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Bolivian president slams U.S. for ceasing trade benefits

Living in Peru
Jobana Soto

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© REUTERS/Gaston Brito

Tension between the United States and Bolivia continue to rise as they are involved in a trade deal gone sour. Washington presidential spokesperson, Dana Perino, told reporters this week that Bolivia will be cut off from special trade benefits, issued by the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA), for the country’s alleged failure to efficiently fight against illegal drug trafficking in its territory.

Last year, the U.S. received US$363 million worth of Bolivian goods under the ATPDEA. The country could loose those tax-free benefits if they don’t show evidence that they are doing enough in the fight against drugs.

U.S. President George W. Bush began the process of canceling Bolivia’s customs benefits two months ago, which will officially end on December 15 unless Bolivia shows that it has “improved its performance” against illegal drugs.

But Bolivian President Evo Morales believes the U.S. is seeking “political vengeance” against his country because of not seeing eye-to-eye with certain U.S. policies.

Compared to Colombia and Peru, two of the largest coca producing countries in the world respectively, the amount of Bolivia’s coca fields is significantly lower than its neighboring Andean countries. United Nations reports say in 2007 Colombia had 250,000 acres of coca, while Peru around more than 124,000 acres. Bolvia has around 69,200 acres.

“We complied better than Colombia and Peru," said Morales, a former leader of coca farmers. “Those are the facts but this is political vengeance because we don't agree with capitalism, provoked wars...or the free market.”

At a press conference held yesterday in La Paz, Felipe Caceres, who directs Bolivia’s battle against the drug trade, told reporters that if the U.S. takes away the ATPDEA’s benefits, it could lead to unemployment and “swell the ranks of drug trafficking.”

Morales hopes to resolve bitter ties with the U.S. once President-elect Barack Obama takes office on January 20.

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# mericorps says :
28 November, 2008 [ 16:45 ]

I see the chavez lap-puppet wants it both ways. he wants to call Americans imperialists and dogs..and perhaps he has good reason..but he still wants tade benefits..he wont promise the safety of our citizens in his country, but wants privelages to enhance his economic power, he will not cooperate with the war on drugs, but would like extra money to help boost profits for his corporations.

he is a punchline to a bad joke.

# QZ_PERU says :
28 November, 2008 [ 18:19 ]

Morales, Political Issues, Not Seeing EYE to EYE????  LOL   now this is news.  That jerk off should have known better before he decided to REMOVE the US Embassy from their country.  What an Idiot.  Now i assume there will be many protest even here in Lima.  Seems everyone has a protest for something or another.  Anyway, me being from Canada,  I can share some hummor in all of this.  Too Bad for Boliva.  As Peru continues its fight against drugs, Morales wont.  Or only he sais he is.....  anyway, what a schmuck!!!!   That country wanted me to Pay $125 just to enter the country for 2 hours to see a lake....  I walked away!!!  and gavem the ol Canada ONE finger Salute!!  Good for the USA....  I hope they keep STRONG FEET on this Muther Folker!

# Paul says :
28 November, 2008 [ 18:30 ]

audifonos: Fred Smith de omnifonos es una compania falsa.  Pelegroso. fraude fraude fraude.este huevon es estafador... fraude fraude fraude... toda mentira - no es fabricante solo roba la gente de su dinero! ojo c Paul Ritchie is a 40yr year old man that likes to molest 18 yr old girls in Peru.  He cant get a woman his own age,  what a gay fucking perv.o!
Good for Bush!  Atleast he has done something right!  I also Support the comment from Canada, and I am from South Africa living here in Peru!

Kudos to Bush!! Hope Obama Keeps Boliva in Line also!!!!

# peruanito says :
28 November, 2008 [ 19:46 ]

bolivia totally sucks.

