“We need to prepare for war to live in peace”, says Paraguayan Defence minister
“We must prepare for war to live in peace” said Paraguay’s Defence minister Maria Liz Garcia in reference to the new geopolitical situation following the suspension of Paraguay as a member of Mercosur and Unasur.
In an interview with Asuncion main newspaper, ABC Color, Ms Garcia said that “wars are never promoted by the peoples, rather by ambitious or fanatic rulers which push situations that become atypical as is the case now with Paraguay”.
“It is obvious that Unasur no longer generates trust, at least for Paraguay. That is the problem when principles are manipulated, values distorted and there is a gross violation of the people’s right to self determination”, added the minister.
Last June the heads of government from Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay decided to “suspend” Paraguay’s “right to participate in Mercosur different offices and in the group’s deliberations” arguing that the removal of Fernando Lugo as president and his replacement by Federico Franco was “a rupture of the democratic order” and “an unacceptable obstacle for the integration process”.
At the same meeting and following the suspension imposed on Paraguay, the Mercosur presidents Cristina Fernandez, Argentina, Dilma Rousseff, Brazil and Jose Mujica, Uruguay decided the inclusion of Venezuela in the group as a full member.
The Mercosur presidents “don’t have the necessary statesmanship to respect a nation that lives next to them” said Ms Garcia who then blasted Venezuelan Foreign minister Nicolas Maduro who held meetings with the Paraguayan military in Asuncion hoping to convince them to organize a coup in favour of then president Lugo, ignoring the results of the Congressional political impeachment.
“President Chavez dances cheek-to-cheek with the Iranian president who terrorizes his own people, has no free press or free expression, were women are beaten like in the Middle Ages and Mercosur/Unasur looks the other way and they suspend us”, complained the Paraguayan minister.
“These presidents have no compassion for the tragic and devastating past which led us to confrontations in completely unequal conditions, which nevertheless did not stop the noble Paraguayan foot soldier to fight until the very end”, said the Defence minister in reference to two deadly conflicts.
The so called Triple Alliance war (1864/1870) had Argentina and Brazil on one side plus a reluctant Uruguay, and on the other Paraguay that was literally crushed and every able man from 14 to 60 killed in fighting. After the war Brazilians left several divisions occupying the territory because of the lack of men.
The second conflict was closer in history, the Chaco war, (1932/35) when Bolivia tried to take over the north of Paraguay, supposedly a great oil province. Paraguay fought back and finally claimed victory. Over 400.000 soldiers were involved and over 120.000 died or disappeared. No oil has been found since.
Both wars have created an exacerbated sense of nationalism and pride among Paraguayans which is ever so present just below the skin. The current situation has been politically exploited as a repeat of those conflicts not only because of the Mercosur/Unasur ‘bullying’ attitude but also because Bolivia is allegedly arming and calling for the recapture of territory lost at the Chaco war.
“We are deeply concerned because of the Bolivian military deployment in the Chaco and according to our intelligence their peers are claiming that zone with the same intensity almost fanatic as the Argentines with the Falklands (Islas Malvinas)”, said Ms Garcia.
Finally the minister said Paraguay needs the sufficient flexibility to agree strategic alliances with countries that treat partners as equals in conditions and opportunities, “a negotiation that is favourable for both sides”.
“We need a retrospective look into our national defence and our external defence so that we can turn the crisis into an opportunity. We now have the chance to move ahead with our national development and our national interests, thus we need to prepare for war to live in peace”, concluded the Paraguayan minister.
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1. “when principles are manipulated, values distorted and there is a gross violation of the people’s right to self determination”, added the minister.
2. their peers are claiming that zone with the same intensity almost fanatic as the Argentines with the Falklands ”, said Ms Garcia.
Well says it all really. I took out the Malvinas bit as they don't exist.
Of course their idea of solidarity is the United States of Argentina, brought about by the Argentine/Venezulan jackboot, absolute oppression if any opposition, and a government that is as free and open as North Korea.
Paraguay is right to be concerned, surrounded by enemies as they currently are, and they are right to build up their defences.
I recognise that this is early days for them in terms of looking at things with their eyes wide open but if they continue down this course of action remaining firm in this point then they will have earned my respect and admiration.
With the Falklands set to become a new economic power house in terms of scale perhaps some mutually beneficial arrangements could be made by these two isolated communities in SA?
