Adam Isacson

David Wallace / The Republic photo at USA Today. Caption: “Construction of the border wall prototypes continues near the Otay Mesa Port of Entry outside of San Diego, California, on Oct. 17, 2017.”

(Even more here)

October 23, 2017

Argentina

• Carlos E. Cue, Federico Rivas Molina, “Mauricio Macri Logra una Victoria Aplastante en las Elecciones de Argentina” (El Pais (Spain), October 23, 2017).

Los datos cambian por completo el panorama político argentino, dominado en los últimos 70 años, con altibajos, por un actor central, el peronismo

• Daniel Politi, “Argentina’s Leader, Mauricio Macri, Bolstered by Election Results” (The New York Times, October 23, 2017).

In Senate contests, the party with the most votes wins two seats, while the runner-up gets one, meaning that Mrs. Kirchner will get a seat in the chamber anyway

• Sylvia Colombo, “Algunos Crimenes Muy Argentinos” (The New York Times, October 23, 2017).

En una democracia normal, ambos casos estarían circunscritos al ámbito de la justicia y esas muertes no serían fichas de juego en el tablero político

Brazil

• Daniel Trielli, Peter Prengaman, Sarah Dilorenzo, “Millions Return to Poverty in Brazil, Eroding ‘Boom’ Decade” (Associated Press, The Washington Post, October 23, 2017).

The World Bank estimates about 28.6 million Brazilians moved out of poverty between 2004 and 2014. But the bank estimates that from the start of 2016 to the end of this year, 2.5 million to 3.6 million will have fallen back

Colombia

• Marisol GÓmez Giraldo, “‘Meta de Sustitucion Voluntaria se Cumplira en Mayo’: Pardo” (El Tiempo (Colombia), October 23, 2017).

Pardo está a cargo del plan de sustitución voluntaria de los plantíos ilícitos, mediante el cual el Gobierno aspira a erradicar 50.000 hectáreas

• Alfredo Molano Bravo, “¿y Ahora Que?” (El Espectador (Colombia), October 23, 2017).

Sin lugar a duda, lo que está pasando en Nariño se repetirá en Putumayo, Guaviare, Cauca y Catatumbo porque la gente no va a dejarse quitar el pan de la boca

• Angie Michell Quinones, Javier Forero, “Asi Es la Vida en el Primer Pueblo Socialista del Pais” (El Tiempo (Colombia), October 23, 2017).

Se asentaron cerca de 200 excombatientes que, luego de haber dejado las armas en este mismo territorio, construyeron sus casas, asignaron roles de trabajo y crearon una economía en la que los recursos son repartidos por igual

• “Los Siete Grupos Disidentes de las Farc Que Amenazan el Pacifico” (Colprensa, El Colombiano (Medellin Colombia), October 23, 2017).

Solo en la región del Pacífico, representada por Valle, Cauca y Nariño, hay más de 160 disidentes de las Farc organizados en siete grupos

• “El Doloroso Asesinato de 81 Lideres (Este Ano)” (Semana (Colombia), October 23, 2017).

José Jair Cortés es el más reciente de casi un centenar de líderes asesinados este año sin que el Estado pudiera evitarlo.¿Cómo parar este desangre?

• Nelson Matta Colorado, “Las Raices del “Clan del Golfo” en Medellin” (El Colombiano (Medellin Colombia), October 23, 2017).

La última crisis de seguridad en el corregimiento Altavista, que entre junio y septiembre produjo 15 asesinatos, más de 80 desplazamientos forzados y zozobra por las balaceras diarias, es el reflejo de lo nocivas que han sido para los medellinenses

• Sergio Gomez Maseri, “‘Descertificar a Colombia Habria Sido Estupido’: William Brownfield” (El Tiempo (Colombia), October 23, 2017).

Creo que ese lenguaje fue pésimo, lamento que se usara y creo que los que saben lo que Colombia ha hecho en estos 20 años también piensan igual

• Maria Luna Mendoza, “Las Mujeres a las Que la Guerra las Obligo a Volverse Detectives” (El Tiempo (Colombia), October 23, 2017).

