Beautiful Horizons

Bad News From Brazil

Brazil's Supreme Court has rejected attempts by the Brazilian Bar Association to modify the amnesty that would have allowed those accused of human rights abuses to be prosecuted for torture.

As the article notes, unlike Argentina, Uruguay and Chile, Brazil has done nothing to prosecute anyone in the military accused of torture during the twenty-one year dictatorship. As time rolls on it's seeming even less likely.

Not a Really Good Idea

Boz tips me to the news that Brazil will be spending 12.3 billion dollars on jets and helicopters in france with an eye towards gaining the technology to make the equipment themselves in Brazil.

I'm all for tech transfers and for Brazil developing, but I'm not nearly as sanguine as Biz about whether this will lead to an arms race in the region. Brazil clearly wants to be able to produce arms and sell them to other countries in the region. I have the following questions:

What does Brazil, with so many other more pressing needs, want with 36 fighter jets and 50 helicopters? if the ultimate goal is to gain the technology with which to produce those weapons for export, why do they want to sell them to other countries in the region, also with far more pressing needs?

My other concern is that Lula is doing this to calm a restive military leadership? This makes me feel very uncomfortable . . .