[QUOTE=MartinSE;2144449]I love Ecuadorian food. I have not ridden in a limo since I got here, and stay in the "low rent" districts and eat and mingle with the poor.
The US embassy was kicked out of Ecuador because we used them as staging areas for S. American CIA missions in violation of the agreements we signed to get permission to place the bases there.[/QUOTE
So you love eating cuy (guinea pig)?
The poor you find so "friendly" may not be as happy and carefree as you profess they are...They may not sit around complaining but they do "demonstrate".
"Country Summary: Crime is a widespread problem in Ecuador. Violent crime, such as murder, assault, express kidnapping, and armed robbery, is common. Transnational criminal organizations and gangs operate in Carchi, Sucumbíos, and the northern part of Esmeraldas provinces, as well as in Guayaquil, south of Portete de Tarquí Avenue.
Demonstrations occur regularly throughout the country. Public demonstrations can take place for a variety of political and economic issues. Demonstrations can cause the shutdown of local roads and major highways, often without prior notice or estimated reopening timelines. Road closures may significantly reduce access to public transportation and airports and may disrupt travel both within and between cities."
From:
Ecuador Travel Advisory
My friend was there during the LBJ years. Are you referring to this in 2011? The Ecuadorian police force was exposed as corrupt so they kicked out the US ambassador.
"Ecuador has announced it is expelling the US ambassador in Quito.
The move follows the release on Monday by the whistle-blowing website Wikileaks of a US diplomatic cable alleging widespread corruption within the Ecuadorean police force."
From:
Ecuador expels US ambassador over Wikileaks cable - BBC News
or this:
"QUITO, Feb 21 (Reuters) - The U.S. Embassy official Ecuador kicked out this week on charges of meddling in national affairs was the head of the CIA in the drug-smuggling route country, President Rafael Correa said on Saturday.
But a U.S. Embassy spokeswoman declined to comment on Correa’s account that the expelled official ran CIA operations in the Andean country, which is a crucial drug-smuggling route to drug gangs in neighboring Colombia and Peru.
Correa, a leftist ally of U.S. foe Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, expelled Mark Sullivan over charges he tried to handpick an officer heading a police unit partly financed by the United States."
From:
Ecuador says expelled U.S. official was CIA operative | Reuters