I had heard about this but you cannot really find much on it. Found this article which talks about Brazils so called Manifest Destiny to reach the Pacific. Those who can read Span. should read this good but long article for themselves at the following: http://www.ircamericas.org/esp/3124
All others here is what the article is about. Not has good has above with things added.
Seems that some politicians and military in Brazil have had over the years a hidden agenda to influence there neighboring nations for the good of Brazil. Since before Independence it seems there was always this drive to go west and conquer. International borders were not respected. In some cases after the area became full of Brazilians then the gov't. acted diplomatically to have that area annexed to Brazil. This is how Bolivia lost the territory of Acre (155,000 sq. km.) in 1903. Acre today is a Brazilian State. Should be noted that Bolivia lost over half its territory to neighboring nations.
See map: http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imagen:Bolivi...oss_map_LOC.jpg
In 1870 Paraguay, after a long fierce war which started in 1864, against the triple alliance made up of Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay(whose gov't. followed whatever Brazil said) also lost territory (90000 sq. km.) to Brazil.
Peru, Colombia, Venezuela and all the three Guianas have had to forget some claims they had to Amazon territory.
Today Brazil is using its economic power to influence its neighbors. They would like to control ports in the Pacific since trade with Asia is to increase greatly in the future. Small groups of Brazilian control and run important businesses and have interests in Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Venezuela, Ecuador and others. Usually, these companies are set up to profit the Brazilians and there lapdogs in the nations they operate. Environmental issues or economic progress in the nations they operate in are usually not important to them. About a few weeks back two high ranking Bolivian gov't. officials were taken prisoners in Puerto Suarez near the border with Brazil by local Bolivians who were supporting a Brazilian companies right to cut down trees since the new Bolivian gov't. had declared those companies were operating illegally. Seems those companies were using there local lapdogs to cause trouble.
Petrobras, Brazils major oil company controlled 20% of Bolivias gas. Today they are out of luck since Bolivia nationalized the energy sector. Brazil considers Bolivia to be the key to South America. Petrobras also controls major interest in Argentina. In Ecuador they controlled an oil drilling block in a national park which the gov't. of Ecuador said they had to leave. Brazilian gov't. then offered Ecuador lots of stuff. Brazil sometimes gives neighboring nations free loans for construction but they usually attach a clause that they must use a Brazilian contractor.
Some say Brazil also wants to control parts of Paraguay by having huge amounts of its citizens living near there border with Paraguay and in Paraguay. Should be noted that some years back the Brazilian military invaded an electric substation in Paraguay during a major blackout in Brazil. Brazil and Paraguay share a hydroelectric plant. The blackout was caused by too much electric demand on Brazils part and electric lines unable to handle it.
Seems the only nations that can limit Brazils rise into a 21 century Megastate are Argentina, Venezuela, the US and some Brazilians. US has troops station in Paraguay not far from Bolivia. The Brazilians are not happy about that. When the US troops arrived the Brazilians started having troop exercises on there side of the border. Brazilians in that they have sold major interests in many of there most important companies to foreigners. Should be noted that Brazil is eight on the list of nations with the most economic inequality among its population. In the end, the article says, Brazil needs to spend much more attention on the pressing problems in Brazil and less getting involved in its neighbors affairs. An internal policy of social welfare and full employment plus an external policy of independence should be followed.
Full Version: Brazils so called manifest destiny
The U.S.? That article was probably wrote by someone from the United States or affiliated in political and economic cause with it.I was once in the United States Marine Corps and let me tell you I have read with my own eyes, months back in one of the Marine Corps magazines (can't remember which one but it might have been Leather Neck) while I was up in the V.A., that the Marine Corps (this was written by the Corps) and the rest of the U.S. military and federal intelligence agencies plab on through psyops manipulating the rest of the world through various forms of media and information and even plan on engineering elections through out the rest of the world so as to favor U.S. policies and economic interests.
