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I feel, as someone viewing the CIA's involvement in Latin-American politics from the other side of the Atlantic, that it looks bad, even from here. Many South American countries have struggled to find stability even without the added problem of another countries attempted hindrance.

Taking Cuba as an example, part of the pre-revolution problem was corrupt Americans making huge sums of money at the peoples expense. The revolution finally resulted in Cuba being free from such individuals and their corrupt business empires. However after the revolution the CIA tried it's damnedest to scupper things and create problems. They hatched plots and plans to topple the leaders of this new Cuba and to make the country fail on the world stage.

Similarly the CIA have supported corrupt and evil governments as tools of capitalism, rather than support a country that has embraced communism or free will. To the C.I.A all communists are bad and anything that opposes communism must be good. That is bad politics and just plain stupid. As South America is literally on the United States of America's doorstep, they have obviously felt threatened when these neighbouring countries have seemed to be going along a certain path. Especially a controversial or communist path.

One can only wonder if things would have really been that bad if these countries had been left to fight their own struggles and, eventually, maybe come to true democracy. Much as England's involvement with Third World countries in the past leaves a lot to be desired, so does America's with it's interference in South American politics .

Personally I feel that the CIA have far too much power and that it is more long reaching than it should be. Constructive help would have created a much more stable environment near the USA and ultimately have benefited all concerned. Instead the CIA's interfering has helped cause instability, made things very difficult for the ordinary guy and helped Governments not wanted by the people to stay in power for much longer than they probably would have.

With Fidel Castro's recent step down from power, one can only hope that the C.I.A and the U.S.A. will allow this country the time needed to adjust. The Cuban people need to be able to eventually reach their own decision on the most appropriate government and politics for them, the Cuban people.

Learn more about this author, Ethel Smith.
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