read with you whatever you do not watch my new show seriously by watch something that so different opinions that you won't get anywhere else. look of it please. if you have the state department, the c, i, a weapons makers, multi $1000000000.00 corporations, choose your facts for you. go ahead. i change and whatever you do. don't watch my show to stay mainstream because i'm probably going to make you uncomfortable. my show is called direct impact, but i guess you probably don't want to watch it because it might just change dwayne, think the hello, i'm manila chan you are tuned into modus operandi. this week we'll head to central america, where one country is resisting us pressure and going their own way in foreign policy. after a history of meddling from the americans, president daniel ortega nicaragua stands his ground as the united states takes aim

at their gold industry. we'll get you all the details straight ahead. all right, let's get into the lo, the me . the former us national security advisor under donald trump. john bolton, called at the troika of tyranny, referring to cuba, venezuela and nicaragua. now for most of the 20th century, the u. s has had frosty relations with cuba to say the least in the 21st century, the u. s. and a few of its allies anointed one why doe, as their chosen president for venezuela, a move some 80 percent of the world rejected. and now the u. s. has its sipes set on nicaragua, again under the bite in administration. so what do these 3 latin american countries have in common while they're all run by left us governments resist us influence and

exploitation by the west. so to talk more about nicaragua in the crosshairs will bring in a man who has had 1st hand experience with its president. is dan co valid? he is an author and professor of international human rights at the university of pittsburgh school of law. his newest book is called nicaragua, a history of intervention and resistance. dan, thanks for joining us. first i'd like to address the us state department framing of nicaragua. if you go to their website to see their remarks on the country, they describe it as having descended into this sort of distort be a nightmare run by an authoritarian bonnie and clyde. in this case, daniel ortega and his 1st lady rosario moody, oh, also serving as in the capacity of vice president. how fair is the state department

depiction and how might you characterize the nicaraguan leaders? i would say that characterization characterization of the state department is incredibly unfair. and i find a very rich and very hypocritical b u. s. it supported a brutal dictatorship in on some moser and his 2 sons from 934 to 1979. i must, you know, remind people if they don't know that the 3rd somoza killed, 50000 nicaraguans in the last year of his reign between 19721979 fully supported by the united states. and by the way, those numbers are staggering, giving the time nicaragua had about 2 and a half 1000000 people and todo. my characterization now is that nicaragua has a popular leader, and daniel ortega,

who lead was one of the key leaders of the sandinista revolution. again, a dictatorship backed by the us, right. his popularity numbers are huge. the last poll i saw showed him it about 70 percent approval. the 2nd most popular president in the americans, 2nd only to the president of el salvador. meanwhile, very much more popular amongst his people than the president of the united states show by um, who's, you know, hovering around 30 or 40 percent. so i think this characterization, the state department is incredibly unfair. by the way. i've been in nicaragua 3 times this year and i've traveled throughout nicaragua on

a bus seen a lot of it. i've been going to nicaragua since 1987. and i've seen the incredible development since that. ah, and it's nothing like it used to be. i mean, there are kids living in rags any more. there are these beggars on the streets. you see it's a very prosperous country compared to what he used to be. and i, i got italia, it's a lot more prosperous in many ways than i see on the streets of pittsburgh, pennsylvania. ah, where we have, you know, tense cities with homeless people and huge crime rate. so no, this, this is not a fair characterization. so part of the state department's page on nicaragua, points to a crippled economy. they addressed us sanctions on the country, but neglect to link the 2 things. now the bite it administration has its site set

on nicaragua was gold industry and stripping up to $500.00 government workers of their us visas. how much of this move has to do with their security cooperation with russia? does the state department merely, you know, try to punish states economically? who won't jump when the us says? so? yeah. well, 1st of all, let me your say, yes, the sanctions are going to hurt nicaragua, up kill. now the sanctions and there's been about 3 different sanctions, regina against nicaragua and the last 4 years. but nicaragua was whether those, well, i think they were g, m, p has been about 5 percent every year since that time. i think this year it's going to be 5 to 70 percent. so 1st of all, their economy is doing at the moment. it's the same time. what i understand is that the sanctions on the gold war, her and colorado very bad. and as usual,

