I find it interesting how inconsistent many of the people in the DR (and this board) are when it comes to cries of imperialism, exploitation, violations of sovereignty etc. It started with DR-CAFTA and claims that the evil gringos, especially agricultural gringos, will plunge the entire island into worse poverty and hyper-unemployment. Some board members who actually work in the agricultural business were kind enough to point out that the real agricultural threats of DR-CAFTA could come from Central America. Interestingly, there has been silence about similar agreements with Taiwan and the European Union.
Then we had the temporary presence of U.S. military troops on the island this past summer. Claims of invasion, violation of sovereignty and worse were everywhere. This is from today's news:
Operation: Dumas I
Dominican and French troops stormed the beaches of Bani yesterday, launched land to water missiles and evacuated injured citizens. No, it wasn't war or a natural disaster; instead it was practice in case there ever is the need for such action. Both military squads practiced using live ammunition with 12.7mm rounds and 7.62mm precision sniper rifles, as reported in Diario Libre. The Dominican and French troops were practicing land and water tactics as well as rescue missions in case of a natural disaster. The French troops leave the country on 23 November.
Where are the cries of sovereignty? Invasion? Foreign troops have no place in the DR! I would ask...where are the clinics? Bridges? Roads? etc. That's what we got from the Americans and NOT ONE shot was fired. Above it states that the exercise was for potential natural disaster missions. Then why the life fire exercise? Why fire missiles? Man, where are the conspiracy theorists (you all know who you are)? Didn't the French once colonize parts of the island?
This is not a case of me being an "oversensitive American". This doesn't bother me, it just makes me scratch my head and laugh.
Anybody want to enlighten me?
Scandall
Then we had the temporary presence of U.S. military troops on the island this past summer. Claims of invasion, violation of sovereignty and worse were everywhere. This is from today's news:
Operation: Dumas I
Dominican and French troops stormed the beaches of Bani yesterday, launched land to water missiles and evacuated injured citizens. No, it wasn't war or a natural disaster; instead it was practice in case there ever is the need for such action. Both military squads practiced using live ammunition with 12.7mm rounds and 7.62mm precision sniper rifles, as reported in Diario Libre. The Dominican and French troops were practicing land and water tactics as well as rescue missions in case of a natural disaster. The French troops leave the country on 23 November.
Where are the cries of sovereignty? Invasion? Foreign troops have no place in the DR! I would ask...where are the clinics? Bridges? Roads? etc. That's what we got from the Americans and NOT ONE shot was fired. Above it states that the exercise was for potential natural disaster missions. Then why the life fire exercise? Why fire missiles? Man, where are the conspiracy theorists (you all know who you are)? Didn't the French once colonize parts of the island?
This is not a case of me being an "oversensitive American". This doesn't bother me, it just makes me scratch my head and laugh.
Anybody want to enlighten me?
Scandall