# Peruvian guy says :
28 November, 2008 [ 22:13 ]

Evo, You are only getting what you asked for.  That is why people have brains.. to think before they talk!... If you couldn't see more unemployment and poverty in your country before Chavez asked to open your big mouth well you don't deserve to be the president of that great country called Bolivia.  I hope one day soon you go back to your coca farm and leave your country to be manage by a much competent and capable person...  don’t blame on others your stupidity and stop talking about Peru

# Titi for Peru....Caca for Bolivia says :
29 November, 2008 [ 08:45 ]

What do you expect?  Evo....lution has a vocabulary of less than 600 words.  The people of Bolivia have only themselves to blame.  They elected this moron.

# c. schmidt says :
29 November, 2008 [ 16:58 ]

For Bolivia it is a tragedy that the country is so much divided- the country is so beautiful and could have hit off with all the richness since a very long time.Yet was quit clear that what we see now there might happen if mister Morales gets in charge. When ever pure ideologists (no matter which direction and grade of ideological compromise) step into politics instead of technical, pragmatic and corruption reduced leadership than we have this kind of results- we find the fire and the blood on the streets. .Sad for Bolivia –for some years longer the country  might stay much more a place full of conflicts until someone steps in who brings balance back  and guarants law and order and promotes investment in a way that the country does not bleed out and people  benefit more  from earnings.   Bolivia is some sense very much alike Peru. What happen before Bolivia became shaking “Evoland”- same like here- politicians who didn’t listen to social demands, (I remember some president had to resign there  because of some scandals)   corruption, extreme gap between a few who own a little bit an many who own nothing, injustice and exclusion of opportunities in different levels and with in this a sense among the population that you cant trust in those who manage power. Peru should learn from Bolivian lesson on time.    

# Mike says :
29 November, 2008 [ 23:37 ]

Yes, the lesson we can all learn is How Not To Run A Country.

# Micah says :
30 November, 2008 [ 06:29 ]

I'm happy to see the comments above and agree with them whole-heartedly. I find the comparison of the size of Bolivia's coca fields to that of Peru's particularly comical as one must consider the size of the two countries.

I guess I wonder why something as this is news? We knew from the beginning that Morales won his presidency bid on the wave of Chavez, that he was/is a cocalero (coca farmer), and that he opposed capitalism and favored communism (though he and his 2 "brothers" call it socialism).

What this story truly tells us is that the U.S. and Bush are continuously willing and trying to resolve issues and establish relations with foreign nations, even those nations who choose to view the world as an area contained within their borders. To reiterate the point made previously, Morales wants benefits without compliance, without cooperation. In other words he wants free money- sounds like undeserved international welfare if you ask me. . .Just a thought. . .

# SA says :
30 November, 2008 [ 12:11 ]

This it what happens when a nation allows Chavrez to dictate domestic policy by using a puppet.

# jay says :
30 November, 2008 [ 20:59 ]

Granted I am a lot farther away from Bolivia (in the US) than you blokes, but I'm finding it hard to see why you are so, so (excuse me) rabidly opposed to Morales. He did, after all, win a clean election in 2005 on a platform that he has followed rather closely.That's how democracy works.
Nationalization of resources is nothing new in Bolivia (c.f.Revolutioni of 1952). Yes, he was a coca farmer (so what else is new?) No, he didn't need Chavez to win the presidential election nor does he need Chavez now to stay in office, any more than he would need US aid to stay in office, if we were giving him aid. His political power comes from the backing of a majority of the Bolivian population, most of whom are indigenous and poor. If he continues to satisfy most of their demands, he will stay in office, barirng a military coup. 
Many people, including academics, say that neoliberal policies, pushed in the 80s, 90s and thyis century by Sanchez de Lozada, the IMF and the US disproportionally hurt the poor in Bolivia. Their discontent is what put Morlaes in office.
The Bush administration has done plenty to undermine the Morales government since Evo's election. What in the devil was the U.S. embassador doing, for example, meeting with with the governors of the  Media Luna, back in September, 2008? As someone--maybe the New York Times editorial page,--aid, the US embassador should have been trying to bring the two sides together, not looking as if he was fomenting a separatist movement.
Too bad all of us can't leave the Bolivians alone to work out their differences.
Jay

# Peruvian Gary says :
1 December, 2008 [ 05:28 ]

Excuse me Jay but you are an idiot.. Nobody in this page is questioning Morales legitimacy in power. What most of us are saying is that he's got what he was bargain for... I am mostly sorry for the people of Bolivia that are the second poorest in the whole Latin America only after the Haitians... Being a vast and rich country they don't deserve to be even poorer now thanks to the stupidity of its own president Evo Morales and as for me they can do however they want as long as they don't mention Peru.

