Sunday, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia – People’s Army (FARC-EP) declared that they will stop the practice of kidnapping for financial gain. This announcement is a milestone, not just because of Colombia’s past reputation as the kidnapping capital of the world, but also because of the profitability of this practice for the FARC-EP. Kidnapping, … Continue reading
Author Archives: Max Rava
Desperation doesn’t look good on anyone, Newt
For all their qualities, politicians and the government are reviled by the public for their inability to deliver on campaign promises. Newt Gingrich has held elected office for long enough to be very aware of this fact. So why would he promise that he would lower the price of gas to $2.50 a gallon? My … Continue reading
Hugo Chavez is (probably) not fully cured of cancer
Roger Noriega, Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, might have been onto something this past summer. In July Noriega speculated that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez may not be fully cured of cancer. Chavez claimed as much last October, but has since reversed course. He recently announced that in the near future he will go to … Continue reading
No, CNN, Mexico’s drug strategy is not working…
Last week CNN ran a column by Mariano Castillo entitled “Is Mexico’s’ drug war strategy working?” as part of a continuing series about the ongoing conflict in Mexico. My response to that question would be an emphatic “no, Mexico’s drug war strategy is not working!” Castillo’s article begins by noting that “on paper” the Mexican … Continue reading
If you think our political campaigns and elections have become too negative…
I invite you to take a look at the (one-sided) mudslinging that has already begun in Venezuela, less than a week after the Venezuelan opposition held a primary to pick their candidate to compete against incumbent President Hugo Chavez. Henrique Capriles was the clear winner of the primary, capturing more than two-thirds of the more … Continue reading
US Allies Recognizing the Losing Nature of the Current “War on Drugs”
Earlier this week, Guatemala’s newly elected President Otto Perez Molina said that the US’s inability to decrease illegal drug consumption has left Guatemala in a position where it must consider legalizing the use and transport of drugs. He plans to raise the issue of legalization of illicit drugs at an upcoming summit of Central American … Continue reading
The Gulf of America?
Somewhere, Hank Hill, the patriotic star of Fox’s King of the Hill, is smiling. If Mississippi State Rep. Steve Holland (Democrat) has his way (and his legislation passes) part of the Gulf of Mexico that borders Mississippi will be renamed the “Gulf of America.” If the bill (HB 150) passes, the renaming would occur on … Continue reading
Venezuela’s Opposition Looking For Its Presidential Candidate
Venezuela’s highly anticipated presidential election does not take place until October 7, but the competition will begin in earnest this weekend. Venezuela’s opposition party is holding its first presidential primary on Sunday, February 12th. This is an important step for the opposition because it will offer them an opportunity to create a more unified movement … Continue reading
2012 Mexican Presidential Election Primer
Mexico’s three main political parties have selected their respective candidates for the July 1, 2012 presidential contest. The favorite appears to be Enrique Peña Nieto, the former governor of the state of Mexico, from the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). The PRI dominated Mexican politics for over 70 years until 2000, when it failed to win … Continue reading
A Look at the Reaction to Romney’s Poor Choice of Words
“I’m not concerned about the very poor. We have a safety net there. If it needs repair, I will fix it. I’m not concerned about the very rich. They’re doing just fine. I’m concerned about the very heart of America, the 90, 95 percent of Americans who right now are struggling” – Mitt Romney Mitt … Continue reading
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