He went on to explain that in Brazil and many other countries,
the corporatocracy essentially controls all political parties. "Even
radical communist candidates who appear to oppose the United
States are compromised by Washington."
When I asked him how he knew all this, he laughed. "I've been
around a long time," he said. "I've always been involved in
politics. From Johnson to Bush, both Bushes, I've seen it all. Your
intelligence agencies, as well as your economic hit men, are a lot
more efficient than even you imagine."
Jose described how students are lured in while they are naive
and vulnerable. He talked about his own personal experiences as a
young man and the way women, booze, and drugs were used. "So
you see,
131THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN
EMPIRE
even when a radical opponent of the U.S. gets into office, and
assuming that at this point in his life he sincerely wants to stand
up to Washington, your CIA has what you call 'the goods' on
him."
"Blackmail."
He chuckled at this. "You might call it that, or you might call
it 'modern diplomacy.' It isn't just the U.S. of course. Surely
you've heard the rumors about why Noriega was taken down and
today rots in a U.S. prison."
"I've heard that he had cameras on Contadora Island." It was
an infamous resort off Panama's coast, a "safe haven" where U.S.
businessmen could treat politicians to every conceivable vice. I
had visited—and used—Contadora several times during my EHM
days.
"You heard who got caught by those cameras?"
"Rumors that George W. was photographed doing coke and
having kinky sex during the time his father was president." There
was a theory in Latin America that Noriega had used
incriminating photos of the younger Bush and his cronies to
convince the older Bush, the president, to side with the
Panamanian administration on key issues. In retaliation, H. W.
invaded Panama and hustled Noriega off to a Miami prison. The
building housing Noriega's confidential files had been incinerated
by bombs; as a side effect, more than two thousand innocent
civilians were burned to death in Panama City that day in
December 1989. Many people claimed that this theory offered the
only logical explanation for violently attacking a nation without
an army and that posed no threat to the United States.
Jose nodded. "From where I sit, those rumors ring awfully
true. I've experienced things that take them out of the realm of
fantasy." He cocked his head. "So have you." He paused, looking
around. "And it terrifies me."
I asked whether Lula had been corrupted and for how long. It
was obvious that this question made him extremely
uncomfortable. After a long pause, he admitted that Lula was part
of the system. "Otherwise, how could he have risen to such a
position?" However, Jose also professed his admiration for Lula.
"He's a realist. He understands