Inter-American Dialogue
David Cromwell writes about the dependence of the mainstream press on think tanks like the Inter-American Dialogue
- A recent Independent news article by reporter Jude Webber continued the same trend. Webber described Chavez as an "authoritarian... his pockets full of the bonanza of booming oil prices", someone who "has close ties" with undesirables such as "Cuba and now Bolivia". Bolivia's leader, President Evo Morales, is clearly of the same dangerous persuasion as the Venezuelan leader, having "recently nationalised gas fields in a move widely seen as inspired by his northern mentor". (Webber, 'Garcia claims Peru win spells end of regional takeover by Chavez', The Independent, June 6, 2006)
According to the report, Chavez is guilty of "interference in the Peruvian [general election] campaign" won by Alan Garcia after Chavez fatally destroyed the prospects of "his man", Ollanta Humala. Webber provided space for a quote from a commentator employed by the Inter-American Dialogue, a "Washington-based think-tank":
"This clearly indicates the limit of [Chavez's] ability to have his way, it's definitely a setback."
The Independent neglected to mention some salient facts about the Inter-American Dialogue. The organisation's website is more forthcoming:
"Members of the Inter-American Dialogue's Corporate Circle include business and financial leaders who are deeply involved in the region, and need - on a continuing basis - fresh, balanced information and analysis on hemispheric affairs." (www.thedialogue.org/programs/corporate, June 13, 2006)
The "Corporate Circle" includes several well-known supporters of human rights, justice and self-determination in Latin America including Chevron, General Electric, General Motors, JP Morgan Chase, Kissinger McLarty and Lockheed Martin. No surprise that these business elites are happy to declare a "setback" for a leader who promotes the interests of his people, following centuries of western conquest and neoliberalism.[1]
Notes
- ^David Cromwell The System Works - The Independent on Latin America and Hugo Chavez Media Lens, Media Alert, 19 June 2006.
