Stansfield Smith:
[Stansfield Smith, a member of CAPA’s Foreign Policy Working Group, is a writer and organizer with Chicago ALBA Solidarity.]
Here are a few articles on USAID supporting US coup operations in a couple countries. I could take any country where the US has backed coup forces and find information on the role of USAID in coup operations. (likewise with NED, and CIA). Even Google, which heavily censors what we search for, provides some of that.
The CIA says it is all about collecting intelligence. And it is important to have good information on other countries. The National Endowment for Democracy says it is all about supporting democracy. And it is important to have democracy. USAID says it is all about humanitarian aid. And it is important to provide aid.But in all three, those are just covers to put in pro-US regimes in different countries.
It would be much more appropriate if we campaigned, not to maintain USAID, but for the US government to increase US funding to United Nations relief agencies.
Granma: USAID and the deep pockets of the counterrevolution
Granma: USAID thieves in Latin America
Granma: Another USAID covert plan exposed
Washington Has Used USAID to Destabilize Governments Around the World
President AMLO Denounces US Interference in Mexico
FBI Investigates Juan Guaidó and Carlos Vecchio for Misappropriation of USAID Funds
USAID Admits to Venezuela Regime Change Fraud
USAID and the Dance of Thieves in Latin America
Nicaraguan Opposition Candidate Chamorro Received USAID Money
USAID-Funded Coup Plots in Bolivia
Bolivia Expels USAID Because They ‘Continue to Conspire’
Stan.
Charles Johnson:
[Charles Johnson is CAPA’s Organizing Director and an activist with groups including Nonviolent Peaceforce.]
While USAID seems to be funding some helpful and life-saving programs where help is needed (for example Gaza), I agree with Stansfield Smith’s concerns about its overall motivations. In USAID’s own words: “U.S. foreign assistance has always had the twofold purpose of furthering America’s foreign policy interests in expanding democracy and free markets, while improving the lives of the citizens of the developing world.” Many peace-minded people worldwide take issue with this “twofold purpose.”
One question is how to move away from systems with dominant, extractive, superwealthy nations bestowing aid, moving to where people can flourish with their own systems and choices instead of dependence. How to reduce the world’s imbalance of wealth and ownership, how to make the U.S. less profit-seeking and charity-distributing, moving toward cooperation, equity, equal dignity of nations. In recognizing the great work some USAID programs and partnerships do, how could this be done more cooperatively, without a wealthy empire leading with its vision of progress…
Charles.