by Marvin J. Ramírez

Attack to Iran will cut supply of world oil Activists warn on the grave consequences if Bush attacks Iran, and its effect to food transportation. (photo by Marvin J. Ramírez)

A group of approximately 25 protesters showed up at the San Francisco Federal Building on Tuesday, July 8, 2008 to demand Sen. Nancy Pelosi to withdraw support for a naval blockade of Iran.

A resolution before congress, known as “H Con Res 362”, is currently the central legislative priority of the pro-war lobby of AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee), the group said in a statement.

This resolution, initiated by President Bush, demands international effort to immediately and dramatically increase the economic, political and diplomatic pressure on Iran. This is intended to make Iran to suspend its nuclear enrichment activities and prohibit the export to Iran of all refined petroleum products. There will be imposed stringent inspection requirements on all persons, vehicles, ships, planes, trains, cargo entering or departing Iran.

A blockade is considered an act of war. This can lead to catastrophic consequences for all North Americans.

“I do not see how this could be done without a blockade given its comprehensive and unequivocal language.” said in a statement Francis Boyle, Professor of Internal Law at the University of Illinois who states, referring to the demands of the sanctions.

A young activist, Emily, holds a picture of a prospect victim, an Iranian girl, if the U.S. attacks Iran.

This resolution now has 220 cosponsors in the House of Representatives, being the majority of its members Democrats. While this resolution is “non-binding,” it will only add fuel to the fire and make it easier for Bush in his quest of war, said the statement.

However, an article received by email at the office of El Reportero, says real reason to invade Iran obeys to other factors the public ignores, in addition to the intentions of gaining control to the fourth largest oil reserves in the world.

According to the article,  the last blow to fi nish off ­America is the Iran thing, which must happen because Iran is refusing to sell oil in dollars but going to Euros. All the rest are excuses.

“Oil is the problem and our masters won’t allow the reserves on the Alaskan North Slope (the largest in the World) to be used. This is a Globalists mad plan to break the U.S., set in motion years ago,” the article said, adding that once the blockade is in force, no oil will be delivered to most parts of the world, so transportation of food in most parts of the world will be halted for lack of oil.

As the protesters chanted protest songs, along with members of the Codepink Ladies movement wearing pink colors, they prepared to take their protest to the 14th Floor of the Federal Building, to Pelosi’s offi ce, even thought she was in Washington.

Codepink is a womeninitiated grassroots peace and social justice movement working to end the war in Iraq, stop new wars, and redirect our resources into healthcare, education and other life-affirming activities.

“What this government is doing is outraged,” said one of the speakers, while asking the others to convey the message to as many people possible and get together with family members to explain the consequences if a war against Iran materialized.­

by the El Reportero’s news services

Eduardo Montealegre

On 7 July the Fiscal General Office accused Eduardo Montealegre and 38 other people of fraud over the issue of Certificados Negociables de Inversión (Negotiable Investment Certificates). Montealegre heads the main opposition to the alliance between the Sandinistas and rump of the Partido Liberal Constitucionalista (PLC) which is loyal to a former (corrupt) president Arnoldo Alemán.

Montealegre, nominally a Liberal, was one of Alemán’s finance ministers. The government’s decision to go after him is another sign that the Sandinista-PLC combination fears an independent opposition. Last month the alliance pushed a measure through congress that postponed regional and municipal elections in the Región Autónoma Atlántico Norte, a region which the opposition was almost certain to dominate.

Committee clears Latin America aid bill

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee unanimously approved June 24 a bill that authorizes $2.5 billion in aid to Latin America over a ten-year period.

The funds would be split between the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Inter-American Development Bank.

Sponsors are Sens. Robert Menéndez (D-N.J.) and Mel Martinez (R-Fla.).

According to Menéndez the bill “will help build institutions, stabilize 3economies, reduce poverty, expand the middle class, and invest in key development area such as rule-of-law, competitiveness, governance, and judicial and regulatory reform in Latin America and the Caribbean.

