Honduran Coup: Bennet Ratcliff, Advisor to Micheletti; OBAMA CONNECTION

[magbana]

I got this through a list serve that I belong to. Further, I know the person who wrote it and trust his opinion.

Please note, in the last paragraph a URL is missing for a DN show on charter schools. When I get the URL, I'll post it.

Perhaps, many of you have seen the following NYT article about
Micheletti’s use of consultants/image managers who are close to the Clintons.

Bennet Ratcliff, who is the “American” mentioned in the NYT article, is a
partner of a consulting company called Vander Ark/Ratcliff, based in San
Diego.

In addition to the fact that Mr. Ratcliff has direct contacts with the
Clintons, Tom Vander Ark (Ratcliff’s partner) and his wife also have
direct connections to the Clinton Administration and the Obama
Administration. Mr. Vander Ark is an old friend and strong supporter of
Mr. Arne Duncan, the Education Secretary appointed by President Barack
Obama. Mr. Vander Ark also has direct connections to Bill Gates
(Microsoft) as the former Executive Director of his Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation.

No doubt Mr. Gates is not very happy that Venezuela and others are working
towards developing alternatives to the use of the Microsoft operating
system. This could lead to other countries following Venezuela's lead.

So, it appears they may be some unexpected players and multiple
motivations for the coup in Honduras, in terms of the corporate concerns
about losing their control over certain aspects of resources and life in
Latin America.

References:

NYT article on Clinton/DNC Honduras Coup Connection:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/13/world/americas/13honduras.html

Vander Ark/Ratcliff Corporate Information:
http://www.varpartners.net/?page_id=2

Bennet Ratcliff’s Linkedin Web Page:
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/bennet-ratcliff/1/985/a36

ABC News Article Showing Direct Vander Ark/Arne Duncan Link:
http://abcnews.go.com/ThisWeek/Politics/story?id=7876217&page=1

Notice that among the goals of President Obama is the expansion of
“Charter Schools”, a movement in which Mr. Vander Ark has been a key
player, with the support of Bill Gates. The for-profit education business
is booming and it clearly has the support of major players, apparently
including our President. Here is President Obama’s speech to the Hispanic
Chamber of Commerce in March:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/09/03/10/Taking-on-Education/

Mr. Duncan recently (July 2) gave a speech at the NEA Convention in San
Diego (city where Vander Ark/Ratcliff is based). You’ll find in this blog
and its entries more information about the connection between Mr. Duncan
and the privatization movement.

http://nea-ra.blogspot.com/2009/07/arne-duncan-speaks-to-delegates.html

There is more, much more, to uncover but I'll leave you with an
interesting Democracy Now! piece that includes an interview with Secretary
Duncan and his critics. One thing is clear the Charter School approach is
anti-union. Sound familiar?

How are the teachers and the unions doing in Honduras these days?

[Judi Lynn]

1. Unbelievable! I'm in shock. Will read more from this thread later today.

Thank you for putting this together, and posting it, magbana.

Oh, christ.

Well, it won't matter, in the end: Latin America is STILL going to rise from its loathesome history of suffering at the hands of fascists, some transplanted WWII Nazis, and neo-liberals. They will do it, no matter WHAT. Time and righteousness are on the side of the people in the struggle ongoing and ahead.

These cheap, greedy, vicious a-holes are finally going to lose their control over what has never been any of their business in the first place.

[Hannah Bell]

2. kr

oops no r left.

from yr link:

"The statistics are grim.

The nation's struggling K-12 education system has a persistent achievement gap between white and and minority students, a dismal 69 percent average high school graduation rate, and U.S. students trail behind other nations in math and science proficiency."


they're selling public school failure & charter privatization; something gates foundation is funding, & arnie worked on back in chicago.

color me unsurprised.