# Peruvian Gary says :
1 December, 2008 [ 05:28 ]

Excuse me Jay but you are an idiot.. Nobody in this page is questioning Morales legitimacy in power. What most of us are saying is that he's got what he was bargain for... I am mostly sorry for the people of Bolivia that are the second poorest in the whole Latin America only after the Haitians... Being a vast and rich country they don't deserve to be even poorer now thanks to the stupidity of its own president Evo Morales and as for me they can do however they want as long as they don't mention Peru.

# QZ says :
1 December, 2008 [ 08:54 ]

I will third that motion:  Excuse me Jay but you are an idiot.. Nobody in this page is questioning Morales legitimacy in power. What most of us are saying is that he's got what he was bargain for... I am mostly sorry for the people of Bolivia that are the second poorest in the whole Latin America only after the Haitians... Being a vast and rich country they don't deserve to be even poorer now thanks to the stupidity of its own president Evo Morales and as for me they can do however they want as long as they don't mention Peru.

# Mike says :
1 December, 2008 [ 10:09 ]

I was at a meeting when the (former) US Ambassador to Peru met with the governor of Huancayo and some chamber of commerce people.  Does this mean that he was conspiring against the Peruvian government of Toledo?

Ambassadors are regularly asked to come and speak to people.  How do you know that the situation wasn't that the Media Luna governors asked for help and he declined?  i.e. "Well, the US morally supports you, but can't really do anything to help - please try and fix the problem you have with Morales peacefully."

The fact of the matter is, Morales hasn't really satisfied anyone.  Haven't you heard of "The devil I know is better than the devil I don't know?"

As previously said, no one is saying he is not a legitimate leader.  He's just not a particularly smart one.

Given that, I will agree that Bolivia has had some rough and corrupt times. If I were Morales, I would have some dose of paranoia myself, but I would avoid making myself look overly stupid by not kicking out an ambassador with zero evidence and then asking that country to continue to help.  Morales has been very clear that he does not like the US - only our money.

And if he doesn't agree with the anti-coca policies the US has set forth, then he can't sit around and whine about not getting that support.

# rice and sugar says :
1 December, 2008 [ 10:49 ]

Jay,
Evo (an indigenous as myself) is a disgrace to all indigenous peoples in Bolivia.  He and his stupid ideas will only make them poorer, hungrier and what is worse - the white supremacists, ignorant fr***#$%@ racists in Santa Cruz will eventually dominate the country again. Racism and social injustice are the long term results of the stupid Evo Morales policies. He is actually against his own cause!
I agree that Morales is the democratic election of the poor, indigenous majorities of Boliva. But, what a dissappointment for the "collas" (indians)!! Morales is nothing but an ignorant puppet that makes us (indigenous South Americans) ashamed and disgraced!! If Obama was the first black president of the US, and Evo the first indigenous president of Bolivia: Obama is a freaking Harvard graduate in law! Evo has no education at all. His lack of knowledge and education will cost greatly to the indigenous peoples.

# rice and sugar says :
1 December, 2008 [ 11:01 ]

Mike,
I join the whole world - I think- in congratulating the United States of America for making history in this last election. In the middle of the crisis, Americans have demonstrated that they can re-invent themselves, and something tells me that the US will eventually overcome this present economic crisis.
However, while I agree with you that the US ambassadors' job involves meeting with people regarding different issues - I am specifically referring to the Media Luna groups- I still cannot help but to smell something against Morales, when I hear that the US ambassador is having "talks" with them.

