has gone beyond religion, politicians themselves are the ones who drive descent demands to be able to polarize the vote. so that that gets blocks of cruise, those will go blossom muslims, if the government is working for the benefit of every would. i think that there's a model that i like as an electorate, unless somebody been out that i want to vote for and the past in the christian, the christian prisoners and mother doesn't carry that and doesn't carry that character. but the muslim or wherever maybe wasn't my religion there you are, carries that. i'll go for the best buy that it, christine, would a muslim, who about god? the site will rule. destination god in his infinite mercy shall go. doors unto cuz the hope is that when he just meet us will preach peace and tolerance. so the vote goes off without incidence and doesn't fit in the state legitimacy and unity balloon day. feed out the apple chair and what our coverage of the nigerian elections throughout the coming days here in our tea will be keeping you updated on

all the very latest news. the ah, 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 of 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 the me be former us national security

adviser 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 move some 80 percent of the world rejected . and now the u. s. has its site set on nicaragua, again, under the biden administration. so what do these 3 latin american countries have in common while they're all run by left us government, resist u. s. influence and exploitation by the west. so to talk more about nicaragua in the crosshairs, we'll bring in a man who's 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 disturb, be a nightmare run by an authoritarian bonnie and clyde. in this case, daniel ortega and his 1st lady rosario moody, you also serving as in the capacity of vice president. how fair is this 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 that very rich and very hypocritical, the u. s. it supported a brutal dictatorship in sha moser, and his 2 sons from 1934 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 197979 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 in 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?

ah, 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 who's you know, how bring around 30 or 40 percent. so i think this characterization the states army is incredibly unfair. by the way, i've been to nick rog with 3 times this year and i traveled throughout new ride one bus seen a lot of it. i've been going to nicaragua, she's 1987. and i've seen the incredible development since that

and it's nothing like it used to be. i mean, there are kids living in rags any more. there aren't these beggars on the street. she used to see it's a very prosperous country compared to what he used to be. and i got to tell you a lot more prosperous in many ways than i see on the streets of pittsburgh, pennsylvania, where we have, you know, 10 cities with no lose people and huge crime rate. so no, this, this is not of their characterization. so part of the state department page on nicaragua, points to a crippled economy. they addressed us sanctions on the country, but neglect to link the 2 things. now the binding administration has its site set on nicaragua, gold industry, and stripping up to $500.00 government workers. their us bees as 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 u. s. says so. yeah. well, 1st of all, let me 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 7 percent. so 1st of all, their economy is doing bar at the moment. it's the same time. what i understand is that the sanctions on the gold war, her garage very bad. and as usual, these sanctions are going to hurt individual or poor nicaraguans the most. and that is the sad part of it. nicaragua is done so much for its people,

particularly the poor, giving them pre education, pre house, building free, how free housing for the poor, free medical care building since 2007 when daniel ortega had been reelected for the 1st time. they've built 26 hospitals in the country, paved and built new roads throughout the country. so the government is doing a lot for people. but these sanctions, especially these, this new round sanctions is going to hurt the average nicaragua, greatly. and that's what is intended to do. let me be clear. the sanctions are not targeted dirt. the nicaraguan government, they're targeted to hurt nick or i will be with the hope that the nicaragua people

will rise up against their government. right. and that's what these sanctions are always targeted to do. and i find it 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 nicaraguan 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 by the way, that as recently, very recently, nicaragua was not been sending very migrants. the border that when they talk about the migrant to central america buying large, they will not from the garage. what is it the countries doing very well. i do think

that this new way of immigration is being spurred by the sanctions which you're starting to take. you know, have an impact on that society, on the economy and slowly, you know, taking away jobs from the nicaraguan 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 talked about this, but in 2018, there was a very violent insurrection against the government that the us supported with millions of dollars. it was very violent about 200 or so people were killed during that violence. many public buildings were destroyed. ah, many, a police more chilled

a during that time was a very, a difficult time in nicaragua. it did hurt the economy, particularly for the annual year. 2018 um and i think that led to this increase in migration. but again, a lot of that was spurred on by the united states, which, you know, was pretty open in its support for these vinyl insurrections in 2018. so the point is, up to very recently the u. s. was bidding their wall 100. so salvador and water, mouse and environments the u. s. nicaragua was not. but then the us supported of ireland 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 blow back? well, in a sense, yeah, in trudy's, all this migration from central america is blowback. right? i mean lunch, 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. it killed thousands of people and yeah, the fruit that, that, 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 saturdays just but you know, the u. s. is doing everything you can to undermine that. it can be in that side. yes. that will lead to more migration. so yeah,

i think it's fair to say all this is the product back. all right, dan cove, 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 set 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 with a lou needs to come to the russian state to never does unfold them. the most lensky with all sons and of the eclipse in 55 with disabilities on 19th,

