One step closer to democratic, prosperous, free Western Hemisphere? Trump hails ouster of Bolivia's Evo MoralesSee also: Resignation of Bolivia's Evo Morales was no victory for democracy, but a US-sponsored coup
US President Donald Trump praised the Bolivian military pushing President Evo Morales out of power as a "significant moment for democracy in the Western Hemisphere," openly endorsing what critics have called a coup in La Paz.
"After nearly 14 years and his recent attempt to override the Bolivian constitution and the will of the people, Morales's departure preserves democracy and paves the way for the Bolivian people to have their voices heard," Trump said in a statement on Monday,
He also praised Bolivia's military, which pressured Morales into resigning on Sunday, for "abiding by its oath to protect not just a single person, but Bolivia's constitution."
"We are now one step closer to a completely democratic, prosperous, and free Western Hemisphere."
While Trump framed the events in La Paz as a warning to the "illegitimate regimes in Venezuela and Nicaragua that democracy and the will of the people will always prevail," his may seem tone-deaf coming from someone who has accused his political opponents of an attempted coup - and been repeatedly denounced by them as illegitimate, tyrannical and a threat to democracy. Not to mention the infamous Washington's Monroe Doctrine and treating the countries of Latin America as its backyard.
Trump, of course, did not mention the US' hand in influencing Bolivian affairs. Right-wing causes in the country benefited from around one million dollars in grants from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) last year alone. Suspected by some to be an arm of the CIA, the NED was established by Ronald Reagan in 1983 to promote American-style neoliberalism abroad.Whether through public statements or NED funding, support for the opposition in Bolivia fits perfectly into the US' 'Monroe Doctrine' - Washington's century-and-a-half old policy of forbidding any rival worldview from taking root in the Western Hemisphere. Though infrequently acknowledged, President Trump spoke openly about his support for President Monroe's vision of an American hemisphere before the UN last year.© Reuters / Agustin MarcarianA protest in support of Evo Morales is Argentina
While Trump denounced Morales, the US State Department stepped in to sanitize Washington's position, with a senior official telling Reuters that the US has "no preference" among opposition candidates. The spokesperson did say, however, that anyone who tried to "distort" last month's vote should not be allowed to participate.
Morales has indeed ruled Bolivia for 14 years, but his bid for re-election was ruled legal by the country's supreme court, and the quick results count that showed him over 10 points ahead of the opposition candidate in the first round was in line with previous Bolivian elections.
The incongruity of praising violent opposition activists and the military for overruling the results of a democratic election - and then calling that outcome democracy - was apparently lost on the US president.
"I resign from my position as president so that (Carlos) Mesa and (Luis Fernando) Camacho do not continue to persecute socialist leaders."Morales was clear that his move was solely due to the violence incited opposition leaders. However, it soon became clear that this was a coup, not a resignation.
The Jordanian king made the announcement during a speech he delivered to Jordan's new cabinet on Sunday.From Sputnik:
Baqoura, also known Naharayim, is an area of six square kilometers in Jordan's northern Irbid Province, situated south of the Lake Kinneret and to the north of the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories. Ghumar, also known as Zofar, is another area that covers four square kilometers in the southern Aqaba Province and is located south of the Dead Sea.
According to the treaty inked by Jordan and the Israeli regime on October 26, 1994, the two pockets of land were leased to Israel for a 25-year renewable period, and the lease was automatically renewable except if one side gave a year's notice to terminate the deal.
"We have informed Israel [that we are putting] an end to the application of the peace treaty annexes regarding Baqoura and Ghumar," he said at the time, adding that Tel Aviv was "informed" regarding Amman's decision. The two areas "are Jordanian land and will remain" part of the Arab country, the king said.
Israel had controlled the two regions for over 70 years.
Jordanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman al-Safady is expected to hold a press conference on the end of the lease on Monday.
Israel and Jordan have maintained diplomatic relations since they signed the 1994 treaty. However, many Jordanians strongly oppose ties with Tel Aviv.
Israeli Army Contradicts Jordan's King on Enclave Lands, Says Lease Extended
The Israeli military contradicted on Sunday Amman's announcement that a Jordanian enclave allowed to be used by Israeli farmers will be returned to Jordanian jurisdiction, saying the lease agreement has been extended until next April, although with new restrictions.
"In continuation of the deliberation on the diplomatic arrangements in the Tzofar enclave, security forces are protecting the area and working together with the community," the Israel Defence Forces said in a press statement cited by the Times of Israel, using the Hebrew name for the territory of Ghamr.
"The farmers' work in the enclave is continuing subject to agreements and coordination," the IDF statement added.
The military did not elaborate on the terms and conditions of the lease agreement extension.
"The Israeli foreign ministry later tweeted Tel Aviv's "regret" over Jordan's "decision to terminate the annexes" to the peace treaty, but added that "the Government of Jordan will continue to respect private ownership rights in Naharayim [Baqoura]," and that Jordan will "allow Israeli farmers to harvest the crops that were planted before the annex expired" in Tzofar (Ghamr). "
Jordan has yet to make a statement on any possible agreement.
Earlier, media reported that Israel was preparing to return the two parcels of agricultural land south of the Dead Sea, after negotiations between Tel Aviv and Amman failed to achieve a breakthrough. Amman had first announced its intention to take the land back in October 2018.
AFP reported earlier Sunday that Israeli farmers were barred from entering the Jordanian border enclaves as King Abdullah II announced "full sovereignty" over the territories.
In September, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened to annex the Jordan Valley, which comprises almost one-third of the territory of the West Bank, if re-elected.
Comment: On November 6, Tucker Carlson spoke with Rep Devin Nunes last week, before Schiff's decree:
- Republican John Ratcliffe: Schiff is running a corrupt process to overthrow Trump
- NYT reveals 'whistleblower' consulted 'Shifty Shiff' before filing complaint. Trump triumphant.
Schiff tried to pull a second "whistleblower" out of his hat, the openly partisan Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman: