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Title: Bolton’s Regime-Change Mentality Includes Latin America Among His Targets
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URL Source: https://www.mintpressnews.com/bolto ... rica-among-his-targets/239860/
Published: Apr 2, 2018
Author: Whitney Webb
Post Date: 2018-04-02 09:48:56 by Ada
Keywords: None
Views: 151
Comments: 12
Bolton’s track record of both blocking and distorting intelligence that doesn’t suit his agenda does not bode well for countries that he has long targeted for regime change, causing concern in Latin America where the legacy of US-backed military coups and death squads is still remembered. This article is Part III of a series exploring the past of soon-to-be National Security Adviser John Bolton and what his appointment will mean for U.S. foreign policy, with a focus on the Middle East, Latin America, and the Koreas. Part I examined Bolton’s past advocacy for Israel, often at the U.S.’ expense. Part II detailed how that same commitment to Israel has shaped his vision for the Middle East, a vision that calls for regime change in Iran, the division of both Syria and Iraq, and the creation of a new Sunni state. Part III explores Bolton’s past and present policies in regards to Latin America, policies which threaten to return the region to bloody legacy of American-backed military coups. WASHINGTON – While President Trump’s appointment of John Bolton to the position of National Security Adviser has sent shockwaves throughout the country, most of the concern about his likely effect on U.S. policy has been focused on the Middle East as well as the Korean peninsula. Bolton’s appointment has, however, also caused concern elsewhere, particularly in Latin America. Though he is best known for promoting the invasion of Iraq on false claims of “weapons of mass destruction,” Bolton has also made similar false claims against Cuba, stating that the island nation had a “developmental offensive biological warfare program” in order to include it among the “Axis of Evil” countries. Not only that, but Bolton has also conjured up false claims of Venezuela protecting Iranian “smugglers” in a bid to target its current government. More recently, he has called for “greater U.S. involvement” in the “critical” region of Latin America. Bolton’s past, along with his recent statements, have made many Latin Americans uneasy. As a former National Security Council member during the Obama administration told the Miami Herald, He [Bolton] is a warmonger and Latin Americans get nervous when American presidents tend to lean toward military versus diplomatic solutions. It’s a militaristic style that won’t go down well in Latin America.” Bolton’s troubling role in Iran-Contra cover-up The Iran-Contra affair, perhaps the best-known scandal of the Reagan era, saw the U.S. government facilitate the sale of arms to Iran, then under a weapons embargo, in order to covertly fund the Contras – “rebels” who launched a campaign of terror in Nicaragua in attempts to oust the leftist Sandinista government — after U.S. support for the group had been outlawed by Congress. When the scandal broke, many Reagan officials sought to mitigate the damage and launched a cover-up. One of those officials who played a key role in hiding U.S. support for death squads in Nicaragua was John Bolton, then serving as Assistant Attorney General under Edwin Meese. When then-Senator John Kerry agreed in May 1986 to provide the Justice Department with information compiled by his staff showing that Nicaraguan contras and their U.S. backers had “engaged in criminal wrongdoing,” Bolton at the time had promised that such evidence would be “vigorously and expeditiously investigated.” Read more by Whitney Webb Bad Track Record Gets Worse as New Whistleblower Outed by The Intercept Was Nicolas Sarkozy’s Role in Taking Out Gaddafi More Personal than Geopolitical? The Media’s Curious Coverage of the “Second Snowden” Scream Loudly and Carry a Nuclear Arsenal: The Dangers of Trump’s “Nuclear Diplomacy” However, Bolton buried the information – refusing to comply with congressional requests for the information he had received from Kerry and other sources, and also refusing to testify. Bolton claimed that the information requested by the House Judiciary Committee was “highly classified” and that no member of the committee has the “proper clearances” to review it. Bolton continued to block government probes by refusing to cooperate with document release requests and invoking executive privilege. He later referred to efforts to destroy information allegedly pertaining to the Contra affair as “house cleaning” chores so the George H.W. Bush administration could come in with “a clean slate.” Bolton then served in the State Department during Bush’s presidency. In addition, John Bolton is a long-time associate of the D.C.-based Covington & Burling law firm, which has a sordid history of lobbying for coups in Latin America. Most recently, Covington came under scrutiny for its role in the 2009 military coup that ousted Manuel Zelaya in Honduras. When Zelaya raised the minimum wage, Chiquita fruit company paid $70,000 in lobbying fees to Covington, whose long-time partner – Eric Holder – was serving as Attorney General at the time. Chiquita, whose previous incarnation successfully lobbied for the 1954 military coup in Guatemala on similar grounds, saw their lobbying pay off when the U.S.-backed military coup in 2009 removed Zelaya from power. Hillary Clinton, then-Secretary of State, has openly admitted the role of the Obama administration in the coup. Bolton extended WMD lies to Cuba In addition to Bolton’s past connections to scandals involving Latin America, he has had a direct role in pushing for military invasions based on false claims of “weapons of mass destruction,” similar to those that led to the invasion of Iraq. Bolton, long an advocate for increasing the already strong restrictions against Cuba that were in place at the time, lobbied the George W. Bush administration to add the island nation its “axis of evil” while serving as Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security. The justification that Bolton offered for adding Cuba to the list was his claim that Cuba was covertly developing biological weapons. In a speech to the conservative think-tank the Heritage Foundation, Bolton asserted that “Cuba has at least a limited offensive biological warfare research and development effort.” John Bolton the War Hawk, an editorial cartoon by Carlos Latuff for MintPress News. Illustration by Carlos Latuff for MintPress News He originally wrote the speech, however, as saying that Cuba “has a developmental offensive biological warfare program and is providing assistance to other rogue state programs,” but concern from other high-ranking officials in the State Department forced him to tone it down. Price Floyd, then a State Department media-affairs official, recalled that there was “no evidence” for Bolton’s claim. Three years later, U.S. intelligence concluded that “it is unclear whether Cuba has an active offensive biological warfare effort now, or even had one in the past.” After making this baseless accusation, Bolton tried to pressure intelligence officers and government analysts to endorse his statements. Bolton did not take rejection well and, in one case, when an analyst at the State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR) refused to endorse the statement, Bolton scolded him in “a red-faced, finger-waving rage” and tried to have the analyst reassigned. Instead of being demoted or fired for his distortion of intelligence and abuse of subordinates and other who disagreed with him, Bolton was instead promoted and in 2005 became U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, where he regularly criticized Nicaragua, Cuba and Venezuela as “undermining U.S. interests throughout the region.” Having supported a coup in Venezuela before, will Bolton do so again? Bolton’s most belligerent stance against any country in Latin America has been reserved for Venezuela. Bolton has long criticized the Venezuelan government, first under Hugo Chávez whose presidency he called a “comic-opera,” and then under Chávez’s successor, Nicolás Maduro, whom he has called “dimwitted.” While serving in the State Department in 2002, Bolton actively favored the failed U.S.-backed coup against Chávez. Since ending his stint as ambassador to the United Nations, Bolton has accused Venezuela of harboring and collaborating with Iranian criminals and “smugglers.” During a 2013 hearing, Bolton claimed that Iran was operating in Venezuela to avoid international scrutiny. “These are expert smugglers with — the largest Iranian diplomatic facility in the world is in Caracas, Venezuela […] they are laundering their money through the Venezuelan banks.” He has since asserted that Iran uses Venezuela “to retain access to the country’s extensive uranium reserves.” Bolton has never presented any evidence to support these claims. Bolton has also claimed that the Lebanese political party Hezbollah is a “murky but continuing threat” in Venezuela. Claims of Hezbollah’s involvement are based solely on the ancestry of Venezuelan Vice President Tareck El Aissami, who is of Lebanese heritage. Bolton subtly admits this, stating that Hezbollah’s alleged presence in Venezuela is due to “the long history of expatriate Middle Eastern trading networks in Latin America.” These baseless claims invented by Bolton regarding illicit activities of Iranian and Lebanese origin taking place in Venezuela have become frequent talking points of the Trump administration. Last August, Mike Pompeo – then head of the CIA – asserted that Venezuela was overrun with Iranians, Hezbollah and Cubans. In addition, U.S.-backed regime change in Venezuela – which Bolton also advocates — has become increasingly likely under Trump. In February, Rex Tillerson – then serving as Secretary of State – stated that he believes it is likely that the Venezuelan military will remove Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, suggesting that the military could be an “agent of change” in the country. Prior to Tillerson’s statements, Trump threatened to invade Venezuela and Vice President Pence had claimed Venezuela as a “threat” to the U.S. However, those who think Tillerson’s oblique calls for a military coup in Venezuela will fade now that he has left his post at the State Department are likely mistaken. Pompeo, who will replace Tillerson, hinted last year while serving as CIA director that the agency was working to change the elected government of Venezuela. In addition, Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), who himself recently called for the Venezuelan Armed Forces to rebel against the country’s government, praised Bolton’s appointment. “I know John Bolton well,” Rubio stated, “and believe he is an excellent choice who will do a great job as national security adviser.” Objectivity and respect for international law not likely Bolton’s appointment to the position of National Security Adviser — a highly placed official expected to marshal national security information and present it objectively to the president — has caused shockwaves within the United States and beyond. Bolton’s track record of both blocking and distorting intelligence that doesn’t suit his agenda does not bode well for those countries that Bolton has long targeted for regime change, as it suggests that he will do anything to topple governments he doesn’t like, even if it means both presenting information selectively rather than objectively and “disparaging international law.” As a result, Bolton’s history and recent statements show that he has no qualms with returning to the U.S.’ dark and bloody history in meddling in the affairs of Latin American countries. Top Photo | John Bolton, former US ambassador to the United Nations, speaks during the “‘Energy Independence Day Tea Party” rally on Independence Mall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Monday July 4, 2011. (Dennis Van Tine/MediaPunch/IPX) Whitney Webb is a staff writer for MintPress News who has written for several news organizations in both English and Spanish; her stories have been featured on ZeroHedge, the Anti-Media, and 21st Century Wire among others. She currently lives in Southern Chile.
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#1. To: Ada (#0)
Every time the US does a regime change it does not go well. When will this madness stop????
Research BTTT. ------- "They're on our left, they're on our right, they're in front of us, they're behind us...they can't get away this time." -- Col. Puller, USMC
The walrus should be put down like the rabid dog he is. I cannot believe that Trump chose that war-monger for any position in his administration. “The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.” ~ H. L. Mencken
[Notes: @ 0:37, Tucker Carlson states that the guest was a foreign policy expert for the Obama campaign and is also a (FARA) registered foreign agent of the government of El Salvador. Tafuri @ 1:15: "The reason these people are leaving Honduras is because the economy is terrible and there are no jobs. These are economic refugees." ... Tucker Carlson @ 1:42: "One third of all El Salvadorans on the planet now live in the United States -- 1/3 of all existing Salvadorans. So, clearly, everything we've done for Salvador hasn't stopped the flow of 1/3 of their entire population into our country."] Moreover, @ 6:30-6:50 (re: Trump shutting down our southern border), Rove alludes to the Posse Comitatus Act and confusedly states that our border can be secured, if need be, by deploying U.S. Military in support of the Border Patrol and Federal agents. That statement incorrectly blurs the distinction between: 1. regular U.S. Military Forces, which Trump said he would send to the border (for the national security purpose of shutting it down -- not to act as "Assistant" border and immigration Law Enforcers) and: 2. the joint-task-force portions of our U.S. Military, i.e. the National Guard and any other officially activated State Defense Forces (aka the Militias of the States), which certainly can enforce border control laws to stop invaders ( + also assist Border Patrol and Federal agents, as needed). ------- "They're on our left, they're on our right, they're in front of us, they're behind us...they can't get away this time." -- Col. Puller, USMC
It looks to me as though Obummer overstepped his bounds by sticking his nose in where it did not belong. Coups d'état are the responsibility of the CIA. Of course Gen. Smedley Butler would have put a different spin on it all since he declared himself to be a "hitman for the bankers". Butler exposed the Business Plot, an alleged plot to overthrow the U.S. government. ;) "When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one." Edmund Burke
Description: Honduran migrants bound for U.S. ... Former State Department official David Tafuri weighs in on 'Tucker Carlson Tonight'. [Notes: @ 0:37, Tucker Carlson states that the guest was a foreign policy expert for the Obama campaign and is also a (FARA) registered foreign agent of the government of El Salvador. Tafuri @ 1:15, "The reason these people are leaving Honduras is because the economy is terrible and there are no jobs. These are economic refugees" ... ] Re: U.S. Code Title 8 section 1101(a)(42)(A) 8 U.S. Code § 1101 - Definitions | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute - Cornell Law School (42) The term “refugee” means (A) any person who is outside any country of such person’s nationality or, in the case of a person having no nationality, is outside any country in which such person last habitually resided, and who is unable or unwilling to return to, and is unable or unwilling to avail himself or herself of the protection of, that country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion ------- "They're on our left, they're on our right, they're in front of us, they're behind us...they can't get away this time." -- Col. Puller, USMC
I keep hoping to hear that John Bolton is accosted on the mean streets of DeeCee by a resident 'groid and suffers a fatal gunshot wound over his wallet.....
“With the exception of Whites, the rule among the peoples of the world, whether residing in their homelands or settled in Western democracies, is ethnocentrism and moral particularism: they stick together and good means what is good for their ethnic group." Re: U.S. Code Title 8 section 1101(a)(42)(A) 8 U.S. Code § 1101 - Definitions | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute - Cornell Law School (42) The term “refugee” means (A) any person who is outside any country of such person’s nationality or, in the case of a person having no nationality, is outside any country in which such person last habitually resided, and who is unable or unwilling to return to, and is unable or unwilling to avail himself or herself of the protection of, that country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion Former Acting ICE Director, Thomas Homan, @ 9:00, "They're not allowed to transit through Mexico without a transit visa. Mexico can stop this." + Refs. re: Transit Visa policy of Mexico and 3 recent examples of Mexico altering it's policy to facilitate the entrance of illegal aliens into the United States: 2. ABC News: Jan 20, 2017 (91 deportations reported) * 3. National Review: Apr 4, 2018 (approx. 400 deporations reported) * Mexico enforced deportation in the 2017 case of some Cuban migrants who were still there and enroute towards our border after Obama decided (on the day before Trump's Inauguration) to end a policy of granting residency status to such arrivals from Cuba. ------- "They're on our left, they're on our right, they're in front of us, they're behind us...they can't get away this time." -- Col. Puller, USMC
Notes: Lou Dobbs @ 5:17 re: Title 8 U.S. Code § 1158, ref. above w/Title 8 U.S. Code § 1101 [+ this 4um Ref. re: Title 8 U.S. Code § 1324 - Bringing in and harboring certain aliens || findlaw.com and cornell.edu refs.] Former Acting ICE Director, Thomas Homan, @ 9:00 ... "Mexico can stop this." Why Aren't Thomas Homan And HSI Busting "Pueblos Sin Fronteras"—Organizers Of The Caravan Conspiracy? | Blog Posts | VDARE.com - April 03, 2018 | Excerpts: ... That they open the borders to us because we are as much citizens as the people of the countries where we are and/or travel ... That the US government stop massive funding for the Mexican government to detain Central American migrants and refugees and to deport them ... That these governments respect our rights under international law ... the [UN/United Nations] conventions on refugee rights ... Sincerely, This smuggling operation was not the product of a group of illiterates from Honduras, but an open conspiracy of others, well-funded, to violate U.S. immigration laws. And from their website: These [PSF] statements are admissions to the crime of alien smuggling, Title 8 United States Code Section 1324, Bringing in or Harboring Certain Aliens, and is being committed publicly, and with the assistance of corporate America, PayPal specifically. [Ref.] Third Mexican Town Welcomes Migrant ‘Caravan,’ 400 Miles Closer To US, by Paul Bedard, Washington Examiner, April 02, 2018 So, why hasn’t Tom Homan, Acting Director of ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement], ordered HSI [Homeland Security Investigations] to raid PayPal and seize the monies and bank accounts receiving the payments sent to the alien smuggling organization? There is an organization behind this alien smuggling attempt. There are people in those organizations. And it is illegal to provide money to criminal organizations or for criminal purposes. Every person who donated through PayPal and PayPal itself are criminally liable. But Thomas Homan and [ICE/HSI] have [evidently] done nothing. Why? ------- "They're on our left, they're on our right, they're in front of us, they're behind us...they can't get away this time." -- Col. Puller, USMC
