(Even more here)

August 22, 2018

Western Hemisphere Regional

• Rafael Carranza, “Trump’s Border Wall Prototypes Fail Design Requirements and Are Riddled With Deficiencies” (The Arizona Republic, August 22, 2018).

The conclusions listed in the report point to serious challenges in building some, if not all, of the prototypes as they were erected in San Diego, because of structural issues in their design or with construction

Brazil

• “Military Operation in Mare: Harassment, Illegality and Murder” (Brasil Wire, August 22, 2018).

The action lasted over 14 hours, leaving one dead, dozens of injured and thousands of angry citizens

• Dom Phillips, “A Massacre of Amazon Tribespeople? The Search for Evidence Goes On” (The Guardian (Uk), August 22, 2018).

The case has exposed the vulnerability of isolated groups in the Javari Valley, the prejudice indigenous people face in communities around them, and the difficulties of such investigations

Brazil, Venezuela

• Paula Ramon, “For Many Fleeing Venezuela’s Chaos, New Trouble in Brazil” (National Geographic, August 22, 2018).

Although some manage to rent small spaces on the outskirts of the city, life is so hard that a few consider going home

Colombia

• Juan Camilo Pedraza, “‘Conocemos Solo la Punta del Iceberg Sobre Menores en el Conflicto’” (El Tiempo (Colombia), August 22, 2018).

Desde su despacho en Estados Unidos, Gamba habló con EL TIEMPO sobre los avances en la salida de los menores del conflicto y acerca de sus preocupaciones en el caso colombiano

• Ana Leon, Jineth Prieto, “La Union de las Disidencias Queda Probada en el Catatumbo” (La Silla Vacia (Colombia), August 22, 2018).

Si hay un factor que tiene encendido el mercado de la coca en la región es la cada vez más evidente presencia del cartel de Sinaloa

• “¿Que se Dijeron Uribistas y Farc Este Martes en el Senado?” (El Tiempo (Colombia), August 22, 2018).

El contragolpe vino del senador Felipe Mejía quien dijo que “desafortunadamente el grupo narcoterrorista de las Farc llegó al Congreso sin pagar un solo día de cárcel, sin reconocer todos los crímenes que cometieron”

Colombia, Venezuela

• “Colombia Protests Venezuelan Border Incursion” (Agence France Presse, Yahoo, August 22, 2018).

“Two helicopters, identified with the initials of the Bolivarian National Guard and about 30 armed personnel belonging to the Bolivarian National Armed Forces of Venezuela” landed in the border region of Tibu, the foreign ministry said

• “‘Fue una Violacion de la Soberania’: Cancilleria” (El Tiempo (Colombia), August 22, 2018).

Los dos helicópteros en los que las tropas venezolanas fueron transportadas a territorio colombiano fueron identificados con las siglas de la Guardia Nacional Bolivariana

Costa Rica, Nicaragua

• Cristina Caicedo Smit, Gesell Tobias, “Protests in Costa Rica Turn Violent Over Influx of Nicaraguan Immigrants” (Voice of America, August 22, 2018).

Costa Rican President Carlos Alvarado has rejected demonstrations and violence aimed at an influx of Nicaraguans, who have fled to Costa Rica to escape the political crisis in their country

Mexico

• Julián Aguilar, “Just a Shot Away? Ciudad Juarez Residents Fear New Cartel War May Be Coming” (The Texas Tribune, August 22, 2018).

Experts say the latest bout of fighting is between former cartel allies — the Juárez Cartel and the Barrio Aztecas — vying to claim the downtown area as their own

Venezuela

• Anthony Faiola, Rachelle Krygier, “Venezuela Is Swept by Economic Chaos as New Currency Plan Takes Effect” (The Washington Post, August 22, 2018).

Many Venezuelans rejected an opposition call for a national strike on Tuesday, warily going to work even as sweeping government measures aimed at curbing ­hyperinflation caused mounting confusion

• Francisco Toro, “No, Venezuela Doesn’t Prove Anything About Socialism” (The Washington Post, August 22, 2018).

All Venezuela demonstrates is that if you leave implementation to the very worst, most anti-intellectual, callous, authoritarian and criminal people in society, socialism can have genuinely horrendous consequences. But couldn’t the same be said of every ideology?