We've all seen this movie before, and if you feel you don't have the time for verses, violins and guitars, just build those bases in Paraguay and stop wasting even more time...
1.Having nuances; possessed of multiple layers of detail, pattern, or meaning
OK, let's take a shot at it. Paraguay seems to had something of a chequered history, with a long list of dictatorships. However this is no different to the majority of LatAm countries except that others, e.g. argieland, venezuela etc. have made a pretence of democracy from time to time. A prime example of this is argieland that has been under an effective dictatorship since 2003. Venezuela has, of course, been a dictatorship since 1998, especially since there is now not even a pretence of a democratic opposition. Smaller LatAm countries have suffered from increasingly weak “leaders”. The best current example of this is Mujica of Uruguay. There is little doubt now that Uruguay is effectively a province of argieland. Although this may be contested by Brazil. If Brazil's aspirations toward controlling Paraguay are not realised, it may turn its attention to Uruguay and attempt to continue what started with the Cisplatine War. In the meantime, Paraguay has turned its focus outward to consider defence alliances against unfriendly neighbours such as argieland, Bolivia, Brazil, Uruguay and Venezuela. Potential partners include the United States, with a previous expressed interest in one or more military bases, the United Kingdom, re-opening its embassy and with an obvious interest in combating aggression toward the Falkland Islands, and Chile, a generally moderate nation having good relations both with the USA and the UK. It may be worth noting that the Paraguayan Defence Minister's comments are a repeat of the Royal Navy's motto - Si vis pacem, para bellum
There, lots of “nuances” for you to chew over.
I also would like to suggest that you use your spare time playing “batleships” with several of those who regularly write in this medium. You can sink an entire fleet (even with the colors of the Argentine flag or of any other “enemy” you might choose) in minutes with the advantage that no one will die, there won't be human suffering and you can meet your child warmongering.
I look forward to reading more of your additional comments ...
but who would she want to fight anyway,
we thought they were all friends .
The conservatives on this site just love the sound of rattling sabers.
logicaly
war is peace , [afterwards] is it not,
and if you was standing on your head, then [up is down] is it not ,
and if the village was in fected, then you would have to destroy it, to save it, and build a new one,
is this true in part,
as for giving the US a home,
do most of us, [even you]
giva a home to someone ,or som thing, at some time ,
just a thought .
@11 Aaaah, one of the neanderthals has surfaced. Or is it one of the mutants? As you can see, I am very much alive. And still able to comment on a slob. Sorry, slug. Big, fat, ugly slug. Oh, I get it. It's a big, fat, ugly, mutant, neanderthal, slug-like slob! You do understand about “Conqueror”, don't you? Couple of clues. British submarine. Glug, glug, glug, glug!
@12 What a funny little slob you are. Or is that juba? No real difference! I suppose you did notice that Paraguay has been attacked by argieland, Brazil and Uruguay. Perhaps we shouldn't count Uruguay. What's Pepe's new job title? District councillor? And how easy it seems to be to curdle your blood. That's good to know. How does it go? Somewhere expresses an intention to defend itself. Your blood curdles. You run. You automatically become an argie. Is this your cunning plan to get “close” to the Wicked Botox Ugly Witch of the South? Perhaps, to demonstrate your total support and adoration, you could present her with your curdled blood. All of it!
Paraguay being belligerant? Perhaps you missd the part when Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Venezula all turned against them, after they had LEGALLY indited their President for corruption.
Or did you miss the bit where Venezula was attempting to persuade the Paraguan military to betray their own country?
Or the bit where Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay BROKE their own rules to allow Venezula into Mercosur?
Oh no, Paraguay is not being belligerant, Paraguay realises the danger it is in from their so-called 'friends'.
But you don't care about that, do you, BK? You support any so-called 'socialist' government no matter how much they oppress the opposition, or how much they threaten their neighbours.
@13 - rylang23
Isn't that what CFK is doing? War is Peace (she threatens the Falklands, then claims she is peaceful), Lies are the truth (Indec publishes fairytale figures that she insists are the truth even though they've been discredited around the world and by independent Argentine institutions).
If Paraguay does let the Yanks build a base on their home turf, I wouldn't blame them. Surely better to be paid by the Yanks for the use of land, whilst at the same time being protected by their presence, than wait for your neighbours to invade you and divide the spoils between them.
