Author Archives: W. Alejandro "Alex" Sánchez

2012, the year of land-related protests in Latin America?

By W. Alejandro "Alex" Sánchez | Published: January 1, 2012
As the new year begins, members of the media, researchers, academics and politicians are all trying to guess what will happen in 2012 (recently I was interviewed about the future of U.S.-Venezuela relations and the future of the Occupy protests and their effect, if any, in the upcoming U.S. presidential elections). When it comes to [...]
Posted in Argentina, Bolivia, Peru | Leave a comment

Carlos the Jackal: Thoughts on the Original Terrorist

By W. Alejandro "Alex" Sánchez | Published: November 21, 2011
Mentioning Ilich Ramirez Sanchez’ famous nickname brings up memories of the original terrorist’s most impressive feats, like the 1975 raid of an OPEC meeting in Vienna, Austria. After the takeover of the  meeting, in which three people died, he and his commandos flew their hostages to Algiers, and, eventually, an ex-Royal Navy pilot called Neville [...]
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Peru in the Eye of the Drug-Hurricane

By W. Alejandro "Alex" Sánchez | Published: July 7, 2010
A recently released UN World Drug Report states that coca cultivation in Peru has increased for the fourth year in a row . The prevailing triumvirate of coca-growers in the region has been Colombia, Peru and Bolivia, with Colombia being the region’s major producer. Peruvian authorities have been quick to critique the UN report, [...]
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The Paraguayan People’s Army (EPP): How to define it? and why should we care?

By W. Alejandro "Alex" Sánchez | Published: April 2, 2010
The Ejercito del Pueblo Paraguayo (Paraguayan People’s Army) is beginning to become a household name. For the moment it has focused its operations around kidnapping wealthy Paraguayans and demanding ransom for their return, One of the latest victims was Fidel Zavala, who was captive for 94 days and finally freed on January 17. Nevertheless, as [...]
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Revisiting an Old Flame: Bolivia adopts Revolutionary Slogan

By W. Alejandro "Alex" Sánchez | Published: March 25, 2010
Via presidential order, the Bolivian army’s new slogan is “Patria o muerte, venceremos!” (Fatherland or death, we shall overcome!), adopted from early revolutionary Cuba and the iconic Argentine guerrilla fighter (he has been labeled in a variety of ways), Ernesto “Che” Guevara. This declaration has brought about a fair amount of analysis and discussion by [...]
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Brazil’s nuclear initiatives: what should be done about them?

By W. Alejandro "Alex" Sánchez | Published: March 16, 2010
Brazilian Defense Minister Nelson Jobim recently declared that he is against additional inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and restrictions regarding selling uranium to other countries, a key ingredient for developing nuclear energy and nuclear armament. Indeed, Brazil has so far refused to sign an amended version of the NPT, the so-called additional [...]
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