That article shows it's lack of objectivity in both diction and tone and commentary (or lack of) on the war Paraguay fought with three of its neighboring nations. It is laughable for the article to infer Brazil was building up militarily to attack Paraguay when Paraguay had spent years building her military to immense size (in correlation to the population size of the country at that time). In contrast Brazil boasted a smaller professional military force than Paraguay did as I remember. Paraguay was defeated because of Brazil. A bloody war it was, about comparable to the U.S. Civil War, at least in terms of impact on Paraguay and perhaps even overall body count from the war. If memory serves me correct Paraguay lost about 1/2 her male population in that war, and basicly only old men and small male children were left. You can imagine that must have caused hardships on the women of youthful age.
Back to the United States... the U.S. push of NAFTA (which required by law Mexicans under said companies could not unionize. So in effect you had 14 year old Mexican girls toiling for cheap wages) has not done astonishing things for Mexico, but it did protect U.S. and Canadian capital from tariffs and consequently leveled the Mexican agricultural market and flooded it with U.S. corn. Recently 250,000 of those jobs brought to Mexico by NAFTA have picked up from Mexico and fled to China where labor and correlating out-put (production) is even cheaper. The United States heads NAFTA.
South American nations led by Brazil formed MERCOSUR to counter-act NAFTA. In effect Brazil and nations of MERCOSUR have placed up protective tariffs to protect their nations markets which has the effect f pissing off the United States to no end. The U.S. Government as been trying to negotiate with Brazil to lead nations allied economically with her into the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas (I believe it is called?). Part of that deal would be for all of Latin America to adopt the U.S. dollar as it's own currency (this would build the dollar in strength against the Euro). Brazil refuse until terms for economic prosperity are more favorable for both Brazil and her Latin American allies.
If NAFTA worked out so well then why are so many Mexicans still fleeing to the U.S. boarders including former farms which NAFTA destroyed?
But the article is correct in that Brazil has been growing to become like a mini United States in Latin America. Brazilian companies are in numerous Latin American countries and or holding stock shares in various Latin American countries (but so what... Ford own auto plants in both Mexico and Brazil and last I checked Japanes and Chinese companies own companies or shares in companies from South America into North America. Hell I think the Chinese basicly own the Panama Canal now).
Keep in mind Brazil unlike every or almost every other Latin American country has never had request the United States militarily intervene in her country. Brazil is one of the biggest arms dealers in the world, sells advanced military aircraft to U.S. European allies like Britain. Brazil has a space program and will eventually launch her own satelite into space (even a high income nation like France relies on U.S. GPS satelites for her military troops) she is also moving to become nuclear weapons nation. This does not please U.S. hegemony.
What's funny is the article acts as though the United States has no bad history in Latin America
. The author of the article ought to confront the matter of the U.S. supporting so many dictatorships (including it had hands in helping the Brazilian military dictatorship take power which Brazilians still remember about the U.S.). Look at all the "death squads" that operated in Centra America by CIA backing. [Scratches head] Didn't the United States back Saddam Hussien as a dictator till he ran foul with us?Brazil is doing what she needs to to become a "high income nation" like Japan, France, United States, and South Africa.
And lets keep in mind... when the United States broke away from Britain it immediately put up protective tariffs against British goods. Japan built her industries per protective tariffs until through decades of reinvestment into her industries and workforce she built them up into technologically top notch industries and prosuctive workforces that could work with said advanced machinery and or computers.
Most Latin American countries are listed as "middle income countries" and most of Africa in relation is listed as "low income nations" but Western Europe, Canada, and the United States along with Japan and South Africa are listed as "high income nations."
Full Article: Article Below
Excerpt. (emphasis in bold mine)
Brazil is not the only nation that takes it's interests in hand. Brazil does not demonstrate ambitions to increase it's military up to a force level for "manifest destiny" expansion. The U.S. budget for its military, like China, or even that of Chile in relation to her neighbors and national population size, demostrates "manifest destiny" ambitions id any thing.
