Rumsfeld arrived in Paraguay a month after 500 U.S. troops began a series of military exercises with that country’s army. In June the Paraguayan congress approved a pact granting U.S. soldiers immunity from prosecution. Washington, which is pressing governments throughout the region to sign similar agreements, had threatened to cut millions in aid if the government of President Nicanor Duarte did not agree to that demand.

In crisis-wracked Peru, Rumsfeld met with President Alejandro Toledo. Washington is hoping Toledo, whose popular approval rating is in the single digits, can last out his term, which ends in 2006. According to the American Forces Press Service, U.S. officials noted that Toledo, who is seeking U.S. economic aid, has built “the warmest defense relationship between the two countries in 40 years.”

Peru and Paraguay both border on Bolivia, where mobilizations of miners and peasants have led to the downfall of two presidents in the past two years, including the resignation of Carlos Mesa in June.

“There certainly is evidence that both Cuba and Venezuela have been involved in the situation in Bolivia in unhelpful ways,” Rumsfeld told reporters on his trip to Paraguay.

Arlen Spector, the Republican chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, objected to Rumsfeld’s statement. “It may be very helpful to U.S. efforts to secure Venezuela’s co-operation in our joint attack on drug interdiction if the rhetoric would be reduced,” he wrote in a letter to the defense chief.

During his visit Rumsfeld reportedly expressed concern to the Paraguayan government about agreements it has made with Venezuela and Cuba. About 70 Cuban doctors are currently providing services to workers and peasants, and hundreds of Paraguayan youth are studying medicine in Cuba at no cost. The Paraguayan government has also recently signed an oil deal with Venezuela. Following Rumsfeld’s visit, Paraguayan defense minister Roberto González told reporters there “will be no change” in his government’s relations with Cuba and Venezuela. “Thanks to Cuba’s solidarity there are 700 young Paraguayans on the island studying medicine and other careers free of charge,” González said, according to the Associated Press. “With Venezuela we are moving forward with a very advantageous deal for trade in oil. In contrast, the United States and other First World countries have not shown Paraguay this type of solidarity.”

González denied rumors that Washington was planning to set up a permanent U.S. base in Paraguay 150 miles from the Bolivian border. Just outside the town of Mariscal Estigarribia, U.S. troops have built an airstrip large enough to land B-52s and other large transport planes.

Despite the fact that the itinerary of Rumsfeld’s visit was not publicized, word spread that Rumsfeld would be attending a ceremony at a military monument in Asunción, the capital. On one hour’s notice, 100 mostly young protesters showed up with banners, including one that read, “No to the Yankee Troops!” According to the New York Times, their chants of “Murderer, murderer” were audible over the military band’s rendition of the “Star-Spangled Banner.”

On August 22 Pat Robertson, a right-wing TV broadcaster, said on the Christian Broadcast Network’s “The 700 Club” that Washington should assassinate the Venezuelan president.

“This is a dangerous enemy to our south, controlling a huge pool of oil, that could hurt us very badly. We have the ability to take him out, and I think the time has come that we exercise that ability. We don’t need another $200 billion war,” Robertson said. “It’s a whole lot easier to have some of the covert operatives do the job and then get it over with.”

Venezuelan vice president José Vicente Rangel responded, “It’s huge hypocrisy to maintain this talk against terrorism and at the same time, in the heart of that country, there are entirely terrorist statements like those.” He said, “The ball is in the U.S. court after this criminal statement.”
 
 
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