Latin American Review
by COL James J. Dunphy
When recently attending the resident portion of the Army War College, I was
introduced to the Strategic Studies Institute (SSI). The SSI publishes a number of
studies, linked either to issues or regions. While available in traditional hard copy,
the studies are also available, through the Internet by use of Adobe Acrobat. Latin
American Studies are available at carlisle-
www.army.mil/usassi/ssipubs/catalogs/latin.htm.
A number of recent SSI studies are on point for Latin American FAOs. The
first, Donald E. Schulz, The United States and Latin America: Shaping an
Elusive Future (March 2000; 63 pp) provides an excellent overview of the
entire region. As befitting a study produced at the War College, Schulz considers
Latin America in terms of the US' national interests. He concludes that while
WMD fears have largely been alleviated, there still remains threats against the
"survival, safety and vitality of our nation" from narcotrafickers and organized
crime. He also points out the importance of economics and the promotion of
democracy. He then briefly reviews the strategic environment, with specific
reference to Mexico, Colombia and Venezuela. Finally, after a look at the present,
he peers into the future, considering, besides these three countries, a number of
scenarios throughout the region. He concludes that we are a number of years away
from the endgame in Cuba, but posits a post-Raul succession struggle, which could
lead to a number of unpleasant outcomes, from an unlikely Gotterdamerung to
more likely repeat of the Mariel boatlift. Possible additional military intervention
in Haiti or Panama is also considered. The rise of Brazil to a regional hegemon,
possibly with nuclear arms, is noted, but it is reported that US Brazil relations are
improving, lessening the consequences of such a rise. In his brief overview,
concentrating on a few countries within the region, Schulz has done an excellent
job stating US interests and positing how those interests will play out. It is up to
the reader to consider the future in such vital areas as Chile, Argentina and Peru.
Another useful general study is Max G. Manwaring, ed. Security and
Civil-Military Relations in the New World Disorder: The Use of Armed Forces in
the Americas (September 1999; 85pp.) This collection of essays from a Texas
A & M conference on "The Use of Land Forces in the Americas" reviews, as noted
in the forward, the major political, economic and social trends in Latin America;
strategic issues that relate to the use of US armed forces in the Americas; and civil
military relations now and in the future. After a strategic perspective by Dr.
Schulz consistent with his other work, Peter Hakim argues that attempts to build
strong, egalitarian democracies have failed because of governments' inability to
resist three temptations: authoritarian politics, populist economics and anti-
Americanism. Present throughout history, they remain, perhaps in lessened form,
even to today. Specific essays on economic policy, the role of the US Army in
promoting democracy, and land forces in drug interdiction follow. There is an
excellent closing essay on the use of Armed Forces in the Americas, in which the
editor synthesizes the views of the Conference participants and is the most useful
of the essays. He sums up the views of the Conference in two major points --
while the military will have a role in promoting democracy and fighting drug
traffic, planners must be ready for a long term commitment.
Another conference report, from April 1998, was on The Role of the
Armed Forces in the Americas: Civil Military Relations for the 21st
Century. A brief introductory article on the strategic landscape shows the
interlocking perspectives on Latin America in the National Security Strategy and
the US Security Strategy for the Americas. Specific articles on aspects of civil
military relations follow. Of particular interest is one on Brazilian military policy
written by a Brazilian university professor. This rich article contains not only a
sweeping discussion of civil military relations from World War II to the present,
but also an analysis of the Brazilian equivalent of the NSS, the National Defense
Policy (PDN in Portuguese). This volume is particularly useful, as the articles are
equally divided between US authors and Latin American authors, allowing for
differing perspectives.
This brief overview barely scratches the surface of the depth of monographs
available from SSI. More specific country studies, particularly on Mexico,
Colombia and Haiti are available, along with studies on counterinsurgency and
combating drug trafficking. The ease in obtaining these studies, combined with
their content value, make them an invaluable resource for the Latin American
FAO.
2001, Foreign Area Officer
Association
Springfield, Virginia
Maintained by LTC Steve
Gotowicki.
http://www.faoa.org