Excerpt. (emphasis in bold mine)
QUOTE
In short, the Chilean military enjoys an unusual degree of independence from civilian authority.142 In neither Argentina nor Brazil does the military possess such standing. This has allowed Chile to keep up defense expenditures, advance in the modernization of weaponry, and elevate the training and skills of its troops. Chile's per capita defense spending is roughly twice that of Argentina, four times that of Peru, and ten times that of Brazil.143 Historically, Chile was not a country with large military budgets. If one examines defense spending as a percentage of fiscal expenditures (a valid way to see where defense stands in relation to other government priorities), the Chilean military did not fare particularly well compared to its counterparts in neighboring Argentina, Brazil, or Peru in the decades between 1940 and 1970. On this basis, Chile ranked fourth in the postwar years in relation to these comparable Latin American powers.144
Chile's military numbers 91,800 for a population of only 13.5 million. Brazil has a force of 296,700 for a population of 156 million and Argentina has 65,000 active troops for a population of roughly 33.5 million.145 Thus with less than half of Argentina's population, Chile has nearly 27,000 more military personnel. In fact, in proportion to its population, Chile has the largest standing military force in South America, even exceeding those of Bolivia, Peru, and Colombia, countries in which the military is busily engaged in combating drug cartels and guerrilla groups. Consistent with their relatively privileged position, the Chilean armed forces also provide more extensive training for recruits than their counterparts in Argentina and Brazil. There is no question that obligatory military service will remain in place.146
In short, the Chilean military enjoys a level of institutional and professional strength far in excess of the Argentine armed forces, and greater also than the Brazilian military. How does the relatively privileged position of the Chilean armed services affect their role definition?
Military Missions
Unlike the Argentine and Brazilian militaries, whose repertoire of missions has been defined largely in a prohibitive manner (according to what they cannot do), the Chilean military has taken a proactive approach to assuming its own roles in the post-Cold War era. The new democratic period has given rise to frequent public articulations by the military leadership of the institution's razón de ser (reason for being). Uniformed leaders have also tried to educate civilians about national defense and the military's contribution to it, and to build support for their preferred missions among the political leadership and civilian population in general. Behind these efforts to train their own civilian cadres is the desire to sustain the strong institutional position of the armed forces and their national defense goals, especially should civilian reforms erode the military's political and economic autonomy.
Chile's military leaders state clearly that conventional external defense is the institution's overriding mission, and they are taking active steps to promote this activity. They have participated only minimally in international peacekeeping efforts, despite UN requests and prodding by the U.S. Army's Southern Command, and play a small role in internal security. Military-initiated proposals are under consideration that would provide the institution with a higher level of involvement in national development.
At the present time, all three services are pursuing programs to modernize their weapons systems and enhance training. Their considerable insulation from civilian decision making and their steady source of income give them a more solid and predictable basis on which to chart future programs. The military's objective is to maintain readiness to fight against real and perceived threats from the country's three principal regional rivals: Argentina, Peru, and Bolivia. Although none of these countries poses an immediate threat of war, the Chilean officer corps continues to view these traditional rivals with distrust.147 Chile's disputes with Argentina over parts of Patagonia date back to the last century. Chile fought the most important postindependence war in nineteenth-century South America with Bolivia and Peru (the War of the Pacific) between 1879 and 1883, which shaped the Chilean military's view about the need for preparedness for over a century. Although neither Argentina, Peru, or Bolivia is presently at its peak militarily, Chile's armed services want to be prepared for the possible strengthening of these militaries.148 For this and other reasons, the Chilean armed forces seek to enhance the training and skills of soldiers and purchase or develop sophisticated technology that will afford them greater independence from the United States and other major powers...
