July

Moreno May Have to Reinvent Himself as the New IDB President

On Wednesday, the Board of Governors of the International Development Bank (IDB) elected their new president. As predicted, Luis Alberto Moreno, the present Colombian ambassador to the United States, won the position, beating out the most highly qualified candidate, Brazilian Joao Sayad, the current Vice President of Finance and Management at the IDB, as well as Peruvian Finance Minister Pedro-Pablo Kuczynski.

US military lawyers’ warnings against torture ignored

Senior US military lawyers had strongly opposed the harsh interrogation methods against foreign terror suspects in 2003, but their voices were neglected by the US government, according to newly declassified documents. Rather than listening carefully to the lawyers’ opinions, President Bush had authority to order excessive interrogations of prisoners at the US naval base of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Cuba: Far From Crisis, Economy Will Grow 9% in 2005

President Fidel Castro rejected rumors that Cuba is experiencing an economic crisis, explaining that the Cuban capacity for resistance actually allowed the economy to grow 7.3 % in the first six months, despite drought and scarce energy, and all indications show an expected 9 percent growth for the year.

Editorial: Remove The Causes of Terrorism

At each new terrorist act the Australian, British and US governments use the opportunity to tighten the legislative screws directed against alleged terrorists. The latest moves include proposals to ban those holding what are said to be extreme Islamic fundamentalist views, to ban books which are said to contain incitement to terrorist acts, even to deport (to where?) those who are alleged to be preparing terrorist acts, etc.

Who’s Afraid of the Haitian Media?

One long day in Pointe Noire, on my vacation from volunteer work in the forest, the Congolese painter Trigo Piula and I sat arguing in his jumbled studio about whether there is a spiritual element to canvasses. There was little common ground to be found between us, and after debating at length he gave up on me.

The Beginning of the End to a Coherent U.S. Drug Strategy

Colombian President Álvaro Uribe declared a State of Limited Emergency in his country almost immediately after taking office in 2002, which provided the backdrop for his implementation of predominantly high-handed military policies intended to solve the country’s incorrigible security problems.

Election Forecast in Haiti Goes from Bad to Dreadful

The priest’s arrest and the recommendation made by the seven-member advisory council, which was formed under the plenary direction of the U.S. following Aristide’s February 2004 ouster and was responsible for selecting interim Prime Minister Gerard Latortue, dealt fatal blows to any lingering hopes for delivering an open democracy in the near future to the long-struggling island.

Tissue regeneration: Medication for treating diabetic foot ulcers

Experts agreed that there is no product equivalent to this one on the market, which has proven to be effective for large and deep ulcers (third- and fourth-stage), which affect the tendons and bones of ischemic patients who up until now had no other option than the loss of the affected member.

Luis Alberto Moreno: Bush’s friend at the IDB

On July 27th, the governors of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) will choose their new president. Currently, the position is held by Enrique Iglesias of Uruguay, who revitalized the IDB and infused it with ethics and a sense of professionalism that had eluded the organization throughout its long history.

Washington Secures Long-Sought Hemispheric Outpost, Perhaps at the Expense of Regional Sovereignty

Paraguay and the United States recently entered into an agreement that allows U.S. military personnel to enter Paraguay to train officials in counter-terrorism and anti-narcotrafficking measures...This agreement grants U.S. soldiers complete legal immunity from some of their actions while they are in the country, affording them the same privileges as diplomats as well as leaving them free from prosecution for any damages inflicted on the public health, the environment or the country’s resources.

1 2 3