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Unasur defence strategic studies centre opens this week in Buenos Aires

Monday, May 23rd 2011 - 00:36 UTC
Full article 5 comments

UNASUR (Union of South American Nations) Secretary General Maria Emma Mejia and several defence ministers from the region will be meeting in Buenos Aires this week for the official inauguration of the Defence Strategic Studies Centre, CEED, which is to become the first permanent body of Unasur Defence Council. Read full article

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  • GeoffWard

    It seems highly unlikely that South America will be attacked through force majeur by developed nations, so defence strategy is likely to be directed elsewhere.

    What is needed?
    At the moment we can guess:

    Trans-boundary incursions by terrorist groups.

    'Terrorist' acts from within or without against major economic/strategic targets - hydroelectric dams, nuclear power stations, electric distribution stations, commercial 'centres' (cyber-attack), etc.

    Alternative governments established within and across national boundaries.

    Violent overthrow of nations from within.

    Basing of overthrowing forces in adjacent nations.

    Populations threatened from within and without by para-military/non-military (drug) warlords.

    Non-democratic replacement of democratically elected governments by military dictatorships, 'revolutionary' armed forces, etc.

    Taking over of SA countries by external commercial power and by stealth.

    The establishment of foreign armies (etc) within SA, ostensibly to defend their economic interests.

    Internal collusion in the taking over of SA countries by external commercial power and stealth.

    Actual attack with a view of taking-over of one SA nation by an adjacent one.

    The attack on civilian massed groups by the the 'heavy' military response of the armed forces.

    The development of different military groupings and 'defensive alliances' of nations across the continent .

    I have no idea what the remit of the Defense Strategic Studies Centre will encompase, but if it excludes these ''Real' considerations and only considers force majeur, it will leave the real South America more exposed than it need be.

    May 23rd, 2011 - 11:42 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Gotey

    What are they discussing in that center?
    you should try and reconsider REAL STRATEGIES to lead South American nations to a real union and organize common policies on Defense. AND THIS should also include not just papers and planning but real starting of common development of weaponry and war materials, including vessels, subs, and planes.

    May 23rd, 2011 - 12:30 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Redhoyt

    Another 'Old Boys' Club that will cost some taxpayers a lot of money !

    May 23rd, 2011 - 12:44 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • GeoffWard

    May 26 a conference “Legitimacy Lost: How 21st Century Socialism Subverts Democracy in Latin America”,
    will examine how increasingly despotic regimes in the hemisphere have managed to cement themselves in power by systematically undermining any institution that could check or balance that power.

    I have been feeling like a voice in the wilderness, pressing my fears for the Continent. It is good to see a conference dedicated to those that feel the same .

    “The step-by-step subversion led by the Havana-Caracas axis and followed by the presidents of Bolivia, Nicaragua, Ecuador and others, includes the following measures:

    • Stacking the judiciary and/or intimidation of independent jurists who might rule edicts unconstitutional or fail to properly “prosecute” political opponents.

    • Gradual elimination of constitutional separation of powers, including removing any checks and balances to the executive branch and giving it effective control over the legislative and judicial branches.

    • Harassment, intimidation and eventual neutralization or takeover of news media.

    • Establishment of “official,” “national” or otherwise government-controlled civil institutions, such as labor unions or trade associations.

    • Militarization of society, which includes indoctrination of students in the virtues of socialism, the creation of armed “people’s militias” to serve the ruling political party and the purging of the professional military to leave only loyalists within the ranks.

    • Control of police forces by the ruling political party and the elimination of any independent citizen access to protection from abuse by government officials.

    • Criminalization of peaceful dissent and of political differences.

    This list, sad to say, is far from comprehensive. Nor are its internal control measures original, having all been used by 20th-century dictatorial regimes. . . . ”

    [Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/05/22/2227789/21st-century-socialism-imperils.html#ixzz1NDExnWr5]

    May 23rd, 2011 - 09:41 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Typhoon

    Unasur defence strategic studies centre. Or, how to present a crushing defeat as some sort of victory. Given that most of the rest of the world has grown up, why would any South American country, especially Argentina, require a defence strategy? They, especially Argentina, don't have anything worth attacking them for. There are some countries that are trying to rise above being South American. Brazil, Chile, Uruguay come to mind. Argentina? No, they prefer the 17th century.

    May 24th, 2011 - 04:11 pm - Link - Report abuse 0

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