these sanctions are going to hurt individual poor nicaraguans the most. and that is the sad part of it. ah, nicaragua is done so much for its people, particularly the poor, giving them free education, free housing, ah, building free a. how a free housing for the poor for free medical care building since 2007. when daniel ortega had been re elected for the 1st time, they've built 26 hospitals in the country, paved in bill new roads throughout the country. so the government is doing a lot for its people. but these sanctions, especially in this new round sanctions, is going to hurt the average nicaragua, greatly. and that's what,

what is intended to do. let me be clear that the sanctions are not targeted dirt. the nicaraguan government, their tar in it, it hurt the nicaragua, people with the hope that the nicaragua people will rise up against their government. right. and that's 20 sanctions are always started to do um and i find a completely despicable but that's, that's the reality. now for nick, i was part, according to the u. s. c. b p, the border protection. they say they've had more than a $164000.00 nicaragua, migrants at the southern border this year. that is up 3 times from 2021. what is driving these people out of their home country? yeah, well 1st of all, let me say, and i've just written a book on that. by the way, that as a recently, very recently,

nicaragua was not been sending very migrants. the border that when they talk about the migrant to central america by and large, they will not from nika, right? what is it the countries doing very well? i do think that this new wave of immigration is being spurred by the sanctions which are starting to take you know, have an impact on that society, on the economy, and slowly, you know, taking away jobs from nicaragua, people. so i think that that's a big part of it, but also people also realize and there's a lot of detailed or be talks about this. but in 2018, there was a very violent insurrection against the government that the u. s. supported with millions of dollars, it was very violent about $200.00 or so people were killed during that violence.

many public buildings were destroyed. many policemen were killed during that time is a very difficult time in nicaragua. it did hurt economy, particularly for the annual year. 2018 and i think that led to the increase in migration. but again, a lot of that was spurred on by the united states, which, you know, was pretty open ended support for these vinyl insurrection, as in 2018. so the point is, up to very recently the u. s. was bidding their wall 100. so salvador, in watermarks and environments us. nicaragua was not. but then the us supported a violent who attempted to a 1018. then, you know,

initiated at least 3 rounds of sanctions, economic sanctions against the country. and yeah, so that has hurt the country and led to this increase in migration. could we call that some sort of a blowback? well, in a sense, yeah, in the truth is all this migration from central america is blow back. right? i mean, let's, let's face it, the you are supported. right when dictatorships and how, salvador, that killed 75000 people in guatemala, the kill 200000 people in honduras, they killed thousands of people. and yeah, the free, the, that was born by that is this huge migrations. the u. s. has destroyed these societies in these countries. nicaragua has been one country as a weather that storm because frankly,

the good governance of the sand and east is but you know, the u. s. is doing everything you can to undermine that. com did that side. yes. that will lead to more migration. so yeah, i think it's fair to say all this is the product of blow back. all right, dan called alec. we've got a lot more to unpack. so stay with us. coming up next. the u. s. isn't the only superpower with its sites, sat on nicaragua, find out why this central american country is abandoning taiwan. and now backing china, we'll discuss it when we return said type the m. o will be right back. mm hm . when i was showing wrong, i just don't hold any rules that you have to fill out.

disdain becomes the attitude and engagement equals the trail. when so many find themselves worlds apart, we choose to look for common ground. ah needs to come to the russian state. little narrative. i've started as i'm phoning most landscape div us. mm hm. then goes house lamps and of a group in the $55.00 we did. okay. so ninety's professional speaking, when else calling about this even with we will van in the european union, the kremlin media machine restate on russia for date and spoke r t spoke that given our video agency,

roughly all band to on youtube and pinterest tele to school the question, did you think even close with the me welcome back to v m. o. i am manila chan author and professor dan co. valerie was kind enough to stay with us. dan, thanks for sticking around. all right, let's go back to the summer of 2022 biden hosted what has been described now my words described as a botched summit of the americas. he deliberately left off the invite list, cuba, nicaragua, and better swayed by not inviting those leaders to

a summit that is supposedly aimed at open dialogue among countries in the western hemisphere. widen was then snubbed by a number of other latin leaders, most notably, mexico's on the race. manuel lopez open door now and lo, made it a point. has said that if these guys weren't invited that he was just flat out, not going to come. the uninvited countries are led by leftist leaders. we just saw lula win back his seat as president in brazil. another left us am lo is a left us as well, but he made the list. i'm curious to know why, and if this is somehow a bite and push back against the left us swing in latin america, how might he respond to brazil's return leader? well, i great concerns about brazil right now. i mean there are some in march that ballston aero may be planning a military and he was very player. he did not rule out that loss.

