Sounds to me like the FBI is back to old tricks

[westkoast]

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=1169584

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico Sep 29, 2005 — Puerto Rican police tightened security at federal buildings and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton canceled a visit to the island amid fears the killing of a Puerto Rican nationalist in an FBI shootout could lead to a resurgence of pro-independence violence.

Police chief Pedro Toledo acknowledged the potential for unrest, saying the death of Filiberto Ojeda Rios had generated "rancor and rage."

Ojeda Rios, 72, was shot to death Friday by FBI agents who came to arrest him at his farmhouse in southwestern Puerto Rico for the 1983 armed robbery of a Wells Fargo depot in Connecticut. He was the leader of the militant independence movement known as the Macheteros, or Cane Cutters, and had been on the run for 15 years.


Protests immediately erupted in the streets of the capital San Juan during which demonstrators burned American flags and scrawled graffiti on two McDonald's restaurants.

Federal agents said they shot Ojeda Rios after he fired on them, but his widow, who escaped the farmhouse unharmed, said the FBI fired first. Puerto Ricans also criticized the FBI for waiting almost 24 hours to enter the farmhouse where the fugitive lay wounded.

The FBI has ordered an independent probe into the shooting but that has done little to abate the anger.

On Tuesday thousands of people turned out for his funeral, many waving Puerto Rican flags and singing revolutionary ballads. The Macheteros vowed to avenge his death in a statement read by the funeral's master of ceremonies.

"Yankees murderers, your days are numbered! … The fight will continue now and until the Yankees leave our soil," read the letter, which was signed by a Commander Guasabara "from somewhere on the island."

Clinton was to have addressed the chamber of commerce in the southern city of Ponce on Friday, spokesman Philippe Reines said. He did not return calls and e-mail queries about why the New York Democrat canceled the trip and if it had to do with the protests.

But Chamber of Commerce President Ernesto Cordova cited the "sensitivity of the current political situation."

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Yes, once again we are making people happy all over the world.  I find this story a little funny to just be an 'arrest' for a bank robbery.  Rios was head honcho in a movement to gain independence from America and apparently they were starting to really 'scare' the government.  The news from PR is that hundreds of rounds of ammo were found to be from guns the FBI were using while 10 casings from the weapon Rios was firing were found..funny eh?

[rickortreat]

Usually these type of "Black operations" are done by the CIA.  But since Puerto Rico is already a US protectorate, the FBI can function there.

Not really sure about the politics in Puerto Rico.  Would they really be better off as an independent nation?  As it is, a lot of Phamaceutical companies have factories there, and Puerto Ricans benefit from the jobs.

Most islands in the carribean are poor, and poverty stricken.  They don't have any oil, so it has to be imported.  There is little to export or that can be made there without importing first.

The economic realities of life make it likely that Puerto Rico is better off as a US protectorate, and there is talk from time to time about it becoming a state.

But like everywhere else, indigenous peoples prefer to go it on their own, rather than submit to the evil Americans.  

[SPURSX3]

Usually these type of "Black operations" are done by the CIA.  But since Puerto Rico is already a US protectorate, the FBI can function there.

Not really sure about the politics in Puerto Rico.  Would they really be better off as an independent nation?  As it is, a lot of Phamaceutical companies have factories there, and Puerto Ricans benefit from the jobs.

Most islands in the carribean are poor, and poverty stricken.  They don't have any oil, so it has to be imported.  There is little to export or that can be made there without importing first.

The economic realities of life make it likely that Puerto Rico is better off as a US protectorate, and there is talk from time to time about it becoming a state.

But like everywhere else, indigenous peoples prefer to go it on their own, rather than submit to the evil Americans.

Frankly, I think PR should be it's own.  Dont they receive all the benefits from us without paying taxes?  either way they should be cut loose already.

[westkoast]

Usually these type of "Black operations" are done by the CIA.  But since Puerto Rico is already a US protectorate, the FBI can function there.

