in Afghanistan.

The US Army is having as much trouble as the Soviet Union had before its collapse.

Afghanistan is the end of the line and where former superpowers are buried.

For all practical purposes the US Army is becoming impotent.

.

There comes the northern bullies….
written by ..., July 15, 2008

The US once again, cruising for a bruising worldwide… The meddling into other nations internal affairs, the antagonizing of other people and governments, the disrespect of international laws and agreements, the terrorizing of poor nations to establish control, the American military intervention, and on ever-expanding fronts.

The American identity has become one measure in terms of gains, wars, casualties, closely followed by rhetorical non-sense to justify such aggression, all in the name of the bottom line, profit!

The Pentagon is a nest of state sponsored terrorism across the world and will not stop short of anything to attain their objectives. The former excuse use to be communism, now, it’s narcotraffic or international terrorism, different label, same attitude. The american crusaders will lie, deceive, kill, control in order to remain not a “superpower,” but “supreme power.” The predatory American politicians are not to be trusted, ever!

American foreign policy elements are "monolithic” (i.e. the Russians are taking it over) and some ruthless “conspiracy" (i.e. protect our national interests) to convince the american people, who besides being extremely ignorant, the worse, they are shameless indifferent.

The US has become a sick nation of warmongers. The American psyche has reached a crisis point, stressed to the max, and grown into foolish disheartened superficial thinking, with far reaching implications and animosity of other countries.

I would be ashamed to be an American.

Costinha

Reply to Asp
written by Ricardo Amaral, July 15, 2008

The perceptions of most people around the world are influenced by images in Hollywood movies but there is a big difference between this false perception and the realities facing the US Army in such places as Iraq and Afghanistan.

What has been going on in Afghanistan since 2002 is a clear example of the declining US military capabilities and its impotence in achieving military goals even in a country that was already in pieces from long years of fighting another war.

Old perceptions can die a slow death.

.

...
written by Dewolfe, July 15, 2008

The U.S. Military is not losing it's power or abilities; this perceived weakness comes from it's misuse as a police force or occupying force. This is the same military that has swept across huge stretches of territory in record time every time it has been tasked with an attack since the end of Vietnam. The use of U.S. armed forces in diplomatic struggles or in aid of commercial interests is a aberration and hopefully the U.S. public is getting wise.

There is no feasible plan to take the Amazon for any reason nor any reason to warrant doing that. I'm pretty sure U.S. military planners think so too. Unfortunately there are a lot of european descended people in the south of Brasil who think they have some use for it though they have never been there and couldn't make a go of it if they went; the future of the Amazon is in the native and mixed people who are living there now. The way forward for Brasil is to educate and develop the present inhabitants of such regions.

Dewolfe

...
written by João da Silva, July 15, 2008

The original title for this article: "United States Announces IV Fleet Resumes Operations Amid South American Suspicions".The editors of this magazine changed it to: "Is the US Navy After Brazil's Oil? Some Brazilians Think So", which is more sensational and politically correct to use.

Also interesting to note is that the author cites references from "Carta Capital" and "Folha". I presume that he can read Portuguese and if so, should access more Brazilian News Magazines and research further to find out what the "Other Brazilians" think.

I did enjoy reading the comments of Ricardo, Coastinha and asp, though Ricardo summed it all by saying:

In essence the South Americans are afraid of a ghost.

Instead of being afraid of a "ghost", our foreign policy should be to maintain our existing friends and cultivate new ones. We don't show our greatness nor leadership by saber rattling or teaming up with losers. I think Ricardo Amaral understands what I am saying.

RA
written by Forrest Allen Brown, July 15, 2008

THINK AGAIN

the US has a total volanteer army and russia and the british did not .

the prees is killing the US military like it did in the NAM eara the congress and there sepicail intrest groups are another major concern .

the bigest reaso the are there is the open water piricy going on the the waters off the SA & CA including the islands .

dozens of pravit yatchs have been robed , small cargo ships and the likes are also getting hit .

and as i remember the last 4 joint fleet operactions the USA paid for the fuel for the brasilian navy .

and a navy moving around is not a show of force .
when they want to show force they block your ports over fly your captial and sweep the skys and sea of you air force and navy

to me they are just a bunch of guys on there boats having fun .

and dont even think if they were to put into port in brasil the local
boost in cash would not be a wind fall fro that city .

look at the ports in spain , portugal , italy , and other places making money hand over fist of the saylors .


you miss informed brasilians keep think every one is after you

your country has been around for 246 years longer than the US .

it is your leaders making you what you are .
as it is ours making the US look like fools
for there stupid mover around the world

enough said

Florist A$$ Brown
written by ..., July 15, 2008

Says: miss informed brasilians keep think every one is after you

Corrected: well informed Brasilians know the US is threatening our sovereignty.