Cuatro valientes cuentan cómo asumieron la búsqueda tras la desaparición forzada de sus familiares

Honduras

• Mattathias Schwartz, “d.e.A. Says Hondurans Opened Fire During a Drug Raid. A Video Suggests Otherwise.” (The New York Times, October 23, 2017).

For a crucial piece of evidence that it asserted would exonerate its personnel, the D.E.A. kept the video under tight control

Mexico

• Gustavo Castillo, “Coordinan en Ciudad Juarez y el Paso Tareas de Seguridad” (La Jornada (Mexico), October 23, 2017).

En dicho encuentro, funcionarios de ambos países afianzaron la estrategia y operación para la atención de los delitos de trasiego de drogas, tráfico de personas, divisas, armas, lavado de dinero, indocumentado, ciberseguridad, entre otros

• Sanjuana Martinez, “Defensora de los Derechos de las Mujeres, Violada por la Policia en Tlapa, Guerrero” (La Jornada (Mexico), October 23, 2017).

Yndira Sandoval asegura que si no se le hace justicia en México, acudirá a la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos

• “Ataques Armados de Este Sabado Dejaron en Bcs 11 Personas Sin Vida y 1 Lesionado” (BCS Noticias (Baja California Sur Mexico), October 23, 2017).

Hasta el momento 5 personas han sido identificadas, mientras que el resto permanece en calidad de desconocido

Venezuela

• Geoff Ramsey, “International Community Responds to Venezuela’s Gubernatorial Elections” (Washington Office on Latin America, October 23, 2017).

International actors have responded with a combination of outright condemnation, statements of concern, and statements of support

• Alberto Barrera Tyszka, “Una Larga y Triste Derrota” (ProDaVinci (Venezuela), October 23, 2017).

Todo es chantaje. El delito es la nueva forma de la política. La democracia ya ni siquiera sirve como espectáculo

Western Hemisphere Regional

• Jill Castellano, Rafael Carranza, “Behind Efforts to Build Prototypes of Trump’s Border Wall, Emails Show a Confusing and Haphazard Process” (USA Today, October 23, 2017).

Experts and companies who submitted bids agreed – the border wall bidding process was rushed, and qualified candidates may have been overlooked for the sake of speed

Policía Militar photo from El Heraldo (Honduras). Caption: “Se realizan cateos este jueves en el centro penal de Santa Bárbara en busca de armas, droga y otros objetos prohibidos.”

(Even more here)

October 20, 2017

Argentina

• Daniel Politi, “Body Found in Argentine River Shakes Up Election” (The New York Times, October 20, 2017).

The Maldonado case became a thorn in the ruling party’s campaign, and the latest twist could raise questions in voters’ minds about the government’s handling of the investigation

Colombia

• Gideon Long, “Us Increases Pressure on Colombia to Curb Coca Production” (The Financial Times (UK), October 20, 2017).

Coca production has surged dramatically in recent years and the arrival of Donald Trump in the White House has added to pressure on Bogotá

• “80 % de Meta de Erradicacion Forzada Estara Lista Este Fin de Semana” (El Tiempo (Colombia), October 20, 2017).

La meta de erradicación forzada de cultivos de coca de 50.000 mil hectáreas impuesta por el Gobierno a la Fuerza Pública se cumplirá antes de lo previsto, al lograr durante el fin de semana el exterminio de 40.000 hectáreas

• Javier AlexÁnder MacÍas, “Disidencia Asesino a Seis Excombatientes de Farc en Narino” (El Colombiano (Medellin Colombia), October 20, 2017).

Las versiones iniciales indicaban que se trató de un enfrentamiento entre disidencias de las Farc, pero el grupo exguerrillero desmintió esta versión oficial

• “Gobierno Anuncia Medidas para Contrarrestar Violencia Contra Lideres” (El Tiempo (Colombia), October 20, 2017).

Como medida prioritaria para retomar el control de ese territorio, el jefe de Estado anunció la creación de un comando de tarea conjunta con participación de todas las fuerzas que van a copar la zona

• Lina Asprilla, “Cese al Fuego Con el Eln, los Impactos y los Retos” (CERAC (Colombia), October 20, 2017).

