The Moderation of Danny O.
Former Nicaraguan "dictator in designer glasses" Daniel Ortega learned his lesson. Following his November election, Newsweek said that "all signs suggest the chastened Sandinista firebrand will embrace moderation this time around." His mulligan government promised "moderate economic and social policies and continued ties with the U.S," according to the AP. And the Sandinista leader "sounded pretty moderate" to NPR's Renee Montagne. Well, fool me once…
Ortega turned up in Tehran this weekend sounding—surprise!—exactly like the Sandinista leader of 1979:
Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, who wants more aid from the United States, called on Sunday for a new world order to replace "capitalism and imperialism", at the start of a trip to arch U.S. foe Iran.
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"We have chosen our friends by our own will and we haven't got permission from anyone," Ortega said shortly after arriving in Tehran, the official IRNA news agency reported.
"In negotiation with America we have explained our personal and political positions towards imperialism … Imperialism and capitalism should be removed and we should create a peaceful and friendly world," Ortega added.
Ortega, a Cold War-era enemy of Washington, had earlier said he would travel to Iran on a jet loaned to him by Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi, a former U.S. foe who has been developing better ties with Washington.