Who is Walter LaFeber?

LaFeber explains that America's contradictory policy has intimatelyly been guided by a faith in the energy of capitalism, a fear of foreign influence, a willingness to lend oneself military force, and a dread of revolution (18). This is a startling statement, since it undercuts the U.S. function as a promoter of the principles of the Declaration of Independence. In fact, says the author, for the past tense 200 years the linked States has not been an advocate of new change, but a protector of the status quo. Later in the book, the author states that three policies start dominated U.S. government dealings with substitution America in this century. First, the government has made a decision to cooperate with potentates ("authoritarians" as opposed to "totalitarians"), largely because dictators stooge be bought, and will protect U.S. business interests. Second, U.S. government foreign aid has been used in a "carrot and drive" way to force Central American nations to accede to U.S. demands. Third, the interior(a) legal philosophy force and army officers of the Central American governments digest been trained by the United States in counterinsurgency techniques, including the use of torture (which President Jimmy Carter supposedly deplored). Anastasio Somoza of Nicaragua, the notorious dictator and the more recent head of the death squads in El Salvador, Roberto D'Aubuisson, were both products of U.S. training. Add to t

fit to the author, the problems of the Central American nations argon numerous and perhaps unsolvable by any means other than revolution. The oligarchy (families) who control these countries are few, but they are backed up by American-trained police forces and bailiwick guards whom the United States thought would be "non-political." In fact, the United States created the most politically effective organizations in the five countries. not only are the police forces, national guards and armies political, but they are the only means the dictators have had to stay in power. When the national guard deserted Somoza in Nicaragua in 1979, for example, the discontinuey was over.

The oligarchies have also used these armed forces, given them special favors, and depended upon them to redeem themselves in power. Land reform, much needed to give the peasants more knowledge base, has been stifled at the point of a gun. Since the early part of this century, the United Fruit Company (later United Brands), has exported crops from the five countries. These products are mainly coffee, bananas and cattle. Since the oligarchies and American businesses (who can buy place down in return for the governments' receiving aid) own most of the arable land, little land is left for the peasants to grow rice, beans and pork (their staple diet). Once again, the peasants go hungry while the rich live in proud style. The rich have no qualms roughly selling the land of their country to the Americans, depositing their money in Swiss bank accounts, and forgetting about the people. Since the price of the principal exports is determined by the United States, the countries of Central America are held in a stranglehold and since the oligarchies penury to keep profits high, the wages of the people suffer.

his the fact that during most of the Cold War the United States refused to face the reality of " patriot" revolutions, believing them to have emanated from Moscow, and one finds the United States in a position of
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