La reducción de municipios con registro de acciones violentas por parte de esta guerrilla es un hecho notorio

• “Iachr Condemns the Killing of Colombian Farmers and a Community Leader and the Attack on a Humanitarian Mission and on Journalists” (Inter-American Human Rights Commission, Organization of American States, October 20, 2017).

The Commission urges the State of Colombia to investigate these events with due diligence, clarify the circumstances in which they occurred, and identify and punish those responsible

Cuba

• , Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), “Punishing Without Evidence: The Trump Administration’s Gratuitous Steps to Roll Back Progress Between the United States and Cuba” (The Huffington Post, October 20, 2017).

These actions are not only counter-productive to solving this mystery, but will inevitably punish the Cuban people, separate Cuban-Americans from their loved ones on the island, hurt U.S. companies interested in doing business in Cuba, and disrupt further progress

Ecuador

• “The Virtue of Ecuador’s Leninism” (The Economist (Uk), October 20, 2017).

Where Mr Correa was a tub-thumping polariser, Mr Moreno is a soft-spoken consensus-maker

Haiti

• Edwidge Danticat, “A New Chapter for the Disastrous United Nations Mission in Haiti” (The New Yorker, October 20, 2017).

Why should Haitians trust another group of U.N. “peacekeepers” who claim to promote the same human rights, justice, and rule of law that have been so blatantly violated by their colleagues?

Honduras

• “Fuerza Naval Ahora Trabaja Con Israel para Recibir un Buque de Combate” (El Heraldo (Honduras), October 20, 2017).

El comandante de la Fuerza Naval de Honduras dijo que el nuevo equipo logístico marítimo coloca a Honduras al nivel de la región

• Felipe Puerta, Steven Dudley, “A Honduras Political Clan and Its Criminal Fiefdom” (InsightCrime, October 20, 2017).

As with many stories regarding the Urbina Soto clan, it is difficult to separate fact from fiction. The family has long been part legend, part reality in the region

Mexico

• David Agren, “Why Thousands of People in Mexico City Raised Their Fists to the Sky Thursday” (The Washington Post, October 20, 2017).

It was an homage to the victims of the magnitude-7.1 earthquake that slammed the national capital a month earlier, on Sept. 19

• Ezequiel Flores Contreras, “Astudillo Admite Fracaso de Estrategia Contra la Violencia y Pide Nuevo “Pacto por la Seguridad”” (Proceso (Mexico), October 20, 2017).

El priista admitió el fracaso de la estrategia federal que encabeza el Ejército desde hace cuatro años, porque “el problema de Guerrero –dijo– no es político, es la violencia”

Venezuela

• Anatoly Kurmanaev, Maria Ramirez, “Venezuela Bars Opposition Governors From Taking Office” (The Wall Street Journal, October 20, 2017).

Venezuela’s government on Thursday banned opposition governors from taking office in five states, replacing them with ruling-party substitutes, after the opposition released evidence it said proves electoral fraud

• Francisco Toro, “Psuv Steals Bolivar State Governor’s Race” (Caracas Chronicles, October 20, 2017).

While claims of fraud have circulated after many a lost election, it’s never been possible to show actual tallying fraud with the actas in hand as evidence

• “Venezuela Holds Another Flawed Election” (The Economist (Uk), October 20, 2017).

The MUD is rattled. While Mr Maduro celebrated Venezuela’s “record-breaking” democracy, confusion reigned at opposition headquarters in Caracas

• Elizabeth J. Zechmeister, Noam Lupu, “Did Maduro’s Party Really Dominate Sunday’s Election in Venezuela? These Polls Should Make You Skeptical” (The Washington Post, October 20, 2017).

A sweeping government victory in the midst of profound economic and social unrest, after months of widespread protests against the Maduro government, beggars credulity

• Jeanmiguel Uva, Olga Onuch, “Venezuela’s Latest Elections Are Likely to Trigger a Regional Migration Crisis” (The Washington Post, October 20, 2017).

The opposition to Maduro’s regime will be displaced abroad, spreading the Venezuelan crisis throughout the region

Photo from Fundación Paz y Reconciliación (Colombia).

(Even more here)

October 19, 2017

Argentina

• Benedict Mander, “Election Tests Macri’s Promise to Make Argentina ‘Normal’ Again” (The Financial Times (UK), October 19, 2017).