Not really sure about the politics in Puerto Rico.  Would they really be better off as an independent nation?  As it is, a lot of Phamaceutical companies have factories there, and Puerto Ricans benefit from the jobs.

Most islands in the carribean are poor, and poverty stricken.  They don't have any oil, so it has to be imported.  There is little to export or that can be made there without importing first.

The economic realities of life make it likely that Puerto Rico is better off as a US protectorate, and there is talk from time to time about it becoming a state.

But like everywhere else, indigenous peoples prefer to go it on their own, rather than submit to the evil Americans.

That's a good point.  Coming from that standpoint its pretty hard to argue otherwise.  These people still do not want to be a US colony.   I know a few people from PR and they have a strong sense of pride when it comes to their home.

More and more reports have came out even since I posted this last night.  Hard to sort thru the bias and "stories" but you can get to alot of blogs/pages from Puerto Ricans who are speaking on it if you search.  

[rickortreat]

Currently they enjoy some benefits being affiliated with the US, and I think they are allowed to vote in National elections, but have no voice in the Senate or Congress.

No matter who the government is,  there are allways going to be problems and some people will benefit at the expense of others.  Puerto Rican pride is about as valid as any other national pride- it means nothing!

What does matter is what is really best for Puerto Rico from a pragmatic standpoint for it's citizens.

I believe they are a conquered territory, formerly a Spanish colony.  Isn't this the place that Teddy Roosevelt conquered?

If they did become independent, they'd be about as successful on their own as Cuba without the Cigars.

[SPURSX3]

Currently they enjoy some benefits being affiliated with the US, and I think they are allowed to vote in National elections, but have no voice in the Senate or Congress.

No matter who the government is,  there are allways going to be problems and some people will benefit at the expense of others.  Puerto Rican pride is about as valid as any other national pride- it means nothing!

What does matter is what is really best for Puerto Rico from a pragmatic standpoint for it's citizens.

I believe they are a conquered territory, formerly a Spanish colony.  Isn't this the place that Teddy Roosevelt conquered?

If they did become independent, they'd be about as successful on their own as Cuba without the Cigars.

It's their choice Rick, leave them to it IMO.  As long as we dont have to send any more money thier way just to support them after they get freedom from us.  

[rickortreat]

I agree, X3.  It should be their choice.  

But, somehow I don't think they'll get the chance.  The US can't resist meddling in others affairs.  Much to our shame and inspite of the admonishment of the founding father about foreign entanglements, it seems to be what we do.

[JoMal]

I believe they are a conquered territory, formerly a Spanish colony.  Isn't this the place that Teddy Roosevelt conquered?

If they did become independent, they'd be about as successful on their own as Cuba without the Cigars.

Roosevelt charged up San Juan Hill in Cuba, not Puerto Rico, during the Spanish American War, which resulted in the United States officially acquiring the island of Puerto Rico in 1900, along with Guam and the Phillipines. Cuba was given its independence.

The real economy of most Carribbean Islands has been tourism for some time now. Few of the islands can muster much in the way of exportable goods to survive as free market or trade societies. Therefore, it would not do the Puerto Ricans much good to lose the protection of the American Economy by becoming independent. The fact is, the United States would still have to support the island anyway.

One of the major drains is the old Soviet Union was Cuba. The Cuban economy gave very little back to their Soviet masters after Castro took over and he kicked out the U.S. Mafia and all the associated industries those wise guys supported on the island. Without that major flow of funds, the Cubans were thrown back into the dark ages of poverty, where they have floundered ever since. The Soviets were clearly getting sick of Castro and his useless socialism that causes no discernable industry that actually produced anything worth having in Russia, other then cigars and sugar, and you can't build much of a country on that.

What the separatist movement in Puerto Rico is offering its citizens is hardly an alternative that is going to make living conditions there better. It is hard enough now with U.S. intervention in the economy, and since they will need the United States still, why bother?

[jn]

I'd be curious to know if the Puerto Rican separtists are a majority of the people or just the loudest segment.