It will help expand markets for U.S. businesses and the goods and services they offer.”

He added, “Our lack of engagement in Latin America has created a vacuum that has allowed some to sell an anti-American agenda which simply has no place in the region.”

Martínez stated, “We must work in a bipartisan manner to avoid any negative influence of nations that seek to increase false democracies and prop up existing dictatorships.” Hispanic Link.

Countdown starts for Calderón

The mid-term elections appear to be beginning to dominate President Felipe Calderón Hinojosa’s mind. Political commentators have seized on a Freudian slip, but more tangible evidence comes from Calderón’s manoeuvring against his rivals in the Partido Acción Nacional.

The most high profile casualties of this have been Santiago Creel Miranda, once interior minister, and Manuel Espino Barrientos, a former party president. Calderón’s ruthlessness with his colleagues looks designed to ensure that the party remains disciplined.

by Alex Meneses Miyashita

Barack Obama

The presidential candidates of the Demo. cratic and Republican parties are now on record that, if elected in November, they will make immigration reform a priority in their first one hundred days in office.

Addressing hundreds of Latino political leaders in separate appearances at the 25th annual conference of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials June 28 in Washington, D.C., Barack Obama and John McCain stressed the need to fix the current immigration system in a comprehensive way.

About one thousand Hispanic officials gathered in the nation’s capital to participate in the June 25-25 conference.

John McCain

McCain emphasized that the U.S. borders should be secured before creating a temporary worker program or addressing the status of the undocumented. He said the latest congressional attempts to pass comprehensive reform failed because the public demanded that security needs be met first. Obama spoke in favor of securing borders, cracking down on employers who hire unauthorized workers, creating a guest worker program, and offering a path to legalization to 12 million immigrants.

He added the country must work closer with Mexico and Central America to help them strengthen their economies.

Democrat leaders criticized McCain throughout the conference claiming that his position on immigration has been inconsistent since he began campaigning for president. They speculated his vacillation will cost him much Latino support in the fall.

“He flip-flopped on the immigration bill He went backwards,” said Illinois state Sen. Iris Martinez (D), in reaction to his change of position since his initial championing for comprehensive reform with Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) in 2005.

Echoed Wisconsin state legislator Pedro Colon, “The reality is that he’s left his own bill. As a legislator I understand that when I put a bill, I’m committing to a principle.”

Democratic National Committee spokesman Luis Miranda called McCain’s position “enforcement fi rst, comprehensive immigration reform is something different.”

McCain’s supporters countered saying that of the two candidates only he has a track record of leadership to address the issue.

McCain advisor Ana Navarro claimed that Obama has “never led or ever shown any presence on the immigration debate,” calling it “ironic” that Democrats question McCain’s commitment “when he has shown leadership, courage, (and) risked his political skin on the immigration issue.”

Rosario Marín, U.S. Treasurer from 2001 to 2003, praised McCain for “the incredible integrity, stamina and fortitude of character” he had shown on the issue. “Where is Obama in all of this? What has he done?” Of the two candidates, McCain knows the Hispanic community better, she said.

Hispanic leaders asked both candidates questions regarding the economy, trade, education, healthcare and the war in Iraq.

“We are succeeding,” McCain said in reference to the strategy in that war.

Obama, who supports ending the war, said it could take about 16 months to pull the troops out. He commented that the war spending could be targeted for education programs instead and pointed out that aid to Latin America is equivelent to a week’s spending in Iraq.

The candidates expressed positions they have voiced throughout their campaigns.

Both were received warmly by the Hispanic leeders in the audience. Obama, however, received the warmer reception.

‘’It’s a great honor for us to have been one of the 6rst to have a dialogue with both of them,” said Miami Dade County school board member Ana Rivas Logan. ­“It shows their interest in our issues and our agenda.” She is a NALEO member and McCain supporter. Hispanic Link.