Land of the Brave, Home of the Free
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The U.S. has always showed its full ass when it comes to Central America. This week is a special version, even if most people aren’t paying attention. One doesn’t have think anything positive at all about Daniel Ortega to note that a travel advisory to Nicaragua is pretty dumb. It’s pretty safe compared to a lot of nations and the people going there know that. Ortega is an asshole. But this reasoning is special compared to what comes with my next link:
The U.S. State Department is warning Americans thinking of booking trips to Nicaragua to reconsider their travel plans because the country is sinking deeper into authoritarianism, making it more perilous for tourists.
Nicaragua has been on a Level 3 travel advisory since December, which means people are urged to avoid traveling there because of an arbitrary enforcement of laws, the risk of wrongful detention and the limited health care. (Level 4 — “do not travel” — is the highest advisory level.)
U.S. officials, alarmed by a flurry of positive press about Nicaragua in travel publications took the unusual step Friday of holding a briefing to reiterate the warning. The officials spoke on the condition that their names not be published so U.S. officials can continue working in Nicaragua.
Some Americans, particularly those who work for U.S. news organizations, don’t even make it on the plane: The Nicaraguan government routinely notifies airlines of passengers who are not welcome.
“They are barred from entry,” the U.S. official said.
Last year, a New York Times reporter and his family going to Nicaragua on vacation were prevented from boarding a flight from the United States after the Nicaraguan government apparently sent a notice to the airline denying them entry.
One surfer was turned back, apparently because he had a journalism degree listed on LinkedIn, the U.S. official said.
That is bad. Glad the U.S. would never do that:
The U.S. State Department revoked the travel visas of a former president of Panama and a Panamanian presidential candidate, a move the politicians said was direct retaliation for speaking out against recent deals their country made with President Trump.
Martín Torrijos, who was president of Panama from 2004 to 2009, announced at a news conference on Monday that he had been notified by the U.S. government that his visa had been canceled. Ricardo Lombana, a lawyer who came in second in Panama’s presidential election last year, said he received word in an email on Monday that his visa had also been yanked.
“I want to warn you that this is not just about me, and not just in my capacity as former president of the republic,” Mr. Torrijos said. “This is a warning to all Panamanians that criticism of the Panamanian government’s actions regarding its relations with the United States will not be tolerated.”
Other nations should issue a Level 4 travel advisory against the U.S. for political violence and rule by a madman.
But this America. We kick ass and stand for freedom. Or something.