Nicaragua President Daniel Ortega loves to hate the U.S. government of George Bush and hates to love it, it seems. But he understands and appreciates the aid it offers to his country.
He especially appreciated the efforts of the crew of a U.S. Navy ship that serves as a floating hospital-it spent last week docked off the coast of Nicaragua, helping hundreds of patients in the local community of Corinto. Some 300 Nicaraguans a day were treated on shore, while American doctors on board the USNS Comfort performed close to 90 surgeries. All the care was provided for free.
The stop was part of a 12-country Latin American tour that President George Bush initiated last March. In its four months at sea, the Comfort has treated more than 55,000 patients, with visits to Nicaragua, Guatemala, Belize, and Panama so far. Both Nicaraguans and Navy personnel expressed gratitude for the mission.
"I’ll not soon forget the bear hug I got from Mayor Méndez Zeledón of Corinto," wrote Navy Captain Bob Kapcio on his blog. "His embrace sent a message of thanks and appreciation that spoke volumes to me."
The humanitarian undertaking followed several tense days between the Bush and Ortega administrations. In celebrating the 28th anniversary of the Sandinista revolution, the former guerilla leader appeared more critical of the United States than he has in recent months.
At a July 19 rally in front of 300,000 supporters, Ortega called President Bush a "tyrant" who had been elected by "fraud." The next day, Ortega inaugurated a new oil refinery that will process 150,000 barrels of Venezuelan oil a day, which Venezuela’s president, Hugo Chávez, said would end U.S. dominance in the region.
But the U.S. Ambassador and Nicaragua Vice-President, Jaime Morales, downplayed any new divisions, saying that good relations will continue between the two countries. After touring the U.S. Navy ship with Nicaragua’s defense minister, Morales said that Ortega had called him several times to hear how the Comfort staff was helping out.
At a press conference, Morales added that the U.S. has historically come to Nicaragua’s aid, based on "liberty and respect."
Your Latin America Insider,
Suzan Haskins
for International Living
P.S. President (and ex-Sandinista) Daniel Ortega buddies up to Venezuela, Cuba, and Iran, and calls Bush a "tyrant." Should you even think about living or investing here? Our hot-off-the-press report Daniel Ortega: The First 180 Days takes a close look at whether a leopard can change his spots.
