I do not doubt at one time or another, and possibly even in December that Presidenta Chinchilla spoke with President Obama and Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton asking for more support from the United States as it relates to the incursion of Nicaraguan troops on the Isla Calero.

However, both the source and content of those conversations are sketchy, at best.

Many Costa Ricans have asked why the is US silent and the absent of outrage. The same could be said for Costa Ricans who freely protest just about everything else and have been mute on the occupation.

Doña Laura, according to Noticias Reloj, did not confirm the conversations nor reveal the content of the alleged conversations. In short, we do not know if the calls were made and what was said. The confirmation, according to Noticias Reloj, was “a source close to the presidenta (Chinchilla), no name or position.

Hell, my office is 10 minutes from her home so does that make us a credible source “…close to the president?”

If Costa Rica expects US Marines to march in and save the day, it is a dream, maybe even a nightmare.

This country, Costa Rica has opted to take the diplomatic road and might very well be having second thoughts since it did the same as to ownership of the Rio San Juan and lost big time in the World Court of Justice or more popularly called The Hague.

From the US side, making war on Nicaragua makes little long term political sense.

Overt military assistance would play directly into the hands of ALBA, made up of such anti-USA countries as Venezuela, Ecuador and Bolivia not to mention Iran who can and would inflict more political damage on an already hurting USA.

If the US would send in the Marines, it would take another 200 years to overcome the imperialist theme that is oh so prevalent and easy to exploit.

In short, where is the upside?

The US has supported the Costa Rican argument at the OAS, will at The Hague and again at the United Nations Security Council, if required.

It is the UN and its blue helmets that Costa Rica wants to work with and not the US Marines. The blue helmets and international peace keepers of which the US is a part of, but not on its own.

Nowhere in any of the published articles is it said what Costa Rica wants from the US?

According to Noticias Reloj, The Obama administration did not offer strong support.

My question is support for what?

“Yes”, the authors used a well publicized piece in the Washington Post that Obama is soft on Nicaragua. An easy play by writers with an agenda and possibly accurate.

Costa Rica, what do you want the US to do? I keep asking myself that question over and over and the only realistic conclusion is send in the troops to shed foreign blood on foreign soil.

On a more personal level, Oscar Arias has chastised the United States whenever possible for being a mindless, militaristic country. Costa Rica has proudly, if not arrogantly, flaunted its no army banner and being a peace loving nation.

The two do make for a good mix and the occupation of Isla Calero certainly does not represent a compelling reason for war.


*John Holtz is the Executive Director of the Center for the Studies of Modern Management http://www.modernmanagement.org/ and can be reached at: jrh@modernmanagement.org.