Western Hemisphere Regional

• Rebecca Bill Chavez, “The Return of Latin America’s Military” (The New York Times, August 14, 2018).

the administration has an opening this week to demonstrate commitment to our core principles by stating its opposition to the militarization of law enforcement, which represents a challenge to liberal democracy across much of Latin America

Argentina

• Rut Diamint, “Faltan Mayores Precisiones en la Reforma Militar” (Clarin (Argentina), August 13, 2018).

Las nuevas amenazas afectan especialmente algunas vulnerabilidades del Estado, ya sean estas deficiencias en los controles migratorios, la indulgencia ante tráficos ilegales, o la complicidad con actores violentos. Y ellas no se neutralizan con una fuerza armada

• Horacio Jaunarena, “Falta Definir el Alcance del Apoyo de las Fuerzas Armadas a las de Seguridad” (Perfil (Argentina), August 14, 2018).

La primera cuestión que debe definirse con precisión, ya que el decreto no la aborda, es qué significado y alcance tiene el concepto de “apoyo logístico” provisto por las Fuerzas Armadas a las fuerzas de seguridad

• Debora Rey, “Argentina Leader Announces Controversial Armed Forces Reform” (Associated Press, The Washington Post, July 23, 2018).

“We know that this transformation won’t be easy,” Macri said. “Profound changes are never easy. But this is the first step to build the modern, professional and equipped armed forces that Argentina needs”

• “Macri Confirmo Que las Fuerzas Armadas “Colaboraran en Seguridad Interior”” (Perfil (Argentina), July 23, 2018).

Como parte de los nuevos roles, tendrán también como misión la participación en la “custodia y protección de los objetivos estratégicos”

Brazil

• “Brazil: Bolsonaro Puts Military General as Vp on Election Ticket” (Al Jazzeera, August 7, 2018).

Last year, Mourao controversially expressed support for a military intervention into politics in order to clean up Brazil’s mounting social problems

• Estadao Conteudo, “Militares Preparam Plano de Seguranca para Encerrar Intervencao No Rio” (Veja (Brazil), July 23, 2018).

A intervenção federal na Segurança Pública do Rio de Janeiro deve ir até 31 de dezembro, mas os militares já planejam a transição para o que virá depois

• Ernesto Londono, Manuela Andreoni, “Brazil’s Military Strides Into Politics, by the Ballot or by Force” (The New York Times, July 23, 2018).

If the ballot box does not bring change quickly enough, some prominent former generals warn that military leaders may feel compelled to step in and reboot the political system by force###

Colombia

• “Tras Investigacion de Semana, Procuraduria Llama a Juicio a General y Coroneles de Inteligencia Militar” (Semana (Colombia), August 17, 2018).

En una decisión sin precedentes, Fernando Carrillo decidió abrir procesos contra tres altos oficiales, en medio del escándalo de desvío de fondos reservados y el presunto espionaje ilegal al interior del Comando de las Fuerzas Militares

Guatemala

• Jo-Marie Burt, Paulo Estrada, “The Molina Theissen Judgment, Part Ii: The Court’s Handling of Defense Arguments” (International Justice Monitor, Open Society Foundations, August 7, 2018).

The court rejected the defense attorneys’ claims that the court was acting on the basis of ideological biases, and/or hatred of or feelings of revenge toward the armed forces

Mexico

• Paris Martínez, “Pgr Acumula Pruebas Contra el Ejercito en Caso de Desaparicion, y Hallan su Rastro en Dos Cuarteles” (Animal Politico (Mexico), August 14, 2018).

El ingeniero Francisco Herrera fue interceptado cuando conducía a su trabajo, en la ciudad de Tampico, Tamaulipas, en 2015; sus teléfonos registraron actividad en coordenadas que corresponden exactamente con la ubicación del Campo Militar Número 1

Venezuela

• Andrew Rosati, Ethan Bronner, “Inside the Coup Plotting Before the Venezuela Drone Assassination Attempt” (Bloomberg, August 17, 2018).

The military dissidents declined to participate. They found the civilians unprofessional and weren’t interested in killing Maduro. Their goal was to capture him and put him on trial

• Christine Armario, “Foe Accused by Maduro Says Venezuela Military Is Fracturing” (Associated Press, The Washington Post, August 15, 2018).

“Maduro is facing a divorce with the armed forces, which is apparent in the various rebellions that have taken place in recent months,” Borges said

• “Official: Venezuelan General Arrested in Assassination Plot” (Associated Press, The Washington Post, August 14, 2018).

Saab identified the two detained officers as Col. Pedro Zambrano Hernandez and Gen. Alejandro Perez Gamez of the National Guard