[b]Similarly, Chile's navy recently formulated a twenty-year plan to project its presence into the Pacific Ocean, fortify Chile's rights in its territorial sea, and expand scientific and oceanographic programs. This project draws on the navy's perception of the ocean as the natural space for Chile's development and growth. The idea for Mar Presencial ("Sea Presence") was formulated in 1989 and envisions staking out Chile's claims beyond the country's two-hundred-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone to include a huge area eastward to Easter Island and southward to Antarctica. The 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea recognizes this area as part of the "high seas" and, as such, open to all nations. The navy's ultimate goal in the Mar Presencial program is to stake an eventual claim of Chilean sovereignty over this area, thereby closing off this portion of the high seas and its resources to commercial exploitation by other nations. The Chilean navy views these ocean resources as rightfully belonging to Chile. [/b]
Chile's military numbers 91,800 for a population of only 13.5 million. Brazil has a force of 296,700 for a population of 156 million and Argentina has 65,000 active troops for a population of roughly 33.5 million.145 Thus with less than half of Argentina's population, Chile has nearly 27,000 more military personnel. In fact, in proportion to its population, Chile has the largest standing military force in South America, even exceeding those of Bolivia, Peru, and Colombia, countries in which the military is busily engaged in combating drug cartels and guerrilla groups. Consistent with their relatively privileged position, the Chilean armed forces also provide more extensive training for recruits than their counterparts in Argentina and Brazil. There is no question that obligatory military service will remain in place.146
In short, the Chilean military enjoys a level of institutional and professional strength far in excess of the Argentine armed forces, and greater also than the Brazilian military. How does the relatively privileged position of the Chilean armed services affect their role definition?
Military Missions
Unlike the Argentine and Brazilian militaries, whose repertoire of missions has been defined largely in a prohibitive manner (according to what they cannot do), the Chilean military has taken a proactive approach to assuming its own roles in the post-Cold War era. The new democratic period has given rise to frequent public articulations by the military leadership of the institution's razón de ser (reason for being). Uniformed leaders have also tried to educate civilians about national defense and the military's contribution to it, and to build support for their preferred missions among the political leadership and civilian population in general. Behind these efforts to train their own civilian cadres is the desire to sustain the strong institutional position of the armed forces and their national defense goals, especially should civilian reforms erode the military's political and economic autonomy.
Chile's military leaders state clearly that conventional external defense is the institution's overriding mission, and they are taking active steps to promote this activity. They have participated only minimally in international peacekeeping efforts, despite UN requests and prodding by the U.S. Army's Southern Command, and play a small role in internal security. Military-initiated proposals are under consideration that would provide the institution with a higher level of involvement in national development.
At the present time, all three services are pursuing programs to modernize their weapons systems and enhance training. Their considerable insulation from civilian decision making and their steady source of income give them a more solid and predictable basis on which to chart future programs. The military's objective is to maintain readiness to fight against real and perceived threats from the country's three principal regional rivals: Argentina, Peru, and Bolivia. Although none of these countries poses an immediate threat of war, the Chilean officer corps continues to view these traditional rivals with distrust.147 Chile's disputes with Argentina over parts of Patagonia date back to the last century. Chile fought the most important postindependence war in nineteenth-century South America with Bolivia and Peru (the War of the Pacific) between 1879 and 1883, which shaped the Chilean military's view about the need for preparedness for over a century. Although neither Argentina, Peru, or Bolivia is presently at its peak militarily, Chile's armed services want to be prepared for the possible strengthening of these militaries.148 For this and other reasons, the Chilean armed forces seek to enhance the training and skills of soldiers and purchase or develop sophisticated technology that will afford them greater independence from the United States and other major powers...
[b]Similarly, Chile's navy recently formulated a twenty-year plan to project its presence into the Pacific Ocean, fortify Chile's rights in its territorial sea, and expand scientific and oceanographic programs. This project draws on the navy's perception of the ocean as the natural space for Chile's development and growth. The idea for Mar Presencial ("Sea Presence") was formulated in 1989 and envisions staking out Chile's claims beyond the country's two-hundred-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone to include a huge area eastward to Easter Island and southward to Antarctica. The 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea recognizes this area as part of the "high seas" and, as such, open to all nations. The navy's ultimate goal in the Mar Presencial program is to stake an eventual claim of Chilean sovereignty over this area, thereby closing off this portion of the high seas and its resources to commercial exploitation by other nations. The Chilean navy views these ocean resources as rightfully belonging to Chile. [/b]
Brazil is not the only nation that takes it's interests in hand. Brazil does not demonstrate ambitions to increase it's military up to a force level for "manifest destiny" expansion. The U.S. budget for its military, like China, or even that of Chile in relation to her neighbors and national population size, demostrates "manifest destiny" ambitions id any thing.