There...

Costa

João
written by The Guest, July 15, 2008

Hi João, I am back. I returned a week ago and have been catching up without commenting. I still have quite a few articles to read, not sure if I will finish them before I go home to my country in a week.

Here is a website that you should find interesting. www.oecs.org I recommend reading the following document which is located at the bottom of the home page first. 7th May, 2008 "OECS: Draft of New Treaty"

See you here.

...
written by João da Silva, July 15, 2008

Unfortunately there are a lot of european descended people in the south of Brasil who think they have some use for it though they have never been there and couldn't make a go of it if they went

An interesting conspiracy theory.The "Blue eyed" German and Italian descendants in Southern Brazil are conspiring to invade and destroy the Amazon rain forest. At least we have a "feasible" plan unlike the Americans.

The way forward for Brasil is to educate and develop the present inhabitants of such regions.

Who is going to do it, the Swiss?

costa
written by Forrest Allen Brown, July 15, 2008

at my last count brasil had
4 frigets working
28 small patrol craft
1 sub not so goon shape
1 aircraft carrier a musem piece

237 other boats in different states of ill repair
all under stafed by nocoms and there officers only out to
better themselves in the eyes of there familys .

joao what is your plan for the amazon .

mine would be build a fence around it of just one wire .
and any one cross it with the intinsions of planting ,cutting
taking would spend the rest of there lives
in jail
and that would be politicans to start

Forrest
written by João da Silva, July 15, 2008

joao what is your plan for the amazon

My plan is a hybrid one of our Minister of Long term planning, the General in command of the Amazon, that of "A Brazilian", "Gringo", RA and your good self.

It would not work for the following reasons:

1) The Minister of long range planning spent most of his adult life in U.S. The press is more interested in making fun of his heavy Bostonian accent.
2)Nobody wants to hear what the General has to say.
3)"A Brazilian" is a pariah in this blog!
4)"Gringo" is a Gringo and hence to be persecuted ruthlessly.
5)RA is another Brazilian with a heavy New Yorker accent! The press would hound him too.
6)You another well meaning American.
7)Finally me, I don't work for the government.

Conclusion: Não vai dar certo

btw, are you already ashore in B & B?

The Guest
written by João da Silva, July 15, 2008

Hi João, I am back. I returned a week ago and have been catching up without commenting. I still have quite a few articles to read, not sure if I will finish them before I go home to my country in a week.

Thanks for the message. Are u in Brazil or Miami?. Not worth reading all the articles. Just read that of Ricardo Amaral.

Here is a website that you should find interesting. www.oecs.org I recommend reading the following document which is located at the bottom of the home page first. 7th May, 2008 "OECS: Draft of New Treaty"

I did go through the website and I will later on read the "Draft of New Treaty". But it seems that Alberties have taken over your country! There is an interesting blogger from Alberta and I hope he reads our comments!

Did you have a good trip?

MHO
written by Simpleton, July 15, 2008

"Who is going to do it, the Swiss?"

The answere is no old man, only the Cok Les Tina's have a chance with the Darwininan treinemento tactics of the Ape Bra's Zillions and thier ill horded gains.

Brazilians are.....
written by ch.c., July 15, 2008

.....TOTALLY OBSESSED !!!!!

Instead of going to Brazil......dont you think it would be wiser to go to a country producing 10 millions barrels per day !!!!!

Such as Saudi Arabia !

Ohhhh and they could include ALL the small OPEC countries : Kuwait, and all the Emirates !!!!

Easy targets !

Why are brazilians totally paranoïac ?????

Simpleton
written by João da Silva, July 15, 2008

"Who is going to do it, the Swiss?"