and there have been some truckers blocking roads and whatnot, which by the way, looks like chill late in 1973. when salvador allende was overthrown without the united states. yeah, i do fear the us is going to react very airy, negatively towards lulu being elected. i mean, really with a new lulu elected as the president of brazil, which is one the biggest economies in them is fear. ah, we almost have a clean sweep of landmark, right? having progressive, less winning or less leaning a president. so the u. s. is going to react to that. it's the same time. i think the shows in many ways that the u. s. is become powerless in, in, in preventing that. and i hope that's true. um, but yeah, i mean, this is assign,

the latin america is really as, as a group reject in the united states intervention. rejecting the monroe doctrine of 1823. ah, which gives me a lot of hope. i mean, probably years, i get more oh battle adam, latin american, any, any other region in the world? but yes, the u. s. is going to try unsure to overturn some of these governments. but, you know, here's the problem, the u. s. as a can, is a hero is as strong as it is a, it just can't control every country on the globe, right? it tries to, but it can't, it out. well, once there's a critical mass of countries saying, boston, you know, no more. i think the u. s. you know, just can't do it. yeah. they're focused on ukraine right now,

sending billions of dollars to ukraine to fight russia. by the way, i am in moscow, russia out um you know, and in the breach, i think latin america is rising. so you know, i have great hopes, but yeah, we have to be vigilant for sure. only grandma has recently re established diplomatic ties with china. it's a, it's a pivot from their previous diplomatic ties with taiwan. why? and what does this do to the balance of power in the western hemisphere? yes. so let me explain a little bit about that. first of all. so under somoza from 193419. well really, i mean it, well the to the 940304949. let's put that out from 949 to 979. so most are recognized. right. and not the people's republic of china. after

the sandinista had the revolution in 1979, they recognized people's republic of china because they were allowed to start up. but after the sandinista were voted out of office in 1990, the new government then recognized taiwan again. and withdrew recognition from the people's republic of china. and in that interim period from 1990 to 2007. when daniel ortega of the san and he's become president again, i'm taiwan did help nicaragua, a lot economically built all these factories. and then the keela door zones i and so when the sandinista came back to power in 2007, they were very reluctant to just tell taiwan, hey though what, right? because they were employed in hundreds of thousands of able so for years they were,

you know, of continuing to recognize taiwan, even as they were at the united nations voting with the people's republic of china on pretty much every vote. right. and then as 2000 and her, i think 21 came 202021. daniel ortega became very concerned with how one, how taiwan was acting was feeling like they were really collaborating with the us to antagonize the people's republic of china, which he didn't like. but also he was feeling that, you know, his attempts to have to talk with the u. s. were coming to nothing, you know, with the 2018 to attempt with all the sanctions. so with all this,

he finally decided, okay, forget, you know, our hardest people's republic. we've been playing ball the taiwanese because they're given us jobs, but we don't like, but the ty wendy's are doing. the u. s. is now against us again. ah, so we're just going to recognize people's republic. that's what happened. and so, ah, now they're getting development now from the people's republic. and of course are now getting close. should russia, you know, again, danny, our take the president was reluctant to do those things. he wanted to get along with the u. s. he always but the u. s. has constantly in out every time he puts his hand out, they slap it down. so finally said, ok, you know, fine, we'll go with china. we'll go with russia and forget to timelines, you know, and i think what he effects what he did, he kept the taiwanese out of their embassy, davidson peoples republic. so there,

yeah. and what do you make of the deepening ties between nicaragua and russia in recent years? i mean, this really began to develop back in 2008, but has since gotten to the place where nicaragua is actually allowing from military cooperation between the 2 countries. this is obviously gonna cause some major red flags and concerns for the u. s. y, in russia, nicaragua, relationship. what will turn it back to the future now? right. i mean, 1st of all, again, let's go over some history. after the sandinista is over through the us back dictator armstrong here, somoza in 1979. and they didn't wine with cuba, but they, you know, fidel castro told any ortega said, you know, you be slow in aligning with so even because one,