2000 speedy. when else was about with we will van in the european union, the kremlin. yup, machine. the state on russia today and school ortiz spoke back. even our video agency, roughly all brands on youtube with a with ah,

welcome back to b, 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. it's now my words described as a botched summit of the americas. he deliberately left off the invite list cuba, nicaragua, and venezuela. 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 manuel has open door now. and lo made it a point to say that if these guys weren't invited, that he was just flat out, not going to come, the uninvited countries are led by left us leaders. we just saw lula win back his seat as president in brazil, another left us ammo is

a left us as well. but he made the list. i'm curious as to know why. and if this is somehow abide and push back against the left us swing in latin america, how might he respond to brazil's return leader? well, i'm great concerns about brazil right now. i mean, because there are some remarks that also narrow, maybe planning a military too. and he was very clear, he did not rule out that loss. and there have been some truckers ah, blocking roads and whatnot, which by the way, looks like chilly in 973. when salvador allende was overthrown without the united states. and yeah, i do fear the u. s. is going to react very, very negatively towards lulu being elected. i mean, really with new little acted as the president of brazil,

which is one of the biggest economies in the atmosphere. we almost have a clean sweep blad mirror, right. having progressive, les leslie present it, so the u. s. is going to react to that. it's the same time. i think this shows in many ways that the u. s. is become powerless in preventing that and i oh, that's true. um, but yeah, i mean, this is assigned to latin america is really as, as the group rejected the united states intervention rejecting the monroe doctrine of 823. ah, which gives me a lot of hope. i mean, probably years, i get more old that a lot of latin america, 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. s. a can't, is yet out as strong as it is a, it is can't control every country on the globe, right? it tries to, but i can't, you know, once there's a critical mass with countries saying, bhaskar, you know, no more. i think the u. s. you know, just can't do it. yeah. they're focused on ukraine. right now. cindy billions of dollars, 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 that channel for sure. eleger, iowa has recently re established diplomatic ties with china. it's a pivot from their previous diplomatic ties with ty, one. 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. that's quote that out from $949.00 to $979.00. somoza recognized. right. and not the people's republic of china. after the sandinista had the revolution in 1979, they recognize the 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 sanity says,

become president again. um taiwan did help nicaragua, a lot economically built all these factories and then the keela door zones. um and so when the sandinista came back to power in 2007, they were very reluctant to just tell taiwan hague though what right, because they were employed in hundreds of thousands of able so for years they were, you know, a continuing to recognize taiwan even as they were at the united nations boating with the people's republic of china on pretty much every vote. right. and then as 2000 and a, 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 co 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 the ty, wendy's or doing the u. s. is now against us again. so we're just going to recognize the people's republic. that's what happened and so on. 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. the always but the u. s. has constantly, you know, 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 time and age, you know, and i think what, he, in fact, what he did, he kept tie with these out of their embassy and gave it to the people's republic. so, there you now, 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 going to cause some major red flags and concerns for the u. s. y in russia, nicaragua, relationship, what we're trying to 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 as years somoza in 1979. and they didn't align with cuba, but they, you know, fidel castro told any ortega said, you know, being be slow and, and aligning with the 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 so it. but then the u. s. is early is 1981. so 2 years acted, sam, mrs. power began supporting these concrete terrors events, nicaragua, or so. what happened naturally, a garage returned to the soviets, right? right. the russians at that time was so union and got

a lot of support. and so union from east germany, from other eastern bloc countries. and then of course the sandinista road voted out of power 1990 and so union collapse in 1991. so that pretty much ended that close bond. it came to be between. 4 nicaragua, and so the union ah, in russia, ah, but then now again, daniel retake is elected again 2006 takes governance in 2007. and again, he tries again to play ball the you us. why? yes, is 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. are culturally they like

us. they play baseball, nicaragua, in like soccer's march, right? their main sports 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 sanisha 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 no chance king, we can mention him again, what all you say. and he said this during the old cold war with the soviet union, but it still app today. he said, what, what the us would would do is force a country to align with the soviet union, you know,

through violence and economic threats and then blame them for wanting with the so you'd right, that would be a pretext then for more belligerents. and that's exactly what we're seeing today, right? the us bullies a country like nicaragua, freezes them out economically, and then forces them to align with china to align with russia, and then blamed them for billing. and that's what is happening. president ortega is now being described as something of a firebrand in the west after his 2022 u. n. g, a. a parents 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, brock is not that progressive is the truth. in fact,

he's been very repressive against his own indigenous population. even when he was elected, a lot of left is from chil, i, we're saying, look, he's not that progress. and i think that or take a saw that too. but also let me just say something i don't see or take as a buyer. 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 east. the truth is he's a pretty shy softspoken version. 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 do. you know, he speaks in a very calm tone. kind of almost like an educator talks very story played cetera. so i really kind of balk it, that idea that he's a fire. brilliant. i i think you just a nice guy. so human rights attorney, professor and author dan cove. alec, 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 in. we'll see you again next week to figure out the ammo

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