Reagan Repudiated? FMLN wins in El Salvador

[Tiassa]

Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front candidate Mauricio Funes has won the presidency of El Salvador, bringing the political wing of former Marxist guerillas targeted by the Reagan administration to the height of Salvadoran political power.

It would appear that the anti-Communist proxy war of the Reagan years has been repudiated.

Leftist Mauricio Funes of El Salvador's former Marxist rebel FMLN party has won the country's presidential election.

He defeated his conservative rival, the Arena party's Rodrigo Avila, who has admitted defeat.

Arena had won every presidential election since the end of El Salvador's civil war 18 years ago.

Addressing jubilant supporters, Mr Funes said it was the happiest day of his life and the beginning of a new chapter of peace for the country.

Branded by his opponents as a puppet of Venezuala's President Hugo Chavez, Mr Funes vowed to respect all Salvadorian democratic institutions.

The FMLN won 51.3% of the vote against Arena's 48.7%, Reuters news agency reported.

(BBC News)

Let us hope that President Funes and the FMLN can do better by the country than his Arena predecessors.
_____________________

Notes:

"Left-winger wins El Salvador poll". BBC News Online. March 16, 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7944899.stm

[John99]

I am sorry Tiassa but what does this have to do with Ronal Reagan or even communists?

[Bells]

I am sorry Tiassa but what does this have to do with Ronal Reagan or even communists?

[superstring01]

The claimed reasons for defeating (or defending against) communism were many, but the real purpose was always to prevent Soviet encroachment in the Americas. Since that is no longer a threat, this victory is hardly a repudiation against the policies of Reagan, more than 20 years ago.

~String

[John99]

Clever picture Bells. Do you have any other response?

[John99]

The claimed reasons for defeating (or defending against) communism were many, but the real purpose was always to prevent Soviet encroachment in the Americas. Since that is no longer a threat, this victory is hardly a repudiation against the policies of Reagan, more than 20 years ago.

~String

From what i understand tThe Russian people themselves didnt want communism, if they did i would like to see some examples.

[John99]

and of course there was the Berlin wall.

[Tiassa]

Since that is no longer a threat, this victory is hardly a repudiation against the policies of Reagan, more than 20 years ago.

A fair consideration, but Americans are still afraid of Communism. And the economic and military policies we've carried since are part of Reagan's legacy.

• • •

I am sorry Tiassa but what does this have to do with Ronal Reagan or even communists?

We fought proxy wars in Central America, including El Salvador. These were a centerpiece of Reagan's anti-Communist platform.

It's twenty years later, one of the groups Reagan worked to exterminate has just claimed the presidency of El Salvador. (See PBS Frontline, "Enemies of War", for a brief overview.)

[John99]

Proxy wars? It was hardly a secret that the U.S was opposed to Communism and the funding\arming of people by proxy who worked against elected governments.

[John99]

afterall Tiassa have you ever lived in a communist coutry yourself?

[Tiassa]

Proxy wars? It was hardly a secret that the U.S was opposed to Communism and the funding\arming of people by proxy who worked against elected governments.

When was secrecy ever a requisite for a proxy war?

afterall Tiassa have you ever lived in a communist coutry yourself?

Well, there was the several years I spent in Oregon, which was pretty close if you ask some people.

[John99]

nevermind....*john takes a break*

[Repo Man]

Well, Reagan knew this would happen if we stopped funding murderous thugs to protect far right dictators.