Tuesday Hearing: Feierstein Nomination Raises Questions about USAIDs Role in Latin America http://upsidedownworld.org/main/news-briefs-archives-68/2570-tuesday-hearing-feierstein-nomination-raises-questions-about-usaids-role-in-latin-america

This Tuesday, June 29, the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations will hold a confirmation hearing for President Obama's nomination of Mark Feierstein to head USAID programs in Latin America. Feierstein, of the firm Greenberg, Quinlan and Rosner served as a political adviser to former Bolivian president Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada during his 2002 Presidential campaign. Sánchez de Lozada resigned and fled to Chevy Chase, Maryland in 2003 to escape prosecution for the massacre of 60 protesters by troops operating under his orders.

Last year Feierstein and his colleagues again conducted polling in Bolivia to assist the campaign of right wing candidate Manfred Reyes Villa, who lost by a landslide to President Evo Morales.[i] The appointment of the political pollster has increased apprehension in the region that aid programs will continue to be used to support US-favored political actors within the region's democracies.

comment-also see..USAID: The Bone of Contention in U.S. - Bolivia Relations http://upsidedownworld.org/main/news-briefs-archives-68/2568-usaid-the-bone-of-contention-in-us-bolivia-relations