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4/13/2003 - A Far-off War Permeates Life in Buenos Aires: Argentines Lead the Entire World In Opposition to the War in Iraq by Martha J. Farmelo

MJF THE AMERICAS Martha Farmelo Institute Suzanne Ecke McColl Fellow studying gender issues Argentina A Far War Permeates Life Buenos Aires Argentines Lead Entire World In Opposition War Iraq By Martha Farmelo APRIL BUENOS AIRES Argentina Days after broke Iraq Camilo I sprawled floor scooting decades match there suddenly wanted bombs That night father Alan US Iraq there bombs people I surprised learn efforts shield Camilo fruitless It matter never turned TV radio presence tongues mentioning conflict Why learn solve their problems words asked fighting discourse hears school Then there would The morning breakfast caught glimpse bloodied corpse journalist front newspapers Another night pizze around corner television images wounded civilians bandaged He talking about Although Baghdad fallen people already debating prospects They their bodies there title picture The caption continues It before concert peace campus University Lan state school southern suburb Buenos Aires where partner Alan teaching course Economic History In neighbors teachers students repudiated Iraq Now photo world Internet Iraq continues permeate Argentina Furthermore Argentines vocally whelmingly opposed other nation world Reflecting trend spans Latin America Argentines whole longer enraged United States about people government Meanwhile I ashamed about sometimes fright Yankee feelings Since officially began shadowed other stories media includ Presidential elections place In addition following military political developments Iraq around world Argentines about orange calls plastic sheeting which people laugh thinly veiled Ar gentine style Bush support They believe anyone would instructions seriously I heard criticisms sensationalist erage English language CNN Fox TV prising uency since former available people watch CNN Spanish They report soccer friend Alejandro makes living walking Trek through twelve canines strapped wrists several hours taught plenty about conflict peacekeeping least among animals Most people I watched Oscars exactly Michael Moore admonish President Bush night In familiar Moore documentary U S violence Bowling Columbine which premiered Argentina The dominating conversation after conver sation making socializing considerably enjoyable Accounts sadness debates about women soldiers calls boycotts against US products eclipsed other topics person Argentine feminist listserv I signed earlier Thanks these ssages Thanks making emailed woman another circulated account shedding tears little scraping bleeding which conjured Iraqi children injured orphaned US bombs I heard single Argentine support On contrary January Gallup tries around world found percent Argen tines against US attack Iraq highest level opposition followed Uruguay Macedonia Bosnia Herzegovina Spain order Only percent those polled Argentina would attack approval United Nations President Eduardo Duhalde expressed respectful opposition though demned US England Spain More I heard people street Bush assassin normally reserved Ar gentine dictators committed urder someone brings About eight weeks before broke Gustavo Ressio eternally jovial unshakably right husband friend asked could about Presi Gustavo unfailingly US You I US I favor capitalist system But going Bush His distress disgust undeniable He nestly wanted understand allowed Bush lieve right attack Iraq US people would I constantly asked friends acquaintances answer these tions Banners slogans Buenos Aires Peace strung office buildings balconies downtown residential neighborhoods My partner Alan asking Did rainbow banner street across They misspelled peace No I exclaimed almost triumphantly Pace Pace Italiano I dipping raising eyebrows Alan I other MJF At recent march yesterday Argentines chanted Bush fascista terrorista Bush fascist terrorist Agencia MACANDAL after there toward South surely Mar sound crazy However press reports Argentines believe President Bush himself singled convergence Argentina Paraguay Brazil majestic Iguaz falls Axis Evil report entitled The National Security Strategy United States America Known Triple Frontera Triple Border considered sieve illegal immigrants drugs supposedly Islamic terrorist cells Around report became media reported Osama Laden Triple Border hundreds miles Buenos Aires Furthermore Argentines inter preted Bush report announcing US feels attack anyone asserting threat US interests If Bush could attack Iraq little justification internal international support argument In reality document mentions Colombia makes allusions terrorist cells South America other parts world mention Argentina Triple Border specifically Other official documents State Department Patterns Global