Polls predict Mr Macri’s coalition could win close to 40 per cent of the national vote, an improvement on the 34 per cent it won in the presidential race, and extend its control over congress

Colombia

• Natalia Arenas, “Una Muerte Literalmente Anunciada” (La Silla Vacia (Colombia), October 19, 2017).

Según informó la Defensoría del Pueblo, José Jair tenía medidas de protección de la Unidad Nacional de Protección. Aún así, fue asesinado después de que salió del casco urbano de Tumaco

• “El de Jose Jair Cortes, Otro Asesinato Anunciado en Tumaco” (Verdad Abierta (Colombia), October 19, 2017).

El crimen ocurrió a pesar de que contaba con esquema de seguridad de la Unidad Nacional de Protección (UNP) y de que los líderes de ese territorio colectivo habían denunciado la situación extrema

• Mario Murillo, “Colombia’s Precarious Peace” (NACLA, October 19, 2017).

Given the history of government neglect, lack of infrastructure, a total absence of any level of technical support for the communities and ongoing threats from paramilitary groups operating in the area, the prospects do not look so good

• “Onu: 1.500 Desplazados por Recientes Choques Armados en Colombia” (Agence France Presse, El Espectador (Colombia), October 19, 2017).

Según OCHA y fuentes gubernamentales, las acciones armadas se presentaron un día después de los confusos hechos del 6 de octubre en una zona rural de Tumaco

• “Lo Que Ocurre en Tumaco Puede Ocurrir en Diez Municipios” (Fundación Paz y Reconciliación (Colombia), October 19, 2017).

La intensificación de la erradicación forzada y el ataque de la fuerza pública a los campesinos cocaleros le asestan un golpe mortal a este propósito. Lo más grave es que esto puede ocurrir en otros 10 sitios claves

Honduras

• Hector Silva Avalos, “‘Organized Crime Permeates Society’ in Honduras: Presidential Advisor” (InsightCrime, October 19, 2017).

The accusations about political ties to drug trafficking will undoubtedly play a key role in the run-up to the late November vote

Mexico

• , Alfredo Corchado, “As Trump’s Border Plans Take Shape, Critics Call for Virtual Wall” (The Dallas Morning News, October 19, 2017).

Cuellar has long sought $92 million in funding over five years for Operation Border SMART (Strategic Mobile And Response Team), a virtual wall that uses technology and boots on the ground as an alternative to a wall

• Adam Isacson, Elyssa Pachico, “We Need a More Agile Border Patrol — Not a Bigger One” (The Hill, October 19, 2017).

There are indeed border security policies that are cost-effective, reasonable, humane and deserving of support from both parties. Congress would do well to pursue these

• “How Former Mexican Governors Used the United States to Embezzle Billions of Dollars” (Univision, October 19, 2017).

Purchase documents link the home to Javier Duarte, the former governor of the state of Veracruz in southeastern Mexico, a confidential source confirmed

Venezuela

• Mac Margolis, “Venezuela’s Opposition Hurt Its Own Cause” (Bloomberg, October 19, 2017).

This is Venezuela, where even feckless leaders have an afterlife, and opponents must convince their rank and file that casting a vote isn’t a fool’s errand

• Felix Seijas Rodriguez, “Venezuela: The Brutal Truth About Maduro’s Election Victory” (Americas Quarterly, October 19, 2017).

President Nicolás Maduro’s opponents must decide whether the ballot box can still serve as an effective tool against the regime

• Anatoly Kurmanaev, “Venezuela’s Opposition in Disarray After Electoral Rout” (The Wall Street Journal, October 19, 2017).

By appealing to opposition supporters who abstained Sunday, Ms. Machado and her allies could create a parallel opposition coalition to rival Democratic Unity

Ross D. Franklin/Pool/File Photo from Reuters. Caption: “Two young girls watch a World Cup soccer match on a television from their holding area where hundreds of mostly Central American immigrant children are being processed and held at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Nogales Placement Center in Nogales, Arizona June 18, 2014.”

(Even more here)

October 18, 2017

Argentina

• Charlie Devereux, “Argentina’s Most Powerful Women Face Off in Buenos Aires Vote” (Bloomberg, October 18, 2017).

