U.S. arms sales to Latin America - weapons of imperialism and exploitation

by Gus Hall

This article was reprinted from the August 16, 1997, issue of the People's Weekly World. For subscription information see below. All rights reserved - may be used with PWW credits.

After a 20 year ban, the Clinton Administration has decided to sell high-tech weapons and airplanes to countries of Latin America. The most serious question is - why should U.S. imperialism want to sell arms to some countries of Latin America. There is no "threat" to these countries, so why arm them

U.S. imperialism uses weapon sales as an instrument for super-profits. And of course, the arms business is big business - big business with high profits.

Next to oil, armaments is one of the most profitable industries worldwide. Selling arms to the countries of Latin America, keeps the U.S. war industry operating. It continues a grossly, over-inflated and out-of-control military budget. It continues the thieving, corrupt core of the military monopoly, which is the main monopoly support base for ultra-right and fascist movements, both here in the U.S. and world-wide. Lockheed and McDonnell Douglas, along with the Pentagon and arms dealers, are pushing this policy. The weapons sales are related to the policy of exploitation and imperialism's profits - more guns, more profits. The guns also serve to keep German, British and French imperialism out of South and Central America. U.S. corporations view other countries as competitors. But not all countries of Latin America will be able to get U.S. arms. The Clinton administration will sell arms only to countries of its choice. But the choice of countries will be made by U.S. corporations. The choice will be picked by the U.S. corporations that have property in these countries. The arms will be sold to countries where U.S. corporations have the largest holdings.

The arms will be sold to countries with the most reactionary governments. U.S. imperialism wants to arm the countries that can be used in the aggression against Cuba. U.S. imperialism will sell arms to countries that will use them against their own working class.

Capitalist governments of Latin America face their own internal crises and class struggle. They will use the U.S. weapons to put down the struggles of the workers and trade unions, the left and Communist Parties. U.S. imperialism is the main support base of these right-wing reactionary governments.

The U.S. is not for a united South America. The Clinton policies of aggression against Cuba are examples of that policy in South America. U.S. imperialism is constantly looking for excuses to reinvigorate and escalate its campaign against socialist Cuba. The U.S. blockade against Cuba is becoming an obstacle for many countries, which now see the benefit in trading with Cuba. Of course, the heroic struggles of the Cuban people against U.S. imperialist aggression, is a big factor. The U.S. is isolated in world opinion and is getting pressure from many governments to reverse its Cuba policy. This arms deal fits in with escalating U.S. imperialist aggression against Cuba.

NAFTA fits in with the policies of aggression against socialist Cuba and for U.S. imperialist domination of Latin America. Clinton wants a new NAFTA agreement with other countries in South America. The new arms deals fit in with these policies.

At a moment when the world is talking about disarmament and peace - U.S. imperialism is talking about increasing arms sales. Increases in arms increase the danger of military action - increase the danger of wars. With the new arms technology, small weapons can be very deadly. The arms deal fits in with the overall policy of U.S. imperialist aggression. And we have to remember the aim of U.S. imperialism is to dominate the world - to plunder the natural resources of all lands and the labor of the world's workers in its ever-growing, never-satisfied, greed for maximum profits.

-Gus Hall is National Chair of the Communist Party, USA