the us will go after you for that. and to, you know, you want your independence, not just from the us, but from the soviet union. so, you know, go very gently with soap. but then the u. s. is early is 1981, so 2 years are exam. mrs. power began supporting these counter terrorist events, nicaragua, so what happened naturally nicaragua returned to the soviets, right. right. the russians at that time was so union and got a lot of support. and so the union from east germany, from other eastern bloc countries. and then of course the san lisa road voted out of power, 9090 and so union collapse in 991. so that pretty much ended that closed bond. it came to be between. 4 nicaragua and soviet union in russia. but then now again,

daniel ortega is elected again 2006, takes governance in 2007. and again, he tries again to play ball with the you us. why, you, us as close to him wants to trade with them culturally nicaragua, closer to the u. s. than russia? no one in, in nicaragua speaks english. many people there's, i'm sorry, none of them speak russian, many of them do speak english. ah, culturally they like the us, they play baseball, nicaragua, in like soccer's march, right. their main sort is baseball which they adopted from the us, right. so they were half in a play ball the last, but in the end, the u. s. would not play ball with the sandinista government. so they been forced, again, as they were after 1979 to line with russia. so they've gone back to their old

ally, ah, to get support in, in the face of continued opposition from the us. so i mean the lesson is that, that the u. s. and by the way, he mentioned noam chomsky we can mention him again. what all you say. and he said, disturbing the old cold war with the soviet union, but it still app today. he said what, what the u. s. would, would do is force the contrary to align with the soviet union, you know, through violence and economic breads and then blame them for wanting with the. so you'd write that would be a pretext then for war belligerence. and that's exactly what we're seeing to that right. the us bullies a country like nicaragua, freezes him out economically and then forces them to align with china to align with russia and then blamed them for doing and that's what has happened.

president ortega is now being described as something of a firebrand in the west after his 2022 u. n. g. a appearance where he ripped into fellow latin american liter president gabrielle boric of chili, calling him an american lap dog. how board is self described as a left wing politician? so why the mudslinging there? well, barrack is not bad. progression is the truth. in fact, he's been very repressive against his own indigenous population. even when he was elected a lot of letters from july were saying he's not that progress. and i think that or take a saw that too. but also i me just say something i don't see or take is a virus, right? i've actually met ortega a few times and i've been in his presence

a number of times list a new speeches. the truth is, he's not much of a fired brand. he ease the truth is he's a pretty shy softspoken burden. ah. he feels more comfortable in the presence of, you know, working people in peasants and he does with intellectuals even though he's illegitimate. intellectual unself. ah. and the fact is, most of his support comes from workers and peasants. right? so, but he's not, you know, i've also heard fidel castro speak in person. i've heard you chavez speak in person, and he doesn't have that kind of bombastic way about him that they did. you know, he speaks in a very, a calm tone in kind of almost like an educator talks very stork, lead cetera. so i really kind of balk at that idea that he's a firebrand,

mom. i think it nice guy. so human rights attorney, professor and author, danco valley, thank you so much for sharing this very candid insight with us. all right, that's going to do it for this weeks episode of modus operandi there show that digs deep into foreign policy. i'm your host manila. chad. thank you for tuning and we'll see you again next week to figure out the ammo. ah ah, in the 1950s, the u. s. used former nazis against the soviet union in the 21st century. they engineer dakota, that fish the former soviet republic into our confrontation with moscow will

certainly of the united states and the u. k. and the rest of the western world had not engaged in conflict with the ukraine and with the soviet union and its successor, the russian federation. we would not have the horrible situation we have today. i think that if the american stopped, we would be at peace and the role would be a lot better place. and the economy, the world will function considerably better than his doing now. see what happens with digital gains with actual physical sport solving like digital . yeah, there's yes, because on is preparing to host the 1st ever gains of the future

a cyber context with a physical dimension. one of the innovators, eager to study, is on the verge of to finding sports and gaming. he tells us what's behind this synergy. and if it's the future a grades are made by the american made choir marks rocket. it landed right in the yard of this musical college right in the center of the city of the next on the reports from the line of fire, as ukraine has done yet, residential areas with us supplied rockets along obsession with pushing ukraine towards nate. so to confront him, russia? well, that's the admission coming from former us president. donald trump criticizing washington's policy was the us led invasion of iraq meet 20 year anniversary. we look at how the american architects of the war, but the neo conservative.