A Banana Peel

How interesting! It seems that Chiquita Brands International, the company that gave rise to the "banana republic" moniker, had paid the FARC in Colombia for protection and, incidentally, was involved in the deaths of American missionaries about 15 years ago. So, while representing capitalism - at its worst - it subsidized its sworn enemies, the Colombian guerrillas, even in actions against its own countrymen.

Now, the relatives of those missionaries have sued the company, in what is just the latest of legal actions brought by both American citizens and foreigners, claiming redress for damages suffered at the hands of Colombian groups that have been supported economically by Chiquita.

Politics -and money - make strange bedfellows, indeed.

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