Good on Paraguay. It's a pity more South American countries don't stand up to CFK's and Chavez imperialist, colonial plans.
I wouldn't be too generous in my defence of Paraguay if I was you, play it smart and keep your cards tight to your body, we haven't seen anything yet :)
They are pirates even when they don't give me some grief...
I love it when you lot stand up to me. It's amusing, easy and way to addictive :)
So what you are saying is that you support the aggressive actions of Argentina, Brazil and Venezula towards Paraguay and support any invasion of that country, and the division of that country between the other 3, and the oppression and enslavement of the people of Paraguay.
What a paragon of virtue you are. All that shouting you did about Assange is laid bare as you only really supported it to have a dig at the UK and USA. Now you show your real colours, a supporter of tyrannical dictatorships.
Now you are talking crap, who is invading Paraguay???
That's all happening in your head :)
I belive they are refering to the very real threat of invation as outlined below...
“We are deeply concerned because of the Bolivian military deployment in the Chaco and according to our intelligence their peers are claiming that zone with the same intensity almost fanatic as the Argentines with the Falklands (Islas Malvinas)”, said Ms Garcia.
Also interesting how they refer to the Argentines as being fanatics!
Yes, so was Colombia the months up to USA building their bases in their territory.
Now they are one of the biggest producers of heavy drugs on the planet, together with Afghanistan (amazingly, USA is there as well...)
You lot think this crap is new to us, don't you? :)
Article says:
“….. according to our intelligence their peers are claiming that zone with the same intensity almost fanatic as the Argentines with the Falklands (Islas Malvinas)”, said Ms Garcia.
(1) slattzzz happily repeats: ”….. their peers are claiming that zone with the same intensity almost fanatic as the Argentines with the Falklands ”, said Ms Garcia.”
(3) Lou Spoo thinks that it is: ”…..Interesting that she referred to the Falklands rather than the Malvinas. A deliberately provocative gesture towards Argentina”.
(16) Britworker loves her:”…… use of the Royal Navy motto and happily referring to the Falklands as the Falklands because they the Falklands.
But……………………….........................................................
What did Ms. Garcia really say?
What about reading the ORIGINAL interwiew on the Paraguayan paper and find out?
www.abc.com.py/edicion-impresa/politica/no-se-puede-descartar-una-nueva-guerra-en-la-region-de-mercosur-439933.html
Original Spanish version......:
Periodista: ¿Es cierto que tienen eslóganes como que “el Chaco es nuestro”? ¿Escuchó algo de eso?
Sra. Garcia: Escuché algo.
Periodista: ¿Lo dicen abiertamente?
Sra. Garcia: Yo no puedo aseverar. He escuchado.
Periodista: Dentro de las FF.AA.?
Sra. Garcia: Así dicen.
Periodista: ¿Algo así como “Las Malvinas son Argentinas”?
Sra. Garcia: Puede ser.
Now In English for thebrainwashed monolingual Turnips….:
Journalist: -Is it true that (the Bolivians) have slogans like ”The Chaco is Ours”. Did you hear something about that?
Ms. Garcia: -I did hear something.
Journalist: -Do they say it openly?
Ms. Garcia: -I can’t asseverate it. I have heard.
Journalist: -Inside the Armed Forces?
Ms. Garcia: -So they say.
Journalist: -Something like ”The Malvinas are Argentine”?
Ms. Garcia: -Maybe.”
www.abc.com.py/edicion-impresa/politica/no-se-puede-descartar-una-nueva-guerra-en-la-region-de-mercosur-439933.html
Brainwash anybody?
Just following your lead. I mean you stated that the USA were going to extradite Assange regardless of the fact that you had no supporting evidence.
I don't believe (using your 'methodology') it's beyond the realms of possibility that Argentina, Brazil, Boliva and Venezula are 'conspiring' against Paraguay.
I mean 1st they isolate them from Unusur and Mercosur. Tie them up in red tape at the OAS. Venezula get caught trying to persuade the Paraguayan military to betray their own government, Bolivia begin moving military near the Paraguayan border.
Yes, it seem like a conspiracy against Paraguay, and there is more circumstantial evidence of this than there ever was with your Assange claims.
