Final chapter written in Chaco war between Bolivia and Paraguay

[rabs]

Lefties in South America are setting things right, something the dictators and juntas could or would not do.

Cristina will be hosting Evo Morales and Fernando Lugo on Monday in Buenos Aires to finally formally end a 71-year-old dispute between Bolivia and Paraguay. Cristina will be presenting Morales and Lugo a final settlement of the territorial limits of each country.

In 1932-1935 the two countries fought what is known as the Gran Chaco War, a conflict that most people have never even known was fought. It was sort of a prelude to the Spanish Civil war and WWII.

After Bolivia lost its access to the sea to Chile in the 1879 War of the Pacific, it wanted an outlet to the Atlantic via the Paraguay River to export petroleum. So Bolivia invaded Paraguayan territory but Paraguay over time doubled its territory with the conquest of most of the Gran Chaco.

Over 100,000 soldiers perished in the war, with Bolivia taking the brunt of the casualties. Indigenous Bolivians from the Andean highlands died like flies in the inhospitable arid Chaco. Germany, Italy, Argentina and Chile were among the nations that sent generals, tanks, biplanes, artillery, other weapons and mercenaries to both sides.

(video, grainy scenes of the war) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wi-4cDPsC2c

(Paraguayan propaganda video) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfWFr671nJo&NR=1

Background:



Lots of info on the war by googling.