~~ posted for dmorista ~~
Introduction by dmorista:
This is an interview, by Margaret Flowers for her Clearing the Fog interview series posted at Popular Resistance, of Ben Norton, associate editor of The Grayzone, who is based in Managua, Nicaragua. They mostly discussed the, at the time, upcoming election in Nicaragua. Norton patiently explains why Daniel Ortega and the FSLN party was clearly going to win a significant victory. He also discusses the many “neoliberal reforms” that the Chamorro-led opposition implemented while they were in power after defeating the FSLN in 1986. Those “reforms” sold off much of the publicly owned infrastructure in a wave of privatization. There were numerous scandals and cases of profiteering and corruption associated with the “privatization” of the Nicaraguan social capital. Those glaring scandals are the reason that the U.S. based disinformation and propaganda media operations and domestic Nicaraguan reactionaries have kept up a drumbeat of accusations of corruption and scandal against Ortega.
The Sandinistas have provided many new social services, education, health care, improved roads and so on for the population since they took power again in 2006. The people of Nicaragua know how much better off they are than are the inhabitants of the neighboring countries, like Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala. They are better off because they live in a country that has implemented many socialist policies. The right-wing opposition just cannot beat the FSLN party in any sort of honest election, so sabotage, coups d'etat, and other subversive activities to try to overthrow the Nicaraguan government are their response.
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https://popularresistance.org/as-nicaragua-resists-regime-change-the-us-ramps-up-its-economic-warfare/
The United States has tried to control the poor Central American country, Nicaragua, for more than 100 years. John Bolton designated Nicaragua as part of the “Troika of Tyranny” along with Cuba and Venezuela for daring to defend its sovereignty. Since the failed violent coup attempt in 2018, the US foreign policy establishment has focused on preventing President Daniel Ortega’s reelection using a variety of tactics. Ben Norton, associate editor of The Grayzone, who is based in Managua, describes those tactics, the complicity of corporate media and social media and how Nicaragua is working to protect its democratic institutions. Norton outlines the US playbook in Nicaragua, including what to expect after the election.
Listen here:
Review us on iTunes! Click here … Then click on “View in iTunes … Then click “Ratings and Reviews.”Guest:
Ben Norton is assistant editor of the investigative journalism website The Grayzone.
He produces the political podcast and video show Moderate Rebels, which he also co-hosts with The Grayzone editor and founder Max Blumenthal.
Ben is also a contributor to the media watchdog Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR).
He was previously a politics staff writer and reporter for Salon and AlterNet, as well as a producer and reporter for The Real News. He has freelanced for a variety of other publications, such as The Intercept.
Other articles and writings can be found at Ben’s blog. And here you can find a selection of his media appearances and interviews.
And Ben does some photography as part of his journalistic work. You can find his photojournalism at Flickr.
When not reporting on politics (which is honestly rather rare), Ben is also a musician and composer. Here you can find his music, in a variety of styles, including jazz, rock, classical, and electronic.
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