@extra hour - Following is another long post. Forgot to say that Brazils intelligence has opened offices in some neighboring nations.
The writer of the article is in Uruguay. Uruguay many times has been, depending which gov't. was in power, under Brazils influence. Anyway, today some say Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay should join up economically in order to counter Argentinian and Brazilian influences.
Has for the short reference on the war in Paraguay, that wasn't in the article. I put it in but I should have explained it better. Your right in that Brazil was not building up military to attack Paraguay. But Brazil at the time was involved in occupying Uruguay.
Also,
Going back the the War of the Triple Alliance
So the War of Triple Alliance was not all Paraguays fault even though the Paraguayan President wanted to expand his nation. The say the biggest winner of the war was the UK. After the war the whole region became indebted to them. Also, finally, they could sell many items in Paraguay which had had a policy of being self sufficient. Has for Brazil the Imperial gov't. was weakened.
Think if Paraguay had had better connections to supplies and leadership they could have defeated Brazil. Especially, since after a few month it seems some in Brazil didn't want to have anything to do with the war. By the way some say that at the start of the war Brazil did have a huge national guard. The only problem was that the National Guard was scattered all over Brazil and was mostly made up of civilians. You should read this article on it: http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:0fiZ1D...lient=firefox-a
Paraguayan casualties are said to have been the following:
On this map the dark orange shows territory that Argentina annexed while the green shows what Brazil annexed. The brown with dark yellow is territory Argentina wanted but under international arbitrition by US, Paraguay was allowed to keep it.
Found this article by the same person who wrote on Brazil Manifest Destiny but it concerns Paraguay today.
http://www.brazzilmag.com/content/view/7112/53/
Whats your though on it. Do you think this guy is really telling it like it is or not. Didn't think Paraguay was this bad off. If this is true it could explain why even today they say some in Paraguay do not want to mention Paraguays first leader José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia who had it in for the elites.
Has for your article on Chilean Military I didn't know that there military gets 10% of copper sales. Could explain the following:
This is the story: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=2605585
Seems Chile wants to be prepared just in case. There neighbors should be worried. However, Chiles smaller pop. when compared to Brazils should keep Chile at home. Anyway, compared to other regions South Americans don't seem to like to attack each other nations.
The writer of the article is in Uruguay. Uruguay many times has been, depending which gov't. was in power, under Brazils influence. Anyway, today some say Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay should join up economically in order to counter Argentinian and Brazilian influences.
Has for the short reference on the war in Paraguay, that wasn't in the article. I put it in but I should have explained it better. Your right in that Brazil was not building up military to attack Paraguay. But Brazil at the time was involved in occupying Uruguay.
QUOTE
Brazil carried out three political and military interventions in Uruguay - in 1851, against Manuel Oribe to fight Argentine influence in the country; in 1855, at the request of the Uruguayan government and Venancio Flores, leader of the Colorados, who were traditionally supported by the Brazilian empire; and in 1864, against Atanásio Aguirre. This last intervention would be the fuse of the War of the Triple Alliance. These interventions were aligned to the British desire for the fragmentation of the River Plate region to stop any attempt to monopolize the region's minerals.
In April 1864, Brazil sent a diplomatic mission to Uruguay led by José Antônio Saraiva to demand payment for the damages caused to gaucho farmers in border conflicts with Uruguayan farmers. The Uruguayan president Atanásio Aguirre, of the National Party, refused the Brazilian demands.
Solano López offered himself as mediator, but was turned down by Brazil. López subsequently broke diplomatic relations with Brazil — in August 1864 — and declared that the occupation of Uruguay by Brazilian troops would be an attack to the equilibrium of the River Plate region.
