Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site bbncca.ARPA Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxn!ihnp4!bbncca!rrizzo 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. Lines: 51 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!"