Likelihood of Success

Ortega: Fund the Contras

Mar 15, 2007 Politics and Poker, Stragety

Nicaragua’s President Daniel Ortega says the U.S. should pitch in to support some of the former Contra rebels that fought against his Sandinista government in the 1980’s and are now on the down and out.

Ortega claims to be a reformed man, and maybe he is. This positively Lincolnesque gesture — “with malice toward none, with charity to all” — could really be taken as an overture to the U.S. Oh, Noriega is no Lincoln — after all, he’s offering us the opportunity to extend charity, not extending it himself. But his moral claim vis-à-vis the U.S.’s responsibility to the Contras is not insane. Nor is the idea of the U.S. sending a signal that, for a change, it does not always walk away from those who take up arms on its side.

It is certainly possible to construe this as political grandstanding, but (a) that’s what politicians do and (b) the language he is using is so noninflammatory that, coming from a South American leader, it’s positively balmy:

“I would like the U.S. government, President Bush … to take into account the United States’ responsibility in this war during the government of President Reagan,” Ortega said.

“It would be good if the United States contributed at least $300 million to this fund, permitting the construction of housing for these families, that will allow us to give them credits to work the land or set up small businesses,” he told reporters.

Ortega is talking a game of moderation and reconciliation. Just as I said about Hillary Clinton — another socialist pitching to the center — the point is not whether the words are sincere; they are uttered, and doors may be opened, however briefly.

Wouldn’t taking Noriega up on his suggestion (and the donation need not be the amount he says, of course) be a public relations coup for the U.S., and take some wind out of the sails of Venezuela’s hard-line El Payaso?  It sounds like a good investment.