Bulletins and News Discussion from February 10th to February 16th, 2025 - There Is Noboa Alternative - COTW: Ecuador

Image is of the Galapagos Islands, sourced from here.

Moving the megathread topic slightly away from the chaos of the United States and going back around the world, we will begin with paying attention to Ecuador.

Ecuador has been ruled by Daniel Noboa since 2023, after he won the snap election. He's about as ghoulish as one gets; a neoliberal right-winger and as much as a marionette to the United States as Milei. Two months ago, he gave effective control of the Galapagos Islands to the United States and is allowing them to build a military base there - beginning the potential conversion from a natural paradise to unsinkable aircraft carrier.

We are now seeing the rematch between Noboa and Gonzalez; the latter of which is a leftist politician with a similar ideology to Correa, the socialist who ruled Ecuador from 2007 to 2017. The divide in Ecuador today is largely between the Correaists and those who oppose them, though Leonidas Iza represents the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador and commands a notable share of the vote.

Last week's thread is here.
The Imperialism Reading Group is here.

Please check out the HexAtlas!

The bulletins site is here. Currently not used.
The RSS feed is here. Also currently not used.

You're viewing a single thread.

454 comments

Shit is going down in Beirut:
https://xcancel.com/AryJeay/status/1890104829198102895
🇮🇷🇱🇧Lebanese Pilgrims Stuck in Tehran After Beirut Denied their Entry
Normal Lebanese civilians have been stuck in Tehran IKA airport after Beirut refused to receive their Iranian flight.
Ali Qobeissi, who was leading the religious tourism group, told Al-Akhbar that no Lebanese official has reached out to assist them, and passengers cannot afford alternative tickets via a third country.
Iran took the initiative and covered their hotel stay as they await a resolution, now postponed until Monday. Qobeissi urged the Lebanese state to intervene, emphasizing that their trip was solely religious and refuting allegations of carrying funds for Hezbollah or reconstruction.
Meanwhile, large demonstrations have gathered near Beirut Airport, the roads leading to the airport have been blocked with burning tires in protest.
The new Lebanese Minister of Public Works, Fayez Rasamni, was the one who issued the order, with prior approval and knowledge of Lebanese PM, Nawaf Salam.
Reason? This comes 1 day after Israeli IOF spox Avichay Adraee’s tweeted claims about Iran using the airport to transfer funds to Hezbollah…
This is ridiculous.
- Lebanese government folded. They are allowing the plane now
  
  Yes the Lebanese government did fold, but it's more complex than that. It all has to do with Israel not wanting to allow further Mahan Air flights to Lebanon, so the Lebanese are sending their own plane from Middle East Airlines, the Lebanese flag carrier, to pick up the stranded Lebanese passengers. So Lebanon is folding both to Israeli pressure, and the pressure from their own citizens whom are stranded. I'll explain more below.
  The initial flight that was refused landing was a Mahan Air flight, which is an airline with close ties to the Iranian military and revolutionary guards. Mahan Air was the airline that carried out the Iranian retreat/evacuation from Syria when Assad fell for example. And the airline that transported injured Hezbollah members and Lebanese civilians from Lebanon to Iran for medical treatment after the Israeli pager terrorist operation. So Israel does not want any more Mahan Air flights to arrive in Lebanon, and even have threatened to shoot them down if they try to. The Israelis ran a big propaganda campaign on this yesterday, using these links to Iran, plus accusations that Iran is smuggling money and supplies to Hezbollah using these flights, as the main talking points. That's why the Lebanese government refused to allow the Mahan Air flight to land earlier today, they did not want to run the risk of Israel shooting it down. And that's why Lebanon is having to send one of their own planes from their own national airline, Middle East Airlines, to pick up the stranded Lebanese passengers from Tehran, instead of having Mahan Air send another flight.
  I think Israel is trying to cause chaos in Lebanon before the expiration of the ceasefire agreement (February 18) and Nasrallah's funeral (February 23). Mahan Air is just an easy target given their links to the Iranian military and revolutionary guards.

454 comments