Ecuador expels second US official

[bemildred]

Source: al Jazeera

Ecuador has expelled a US embassy official for "interfering in internal affairs", the second such expulsion this month, Ecuador's foreign minister has said.

Fander Falconi said on Wednesday that Marc Sullivan, the US embassy's first secretary, had 48 hours to leave the country for allegedly trying to handpick local police officers for projects.

The move follows the expulsion on February 8 of another US embassy official by Ecuador for what it described as "meddling" in local police projects.

It is also likely to further strain ties with the US, already tense after Rafael Correa, the Ecuador president, vowed not to renew a lease ending this year on a coastal air base used by US troops in Ecuador for counter-narcotics missions.

Read more: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2009/02/2009218194054859904.html

---

Slow learners I guess.

[Idealism]

1. US officials not respecting foreign nations sovereignty? No way!

[Joe Chi Minh]

2. Just dirty Commie propaganda!

[Idealism]

3. Why do they hate freedom!?

[Joe Chi Minh]

11. They envy our freedoms. We can feed from dumpsters or dine at the Ritz?

Who said the American Dream was rich men's propaganda!

[ShortnFiery]

4. Say it ain't so! ... lest we just might invade your ass.

:evilgrin:

[Idealism]

5. Ecuador: Bushwhacked 3

"Junior's back."

[GreenTea]

6. Who doesn't these know "US embassy officials" are CIA working for American corporate interest...

They were CIA that were held captive in Iran during Prez Carter's presidency, (lots of oil was lost to the rich when American backed dictator the Shah, was forced out of Iran)....Same thing in Ecuador the CIA is there to protect American corporate agriculture interest, cheap labor and stop socialism & nationalization for the Ecuadorian people, US corporate interest do not like it, so they put their henchmen, the CIA to work, subverting, killing & overthrowing and then denying everything, but their fingerprints are always all over any "unrest".

The CIA is constantly working to overthrow Chavez in Venezuela, can't give the workers socialism, because it'll spread, socialism is meant only for the rich & the corporations.

The CIA runs itself secretly beyond are own government with little or no government intervention,and most of these US embassy officials are CIA - And it's our tax dollars that pay for the CIA covert operations, exclusively meant for wealthy corporate imperialism.

The CIA is certainly no help, zero, to the working American tax payer....we are helpless to stop their right-wing imperialism & overthrows in other countries for the wealthy in our country.

[catzies]

12. I came in to say that. With one exception, I agree with everything you said

And maybe it's not even an exception, but an addendum.

I wouldn't say "It's our tax dollars that pay for CIA covert operations," but rather I'd put it that "It's our tax dollars and the CIA's own money from drug operations that pay for their covert operations."

The CIA is its own government within our government.

Now, granted, the following is anecdotal and thirdhand to say the least, but I know someone who says she heard it from someone who overheard it said by President Bill Clinton himself:

"There is a government within the government and I am not in charge."

on edit, a quick question:

WHY ARE THE CIA EVEN ALLOWED TO BE EMBASSY EMPLOYEES?!?!!

[InkAddict]

21. Well, who would watch the watchers and how would "stuff" get into

those dimplomatic bags that go this way and that, making little pit stops at all those tax safe havens otherwise.

A better question is why are covert agents allowed to be outed, putting other operatives in mortal danger, and putting whole populations in danger, without cupability and penalty?

I know that question is old and stale, but just locking up the flunkie under the evil PTB never really satisfied many of us. I think it's probably safe to say there's always something more than meets the spying eye.

[catzies]

44. So are you saying that only CIA operatives can perform those embassy jobs?

I'm confused by what your meaning is.

[rabs]

7. Government says far as is known Sullivan still in Ecuador

Remember the other fellow, attache Armando Astorga, had left the country as part of a "normal rotation" when Correa said he had 48 hours to get out.

Last week the U.S. Embassy turned over hard drives and other softwear from the computers Astorga had confiscated from Ecuadoran police. The softwear and hard drives were being examined to see if Astorga or the embassy had tampered with the sensitive police information they contained.

Looks like the answer was yes, and so Sullivan got the boot.

U.S. Ambassador Heather Hodges is probably really nervous right now. She is a bushie appointee who only assumed the post last Oct. 2, after Correa kept her cooling her heals for more than a month in Quito before receiving her credentials.

Not a good record for her, only five months on the job and already two of her diplomats kicked out.