“In some ways this has become a competition between Vidal and Cristina”

Brazil

• Dom Phillips, “Accused of Corruption, Popularity Near Zero – Why Is Temer Still Brazil’s President?” (The Guardian (Uk), October 18, 2017).

Lack of trust is feeding support for an authoritarian solution to the crisis – which could have serious consequences in next year’s presidential elections

• Mimi Whitefield, “Young Journalists Bring the Reality of Favelas to the Rest of Brazil” (The Miami Herald, October 18, 2017).

Young reporters want to write about their reality and the positive news in their marginalized neighborhoods, not just about violence, drug trafficking and the bizarre

Colombia

• “El de Jose Jair Cortes, Otro Asesinato Anunciado en Tumaco” (Verdad Abierta (Colombia), October 18, 2017).

El crimen ocurrió a pesar de que contaba con esquema de seguridad de la Unidad Nacional de Protección (UNP) y de que los líderes de ese territorio colectivo habían denunciado la situación extrema

• Juan Carlos Garzón, Manuela Suarez, “Erradicacion Forzada: Los Efectos de una Meta Sin Sentido” (Razon Publica (Colombia), October 18, 2017).

Los muertos de Tumaco son solo uno de los muchos conflictos que está produciendo esta estrategia, que es además ineficiente y no se está aplicando en las regiones donde se debería

• Eduardo Alvarez Vanegas, “Tumaco, ¿Mas de Lo Mismo?” (El Espectador (Colombia), October 18, 2017).

La presencia de diferentes expresiones armadas no necesariamente es el factor más preocupante

• “Xiii Informe Sobre Presencia de Grupos Narcoparamilitares – Primer Semestre de 2017” (INDEPAZ (Colombia), October 18, 2017).

Indepaz las ha denominado narcoparamilitares, reconociendo su origen en el paramilitarismo de las AUC y otros grupos similares; prácticas y objetivos que aún conservan de éstas; y destacando las economías ilícitas

• Angelika Albaladejo, “Is Colombia Underestimating the Scale of Farc Dissidence?” (InsightCrime, October 18, 2017).

The Colombian government’s estimates of FARC dissidence fall well below those observed on the ground by InSight Crime, and these numbers will likely increase

• ““Disidentes de las Farc No Superan el Seis por Ciento”: Joshua Mitrotti” (Verdad Abierta (Colombia), October 18, 2017).

Una de las razones por las cuales la disidencia podría estar creciendo es el incumplimiento de los acuerdos por parte del gobierno nacional y la lentitud para atender las necesidades

• ““La Frustracion Con la Implementacion de la Paz Es Explosiva”: Todd Howland” (Verdad Abierta (Colombia), October 18, 2017).

Antes estaba la idea de que las víctimas eran el centro del proceso, pero todos perdieron el norte relacionado con esa idea, lo cual es muy frustrante

• “Asesinan a Otro Lider Social en Tumaco, Narino” (El Espectador (Colombia), October 18, 2017).

Cortés era uno de los miembros del Consejo Comunitario del territorio de Alto Mira y Frontera, en el departamento de Nariño, fronterizo con Ecuador

El Salvador

• Tristan Clavel, “Why It’s So Hard to Leave el Salvador’s Gangs: An Interview With Jose Miguel Cruz” (InsightCrime, October 18, 2017).

In March 2017, a study by Florida International University (FIU) examined the dynamics behind the dangerous choice to abandon gang life and the challenges faced by ex-members seeking to reintegrate into society

Guatemala

• Sonia Perez D., “Guatemala Extends un Anti-Corruption Official’s Visa” (Associated Press **, October 18, 2017).

The Guatemalan government has renewed the visa of the U.N. anti-corruption commissioner but instructed him to “refrain from interfering in the internal affairs” of the country

• , Rep. Ed Royce (R-California), Rep. Eliot Engel (D-New York), “Engel, Royce Call for Guatemala Visa Bans and Review of U.S. Assistance” (U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs Democratic Office, October 18, 2017).

