In recent years, USAIDs alleged political meddling has been more subtle. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez frequently and famously accused the United States of covertly trying to overthrow him, but only after his death did evidence emerge to support his seemingly paranoid claims. A WikiLeaks cable released in 2013 outlined the U.S. strategy for undermining Chavezs government by penetrating Chavezs political base, dividing Chavismo, and isolating Chavez internationally. The strategy was to be carried out by USAIDs Office of Transition Initiatives, the same office responsible for developing Cuban Twitter, and involved funding opposition organizations in Venezuela. ... These incidents have fed a narrative, embraced by some foreign governments, that USAID acts as a cover for U.S. intelligence programs. In recent years, an array of countries have accused USAID of interfering in their domestic politics or attempting to undermine their power. In 2013, Bolivian President Evo Morales expelled USAID officials from his country on the grounds that the agency had conspired against his government by allegedly manipulating social movements in the country. He also charged that that a previous USAID program that sought to help coca farms switch to new crops was politically motivated. Russia expelled the agency in 2012 for similar reasons. Its foreign ministry argued in a statement that USAID attempts to influence political processes through its grants, while President Vladimir Putin blamed U.S.-funded NGOs for inciting protests against his re-election. And in February, Kenyan Cabinet Secretary Francis Kimemia claimed that his government had evidence that USAID had hired activists to organize anti-government protests in Nairobi, in an effort to topple the government. There is little evidence, at least so far, to verify those charges. But the new Cuba scandal wont help USAID repair its tattered reputation.
Posted on: Sat, 05 Apr 2014 22:38:27 +0000