I thought you assassinated Ch.c and are pretending that you didn't do it.It is not going to work, Simpleton. Ch.c is alive, well and good health. He is in Cairo,having a hard time

Ch.c
written by João da Silva, July 15, 2008

Why are brazilians totally paranoïac ?????

I don't know, Ch.c. But I am hurt by the comments of your friend "Dewolfe". How could he make irresponsible comments accusing us the Southerners of destroying the Amazon?

Do you think that this "Dewolfe" found his degree in a detergent pack? We need a complete report on this issue.

JOAO
written by forrest allen brown, July 15, 2008

yes a bit late in the year but nice still .

picked up clear view boat so we are just paddling around
looking through the bottom and seeing fish turtles .

and lunch swims by often .new zeland in starting to warm up
may head far south but go by perth and see some old friends in the down under
if they would ever stop all the import inspections

would the brasilians beleive i was going to take there oil , and culture
if i came by with the pale horse under me !!!!!!!!!!!!

Joao !
written by ch.c., July 16, 2008

Sorry....but is Dewolfe a Swiss ???
Funny his statement.
Not only the USA lost the Vietnam war, they were ridiculized when the U.S. Embassy was taken as hostage in Iran. And they lost face in Somalia.

This said the Amazon DOESNT belong to Brazil contrary to what BRAZILIANS say. There are 8 or 9 countries owning the Amazon.

Proof again that you take as yours....what is NOT totally yours !

But coming from a Brazilian.....NORMAL ! Isnt it ?

And I repeat that Brazilians are paranoïac because on top of the countries I mentionned as easy targets....there is also....VENEZUELA !!!!
With far more proven oil and gas reserves than all of Brazil in the Carioca, Tupi fields....including the Samba and Bossa Nova fields.

Samba and Bossa Nova fields are the name of your NEXT discovery ! Did not you know yet ?


Stupid question Joao : what is Brazil going to do with their ethanol industry.....apparently so much more competitive than oil ?
Hmmmm......laugh....laugh....laugh....laugh !!!!!

João
written by The Guest, July 16, 2008

"Are u in Brazil or Miami?."

No, At the moment I am in St. Croix, one of the three US Virgin Islands visiting.

"Not worth reading all the articles. Just read that of Ricardo Amaral."

I am almost ready to read his.

"...it seems that Alberties have taken over your country!"

Everyone is welcome as long as they behave themselves.

My trip was good just a little bit long this time---spent a month at anchor in Kuwait waiting for cargo. We went to the usual ports plus Jebel Ali, UAE. Those quys are really putting their oil profits to work. The port and other close areas which I could observe were completely transformed when compared to the last time I was there in the summer of 1999.

Piracy was at its peak in the Gulf of Aden in April and May with over 15 incidents. At least 4 vessels were taken. We did not have any problems however, we were ready for them.

to set things straight
written by Dewolfe, July 16, 2008

Dewolfe is a middle aged American, no degree at all, but I have lived and traveled in the Amazon with Amazonense. Perhaps I shouldd have left out "South" as a descriptor since in this case south is North of Cuiaba or so.

The point is financial interests from outside the region are inimical to the well being of those born in it. The Government repeatedly has to crack down in order to guarantee any future at all to the people or the rain forest.

You (Brazilians) don't have feasible plan at all until you stop this destruction of the land and people.

I am hurt and resent any comparison to Chc; that was ad hominem and a low blow.

My point about the U.S. military is they are quite capable of pounding any three South American militaries into component parts but have no incentive to do so. We are as a nation friendly to all peoples our corrupt government aside and there is no chance we will attempt to take any territory in South America by aggression.

All this talk is a case of young men trying to put themselves forward as wise and deserving of leadership; clearly any consideration of facts makes this absurd.

Dewolfe

Is the US Navy After Brazil's Oil? Some Brazilians Think So
written by bo, July 16, 2008

Some Brazilians think so? LMAO. That's a good one. If we're going to talk about "what some brazilians think" then we're in for a long one.

Are these the same Brazilians that played a childish game of reciprocity (even though they were completely unprepared to do so) to the identification standards placed by the U.S. for every country on the planet after 9-11?

Are they the same Brazilians that were outraged and protested when a Brazilian was killed during a time of terrorism in England, who lived in the very same building as the terrorists, yet stand silently by while their own police force murder children on the streets of Rio?