Called on Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to use his authority under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act to put in place visa bans for those individuals in Guatemala who are committing or facilitating acts of corruption

• Evelyn Boche, “Alejandra Reyes: Byron Lima Modifico Escena del Crimen de Gerardi” (ElPeriodico (Guatemala), October 18, 2017).

El hijo del expresidente “tiene que ver con la muerte” del coordinador del Remhi, según una de las últimas conversaciones que el Capitán tuvo con su pareja, Reyes

Mexico

• , Joshua Partlow, “Mexicans See Models of Trump’s ‘Impenetrable’ Wall, and They’re Not Impressed” (The Washington Post, October 18, 2017).

Even these big warning slabs of concrete, the teeming construction site, and police and helicopters patrolling both sides of the border weren’t enough to stop a half-dozen would-be migrants from hopping the existing fence this month and landing smack in the middle of the project

• Elisabeth Malkin, “Mexico’s Attorney General Resigns Under Pressure” (The New York Times, October 18, 2017).

Mr. Cervantes was viewed by anti-corruption activists as Mr. Peña Nieto’s attempt to shield the party’s power brokers from investigations into graft

Venezuela

• Andrew Rosati, “Venezuela’s Opposition Cornered as Elections Slip Out of Reach” (Bloomberg, October 18, 2017).

“They are divided, confused and some of them are unwilling to tell their voters they failed twice”

• Francisco Toro, “Venezuela’s Democracy Is Fake, but the Government’s Latest Election Win Was Real” (The Washington Post, October 18, 2017).

Exhaustion has set in. Millions of people who had turned out to vote for the opposition in the past just didn’t turn out. The government cheated, but it also won. Both things are true

Western Hemisphere Regional

• Mica Rosenberg, Reade Levinson, Ryan Mcneill, “For U.S. Asylum Seekers, Some Judges Are a Better Bet Than Others” (Reuters **, October 18, 2017).

The difference between residency and deportation depends largely on who hears the case, and where

• Alex Cuadros, “Open Talk of a Military Coup Unsettles Brazil” (The New Yorker, October 13, 2017).

The military high command is making disturbing signals. And a large minority of the population, along with a leading presidential candidate, are OK with it.

• “Corruption on the Rise in Latin America and the Caribbean” (Transparency International, October 10, 2017).

Transparency International asked more than 22,000 people in Latin America and the Caribbean about corruption in their daily lives. The survey also looks at how institutions are perceived and how corruption has been developing in each country

• Michael Paarlberg, “Don’t Believe the Trump Administration: Ms–13 Is Not Ravaging the United States” (The Washington Post, October 11, 2017).

Data shows how surprisingly small MS–13’s footprint is in the United States. In Central America, though, it’s huge.

• “Sustitucion de Hoja de Coca: Entre Lentitud del Gobierno y Presion de Criminales” (Verdad Abierta (Colombia), October 11, 2017).

“Presión de grupos armados ilegales, erradicación forzada, contradicciones en la política antidrogas y falta de recursos pronostican un futuro adverso.”

• Garance Burke, “Engineers: Lives Lost in Mexico Quake Could Have Been Saved” (Associated Press **, October 10, 2017).

“Corruption has allowed hundreds of structures to be built outside the rules atop the soft soils of Mexico City’s ancient lakebed.”

U.S. Customs and Border Protection photo at Newsweek. Caption: “Construction crews build prototype models of the proposed wall along the Southwest border between the U.S. and Mexico, October 11, 2017.”

(Even more here)

October 13, 2017

Brazil

• Alex Cuadros, “Open Talk of a Military Coup Unsettles Brazil” (The New Yorker, October 13, 2017).

Bolsonaro can be seen telling a fervent crowd in the city of Belém that the general is a patriot trying to keep his country from going under. The post has racked up half a million views

Brazil, Venezuela

• Nicholas Casey, “Maduro Becomes Latest Leader Accused in Huge Bribery Scheme” (The New York Times, October 13, 2017).

On the recording, Mr. Azevedo says he gave $50 million, but then corrects himself to say the amount was actually $35 million

Colombia

• Nicolas Sanchez A., “Awas de Tumaco Resisten a los Armados” (El Espectador (Colombia), October 13, 2017).