On October 12, Brazilian troops invaded Uruguay. The followers of the Colorado Venancio Flores, who had the support of Argentina, united with the Brazilian troops and deposed Aguirre.[13]
[edit] The war begins
When attacked by Brazil, the Uruguayan Blancos asked for help from Solano López, but Paraguay did not directly come to their ally's aid. Instead, on November 12, 1864, the Paraguayan ship Tacuari captured the Brazilian ship Marquês of Olinda which had sailed up the Río Paraguay to the province of Mato Grosso.[14] Paraguay declared war on Brazil on December 13 and on Argentina three months later, on March 18, 1865. Uruguay, already governed by Venancio Flores, aligned itself with Brazil and Argentina.
In April 1864, Brazil sent a diplomatic mission to Uruguay led by José Antônio Saraiva to demand payment for the damages caused to gaucho farmers in border conflicts with Uruguayan farmers. The Uruguayan president Atanásio Aguirre, of the National Party, refused the Brazilian demands.
Solano López offered himself as mediator, but was turned down by Brazil. López subsequently broke diplomatic relations with Brazil — in August 1864 — and declared that the occupation of Uruguay by Brazilian troops would be an attack to the equilibrium of the River Plate region.
On October 12, Brazilian troops invaded Uruguay. The followers of the Colorado Venancio Flores, who had the support of Argentina, united with the Brazilian troops and deposed Aguirre.[13]
[edit] The war begins
When attacked by Brazil, the Uruguayan Blancos asked for help from Solano López, but Paraguay did not directly come to their ally's aid. Instead, on November 12, 1864, the Paraguayan ship Tacuari captured the Brazilian ship Marquês of Olinda which had sailed up the Río Paraguay to the province of Mato Grosso.[14] Paraguay declared war on Brazil on December 13 and on Argentina three months later, on March 18, 1865. Uruguay, already governed by Venancio Flores, aligned itself with Brazil and Argentina.
Also,
QUOTE
Paraguay had been involved in boundary and tariff disputes with its more powerful neighbours, Argentina and Brazil, for years. The Uruguayans had also struggled to achieve and maintain their independence from those same powers, especially from Argentina.
Should be remembered that Argentina had once pressed Paraguay to become part of Argentina. If it had not been for the diplomatic skills of José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia the only educated person in the govt. at the time they might today be part of Argentina. QUOTE
José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia was one of the greatest figures in Paraguayan history. Ruling from 1814 until his death in 1840, Francia succeeded almost single-handedly in building a strong, prosperous, secure, and independent nation at a time when Paraguay's continued existence as a distinct country seemed unlikely. He left Paraguay at peace, with government coffers full and many infant industries flourishing. Frugal, honest, competent, and diligent, Francia was tremendously popular with the lower classes. But despite his popularity, Francia trampled on human rights, imposing an authoritarian police state based on espionage and coercion. Under Francia, Paraguay underwent a social upheaval that destroyed the old elites.
Paraguay at independence was a relatively undeveloped area. Most residents of Asunción and virtually all rural settlers were illiterate. Urban elites did have access to private schools and tutoring. University education was, however, restricted to the few who could afford studies at the University of Córdoba, in present day Argentina. Practically no one had any experience in government, finance, or administration. The settlers treated the Indians as little better than slaves, and the paternalistic clergy treated them like children. The country was surrounded by hostile neighbors, including the warlike Chaco tribes. Strong measures were needed to save the country from disintegration.
Can read more about him at: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query2/r?frd...d(DOCID+py0017)Paraguay at independence was a relatively undeveloped area. Most residents of Asunción and virtually all rural settlers were illiterate. Urban elites did have access to private schools and tutoring. University education was, however, restricted to the few who could afford studies at the University of Córdoba, in present day Argentina. Practically no one had any experience in government, finance, or administration. The settlers treated the Indians as little better than slaves, and the paternalistic clergy treated them like children. The country was surrounded by hostile neighbors, including the warlike Chaco tribes. Strong measures were needed to save the country from disintegration.