Are they the same Brazilians that believed that the two Brazilians who died in U.S. jails a year or so ago after being picked up by Massachusetts police for traffic violations (big surprise ) and ingested the cocaine they had in their procession with intent to distribute, causing them to have cardiac arrest, was a result of police brutality towards Brazilians?

And finally, are these the same Brazilians who swallowed hook, line, and sinker the fraud perpetrated by Brazilians on Brazilians that the U.S. has textbooks teaching our children that the Amazon is "international territory"?

again you are using the press for your info
written by Forrest Allen Brown, July 16, 2008

yes the military took a hit in somila .
only because the press & government would not let them do what they were there for .
and yes then there was the movie about it , and a lot of good men died for the fools they were trying to protect , when was the last time you hurd or saw a sentor or congress man die for something the military wanted them to do .

another thing about somila the men that died in the black hawk crash and there people lost there lives but 9 men took over 1500 of them with them ,
and the main war loard had two exwives new york city living on welfare at the time !!!!!!!!!!!

IN iran again the goverment told the military to stand down we will talk it out , yea carter the idot , then when regan took office that very day he was sowrn in the people were set free ,
Why you should ask , becaus regan told them we will come over and take them at all coast .
and again NAM not a loss to us who served A LET DOWN becaus the people of the US had let us down we came home to
people calling us baby killers & rapers of young girls .

why well jane fonda the bitch , and the sorry ass press
i am glad to have out lived most of them whom hurt all of us my they never find peice in death , you to jane

SO go a head and beleive what you want . and you will be as dumb as most electid officals .
hiding in fear for there lives and jobs by spenning hatered for others to keep the eyes off them and tere rong doings

...
written by Gringo, July 16, 2008

How could he make irresponsible comments accusing us the Southerners of destroying the Amazon?

Because it's true. Joao, the riberinhos and trabalhadores Rurais in various parts of Para refer to grileiros as "Gauchos". For them, anyone from the south is a "Gaucho", and yes, most gauchos/grileiros in the Amazon pose a more immediate threat to the safety of communities and individual livelihoods than do make-believe US armed soldiers, the Bilderbergs, NGOs or whatever other conspiracy your military and government feeds you to believe.

Ironically, as some here bitch and moan over the "impending US invasion" (yawn) and the Brazilian government has made it their recent mission to complicate the operations of non governmental organizations (all under the banner of "the Amazon is ours"; in another piece of state propaganda on this site, the author is gushing over the fact that Cargill will invest another 69 million to harvest and export more from Brazil. Where's the yammering from usual suspects? NADA. Just like when the Pope announced to help SI and those being victimized by thugs in Raposa Serra do sol. Double standards?

As long as the government here programs ladies like Costinha and Abe, to throw their hissy fits about "the evil empire" whenever the Amazon is mentioned, the Government can continue with their business as usual incompetence in the Amazon. Most farms are owned by politicians, no surprise. Just look who owns MT. Talk about the tail wagging the dog.

Here's a lovely tribute to grilieros...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Vz-56Ei9Aw&feature=user

...
written by Gringo, July 16, 2008

Regarding the Oil, I agree with Ricardo on this one. But not only is the US military suffering war fatigue, but many Americans now see the Republican reptiles in their true slithering form. So, American's don't want another silly war over oil. The American military is overspent, as is the patiences with most rational thinking Americans. They do exist.

Now, that might not stop Good Ole Georgy from lobbing one over to Iran as he's heading out of the white house to stand trial for war crimes in the Hague.

WHAT IS SERVICE
written by Forrest Allen Brown, July 16, 2008

I became confused when I heard these terms which reference the word service.
Internal Revenue Service, Telephone Service, T.V. Service, Civil Service, City & County Public Service, Customer Service, and POLITICAL SERVICE This is not what I thought service meant. But today,
I overheard two farmers talking, and one of them said he had hired a bull to service a few cows. BAM!!! It all came into perspective. I now understand what all those service agencies are doing to us.
I hope you are as enlightened as I am.

...
written by Gringo, July 16, 2008

3)"A Brazilian" is a pariah in this blog!
4)"Gringo" is a Gringo and hence to be persecuted ruthlessly.

Nice! I quite like the BANG or explanation mark after the word "Pariah". As for being persecuted, it's the cross I bare, but I'll be putting it down because I hear y'all need the wood.