Días antes del asesinato de por lo menos seis campesinos en la zona rural, la guardia indígena awá había tenido choques con la Fuerza Pública. También se han negado a las presiones de disidencias de las Farc para protestar

Cuba

• Josh Lederman, Michael Weissenstein, “Dangerous Sound? What Americans Heard in Cuba Attacks” (Associated Press **, October 13, 2017).

The Associated Press has obtained a recording of what some U.S. Embassy workers heard in Havana in a series of unnerving incidents later deemed to be deliberate attacks

• Julian Borger, Philip Jaekl, “Mass Hysteria May Explain ‘Sonic Attacks’ in Cuba, Say Top Neurologists” (The Guardian (Uk), October 13, 2017).

“Mass hysteria” is the popular term for outbreaks among groups of people which are partly or wholly psychosomatic, but Hallett stressed there should be no blame attached to them

El Salvador

• “Aislan a Mareros Que Ordenaron Mas de 200 Asesinatos en el Salvador” (EFE, La Prensa (Nicaragua), October 13, 2017).

Las autoridades de Seguridad de El Salvador trasladaron este jueves a cinco líderes de la Mara Salvatrucha (MS13), acusados de ordenar más de 200 asesinatos entre finales de septiembre y los primeros días octubre, al penal de máxima seguridad

Mexico

• Rafael Bernal, “Kelly: Mexico and Central America ‘Do More’ to Stop Drugs Than Us” (The Hill, October 13, 2017).

Kelly praised the Mexican government for its role in border security, saying the United States doesn’t pull its weight on fighting demand within the United States for the drugs

• Graham Lanktree, “This Is What Donald Trump’s U.S.-Mexico Border Wall Might Look Like” (Newsweek, October 13, 2017).

The mock ups are being built near the Otay Mesa Port of Entry in San Diego by several companies that pitched designs to the Department of Homeland Security

Paraguay

• Santi Carneri, “El Pueblo Que Quiere Dejar de Cultivar Marihuana en Paraguay” (The New York Times, October 13, 2017).

No pedían la legalización del cannabis: pedían volver a cultivar mandioca o tomates en lugar de marihuana. Pero para eso necesitaban servicios públicos mínimos

Venezuela

• Cody Weddle, “Months After Violent Protests, Venezuelan Election Tests Opposition to Maduro” (The Miami Herald, October 13, 2017).

While Maduro remains unpopular, with approval ratings hovering just over 20 percent, apathy and disappointment within the opposition’s base could play to his advantage

• “Iconos de las Protestas en Venezuela Indecisos para Votaciones Regionales” (Agence France Presse, La Prensa (Nicaragua), October 13, 2017).

Algunos se sienten frustrados y dicen que no votarán para no legitimar al gobierno, otros… aún guardan esperanzas

Western Hemisphere Regional

• Richard E. Feinberg, “What Trump’s “America First” Means for Latin America” (Americas Quarterly, October 13, 2017).

Smart great powers ensure their safety by befriending smaller neighboring countries

Photo from El Espectador (Colombia).

(Even more here)

October 12, 2017

Brazil

• Paulo Trevisani, “Brazilian Congress Backs Bill for Troops to Be Tried by Military Court in Civilian Deaths” (The Wall Street Journal, October 12, 2017).

Troops who are increasingly being pressed into service to fight urban drug gangs will face a military tribunal, rather than a civilian court, if they are accused of killing civilians, under the new legislation

• Brian Winter, “Wanted: A (Sane) Brazilian President Who Can Stop the Violence” (Americas Quarterly, October 12, 2017).

Brazilians have remained trapped between a left that believes effective law enforcement is tantamount to dictatorship-style repression, and a right that believes it consists of sending shock troops into favelas to shoot things up

Central America Regional

• Astead W. Herndon, “Trump, Sessions Exaggerate Gang Threat to Justify Crackdown” (The Boston Globe, October 12, 2017).

“I do not see any evidence that the people making these policies are doing anything except taking advantage of people’s misconceptions about gangs to further their anti-immigration agenda”

Colombia

• Yolima Dussan, “Colombian Army Activates Strategic Battalions” (Revista Dialogo (U.S. Southern Command), October 12, 2017).

