Bolivia: civilian defense training begins amid intervention fears http://ww4report.com/node/8926

Bolivia's government announced Aug. 5 it has started a program of military training for civilians at army barracks in the east of the country—a stronghold of the right-wing opposition. Army officials said the program will extend to all the country's military bases. Questions about the training program arose after a TV station broadcast images of young men armed with rifles taking target practice at a base in the regional capital of Santa Cruz. Also shown in the video were young indigenous women in traditional billowing skirts and bowler hats doing calisthenics.

Bolivian President Evo Morales meanwhile voiced warnings against the US is preparing military intervention in Latin America, with the "central objective" of seizing oil reserves and other natural resources. He specifically invoked the establishment of US military bases in Colombia. (AHN, Aug. 6; AP, Aug. 5)