2. This smuggling operation was not the product of a group of illiterates from Honduras, but an open conspiracy of others, well-funded, to violate U.S. immigration laws. 1. These people are dreaming. Trump has done his lawful duty to protect the borders from illegal entry. 2. You are right about this. Conspiracy is a federal crime. I hope they get all they have coming to them. ;) "When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one." Edmund Burke
Former Acting ICE Director, Thomas Homan, @ 9:00, "They're not allowed to transit through Mexico without a transit visa. Mexico can stop this." 2. ABC News: Jan 20, 2017 (91 deportations reported) * 3. National Review: Apr 4, 2018 (approx. 400 deporations reported) * Mexico enforced deportation in the 2017 case of some Cuban migrants who were still there and enroute towards our border after Obama decided (on the day before Trump's Inauguration) to end a policy of granting residency status to such arrivals from Cuba. Latest Qanon-Related News 10-22-18 : Caravans & Khashoggi Distractions - YouTube, 10.5 minutes ------- "They're on our left, they're on our right, they're in front of us, they're behind us...they can't get away this time." -- Col. Puller, USMC
Deleted to relocate @ #11.
------- "They're on our left, they're on our right, they're in front of us, they're behind us...they can't get away this time." -- Col. Puller, USMC
#2. To: Ada (#0)
John Bolton is a long-time associate of the D.C.-based Covington & Burling law firm, which has a sordid history of lobbying for coups in Latin America. Most recently, Covington came under scrutiny for its role in the 2009 military coup that ousted Manuel Zelaya in Honduras. When Zelaya raised the minimum wage, Chiquita fruit company paid $70,000 in lobbying fees to Covington, whose long-time partner – Eric Holder – was serving as Attorney General at the time. Chiquita, whose previous incarnation successfully lobbied for the 1954 military coup in Guatemala on similar grounds, saw their lobbying pay off when the U.S.-backed military coup in 2009 removed Zelaya from power. Hillary Clinton, then-Secretary of State, has openly admitted the role of the Obama administration in the coup.
#3. To: GreyLmist, Ada, 4 (#2)
#4. To: All (#2)
(Edited)
John Bolton is a long-time associate of the D.C.-based Covington & Burling law firm, which has a sordid history of lobbying for coups in Latin America. Most recently, Covington came under scrutiny for its role in the 2009 military coup that ousted Manuel Zelaya in Honduras. When Zelaya raised the minimum wage, Chiquita fruit company paid $70,000 in lobbying fees to Covington, whose long-time partner – Eric Holder – was serving as Attorney General at the time. Chiquita, whose previous incarnation successfully lobbied for the 1954 military coup in Guatemala on similar grounds, saw their lobbying pay off when the U.S.-backed military coup in 2009 removed Zelaya from power. Hillary Clinton, then-Secretary of State, has openly admitted the role of the Obama administration in the coup.
Appending re: the Central American countries of Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador:
Another migrant caravan headed towards US border - YouTube, 6 minutes | Published by Fox News Description: Honduran migrants bound for U.S. just crossed into Guatemala. Former State Department official David Tafuri weighs in on 'Tucker Carlson Tonight'.
Trump threatens to close southern border ahead of migrant caravan - YouTube, 7.5 minutes | Published on Oct 18, 2018 by Fox Business. Link set to start @ 5:25 for a 2 minute segment of an interview with Karl Rove. Synopsis: Rove advocates throwing more money at Central American countries that have already gotten hundreds of millions of dollars in foreign aid from the U.S.
#5. To: GreyLmist (#4)
(Edited)
Hillary Clinton, then- Secretary of State, has openly admitted the role of the Obama administration in the coup.
