Review of The War on Democracy (2007) by Sarah C — 06 Jun 2008

An excellent and, if you are not already aware of the subject matter, hopefully shocking documentary that examines the US government's foreign policy, its domination of South American economies and resources, and its chilling stance towards the countries in that region that do not bend to the might of its empire.

It's the first time I've seen ex-CIA agents openly stating the US position on "democracy" - although the former CIA chief of Latin America is clearly in denial about the havoc in which he's been complicit. As someone quibbling about whether the number of Chilean people killed is in the hundreds or thousands, he really is clutching at straws. The fact that innocent people have died for American "national security interests" is argument enough that it should never have happened in the first place.

The main point of comparison is between Chile, a country that is living with the legacy of an American-backed coup and years of fascism, and Venezuela and Bolivia, whose governments have begun to take a stance against US domination, preferring to work in the interests of their own people.

Highlights are the real-life, action-movie-esque story of the anti-Chavez coup in 2002 and the election of Evo Morales, who shows up in a stripy jumper to deliver a speech to a room full of suits. Respect to that man.