Corruption a threat to democracy, remarks top Brazilian military on Army Day

Monday, April 23rd 2018 - 08:42 UTC

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Brazil's top army commander made another foray into political commentary, warning that corruption poses a threat to democracy in Latin America's biggest country. The comment by General Eduardo Villas Boas was his second high-profile remark on the state of Brazil's democracy this month, going against an unwritten rule that high-ranking military officers keep out of politics. Read full article

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:o))
MORE ominous signs?
Apr 23rd, 2018 - 10:10 am - Link - Report abuse +1
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DemonTree
Military coups are a bigger threat to democracy...
Apr 23rd, 2018 - 12:40 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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Enrique Massot
Looks like general Villas Bôas is enjoying public exposure after his previous comments put pressure on the Supreme Tribunal to throw Lula in prison.

Can't totally blame the man. It's tempting to occupy the scene when current president Temer is in weak position with an all-time low public opinion approval and using the armed forces to patrol Rio in an attempt to bolster his image.

In any event, the military remain the last-ditch resort should unexpected events threat the privileged minorities--that is true in Brazil as in most of Latin America countries.
Apr 23rd, 2018 - 06:15 pm - Link - Report abuse -1
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Jack Bauer
@EM
Interpreting and believing what you want, AGAIN ???
First of all, it was NOT the Supreme Court that threw Lula in jail......it was the lower court and the appellate court....the HC request which Lula's lawyers submitted to the STF was to try to prevent his going to jail, NOT to change the previous verdict, confirmed in two courts.

Might be interesting for you to learn that the defense and the prosecution can only discuss evidence etc, in the two lower courts. That is where the verdict is established. The two superior courts , STJ and STF, can only discuss procedural matters, not the conviction, which makes all this “presumption of innocence” until all appeals to the higher courts are exhausted, so senseless.

But how condescending of you to say “Can't totally blame the man” (???)...so, to believe that the General's comments made any difference to the STF turning down Lula's HC, is to be naive - after Lula presented his HC to the STF , and BEFORE the General made his comment, the result of the HC was virtually already a slam-dunk against Lula...based on the Justices' previous decisions, it was fairly easy to predict the outcome....which ended up being confirmed.
Your last paragragh is too ridiculous to comment on. I mean, “what” do you “really” know about Brazil ? Just a rhetorical question as I know you can't / won't answer.
Apr 23rd, 2018 - 07:31 pm - Link - Report abuse +1
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:o))
@DT & EM

It could perhaps be an empty threat [to some extent at least] since for AGES; the armed forces [+ their families] have been enjoying attractive benefits & privileges, without a single headache - PRACTICALLY, without lifting a lazy finger! So, knowingly, he wouldn't want to adopt headaches; unless the benefits & privileges are under SERIOUS threat [which is doubtful].
Apr 23rd, 2018 - 11:33 pm - Link - Report abuse +1
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Jack Bauer
@:o))
Whether a warning, or just a reminder that corruption and impunity “are threats to democracy”, and as such, are not acceptable, his message was more than justified...IMO.

Over the last decade we have seen what corruption and impunity has led to....so what's the alternative ? let it carry on ? I'm sure that that is exactly what the political class desires most, so while the people in general are incapable of voting conscientiously, to get rid of those clowns, someone else might have to. And of course, as expected, the left reacts indignantly and uses his remarks to support their fake narrative that the Armed Forces are preparing for a coup, while at the same time it does its best to undermine any effort made for Brazil to get back on track. If the radicals had any interest in the country, they'd sit down in Congress and vote the projects that benefit the people, not them.

The fact that the army is seldom heard of, is the way it should be....the only criticism I have is that instead of sitting in the barracks, they should be guarding the southern and western borders, to prevent the entry of drugs and weapons from Paraguay, Bolivia and Colombia.
Apr 24th, 2018 - 05:24 pm - Link - Report abuse +1
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:o))
@JB:

REF: “the only criticism I have is that instead of sitting in the barracks, they should be guarding the southern and western borders, to prevent the entry of drugs & weapons from Paraguay, Bolivia, and Colombia”:

100% TRUE!

BUT they TOTALLY blew-up their chances of proving their might - not only to the Brazilians but also to the neighboring countries - by NOT overpowering the cartels to ELIMINATE the Criminal Activities in RJ, while they had an EXCELLENT chance! How do you expect ANYONE to TRUST these clowns?

Surely, you MUST have observed their TOTAL Impunity!

They CLEARLY proved their total powerlessness - to the government, to the population, to the world AND also to the Criminal-Underworld [shamefully pathetic; isn't it].

Q: Why should they?
- They already have a “good - excellent - thing going”!
- As mentioned earlier; knowingly, they wouldn't want to adopt or borrow headaches; unless THEIR benefits PLUS privileges are under SERIOUS threat [which is doubtful] - EXTREMELY doubtful
- Won't be too surprising if - just like some political parties - they too have a lot of links in the underworld.

The most important thing to note is that ALL of the 1St World Countries have TOTALLY failed in the “War on Drugs” [neither their governments nor their Armed & Secret Forces / Services]. So expecting these Brazilian Clowns to prove that they MUCH better than their counterparts elsewhere in the world; is expecting just a bit too much! Of course, they SURELY have many - maybe Too Many - excuses & explanations; to JUSTIFY their TOTAL Failure! Don't you seriously think so?
Apr 24th, 2018 - 06:35 pm - Link - Report abuse +1
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Jack Bauer
@:o))
The only certainty you have when things are bad, is that they can get worse.
Apr 24th, 2018 - 09:10 pm - Link - Report abuse +1
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:o))
@JB:

Reuters: “Rio drug gangs”:
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-brazil-rio-violence-insight/unfazed-by-brazils-army-rio-drug-gangs-willing-to-wait-out-occupation-idUSKBN1HV1TM?utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_content=5adf8a6f04d3017d78cdb64c&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter

REF: “they can get worse”:

They WILL get worse simply because they are spreading - SUCCESSFULLY - to the rest of the country.
SOLUTION?
If you can't fight them; JOIN them! :o))
Apr 24th, 2018 - 10:36 pm - Link - Report abuse +1
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Enrique Massot
@JB

”...his ( general Villas Bôas) message was more than justified.”

Would not have expected any better from a vocal supporter of past Brazilian military coups.

Can't say JB is not showing consistency.
Apr 28th, 2018 - 04:11 pm - Link - Report abuse -1
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Jack Bauer
@EM
“Past Brazilian military 'coupS' ” ? how may have there been that I (in retrospect) supported ??? C'mon Reekie, please tell us all ...

But thanks for the 'consistency'....something you've also shown in your pathetic defense of the bearded toad.
Apr 28th, 2018 - 10:34 pm - Link - Report abuse +1
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:o))
@JB:

REF: “pathetic defense of the bearded toad”:
How can he be pathetic AND funny at the same time?
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQovOr087fWiQuXVvkvhm9nLws4CAXMMNKWbo5oVeAMMhWAiQ76
Apr 29th, 2018 - 03:39 am - Link - Report abuse +1
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