Nationwide Police Strike Closes Ecuador Airports, Highways

Although it will seem counterintuitive the Americans posting on this site, the US has likely used its intermediaries like Lucio Gutierrez and Luis Posada Carriles to destabilize the Ecuadoran Government.  The global system functions because US diplomatic pressure on OPEC nations (and China and Japan) to buy low yield US treasury bonds keeps US interest rates low. Low rates mean consumers can tolerate more debt for imported goods-the motor of the economy since the US has deindustrialized itself. Correa's policy of playing hardball on repayment of Ecuador's soveriegn debt and his use of oil revenues to finance social programs instead of US treasury bills is a challange to the global system. Successful defiance could encourage other countries such as Saudi Arabia to follow suit. Correa's minor and partial defiance of the Washington Consensus is a threat to US security and stability. 99% of Americans have no knowledge of the fact that in the 1970s, the US informed OPEC that surplus dollars could be used for Treasury Bills, armaments, or contracts with US civil engineering firms but that any attempt to purchase stakes in US firms (by proxy companies with state funds) or to develop state owned competitors that threatened US market share would be considered an act of war. Carriles and Gutierrez never unilaterally send their mercenaries and political loyalists to undertake actions unless the plan is first cleared by the CIA as being consistant with US policy for the region. If they did act unilaterally, they would suddenly find host governments willing to act on the interpol warrants for their arrest.

All is very calm and quiet today in Salinas.  Banks were back open as were stores.  Schools remained closed but will re-open on Monday.

Airports have re-opened as well.

Looks like we are back to business as usual!!

There is more to the message and I can forward it to those who are interested; just private message me your personal email.
Hi Salinagirl,
Thank you for the informative post. As I intend to move over there, in Ecuador, I am interested in every aspect of the politics. Please forward to me the rest of the message,and have, in any situation, my thanks.
Nicholas
indel99@yahoo.com

I am an American who needs to re-locate to Quito for a few months.  Was very nervous when I heard about what happened there recently with the president.  Does this kind of thing happen often?  Is political unrest a factor in Ecuador often?  Are regular citizens or residents at great safety risk?  Please let me know.

-Megan