One thing about Media Luna groups is that they are -let's face it- white supremacists, rich, IGNORANT like you would never believe it! - richest LACIEST peoples of Bolivia! Lazy and rich, they live in heaven in the blessed tropical richness of those areas. They are devastating the forest for cattle...and they have tons of money.

I know them personally. My in-laws are among them...(I don't get along with them, by the way...)

The US has overcome racism and has shown to the world a great example. How can the US ambassador pal around with these IGNORANT (big time) racists??? Or is the US interested in the tropical richness of Santa Cruz?? SOrry, but I smell something...and I do not like or support EVO at all...but the US ambassador "talking" to those idiots does NOT look good either.

# Mike says :
1 December, 2008 [ 11:02 ]

Evo should get Toledo as an advisor.  He was a successful, smart, indigenous leader.

# Mike says :
1 December, 2008 [ 11:26 ]

I agree that there is a certain element of these types in Peru, Bolivia, and other countries.

However, the US Ambassador could have easily been explaining to them why the US would not support a coup or some such thing.

I don't agree with "Guilt by Association."

# mucho confundo says :
1 December, 2008 [ 11:44 ]

did anyone else observe the irony in Morales' statement that in suppoort of his oppsition to the US revoking import privilages to Bolivia he opposes "free trade"?  Isn't that what the US is doing here, revoking a "free trade" benefit to Bolivia?

# Mike says :
1 December, 2008 [ 11:54 ]

Amongst other stupid things Morales has said.

# Jay says :
1 December, 2008 [ 13:39 ]

About six years ago, the US ambassador (under George W. Bush--I don't remember if it was Goldman or someone else) was overheard to say at a diplomatic cocktail party that if Evo Morales were elected president, Bolivia could kiss its US aid goodbye. 

That was during the run up to the election in which Sanchez de Lozada was eventually elected. Evo was a dark horse, with no chance to win. After the ambassador's statement hit the newspapers, Evo immediately shot up in the polls and at the end, came in second to Lozada. 

Goni crumpled (Talk about stupid. He almost gave Bolivian oil to big international firms and hoped it wouldn't ever be noticed that they were paying criminally low royalties. Then he proposed to pipe natural gas to North America across Chile, ignoring the periennial feud between the two countries and had to face huge demonstrations that no one could have controlled). Two interim presidents later, Evo was a shoo-in. 

I say, if you want to blame Evo on anyone in particular, it ought to be that very imprudent US ambassador, appointed by Bush. Without him, Evo might still be a coca grower and union organizer unknown to the rest of the world, and one that was considerably less paranoid about the U.S.

And if Evo had caught the attention of a Peace Corps volunteer, landed in California with a soccor scholarship and ended up with graduate degrees in economics and a job at the World Bank as Toledo did, he might have followed more conventional economic & political thinking.

No le pidan peras al olmo.

Bye.

