Sanders Was Totally Opposed to US 'Immoral' Nicaragua War

[Judi Lynn]

Sanders Was Totally Opposed to US 'Immoral' Nicaragua War
Published 13 February 2016

The Vermont senator once wrote a letter to former president Ronald Reagan, condemning U.S. support for the Contras in the "strongest possible terms."



While Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has been criticized for his lack of foreign policy experience compared to his opponent, former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, research by the U.S.-based Fusion website has revealed that the senator was politically and ethically invested in the U.S. government’s involvement in Latin America during the 1980s, specifically Nicaragua.

While serving as the mayor of Burlington, Vermont, for eight years in the 1980s, Sanders wrote a series of letters and official resolutions to President Jimmy Carter and President Ronald Reagan, addressing U.S. involvement in the civil war in Nicaragua.

In 1983, Sanders wrote a letter to Reagan saying: “At a time when your administration has imposed horrendous cutbacks to the American people…I am appalled that you are using taxpayers’ money to destroy the government of a small nation.”

More:
http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Sanders-Was-Totally-Opposed-to-US-Immoral-Nicaragua-War-20160213-0030.html

General Discussion: Primaries:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511234846

[Judi Lynn]

1. Bernie Sanders’ 1980s Nicaragua letters show his early interest in foreign policy

Bernie Sanders’ 1980s Nicaragua letters show his early interest in foreign policy

by David Matthews

Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton has recently ramped up her criticism of her opponent, Bernie Sanders, for his thin foreign policy experience.

But one argument in favor of Sanders’ experience with statesmanship can be found in a series of cardboard boxes tucked away in the Bailey/Howe Library’s Special Collections room at the University of Vermont.

While serving as the mayor of Burlington, Vermont for eight years in the 1980s, Sanders dabbled in diplomacy, writing a series of letters and official resolutions sent to Presidents Carter and Reagan. His chief concern? America’s involvement in a civil war in Nicaragua.

Buried inside the University of Vermont’s Sanders archive is a series of 11 file folders labeled “Nicaragua,” which contains Sanders’ research and writing on the Central American nation. It’s a staggering amount of paper—close to 1,000 pages—and the Nicaragua documents show Sanders to be a local politician with national ambitions who wanted to learn as much about a situation as he could, before reaching a moral decision and acting.

More:
http://fusion.net/story/265585/bernie-sanders-nicaragua-letters-foreign-policy/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=/section/news/feed/

[Jarqui]

3. A quick summary that I'm aware of his foreign travels/policy:

In high school, after the war in Korea, he campaigned for money to get scholarships for Korean war orphans. And they did.

After college, he volunteered to live and work on a kibbutz in Israel for about 6 months - which is where he met his first wife.

He's been both critical and supportive of both Israel and the Palestinians on different issues
http://forward.com/news/national/310087/is-bernie-sanders-a-lefty-except-for-israel/#ixzz3hG6CmyYS

After their move to Vermont, he & his wife spent about 18 months touring Europe . His brother lives in the UK.

He honeymooned with his present wife Jane in Russia (Soviet Union) and established a sister city with Yaroslavl as mayor of Burlington, VT. He met with their mayor and compared how they do healthcare, etc.

He also got a sister city arrangement when he visited Nicaragua as mayor of Burlington. He was fearful of another Vietnam in South America. He'd protested the Vietnam war and that's why he hassling Reagan.

He spoke out against apartheid and campaigned for the divestment movement from South Africa, supporting Nelson Mandela's efforts. In 1994, he went to Mandela's inauguration as part of the group representing the US.

He called for the US to normalize relations with Cuba and made some complimentary comments about Castro in the 80s. He traveled there recently to discuss trade.

Visiting the troops in Afghanistan where he met with President Karzai & Gen Petraeus. He also met with PM Zardari in Pakistan on that trip


I expect there is more ...

[EdwardBernays]

2. Kissinger

Loved the Contras as well.

[mhatrw]

4. smart man nt