The Development and Integral Action and Support Battalions (BAAID, per its Spanish acronym) were born, responsible for creating social change, reactivating the economy in areas where illegal armed groups had a presence, and strengthening institutions and governance

• Sergio Gomez Maseri, “Puntos en Acuerdo de Paz Serian Inconsistentes Con Cpi, Dice Ee. Uu.” (El Tiempo (Colombia), October 12, 2017).

Eso, al menos, es lo afirma un documento del Departamento de Estado titulado ‘Certificación relacionada con el financiamiento militar extranjero para Colombia’

• Juan Esteban Lewin, Juanita León, “‘El Acuerdo No Es Intocable Ni se Puede “Hacer Trizas”’: Corte” (La Silla Vacia (Colombia), October 12, 2017).

Dice que si una norma futura de implementación viola “los fines y el espíritu” del Acuerdo Final será declarada inexequible por la Corte

• “Reunion de Gobierno, Fiscal y Farc Destraba Ley para Justicia Especial” (El Tiempo (Colombia), October 12, 2017).

Las coincidencias entre estos protagonistas fueron posibles tras una reunión de más de seis horas

• “Listo el Equipo Que Verificara el Cese del Fuego Con el Eln” (El Tiempo (Colombia), October 12, 2017).

La misión de la ONU desplegará sus observadores internacionales en 33 municipios de los más afectados por el conflicto con el Eln. Mientras tanto, la Iglesia católica tendrá el papel de dar acompañamiento a través de 20 diócesis

Colombia, Venezuela

• MarÍa Victoria Correa, “Paso Fronterizo, en Jaque por Disputa de Bandas” (El Colombiano (Medellin Colombia), October 12, 2017).

Durante los últimos tres meses, en la frontera de Cúcuta se ha presentado una balacera cada seis días

• Andrew Rosati, “Thousands Are Fleeing Venezuela by Two-Lane Border Bridge” (Bloomberg, October 12, 2017).

According to Colombia’s migration authority, the number of foreigners entering Cucuta, the first major city across the bridge, more than doubled this summer. Over 50,000 came in August, up from 22,700 in June

Cuba

• Mark Feierstein, “America Should Strengthen, Not Abandon, Relationship With Cuba” (The Hill, October 12, 2017).

The perpetrators of the alleged attacks on U.S. officials apparently wanted the U.S. and Cuban people to drift apart again

Guatemala

• Jody Garcia, “El Siguiente Golpe de la Cicig Contra las Mafias Sera Legal” (Nomada (Guatemala), October 12, 2017).

El comisionado presentó el décimo informe de labores con una sola idea en mente: continuar junto al MP el proceso de erradicación de las mafias en el Estado de Guatemala

• Jo-Marie Burt, “Rios Montt Back on the Docket” (Washington Office on Latin America, The Huffington Post, October 12, 2017).

Ríos Montt will not be present in the courtroom, since he has been found to suffer from dementia. As a result, the court has applied special provisions to his case

Mexico

• Earl Anthony Wayne, “U.S. Endangers Fight Against Mexican Drug Trade With Nafta Hardball” (The Mexico Institute, Forbes, October 12, 2017).

Mexico’s economy and foreign ministers have flagged that Mexico will reconsider U.S.-Mexico cooperation on security and migration, if the United States abandons NAFTA and relations become unbalanced

• Gustavo Martinez, “‘Why So Much Hate?’ Femicides Plague Mexico’s Largest State” (Associated Press, Fox News, October 12, 2017).

The State of Mexico officially ranks second to the nation’s capital with 346 killings classified as femicides since 2011, according to government statistics

Venezuela

• Anthony Faiola, Rachelle Krygier, “Is Venezuela a Dictatorship? A Key Election Will Offer Clues.” (The Washington Post, October 12, 2017).

As often happened during the reign of former president Hugo Chávez — who named Maduro his successor before his death in 2013 — food baskets are being doled out to hungry voters at pro-government rallies

• Ben Raderstorf, Michael J. Camilleri, “Why Is Venezuela Included in Trump’s Travel Ban?” (The New York Times, October 12, 2017).

Including Venezuela in the otherwise unrelated travel ban fits with this unilateral trend and adds to the sense that a frustrated White House is throwing things at the wall and hoping something will stick