# c. schmidt says :
1 December, 2008 [ 19:13 ]

Very interesting  comments- someone told with reason-Mister Morales went into charge alter he was chosen in elections who were international qualified as fair- and he got like any statesmen from the world congratulations from around the globe- no matter which line- even from the U. S. and many European leaders. But anyhow- just going by facts – a few years went by and quit obvious there seems to be leadership missing- only a few years and the whole country went upside down.On one hand an outraged poor class demanding social wealth and progress and they do have a reason because they were excluded from former leaders from the countries richness (when I traveled Bolivia I saw the worst poorness during my south American trip, a lot of hunger) and on the other side a bitter wealthy opposition who fears to lose investment and property and recruits now people from the street to fight bag Morales ideological enthusiastic followers.   Definitely mister Morales is not like mister Chavez and to be fair- it seems that next to   mister Chavez mister Morales seems less aggressive, almost like the guy from the next door you might shake hands easily.But does this fact make him able to lead a country into the modern developed world?I mean to bring it economical foreward?Superficial few from political outsiders might find the guy with his simple mass touching folkloric approach and indigenous roots and way of dressing even charming and somehow sympatric. I have listened many comments from westerners expressing about Mister Morales that way. The men do not spread hate- that has to be admit in order to be fair.  But historic facts prove- communism (now the name is modern socialism) was not successful because of its economical model- a modal based on illusion and not on reality what most human nature is about.-private property.  Of course it is an old dream of humankind to create societies on base of Justice and most possible equality- but human nature is on the other hand about owning things or controlling and owning more than the other.That is s why specially in this communist closed societies when new leaders step in  very fast new power elites could establish themselves and won control over people extremely fast much more faster than it would be possible in a developed democratic capitalist society which is based on rule of law and has some kind of freedom of expression. But neither Venezuela nor Bolivia were developed countries before- how could they – if all South America manages the same economy output like state of California.  Both Venezuela and Bolivia were little unimportant feudal aristocracies before without no further importance without almost no industry , with corrupted elites who sold out their countries and people out for a penny little by little.   Now the new model implicated in Venezuela and Bolivia is titled” modern socialism” and their leaders choose Cuba as a kind of sample. But are the Cubanians happy in Cuba or many of them dreaming to leave. Facts speak for them self and neither in Bolivia or Venezuela their leaders show how much the people there wanted to leave in the past and also in present time.  Still they are a lot of boot refugees and a lot of those who flee to the States or end up in Europe ore other countries were they don’t might find a perfect life but a bigger sense of freedom and don’t lets forget about those who   don’t make it into liberty and get eaten a little bit up by sharks in the ocean.And if they had to live long enough in Cuba than they had great education but had to live in poorness and have to see the communist oligarchy living in wealth which for them never was achievable. And in order to make some extra dollar many of them had to sold their poor dr. titled bodies as prostitutes to rich tourists who travel without any concern to this countries in order to make the living at home or bring the food to the table.. During last decades thousands of Cubanians went into the U. S

The number of U.S. citizens who chose Cuba as their permanent residence is very low. 

And about the north Koreans (10 centimeters more little than their brothers from south Korea, and very skinny and on top of that  with their little nutty leader who holds almost  1 million people  in concentration camps  I don’t even want to speak).Definitely- Bolivia and Venezuela are not yet like Cuba and North Korea. (And I also in the Bolivian case I think Bolivia will not drift into such an extreme direction – it only might become a failed state- and this is already terrible enough- for the people there- no matter rich or poor)It is not astonishing- juts after only 10 years of Mister Chavez in charge in Venezuela we find a very well establish new named “red” oligarchy who give and get favors and most of all rich with it- they are criticizing the capitalist model but practice at the end not any thing else but with one essential difference on middle and long term with much less freedom in general and freedom of expression and most of al -the rule of law by referring to developed capitalist democratic societies  – Anyone knows  once the economy is destructed the show only can go on  base of oppression. And this signs we see in Venezuela. Still people can leave Bolivia or Venezuela, - but the numbers speak for themselves, many empty shops in Venezuela, high inflation, no press freedom, people disappear, no new investment, less work ,  many People who want to go out,  alliances with countries who have no democracy, arms buying, Drug alliances mob parties  and so on.  But still there stays the main sad fact- just lets name it repeat historic human error-In both countries either Mister Morales or mister Chavez could have never happen if there would have not bee so much social discontent and if former elites from there would have not gone so much over the limit and forget to educate the people and to give something to them. Those old oligarchies that handled the countries in feudal style and treated many of the poor people like their slaves, they push it to the edge and from my point of few they are to blame for what happened after.   Huge amount of unpleased masses easy can fall into any promise especially without proper education and when limits of unsatisfaction are reached –this masses easily take any word from almost anyone who promise milk and honey and they don’t know that these promises in the beginning might be even kept for while until everything is under control but at the end not even that.  I am curious what will be after the Evo and Chavez times, I mean noone in history lasted forever - I mean also when oil and gas is gone- and investment to and the only left over is a rotten ideology . No matter who ever takes over after has a difficult task because once investment runs away it might take quit a time to make it come bag. But let’s be like always  just optimistic-1“feudal aristocracy model” – has failed,2.“modern  socialism “ will fail too3. and  after that may be a chance for a really modern democratic society  based on capitalism with social traduction – and this model still proves to be relatively successful over many decades and I find myself thinking- may be all this “Evos” and “Chavez” in a historic sense are meant to be happen before things really can get better.  

