
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, July 11, 1990                   TAG: 9007110402
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

PRINT TRUTH ABOUT U.S. ARROGANCE IN LATIN AMERICA

BETTER LATE than never! At least some of the truth about Nicaragua is beginning to show up in your paper.

The article "Nicaraguan case delayed," July 1, reveals the World Court decision against the United States for its covert actions against an independent, internationally recognized country. Twelve billion in damages for wrecking a country's infrastructure, economic base, and social achievements is puny compared to what the United States was prepared to spend to destroy Nicaragua's independence. Sadly, with our puppet president, Violeta Chamorro, in place, the hearings will now be postponed.

I am so ashamed of the arrogance of my country, having constrained Latin America to our imperialism for 150 years, in refusing to pay the fines levied by the World Court. For more than a century and a half, the United States has reaped the benefits of the resources of Latin America, helped to destroy its environment, and made slaves of the indigenous people. Even the "loans" to Latin America have benefited North American bankers, industrialists, developers and speculators instead of helping the poor people.

I guess it doesn't matter if the truth is told after the fact, at least not to our policy-makers. Witness the events of Vietnam, Cambodia, the Bay of Pigs, Grenada, El Salvador and Panama as truth unfolds and demonstrates yet again U.S. lack of respect for sovereignty and lack of concern for people.

Beware of the new war on drugs, invented to replace the war on communism. Note there will be no bombing of wealthy areas, no losses at major military installations, no U.S. profiteers jailed, only another war against the poor.

As an important source of information to the people of the Roanoke Valley, it is your responsibility to publish the truth of our current policies in Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras and South America. Not all can avail themselves of alternate sources for information about where and how our tax dollars are being spent.

PAT PRATALI\ ROANOKE

by CNB