Reply #21: Missile affair in Bolivia tarnishes reputations, yields few answers

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Bolivia's top military leaders asked for U.S. help last year in destroying some 28 shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles that were dangerously obsolete, they say, and Washington agreed.

But the secret operation was unmasked, came under attack by then-presidential candidate Evo Morales, led to the firing of the defense minister and the army's top commander, fueled suspicions of heavy-handed U.S. dealings and sparked corruption allegations.

The Bolivian Attorney General's office on Thursday called for the indictment of former President Eduardo Rodriguez, who was replaced by Morales on Jan. 22, on treason charges, as well as his defense minister and supreme military commander.

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On his third day in office, Morales bypassed 28 generals for promotion, forcing them into retirement and creating potential tensions down the road with a Bolivian military that has a long history of coups.

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