# alex says :
2 December, 2008 [ 01:54 ]

Wow!
so many comments already!...hehehe
something tells me i should be sorry for the bolivian people, however, didn't they elect this dude? i have nothing against people who cannot spell their own name backwards, but --if on top of that-- the same person is going to act the way evo's been doing ever since he took power, i am sorry but the dummy got what he deserved and so did his country. why would the States spend money trying to save his people when here in the US there is need for it? The US needs to invest money withing, boosting up national production and becoming more competitive in the international market. Evo needs to be his own man, step up and help his own people. He cannot get it both ways, or else, isn't his buddy Chavez wealthy enough to hook him up?
Of course, there is also the option of accepting they (bolivian people) made a mistake when decided to become its own country, and come back to the warm, more solvent arms of the Peruvian Mother Land...hehe..just a thought guys!.

# jcwong says :
2 December, 2008 [ 03:54 ]

dont get excited alex, we still have some ways to go.

one step at a time for peru, in any case peru has over 1.28 million km2 of land and around 30 million people, it doesnt need somebody else's problems. Bolivia certainly doesnt have anything we dont already have.

the good thing for bolivia and ecuador is that chaves' time is coming to an end, Im sure he has a lot more enemies than friends around him, the barrel will drop to 45 bucks and goodbye monkeys and cara de auquenido.

2010 or 11 will roll around, peru's economy will go back above 9% annual growth, Callao will be in better shape to handle containers and minerals, the mine expansions and hydroeletric plants will be in operation, more housing and commercial development up and running, more peruvians entering the middle class, better quality of life for more people, long etcs.

Let's not ruin a good thing alex, we follow our path and they follow theirs. we havent part of the same nation for a long time and we dont need to be.

jcw

# mucho confundo says :
2 December, 2008 [ 09:10 ]

jay:

I appreciate your lucid remarks.

However, I find it hard to believe that one idiot ambassador can take full credit/blame for Morales' political triumph.

Democracy is a funny thing. In poor countries with universal suffrage it is small wonder that the "free bread and circuses" platform of socialist candidates prevails. Add to that, national ownership of substantial natural resources and increasing commodity prices, then guys like Morales and Chavez become shoo-ins with staying power.

In light of the recent collapse of mineral and energy prices, it will be more interesting to see how Morales and Chavez sustain their regimes. I predict you will see increasing attempts by those regimes to undo the democratic mechanisms that brang them to power and on pre-text of US interference.

# c. schmidt says :
2 December, 2008 [ 16:53 ]

 to jcwong- I have read your posting- I think our Venezuelan hero might last a little bit longer than many think - he is just getting warm and military dressed with is arms deals and new alliances, many people underestimate this men, that’s why he could grow, he used the fact that he was underestimate to grow and I go even so fare that in some public performances he played dump on purpose. Besides of being populist Chavez is a person who studies the political environment, he studies those he understands as his enimies and their debilities, a person who quit obvious reads a lot and is strategically very well prepared. (Some speeches have listened on TV and I can reassure- this men read  about almost all historical battle- he is definitely very intelligent and additional driven that what he does is the right thing to do. These facts made him so strong. Chavez is not Evo- Chavez wants absolute power-, he wants to go into history- he is only driven by that- day and night , he thinks that he is chosen to liberate Latin America - He planned on whole Latin America and has international support- and he has the oil. That’s why I think we might see Chavez quit a while longer. And he even might surprise us with new strategic oil and money alliances to reassure his long term period- and you know what – I am sure he has them already somehow established.  Evo Morales is not driven by “ bigger purpose”, also not by staying in charge for ever , as a person I think he is  an insecure men- somehow he stepped in more less anciently and thought it is easy to manage a country (without economical background) and wanted to by a “goody” for his people.