Dewolf”e” – Do Lobo“inho”
written by ..., July 16, 2008

“My point about the U.S. military is they are quite capable of pounding any three South American militaries into component parts but have no incentive to do so.”

Was not the same said about Vietnam? Or even Iraq, as well as Afghanistan? Keep dreaming american rats!

“We are as a nation friendly to all peoples”

Good stand-up comedy… Friendly nation! Yeah…. I believe in Santa Claus, don’t you?

"our corrupt government aside and there i no chance we will attempt to take any territory in South America by aggression.”

What do you call what is happening in Colombia as we speak?

You know what? I am not surprised by your obnoxious statements… It fits the “ugly, ignorant, and indifferent American portrait.”

Costinha

PS Gringonorreah… If I want the advice of a dullard, I'll slap you on the back of the head and wake up that little peg legged hamster that operates the drool-powered waterwheel of thought in there. Until then, sit in the corner and wait until some either speaks to you or spits at you, got it f**ko?

Bo knows Brazil...
written by Gringo, July 16, 2008

Are they the same Brazilians that were outraged and protested when a Brazilian was killed during a time of terrorism in England, who lived in the very same building as the terrorists, yet stand silently by while their own police force murder children on the streets of Rio?

Or administrators...

http://noticias.terra.com.br/brasil/interna/0,,OI3011365-EI5030,00.html

How many millions will the family of Luiz Carlos Soares da Costa get from the Brazilian Gov? You think there will even be an inquiry? An apology?

Bobão… Long time no see!
written by ..., July 16, 2008

How is the pedophilia business? Being arrested lately?

Costa

...
written by Gringo, July 16, 2008

PS Gringonorreah… If I want the advice of a dullard, I'll slap you on the back of the head and wake up that little peg legged hamster that operates the drool-powered waterwheel of thought in there. Until then, sit in the corner and wait until some either speaks to you or spits at you, got it f**ko?

ha ha ha - You know it's going to be a great day when Brazil's politeness poster boy pops by further propagating the Banana Republic's well earned rep as being educated and civil. What's the problem, ball juggler, you've given up trying to actually make a point? Hurts your brain, eh....

Gringonorreah, Did I hurt your little feelings?
written by ..., July 16, 2008

It must be the loneliness living in Canada, the most boring secluded place on earth. Thus, I understand your motives and emotional depression, Mr. ½ Gringo, otherwise the entire world goes by without even noticing you canadians.

Poor devils, they must import almost everything into their country, they produce nothing, no art, no music, no industry (other then american and few), no culture, bad food, cold place, vastness of frozen wasted land. But, a few cute polar bears, that they do have, I admit.

Canadians drink Brazilian coffee from an English teacup and munches a French pastry while sitting on their Danish furniture having just come home from an Italian movie in their German car.

Yes, I fell sorry for you, ½ Gringo, nothing to do but go around saying “Eh” over and over again to people who reply with their own “Eh.” In canada, their civil war was a bar fight that lasted a little over an hour. But they know what to do with all the parts of a buffalo.

Oh Canada, a good place to sleep of course, but not much else… Oh boring boring Canada, your boringness has become cruel and unusual punishment to your native son, Gringonorreah. That ½ Gringo is a moron who personifies Mr. Boring (the canadian in him) with Mr. Arrogant (the american wannabe in him).

How can I summarize Canada? Well, it’s -460°F outside, life as we know it, ceases to exist, but them Canadians start saying "Cold 'nuff for ya?"

OOOOoohhhhh Canada!! ZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…….


Costinha

PS Did I mention Canada is boring?

To Dewolfe !!!!
written by ch.c., July 16, 2008

Yesss...you are right "My point about the U.S. military is they are quite capable of pounding any three South American militaries into component"

But you were NOT capable in Vietnam, Somalia, Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan !!!!

Thus having the capability and/or the capacity is ONE thing but DOING IT is.....ANOTHER THING !!!!

Sorry for you idiot but the story is the same as David against Goliath !!!!!
Goliath....DID NOT WIN.....to my knowledge.
And Americans DID NOT OR ARE NOT WINNING in the countries stated above....to my knowledge.

And this is wether you like or not.
After all...FACTS ARE FACTS !!!