#6. To: All (#4)
(Edited)
Another migrant caravan headed towards US border - YouTube, 6 minutes | Published by Fox News
Maybe Tafuri was talking about Honduras Law but, according to American Law, refugees are persecuted persons, not economy shoppers or job seekers. There is no such legally qualified category for asylum here as "economic refugees".
8 U.S.C. § 1158 - U.S. Code Title 8. Aliens and Nationality § 1158. Asylum | FindLaw The burden of proof is on the applicant to establish that the applicant is a refugee, within the meaning of section 1101(a)(42)(A) of this title. To establish that the applicant is a refugee within the meaning of such section, the applicant must establish that race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion was or will be at least one central reason for persecuting the applicant.
(a) As used in this chapter—
#7. To: Ada (#0)
-Alex Kurtagic 
#8. To: All (#6)
(Edited)
... according to American Law, refugees are persecuted persons, not economy shoppers or job seekers. There is no such legally qualified category for asylum here as "economic refugees".
8 U.S.C. § 1158 - U.S. Code Title 8. Aliens and Nationality § 1158. Asylum | FindLaw The burden of proof is on the applicant to establish that the applicant is a refugee, within the meaning of section 1101(a)(42)(A) of this title. To establish that the applicant is a refugee within the meaning of such section, the applicant must establish that race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion was or will be at least one central reason for persecuting the applicant.
(a) As used in this chapter—
[Expletives] Trump should ask Mexico to stop migrant caravan: Former ICE director - YouTube, approx. 9.75 minutes | Published on Oct 17, 2018 by Fox Business Notes: Lou Dobbs @ 5:17 re: Title 8 U.S. Code § 1158, ref. above w/Title 8 U.S. Code § 1101 [+ this 4um Ref. re: Title 8 U.S. Code § 1324 - Bringing in and harboring certain aliens || findlaw.com and cornell.edu refs.]
1. Fox News: Sep 3, 2016 (no deportations reported)
#9. To: All (#8)
(Edited)
[Expletives] Trump should ask Mexico to stop migrant caravan: Former ICE director - YouTube, approx. 9.75 minutes | Published on Oct 17, 2018 by Fox Business
Appending relevant info: The smugglers [of migrant aliens], whose name [Pueblos Sin Fronteras] means "People Without Borders" in English, publicly listed their demands, including entry into the United States and Open Borders:
[excerpted from the Demands Insert] We demand of Mexico and the United States:
2018 Refugee Caravan “Migrantes en la Lucha” [Migrants in the Fight]
Pueblo Sin Fronteras [People Without Borders][excerpt from the Mission Statement Insert] Our mission is to provide shelter and safety to migrants and refugees in transit ...
[excerpted Insert] For more than fifteen years, members of Pueblo Sin Fronteras have been reaching out to ... migrants and refugees on the move. ... We provide humanitarian aid to migrants and refugees on the move.
[Insert] It also gave a PayPal account to offer donations. And Washington-based reporters reached out through the Facebook account for help covering the caravan.
#10. To: GreyLmist (#9)
1. That they open the borders to us because we are as much citizens as the people of the countries where we are and/or travel ... That the US government stop massive funding for the Mexican government to detain Central American migrants and refugees and to deport them ... That these governments respect our rights under international law ... the [UN/United Nations] conventions on refugee rights ...
#11. To: All (#8)
(Edited)
[Expletives] Trump should ask Mexico to stop migrant caravan: Former ICE director - YouTube, approx. 9.75 minutes | Published on Oct 17, 2018 by Fox Business
+ Refs. re: Transit Visa policy of Mexico and 3 recent examples of Mexico altering it's policy to facilitate the entrance of illegal aliens into the United States:
1. Fox News: Sep 3, 2016 (no deportations reported)
Appended to archive: Partial transcription: no way this caravan was allowed to proceed [transit] in Mexico without a payoff to authorities ... even MSM outlets reported that everyone in it received $7000 each for the stunt = 4.9 million USD]
#12. To: All (#8)
(Edited)
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