I can almost swear that Evo Morales deeply inside now does not like his job and sometimes even wishes that all will be soon over with all  the unpleasant circumstances, just look when he speaks in front of cameras – he does not feel comfortable - Evo is neither an aggressive nor a dangerous politician - he is just unable beacuse he went in with the exact political plan from someone else (not adaptable for Bolivian reality) and never had his own concret political vision (besides of his great love for coca) about what to do with his country under the circumstances there but  leadership without vision is like a toilet without flash- sooner or later everything stucks on the way.   

# c. schmidt says :
2 December, 2008 [ 16:59 ]

please Dave - take out my fist comment - did not made correction - thanks )  

to jcwong- I have read your posting- I think our Venezuelan hero might last a little bit longer than many think - he is just getting warm and military dressed with is arms deals and new alliances, many people underestimate this men, that’s why he could grow, he used the fact that he was underestimate to grow and I go even so fare that in some public performances he played dump on purpose. Besides of being populist Chavez is a person who studies the political environment, he studies those he understands as his enemies and their debilities, a person who quit obvious reads a lot and is strategically very well prepared. (Some speeches have listened on TV and I can reassure- this men read  about almost all historical battle- he is definitely very intelligent and additional driven that what he does is the right thing to do. These facts made him so strong. Chavez is not Evo- Chavez wants absolute power-, he wants to go into history- he is only driven by that- day and night, he thinks that he is chosen to liberate Latin America - He planned on whole Latin America and has international support- and he has the oil. That’s why I think we might see Chavez quit a while longer. And he even might surprise us with new strategic oil and money alliances to reassure his long term period- and you know what – I am sure he has them already somehow established.  Evo Morales is not driven by “ bigger purpose”, also not by staying in charge for ever , as a person I think he is  an insecure men- somehow he stepped in more less accidentally and thought it is easy to manage a country (without economical background) and wanted to by a “goody” for his people. I can almost swear that Evo Morales deeply inside now does not like his job and sometimes even wishes that all will be soon over with all  the unpleasant circumstances, just look when he speaks in front of cameras – he does not feel comfortable - Evo is neither an aggressive nor a dangerous politician - he is just unable because he went in with the exact political plan from someone else (not adaptable for Bolivian reality) and never had his own concrete political vision (besides of his great love for coca) about what to do with his country under the circumstances there but  leadership without vision is like a toilet without flash- sooner or later everything sticks. on the way.   

# OMG says :
2 December, 2008 [ 21:46 ]

WOW, this forum has gone way above it limits.  I think you should all move on to something new. 
BOLIVIA- SUCKS
BOLIVA= SADAM HUSAIN
BOLIVA= Piece of S***

the hell with them... No one cares....  Soon enough, bolivia and their little short men will be at the feet of Obama kissing and asking for forgiveness............\\  WHAT EVER!!!!

# Peruvian Gary says :
3 December, 2008 [ 04:30 ]

I agree with you OMG... this subject has gonne way too far... some comments are soooooooooo long and boring that i doubt somebody bother to read the whole message... please make short and sweet and keep moving.

# Elvis says :
7 December, 2008 [ 10:15 ]

Evo Morales.  Nice he got elected in Bolivia and it is loved by some of his people.  But What I don't like is when he tries to influence peruvian people with his leftist ideas, like last time he came to Peru and started talking crap to poison peruvians mind.  We never go To Bolivia and start talking his people.  He would never kill the coca farmer idealism because hi is a coca leader himself and at the same time he wants Money to reduce coca production?  That dosen't make sense. 
Bush did good, i hope also Obama will keep him on line also.

# Rodrigo says :
26 April, 2009 [ 01:02 ]

Viva Evo Morales

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