Bush in Paraguay: More info

An extremely good friend to this blog sent me a bit more information on the 100,000 acre Bush spread in Paraguay -- specifically, on the possible connection of Jenna Bush's trip to that neck of the woods. Jenna met with Paraguayan president Nicanor Duarte and with U.S. Ambassador James Cason.

Cason has an interesting history which, in former times, would have had the letters CIA written all over it. That acronym might still apply, although Bush seems on better terms with some of these new Pentagon spook spook shops -- and, as we shall see, the necon's Office of Special Operations now seems to be running the show down there in Paraguay.

This page appears to be Cuban in origin, so consider the source with caution. It identifies Cason as CIA during his incident-filled stint in Havana. I'm not sure that's accurate...

Alongside appointing Miami Cubans to high office in his administration, this strategy is also a pay-back to the Cuban mafia for its decisive role in the fraudulent presidential elections. Chief of the US Interests Section in Havana and CIA member James Cason orchestrated operations, contacting mercenaries, hosting meetings at his own residence and securing the flow of money.

Despite USAID claims that its NGOs can’t provide cash to Cubans directly, over $100,000 in cash was found in the possession of the 75 mostly unemployed mercenaries who went on trial.

This was the Verala Project, and the pro-American Cubans received far more than $100,000 -- more like $20 mill, according to writer Thomas Riggins.

(To read the rest, click "Permalink" below)

Agee himself (that was your cue to boo and hiss -- why aren't you booing and hissing?) offers an interesting profile of Cason:

James Cason is a career State Department diplomat who has served mostly in Latin American countries, not menacing to the eye, just a bit overstuffed in the round face, double chinned like a Porky Pig in his late fifties, with wide round glasses in front of half-closed eyes. Like he’s had too many two-hour lunches and not enough jogging. Otto Reich, Cuban-American fanatic and one of the un-indicted criminals of Iran-Contra, who was serving a limited recess appointment (read no chance for Senate confirmation) as Bush’s Assistant Secretary of State for Latin American, gave Cason the job and apparently put an ample load of hot sauce on his appointee’s backside.

Cason swooped down on Havana like a fed from Gangbusters’ central casting with an “in your face” attitude big time. But give the guy credit. He ran his ass off all over this island burning his dissident friends, “our guys,” and sealing their fate as he went along. His blatant support for Washington’s civil society in Cuba looked for all the world like he was bent on getting himself PNG’d, expelled as persona non grata in diplomatic parlance. He made a show of unity with groups in the provinces as well as Havana; gave 24-hour passes to the Interests Section to favorites, including Cuban penetration agents, for free internet access and other facilities; attended meetings in dissidents’ homes where he gave the equivalent of press conferences to foreign journalists; personally launched the youth wing of the Liberal Party; entertained dissidents in his official residence, even hosting an independent journalists’ workshop there one Saturday. His conduct went so far beyond accepted diplomatic protocol that you might say he was the mother of all provocations.

But expelling Cason would have led to a new crisis with the U.S., and the Cubans didn’t take the bait. For six months they waited and watched through their highly placed penetrations of Cason’s dissident community. Then they decided to act. They had the evidence of criminal activities in support of Helms-Burton and in violation of other legislation on sedition, so they finally decided to sweep away Cason’s constituency in a stroke. And there he stood in March, appropriately like the Emperor who wore no cool. Indeed, there’s been not a peep from the man since his acolytes were picked up.

One can imagine the bitterness from prison with 75 of “our guys” reflecting on how stupid they were to fall for Cason’s grandstanding.

From Wonkette:

Cason apparently gets around. A former “political adviser” to the U.S. Atlantic Command and ATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic, Cason has been stationed in El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Panama … basically everywhere the U.S. has run secret and not-so-secret wars over the past 30 years.

As for Duarte and Paraguay, this Asia Times piece provides much of what you need to know. Some excerpts...

Way back in 1982, the US built and started operating a semi-clandestine airstrip in Mariscal Estigarribia, in the Chaco region in northern Paraguay near the Bolivian border, where B-52 bombers and C-5 Galaxy cargo planes are able to land with no hassle. The airstrip is literally in the middle of dense forest. It also happens to be only 270 kilometers from the Brazilian border.

Some Brazilian diplomats bet off the record that a US permanent base is all but inevitable. But maybe not, as Brazil is known to play hardball with Paraguay.

Brazil would see such an official American base as a threat, which may be why this is all being done under the guise of Bush family private ownership. If that theory is correct, then there ought to be an interesting money trail. The Bushes would not use their own funds to create a United States air base.

Regarding the troops in Paraguay:

The whole package is part of a controversial military agreement between Paraguay and the United States endorsed by the Paraguayan Congress more than a year ago. The US Special Forces are guaranteed total immunity and diplomatic status. They are free to import and export, they don't pay any taxes, and what they trade is not subjected to any inspections. Contraband kingpins at the Triple Border would kill for a deal like that.

Finally:

Public intellectuals in both Brazil and Argentina fear that the usual US-paid mules will keep planting stories in the media about Arab "terrorists" at the Triple Border, thus justifying a permanent-resident visa for the US forces in Paraguay. What happened in Colombia is also evoked. The Colombian agreement with the United States stipulated visa-free entry for US civilians. But these "civilians" happen to be mercenaries, working for private security firms. The same process could happen in Paraguay.

Essential in the Pentagon machinery is the new Counter-Terrorism Fellowship Program, which is operated (with no supervision by anyone) out of the Pentagon's Office of Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict.

As with most neo-con operations, the Paraguyan episode involves three key factors:

1. Military suppression of anyone who won't dance to America's tune. A wave of independence -- not socialism per se, just a defiant "We're not gonna take it" attitude directed toward Uncle Sam -- is taking hold throughout South America. Paraguay remains the exception; a majority of that country wants a return to the days of Stroessner.

2. Natural resources. Rancho Bush (and the ten-times-larger Rancho Moon) is home to the region's largest aquifer, as well as gas and (possibly) oil.

3. Drugs. Hey, the money's got to come from somewhere.