[bemildred]

8. U.S. protests expulsions of diplomats from Ecuador

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The State Department called the expulsion of the second U.S. diplomat from Ecuador in just over a week "unjustified," rejecting charges the diplomats meddled in Ecuador's internal affairs.

On Wednesday, the Ecuadorian government expelled First Secretary Mark Sullivan, whom it accused of meddling in the government's internal police policies, giving him 48 hours to leave the country.

---

Acting Deputy Spokesman Gordon Duguid said the expulsions stem from the fact that certain Ecuadorian police were banned from taking part in U.S. counternarcotics training programs, but rejected "any suggestion of wrongdoing by embassy staff."

"Despite the government of Ecuador's unjustified actions, we remain committed to working collaboratively with Ecuador to confront narcotics trafficking," Duguid said.

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/02/18/us.ecuador.diplomats/

[Joe Chi Minh]

13. "'Despite the government of Ecuador's unjustified actions, we remain committed

to working collaboratively with Ecuador to confront narcotics trafficking,' Duguid said." What a Christian! Turning the other cheek, going the extra mile. Love it.

Why is it the world doesn't appreciate the Christian benevolence of the US State Department and CIA?

"Blow, blow, thou winter wind,
Thou art not so unkind
As man's ingratitude;"

[EFerrari]

14. LOL! Paternalism at it's finest, isn't it?

"How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is to have a thankless child!"

[ProudDad]

9. Decriminalize and there's no problem any more

Of course, that would deprive major USAmerikan banks of the fruits of laundering drug money...

[EFerrari]

10. Good for Correa. n/t

[Judi Lynn]

15. Sounds as if the embassy's playing a game of chicken, betting Correa wouldn't dare toss another one

out for the same reason.

Glad he stood up for Ecuador's rights as a sovereign nation.

[bemildred]

16. Like I said, slow learners. nt

[rabs]

31. General elections are scheduled April 26 in Ecuador

Today Correa said Ecuador's democracy is in peril and there is a conspiracy to thwart the elections. Speaking in the southern city of Cuenca, Correa said there are groups that want to derail the vote in which he will be running for another term to end in 2013.

Correa specifically mentioned the old political parties, the corrupt opposition media, powerful economic groups and "those who serve foreign interests."

For readers of Spanish

http://www.eluniverso.com/2009/02/19/1/1355/FCAA62B4845F4F26B6660890A5306EE9.html

[Judi Lynn]

39. Wow. I didn't catch this post until today. Sorry! Thanks for the news on that election.

Sure hope the tyrants from the right won't be able to overthrow the progress made already, and that which is needed for the future.

Very glad to be informed they've got such a big thing going on so soon.

Thanks, rabs.

Will study your Universo article later this evening.

[Zorro]

17. This is a retaliatory action in response to his previous oops

where Correa publicly embarrassed himself by ordering the expulsion of an embassy employee who had already left the country.

Ecuadoreans are beginning to tire of their president's hissy fits. He's not doing himself or the country any favors by manufacturing a confrontation with the US.

[EFerrari]

18. What else has Lou Dobbs sent you today?

[Zorro]

19. Just got off the phone with someone in Ecuador about 2 minutes ago

So I'd say my sources are much more familiar with the situation than yours.

[EFerrari]

20. What an extrordinary conclusion to draw with zero information.

You don't disappoint, Zorrito.

[Name removed]

23. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[EFerrari]

25. The word is "projective".

:)

[Zorro]

26. Lame. But when you've got nothing, I guess there's nothing else you can say

[EFerrari]

27. After you call me an authoritarian Republican, you bet I don't want to get in your way.

Carry on!

[drdtroit]

45. Don't know who you are talking to in Ecuador,

I am in Quito and the majority of NON GRINGOS support this man!

[bemildred]

22. So he's retaliating against himself, or what?

He's kicking the second dumbshit out for doing the same that thing he kicked the first dumbshit out for. He is retaliating against the dumbshits who think they can push him around. He's been doing it for a while now. He's got away with it and he will continue to get away with it. The dumbshits are slow learners.

[EFerrari]

24. Ecuador, Bolivia, Venezuela, Brazil, Nicaragua have been fighting off

interference that is pretty much public. Bush neglected Latin America too long, these people think they own their own countries. :wow:

[The abyss]

30. And they do own their nations!

What we are seeing here is an avalanche of populist opinion and power.

Whirlwind, reap it.

We could have done better, we should have done better. Obviously we did not!

Please excuse edit for correction of sentence sense.

[Bacchus39]

29. yeah, he needed to expel someone he was sure was actually there

good move Rafe.