If either Argentina or Bolivia invades Paraguay, there will be a civil war in their own countries. It will weaken their military's too much and allow the opposition to take advantage. Those dictators just want to remain in power; invading another country would get them kicked out very quickly.
You are free to think what you want, I wont stop you ridiculizing yourself :)
Haha, you can't revise history in a day. Ms Garcia's interview has been widely publicised in the Paraguayan press, she clearly referred to the Argentines as fanatics where the FALKLAND ISLANDS are concerned. Pretty much what most South Americans think but are too scared to say it. Congratulations to Paraguay - a small country with more backbone than the rest of you put together. “if you want peace, you must be prepared for war”, hence the reason the Tomahawks are locked in on Buenos Aires, you know, just in case.
Would you be so kind to provide a link to any Paraguayan article that confirms your asseveration?
Thanks in advance
El Think
Chubut, Argentina
@27 I'll only question one thing. When you say “Argentina could invade a little island group like the Falklands, but they'll get pushed back again with time.”, how long constitutes “time”? Technically, it took us 8 weeks last time, starting with the recapture of South Georgia. But we didn't actually go for the Falklands themselves until 21 May. That would mean that it only took us 4 weeks. And we are far better prepared and equipped now. Work on the basis that there are, in situ, 20 times as many troops, a little over 4 times as many combat aircraft and a little over 4 times as many naval vessels (maybe) as there were in '82. Reinforcements would probably be arriving, by air, at the rate of 1,000 troops and a squadron of combat aircraft per day. Minimum.
Good link to an article over what seems to be an interesting book.....
800 pages in Portuguese..... I will need most of the afternoon :-)
Obrigado.
El Think
Chubut, Argentina
That's a serious accusation, your proof? Actual proof, not some drivel written by one of your conspiracy theory buddies.
Besides Lugo is/was a nobody. If the US were going to get rid of someone it would've been Chavez.
On a conspiracy theory inventiveness of 1-10 you only score 1, but cheer up, it is still better than the Assange conspiracy theory which scored 0.
This paraguayan woman is insecure and cannot follow what is going with the USA foreign policy....
She is just rattling for attention....
maybe Isolde can calm her down...but,
for sure she does not make any sense at all!
She repeats....The Miami Herald said....
“Iran is building a private port in Venezuela”
“I don't have information”...
”Paraguay need to go to war to live in peace'
Go to war with what?
The USA is flat broke and no longer cannot afford to borrow monies to keep the country afloat!
Iran does not like Israel and Israel does not like Iran....
There is a chance that before the USA election date November 6, 2012 ...Israel might hit Iran...
and
the USA will demand from the UK to send their armed forces to Hormuz ...
to protect Israel..
that's is what the USA expect from the UK..
which the UK always agrees...
the UK provides these servants known as soldiers which is cheaper than wasting the USA military men.
not everyone is lined by the media to the point of not knowing a bit of truth.
Juliano - You are correct that Paraguay was the first to cross the border in the Triple Alliance War. Paraguay subsequently declared war against Argentina to be able to defend Brasil's invasion of Uruguay. In any case, it was an atrocious war. Between 75%-90% of the million or so people in Paraguay died. Brazil and Argentina nearly exterminated the Paraguayan race. It wasn't necessary to take it to that extreme. For this reason it isn't any surprise that Paraguay is looking to have some kind of military presence in the Chaco. If I were President Franco, I'd invite the USA, Britain, Russia, any country with a strong military to setup a base in the Chaco with the one prerequisite that they protect Paraguay in the case of an invasion.
Do a favor to all of us and help that woman to make sense!
These is 2012 and face the facts:
Before or after the USA election Iran might suffer a blow...and such comment about an Iran building a port in Venezuela ....is her imagination....esa senora esta loquisima!
Actually a ancient greek quote in reverse
Can I play too?
My shot
-51.692023160878236, -57.82397647739259
Sunk!
Your turn now.
Oh! Wait a minute Conquer seems there is a real war to fight against Paraguay (with USA support) in partnership with Brazil.
Can we play later?
@37 Ugh!
@41 Yuk!
@45 No! I don't have time for children. Just do what you usually do and play with yourself. Or in the traffic!
aka Captain Poppy....
Go to Hormuz, the sooner, the better!
UK Queen = rubbish bloody vagina neck = Conk
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