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A junta headed by Daniel Ortega led the Sandinista government (1979–90), which implemented literacy and community health programs. In an effort to topple the government, the U.S. imposed a trade embargo, pressured international lending institutions to withhold aid, and trained and supported the contras. The FSLN lost support over time and was voted out of power in 1990. The party regained prominence in 2006, when Ortega won another term as president.
Two years ago Daniel Ortega swept back to power amid heady hopes for a return of the idealism which powered Nicaragua's revolution in the 1980s. But the president's authoritarianism and accusations of election rigging have led to fears that he is becoming just another Latin-American dictator
The comandante clawed back influence through Sandinista municipalities, courts and trade unions and by forging a "pacto" with President Arnoldo Alemán, a convicted embezzler, which kept the "fat one" out of prison in exchange for favours, not least lowering the threshold for victory in presidential elections. In the November 2006 election Ortega won just under 38% of the vote, his lowest ever margin, but prevailed over a divided opposition. Daniel was back.
I know that many US citizens like to believe that the United States is the reason that anything positive has happened in the world.
The collapse of the USSR, however, was based on its own flawed practices. and the anger of its people That is what Obama is saying. The United States did not liberate the then-Soviet people.
Obama is not willing to take credit where credit is not due. Since when is it correct to plagiarize success just because you're from the U.S?
The correct answer is the West won the Cold War. However, Obama's response is appropriate for the current situation. After all, why agitate an ally who, for example, has entered...
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an agreement signed in Moscow today [that] permits the United States to transit troops and weapons across Russian territory en route to Afghanistan.
Then you have to figure that we're in the middle of negotiations for renewing the nuclear treaty we have with the Russians. One of the sticking points is the proposed missile installations in the former Warsaw Pact countries. The Russians oppose it; why give them even more reason to oppose it? If we want them to accept the installations, in order to do that we have to bring them to our side as an ally and not as an adversary. Reminding the Russians of their loss is not the way to do it.
Also, if the time comes to start applying tougher sanctions against Iran and/or North Korea, if we want the support of the United Nations (I know some here hate that organization but run with it for a moment), we need Russia on our side because they have veto power.
Sometimes we have to let sleeping dogs lie where they are and choose our words carefully. The interviewer asked Obama a politically sensitive question. There are more important issues and goals that lie ahead...answering a question about a 'war' that ended about 20 years ago is not one them.
If you don't agree, recall that the United States essentially backed (explicitly or implicitly is up to debate) Iraq during the Iran-Iraq War. Iraq was hardly an angelic nation...
I know that many US citizens like to believe that the United States is the reason that anything positive has happened in the world.
The collapse of the USSR, however, was based on its own flawed practices. and the anger of its people That is what Obama is saying. The United States did not liberate the then-Soviet people.
Obama is not willing to take credit where credit is not due. Since when is it correct to plagiarize success just because you're from the U.S?
Wow! Another naive post. I'll bet not even the presidential directives would wavier your rhetoric. Not your fault though since liberals don't like to talk about the history that doesn't hold them in high regards. No problems, your swagger is common place with your crowd.
I still have yet to figure out how some folks equate our policies to throwing a bowling ball down the isle and we just happened to knock down all the pins seconds later. In history the soviet union fell in an extremely short time after certain policies were implemented by president Reagan. As far as history goes, the the ball was sitting stagnant in the ball returner with all kinds of presidents and people polishing them.
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