Terrorism mention triborder region South America focal point Islamic extremism Latin America Sebastian Hacer Indymedia Argentina about which Italian I percent Italian blood Buffalo New York Italian blood skirts Buenos Aires I guess Italian I conceding battle There white historic Plaza Mayo adjacent Executive Offices where people religions encouraged peace Last weekend there outdoor concert peace Obelisk Julio Avenue Buenos Aires prominent landmarks Popular artists demned US their hearts against enduring massive white Coca Cola perhaps largest McDonalds Argentines angry scared Last I Mar Capurro young bubbly sharp communications director Centro Estudios Legales Sociales leading human rights nizations Mar frightened US imperialism After Iraq asked After Middle East course Certainly Colombia Argentines experienced devastating presum Islamic terrorism first In people killed least injured Israeli embassy Buenos Aires destroyed Then destroyed AMIA Asociaci Mutual Israelita Argentina Buenos Aires Jewish Community Center leaving injured Neither clarified though Iranian government plicated latter Argentina largest Jewish community world after Israel New York Argentines mantly opposed participation whatsoever Iraq express concern about violent reprisals sides either Bush Islamic fundamentalists Last month showed percent Argentines believe attacks would increase Ar gentina became involved conflict Argentine opposition reflects trend Latin America In column Inter Hemispheric Resource Center entitled The Anti Yanqui Revival Latin America Center Mexico associ Laura Carlse wrote Ten thousand Argentines burned American INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS flags threw rocks U S Embassy In El Salvador antiwar protesters shredded flags shouted American slogans luxury hotel where Central American trade negotiations being In major cities McDonald concessions sprayed Don finance Sao Paulo Brazilian Minister Culture singer Gilberto Gil stage repudiate U S invasion The U S Embassy Mexico stands permanently barricaded twenty steel crossbars which daily protests bedecked bloodied shirts paper roses peace angry epithets George W Bush called everything polite assassin unprintable I earlier march US embassy fortunately include throwing It about before actually broke I feeling despondent about impending attacks march alone uplifted really Obviously experiencing Argentina experiencing former Washington DC I imagine Washington matter depressing I would excited people protest As approached US embassy Buenos Aires uplifted I contain tears I anticipate feeling jarred seeing US flags spattered paint signs ordering Yankees Go Home Given I Argentine especially walking silence I expect discomfort US citizen shame distress On since broke absolutely I living instead US radical change after continu confronting question But about One I found myself stuck minute across driver verbose furiou US government people Reflecting I hearing Argentina citing trend Latin America Laura Carlsen wrote While organizations blame squarely Bush administration expressions aimed U S whole become common This driver realize I US I neither anxious willing claiming I somewhere Canada So I mouth shifted topics asked I planned upcoming presidential elections No I I willing mutter which furious again You Why insisted I exhausted tension finally Later afternoon I sitting Ressio living telling Gustavo Diana story while Camilo Agust playing Coin cidentally running around swords I guilty I The truth times I complicit virtue silence Right I ashamed United States I should lowered voice Camilo running Echoing words grave Span Camilo friend Agust Me Mommy I ashamed Ressio after birthday party country ICWA Letters ISSN published Institute Current World Affairs Inc exempt operating foundation incorporated New York State offices located West Wheelock Street Hanover NH 03755 The letters provided charge members ICWA available libraries professional researchers subscription Phone E Mail ICWA valley Fax Web Site Executive Director Peter Bird Martin Program Assistant Brent Jacobson Publications Manager Ellen Kozak I nstitute Current World Affairs The Crane Rogers Foundation The formation contained publication reproduced without writer permission Author Farmelo Martha J Title ICWA Letters The Americas ISSN Imprint Institute Current World Affairs Hanover NH Material Type Serial Language English Frequency Monthly Other Regions East Asia Sub Saharan Africa Mideast North Africa South Asia Europe Russia Institute Fellows chosen basis character previous experience promise They young professionals funded spend minimum years carrying designed programs study writing outside United States The Fellows required report their findings experiences field month They write subject formally informally The result unique reporting analysis periodic assessment international events issues