A Dispute in Nicaragua Reopens Old Wounds

[perfectisafault]

MANAGUA, Nicaragua - President Daniel Ortega’s push to stay in power using a contested interpretation of the Constitution has reignited the fury of former contras who fought his Sandinista government in the 1980s, with one former rebel taking up arms in the mountains and another vowing to oust him at the polls.

But in the absence of a post-cold-war

Comments

[devil_ad_vocate]

Just keep sending the bananas. That's the extent of "vital American interests".

[tmlforsyth]

Let El Pendejo Chavez over-extend himself with all his aid. The U.S. should stay out of it. At most, we can recall our Ambassador if Ortega does something really bad, but we can't try to use one gang of thugs to battle a separate gang. As for American aid, let's quit with our bribes.

Our plan should be to receive and welcome Nicaraguans who don't want to be ruled by Ortega. Maybe they can come up to New Orleans and help my home town's rebirth.

[danyjoncew]

He argued that the United States had “lost vigor” in its own backyard

LOL, ok.

“The ones who must defend democracy are us, the Nicaraguans.”

!!!

Oh, Ortega, you crazy bitch. Democracy is always the answer, though. I hope the election is fair and watched by the ~international community~ and that the 3 powers can coexist peacefully and independently. And if people can't see yet what's going on, they will eventually and there will be a reaction. Just trust the people.

Also, the votes are not a propriety of the candidates, but of the voters. They are the ones who defend or protest whatever the hell they want (I hate demagogue candidates).

[killerforhire]

D:

My parents are from Nicaragua and Ortega is the reason they had to immigrate to the United States. They waited until 1991 to go back to see all their family. We went again in 2004 and 2006, but that was my last time there. My parents have refused to let me accompany them on their trips to Nicaragua ever since Ortega became president. They say the country has changed significantly since he came back to power and that it's just not safe anymore. One of my older sisters who goes back and forth between Miami and Managua has even said it's just not the same country she grew up in during the 90s. My mother is going back later this month to take care of some family business and I'm really interested in what she'll have to say when she gets back. She's kept this news from me until I just asked her about it now. I imagine Ortega will also try to exploit the border disputes with Costa Rica to his advantage.