[Heftheplayboy]

28. US is known for spying on Latin countries

I wouldn't doubt it that US agents had been engaging on sabotage there.

[rabs]

32. Well, the diplomat says bye to Quito

U.S. Embassy says persona non grata first secretary left the country this morning.




(Spanish) http://www.elcomercio.com/noticiaEC.asp?id_noticia=258475&id_seccion=3

[Judi Lynn]

34. Priceless image! How perfect. They'll defintely be glad they did this. n/t

[rabs]

33. Correa: Expelled U.S. diplomat was CIA station chief

"Hemos expulsado del país a este señor (Mark) Sullivan, de la embajada estadounidense, que, hablemos claro, era el director de la CIA en Ecuador", afirmó Correa en su programa semanal de radio y televisión.

(We have expelled from the country this gentleman, (Mark) Sullivan of the U.S. Embassy, who, and lets talk clearly, was the director of the CIA in Ecuador," Correa said on his weekly radio and television program.)

El diplomático "hizo una barbaridad" al retirar los computadores con datos sobre seguridad interna donados por Estados Unidos a una unidad policial, dijo.

(The diplomat "committed a barbarity" in taking computers (donated by the U.S. to a police unit) that contined internal security data.)

(Spanish) http://www.elcomercio.com/noticiaEC.asp?id_noticia=258766&id_seccion=3

[EFerrari]

35. Who could have ever imagined that our diplomat in Ecuador was CIA.

:sarcasm:

[Judi Lynn]

37. That reminds us so much of Chile's President Michelle Bachelet's joke

that the U.S. has never had a coup because we don't have a U.S. embassy here!

Everyone's got our number!

[EFerrari]

38. Oh, yeah! That was a keeper!

:rofl:

[Judi Lynn]

36. I found an English article, as well:

Ecuador says expelled U.S. official was CIA operative
Sat Feb 21, 2009 6:58pm GMT

By Alonso Soto

QUITO, Feb 21 (Reuters) - The U.S. Embassy official Ecuador kicked out this week on charges of meddling in national affairs was the head of the CIA in the drug-smuggling route country, President Rafael Correa said on Saturday.

But a U.S. Embassy spokeswoman declined to comment on Correa's account that the expelled official ran CIA operations in the Andean country, which is a crucial drug-smuggling route to drug gangs in neighboring Colombia and Peru.

Correa, a leftist ally of U.S. foe Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, expelled Mark Sullivan over charges he tried to handpick an officer heading a police unit partly financed by the United States.

"Lets speak bluntly; he was the head of the CIA in Ecuador," Correa said. "The U.S. Embassy was mad because they are used to handpicking police chiefs in exchange for a few computers."

More:
http://uk.reuters.com/article/marketsNewsUS/idUKN2131245320090221

It's easy to get so damned tired of media insinuations that the leaders of countries which don't go along with their US manipulation are nut jobs, whackos, "strongmen," "commies," "socialists," or creatures from the black lagoon. They run the risk of doing this so often even the IDIOTS among us will eventually catch on, and the drunks will eventually run out of booze along to notice it, as well!

His country's military was used by our own air base without the Ecuadorian President's awareness, working in concert with Colombia's Defense Minister and President. This would be unacceptable by ANY country in the world. Correa is obligated to clean this dirty business out any way he can, wherever he finds it. More power to him.

[rabs]

40. Reuters reporter Alonso Soto may find himself in hot water

"... in the drug-smuggling country."

"... which is a crucial drug-smuggling route to drug gangs in neighboring Colombia and Peru."

That is not going to go over very well with the Correa administration.

Judi, the cartoon had a funny detail (but right on the mark -- pun intended) of Mark Sullivan being booted out of the country carrying a computer keyboard :rofl: Oh, saw your instructions on how to post a map on another thread and it worked for me too. Thanks.

E.F. for your Saturday leisurely reading recommend www.semana.com out of Bogota. Investigative report on how Colombian secret police are spying on judges, opposition politicans, journalists. Probably spoiled Uribe's weekend.

[The abyss]

41. Nice wrap up you guys!

Excellent work brought to us by the fine folks at DU.

Nice, very nice.

[EFerrari]

42. LOL! It will have to be leisurely as it's just above my reading level

but, who could have imagined that Uribe's corrupt cronies were being recorded?! :rofl:

[Zorro]

43. Ecuador is indeed a crucial drug-smuggling route between Peru and Colombia

All one has to do is look at a map.