Going back the the War of the Triple Alliance
QUOTE
Solano López accurately assessed the September 1864 Brazilian intervention in Uruguay as a slight to the region's lesser powers. He was also correct in his assumption that neither Brazil nor Argentina paid much attention to Paraguay's interests when they formulated their policies. But he concluded incorrectly that preserving Uruguayan "independence" was crucial to Paraguay's future as a nation.
So the War of Triple Alliance was not all Paraguays fault even though the Paraguayan President wanted to expand his nation. The say the biggest winner of the war was the UK. After the war the whole region became indebted to them. Also, finally, they could sell many items in Paraguay which had had a policy of being self sufficient. Has for Brazil the Imperial gov't. was weakened.
Think if Paraguay had had better connections to supplies and leadership they could have defeated Brazil. Especially, since after a few month it seems some in Brazil didn't want to have anything to do with the war. By the way some say that at the start of the war Brazil did have a huge national guard. The only problem was that the National Guard was scattered all over Brazil and was mostly made up of civilians. You should read this article on it: http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:0fiZ1D...lient=firefox-a
Paraguayan casualties are said to have been the following:
QUOTE
Paraguay's soldiers exhibited suicidal bravery, especially considering that Solano López shot or tortured so many of them for the most trivial offenses. Cavalry units operated on foot for lack of horses. Naval infantry battalions armed only with machetes attacked Brazilian ironclads. The suicide attacks resulted in fields of corpses. Cholera was rampant. By 1867 Paraguay had lost 60,000 men to casualties, disease, or capture, and another 60,000 soldiers were called to duty. Solano López conscripted slaves, and infantry units formed entirely of children appeared. Women were forced to perform support work behind the lines. Matériel shortages were so severe that Paraguayan troops went into battle seminude, and even colonels went barefoot, according to one observer. The defensive nature of the war, combined with Paraguayan tenacity and ingenuity and the difficulty that Brazilians and Argentinians had cooperating with each other, rendered the conflict a war of attrition. In the end, Paraguay lacked the resources to continue waging war against South America's giants.
The Paraguayan people had been fanatically committed to López and the war effort, and as a result they fought to the point of dissolution. Paraguay suffered massive casualties, losing perhaps the majority of its population. The war left it utterly prostrate.
The specific numbers of casualties are hotly disputed, but it has been estimated that 300,000 Paraguayans, mostly civilians, died; up to 90% of the male population may have been killed. According to one numerical estimation, the prewar population of approximately 525,000 Paraguayans was reduced to about 221,000 in 1871, of which only about 28,000 were men. Definitively accurate casualty numbers will probably never be determined.
The Paraguayan people had been fanatically committed to López and the war effort, and as a result they fought to the point of dissolution. Paraguay suffered massive casualties, losing perhaps the majority of its population. The war left it utterly prostrate.
The specific numbers of casualties are hotly disputed, but it has been estimated that 300,000 Paraguayans, mostly civilians, died; up to 90% of the male population may have been killed. According to one numerical estimation, the prewar population of approximately 525,000 Paraguayans was reduced to about 221,000 in 1871, of which only about 28,000 were men. Definitively accurate casualty numbers will probably never be determined.
On this map the dark orange shows territory that Argentina annexed while the green shows what Brazil annexed. The brown with dark yellow is territory Argentina wanted but under international arbitrition by US, Paraguay was allowed to keep it.
Found this article by the same person who wrote on Brazil Manifest Destiny but it concerns Paraguay today.
http://www.brazzilmag.com/content/view/7112/53/
Whats your though on it. Do you think this guy is really telling it like it is or not. Didn't think Paraguay was this bad off. If this is true it could explain why even today they say some in Paraguay do not want to mention Paraguays first leader José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia who had it in for the elites.
