It was either the news about Patrick Swayze or the ramblings of Hugo Chavez that got me thinking about the 1984 movie called Red Dawn.  If you haven’t caught it at 2am on some cable station in the upper tier of channels, the movie is about an invasion of America. The Russians come over the top (through Alaska and Canada) and their Latin American allies attack through Mexico and across the Rio Grande.  America is pretty much split in two with the Russians and their allies controlling everything from the Rockies to the Mississippi.  Seems as if Latin America united against America and elected to take out some long held anti-American sentiments with the help of the Russians.

At the time the movie was out, it sort of made sense. Then the Soviet Union disintegrated and Fidel Castro was left with a deteriorating nation and no outside backing.  The socialists/communists in Nicaragua fell by the way side and ‘Red Dawn’ became just an interesting reminder of the cold war days. 
Fast forward to 2008.
The Russian empire is on the rise with its new found oil wealth and a former KGB thug as its leader.  The funds from the energy windfall are allowing the Russians to rearm with the latest in military gear.  Over flights of American carriers in the pacific and practice runs with their Bear bombers towards North America.  Look to the south and you see Latin America dominated by leftist, anti American (with the exception that they like Joe Kennedy) leaders.  Bolivia, Nicaragua, Cuba, Ecuador.  Not to mention the crazy man in Venezuela Hugo Chavez.  Even  Mexico seemed to side with the radical leftists when they condemned Columbia (one of our few remaining friends in Latin America) for the cross border raid into Ecuador to kill several known terrorists.  Terrorists, incidentally, that are apparently being supported by Venezuela and its Ecuadorian allies.  So, every time you fill up at a Chevron station, some of that money you pay is going directly into the hands of Latin America’s number one USA hater Hugo Chavez.

One of the popular election issues is immigration.  Not just an election issue, but a problem that worries many Americans.  Back to the movie.  Power’s Booth was an ‘Eagle Driver’ (F15 pilot) in Red Dawn who was shot down and rescued by Patrick Swayze and his band of rebels who were operating against the invaders in occupied America.  Booth explained that the offensive against America went so smoothly (at least to start) because military operatives from hostile Latin American countries infiltrated military bases (Strategic Air Command facilities, to be specific) by taking jobs as janitors, laborers etc.  Sound familiar?  How many illegal immigrants have access to important military bases and private sector facilities? They aren’t all employed as day laborers spreading pine straw, finishing drywall and building decorative rock walls.

I hadn’t thought about the movie Red Dawn in several years. And, the last time I did, it seemed totally outdated and irrelevant. The Soviet Union had crumbled and Cuba was left as the only anti-American regime in the western hemisphere. 
But, I guess it’s true. Those who forget history (Hollywood or otherwise) are doomed to repeat it.

Categories: Tom
Tags: , fidel castro, foreign policy, putin, red dawn, russian empire