This said.....I love the American citizens...not those governing you. and I really mean it !
and I have nothing against Bush in particular. After all, all the important decisions are voted by the politicians lawmakers.

But i can also compliment you when compared to the EU.
Alltogether they have a vast and developed army. And when there was the war in Serbia,Kossovo etc the europeans had not the balls to fight them.
They implored Clinton who first said, correctly, he has no interest in participating. After more begging and begging finally America said OK.
America was at the fore front for the bombings. And the EU were on the side ! smiles
Better yet the EU caressed their navel of how performing they were against, apparently the 4th largest army in the world that Serbia was.
My ass, Serbia never was the world 4th army. They had very very old tanks and planes dating back to WWII !!!!!

2 Goliaths were needed to fight 1 David !!!!

Conclusion : WHAT A SHAME to both the USA Army and the EU army !

Laugh....laugh....laugh !

...
written by Gringo, July 16, 2008

It must be the loneliness living in Canada, the most boring secluded place on earth. Thus, I understand your motives and emotional depression, Mr. ½ Gringo, otherwise the entire world goes by without even noticing you canadians.

That’s what our politicians think when in attendance at G8 meetings catching a glance of Brazil's representatives on the front lawn whining to come in and be accepted.

As to the rest of your typically ignorant rant, you have no idea what you’re on about as usual. Culture, art, music or technology, for a young nation of only 30 million plus Canada beats Brazil hands down in just about everything other than that little girl’s sport your simple masses cling to called football. Although, Canada’s 14 year olds trample yours in this sport as well.

In the end, I don’t really care what you think of Canada (although I’m pleased you hate it so much that you’ll never set foot there, and that can only be a good thing for us). I’m not a silly chest pounding nationalist. There are indeed things I don’t like about my country, although you've missed the mark. The great thing is; I can leave and have left.

You’re just a complete and total raging idiot, a pathetic ignorant yob, and unfortunately for you, there is no escaping that.

Is Gringonorreah fermeting his dirty socks?
written by ..., July 16, 2008

Escape? I am glad you brought that term up… Canada certainly cannot escape the grip and influence of your big brother, just south of the border; you are part of their circle of influence and control. Canada is the United States’ 51st State, population 30 mil composed of ugly pale boring citizens with a funny habit of saying “Eh.”

Brasil beats canada in every economic front… Be it industrial (remember Embraer versus Bombadier… hehehe), agriculture, energy, minerals, technology, cultural, tourism, and military.

Canada is like the scared kid hiding behind his daddy’s legs, that is, his uncle Sam. I don’t like anything the US stands for but Canada, come on now brother… Wake up and smell the roses!

I am totally indifferent to Canada, Canada does not count, Canada has no influences in our lives, Canada does not even register on our radars. Let’s face it, canada is nothing more then an after thought in Brasil. The only thing I mind about canada are the freaking canadian visitors/immigrants asking for directions and annoying us in Rio. I usually tell them to get lost.

Gringonorreah, you are a moron, it’s your legacy, deal with it… Or pardon me, if you are not a moron, you are doing a first-rate impression of one!


Gringonorreah… What makes you such an moron? Is it the flawed family birthing process of the father sucking the infant spawn from the mother's rectum and spitting it headfirst into the tin bath?

Costinha

PS I love You Man… Hehehe

CHC – Chronicle Herpes Carrier
written by ..., July 16, 2008

The man with itchy genItalia living north of Italia.

I think you drank some of that moonshine prepared by Gringo. Do you realize that the drink was made from Gringo’s fermenting dirty socks mixed with canadian dry, and aged in his mother’s basement?

I think I am going to throw you back into the gutter where you belong.

Costinha

Costinha, Brazil´s Ambassador to the world
written by Gringo, July 16, 2008

Costinha, my ignorant synaptically devoid friend, if you think Brazil’s $9,531US GDP per capita versus Canada’s $38,200 means that Brazil is beating Canada under every economic indicator out there, then you’re living in an even more remote and bizarre reality than the one Brazil already provides for. Brazil’s illiteracy rate is 30%, poverty is 40% and the stupidity rate hovers around 80%. Burning the Amazon to plant sugar cane is not going to change that anytime soon, no matter what bulls**t your politicians shovel you.

However, I’ll concede that Brazil does top Canada in a number of other areas though. 43,000 murders per year (3% solved) co