Has for your article on Chilean Military I didn't know that there military gets 10% of copper sales. Could explain the following:
QUOTE
Millions in Gold in Name of Pinochet Discovered at Bank in Hong Kong
This is the story: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=2605585
Seems Chile wants to be prepared just in case. There neighbors should be worried. However, Chiles smaller pop. when compared to Brazils should keep Chile at home. Anyway, compared to other regions South Americans don't seem to like to attack each other nations.
QUOTE
by international standards the Americas were comparatively free from interstate war during the twentieth century. Latin Americans for the most part do not fear aggression from their neighbors. They do not expect their countries to go to war with one another
Entire article: http://www.usip.org/pubs/peaceworks/pwks50.html
so much to read @__@
QUOTE(ham_let @ Oct 26 2006, 05:30 PM) 
so much to read @__@
Got a little carried away. Anyway, at least all this info. will help you if you decide to go into Canadas foreign service.
QUOTE(islander @ Oct 26 2006, 05:20 PM)
Paraguayan casualties are said to have been the following:
Paraguay's soldiers exhibited suicidal bravery, especially considering that Solano López shot or tortured so many of them for the most trivial offenses. Cavalry units operated on foot for lack of horses. Naval infantry battalions armed only with machetes attacked Brazilian ironclads. The suicide attacks resulted in fields of corpses. Cholera was rampant. By 1867 Paraguay had lost 60,000 men to casualties, disease, or capture, and another 60,000 soldiers were called to duty. Solano López conscripted slaves, and infantry units formed entirely of children appeared. Women were forced to perform support work behind the lines. Matériel shortages were so severe that Paraguayan troops went into battle seminude, and even colonels went barefoot, according to one observer. The defensive nature of the war, combined with Paraguayan tenacity and ingenuity and the difficulty that Brazilians and Argentinians had cooperating with each other, rendered the conflict a war of attrition. In the end, Paraguay lacked the resources to continue waging war against South America's giants.
The Paraguayan people had been fanatically committed to López and the war effort, and as a result they fought to the point of dissolution. Paraguay suffered massive casualties, losing perhaps the majority of its population. The war left it utterly prostrate.
The specific numbers of casualties are hotly disputed, but it has been estimated that 300,000 Paraguayans, mostly civilians, died; up to 90% of the male population may have been killed. According to one numerical estimation, the prewar population of approximately 525,000 Paraguayans was reduced to about 221,000 in 1871, of which only about 28,000 were men. Definitively accurate casualty numbers will probably never be determined.
Interesting stuff. Man that has to be catastrophic to any society to lose 90% of your male population.
QUOTE(extra hour @ Oct 27 2006, 11:10 AM)
Interesting stuff. Man that has to be catastrophic to any society to lose 90% of your male population.
Your right on that.
Found another source on Paraguayan losses:
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"Writes Charles Kolinski: "Few defeated nations in the world's military history exhibited such a degree of devastation as the Paraguay of 1870. Its population, now estimated at only 221,000, had suffered war casualties of at least 220,000 people. Among the survivors there were only 28,000 men; women over fifteen were said to outnumber men at a ratio of more than four to one." (Kolinski, Independence or Death!, p. 198). The Third World Guide gives the death-toll as one million, and reports: "The only males left alive were babies -- which the victors sought out eagerly to kidnap and sell as slaves in Brazil -- and very old men." (Third World Guide, Bogota: Instituto del Tercer Mundo, 1992, p. 476.)
Don't think the one million figure is correct. Its closer to less than half for losses for all involved.
Should be note that in the Chaco War bet. Bolivia and Paraguay (1932-35)
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Paraguay "won" at a cost of 50,000 men.
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A 1935 novel about Paraguay by Katharina von Dombrowski was entitled Land of Women: The Tale of A Lost Nation. It began: "Far away, in the heart of a continent, lies a land that for many years has been called The Land of Women, because the men were almost entirely wiped out in the great war of South America.
Probably safe to say the male children that grew up not long after that war got lots of attention - in more ways than one - from the younger and older ladies.
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