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From: rrizzo@bbncca.ARPA (Ron Rizzo)
Newsgroups: net.politics,net.motss,net.religion
Subject: Re: Definitive expose' of Sandinistas?
Message-ID: <1531@bbncca.ARPA>
Date: Fri, 16-Aug-85 10:52:15 EDT
Article-I.D.: bbncca.1531
Posted: Fri Aug 16 10:52:15 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 19-Aug-85 08:33:19 EDT
References: <296@ubvax.UUCP>
Organization: Bolt, Beranek and Newman, Cambridge, Ma.
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Xref: watmath net.politics:10480 net.motss:1913 net.religion:7414

Let's continue this discussion in net.politics.  I know, it's my
fault it's in net.motss.  I'll just make a couple of points here.

Tony should read the book, not browse.  He seems to have seen
only what he wanted to.  It's simply false that:

	1 The book is only a series of interviews.  Christian
	  has covered & witnessed events in Central America for
          years & read most of the available documents and other
	  literature.  She's won a Pulitzer & another prize as a
	  a Central American correspondent.  What other possible
	  sources of information are there --- direction revelation
	  from the Party?

	2 The book only shows Americans, not Nicaraguans, were
	  deceived (I find this claim particularly bizarre).
	  Christian clearly documents Sandinista deceit and
	  manipulation of NICARAGUAN politicians, interest
	  groups, labor, the church, etc.  Eg, during the 70s
	  they promised their goal was political pluralism &
	  democracy and toleration of private enterprise.  They
	  told this to moderate & conservative allies; to heads
	  of state in Costa Rica, Venezuela (who armed the Sandi-
	  nistas at crucial moments); assorted foreign sympathi-
	  sers around the world; Eden Pastora (who was a non-
	  Marxist Christian), etc.  It's clear from Christian's
	  narrative of events that belief in these promises
	  was crucial for the assorted support that made possible
	  the success of the 1979 revolution & of the Sandinistas.
	  Without it, the FSLN would've remained a small (200 or
	  fewer members) Marxist-Leninist guerilla band.  Tony,
	  you'd better learn more about Nicaragua & Nicaraguans.

BTW, Tony, are you admitting that the FSLN is/has always been
Marxist-Leninist?

I've read enough pro-Sandinist apologies by North Americans to be
familiar with their arguments.  Defenses usually consist of denying
the junta is strictly Marxist-Leninist, & blaming the US for its
excesses.  It's interesting Tony's abandoned that approach in order
to be able to criticize Christian's book.

But thanks for taking the book seriously, even if your purpose in
reviewing (browsing?) it was to find an easy handle by which you
could dismiss it.


					Better well-read than Red,
					Ron Rizzo

"U.S. out of my pants!"