It seems more than strange on the 4th of July to write about accused spy Vicky Peláez, a reporter/writer for the NYC based Spanish language daily El Diario/la Prensa. ,

In case you have not been following the story,Peláez, a U.S. citizen Peruana, was arrested and is being accused of being a spy for Russia along with her husband, Juan Lazaro.

It us unclear what proof exists that Peláez, her husband, and others are spies and to what end they would be spying for Russia. Peláez and her husband’s home in Yonkers has been bugged by the Feds and upon their arrest, documents and computers were taken from the home.

What the U.S. mainstream media has been keen on focusing on is how “unAmerican” meaning of course critical of the U.S. Peláez’s writing has been. I will admit to not really having followed Peláez’s writing, but the mainstream press has reported that she ::gasp:: has criticized U.S. policy in Latin America, specifically in countries deemed to be “enemies” of the U.S. for their refusal to go along neoliberal policies, Cuba and Venezuela. Allegedly, Peláez is also a supporter of the Shining Path guerilla organization in Peru.

It almost seems like something out of an old movie or newsreel.

Meanwhile, a Latin American “friend” to the U.S.’s neoliberal policies, Colombia, is dealing with some spy trouble of their own. There are accusations that the government in Colombia, specifically the outgoing Uribe government, has spies working in Colombia and Europe to gain information against those criticizing Uribe’s human rights’ record and that the United States has been complicit in this spying. These accusations have raised calls to suspend the European Union’s free-trade agreement with Colombia until the matter is fully investigated.

The conspiracy theorist in me doesn’t think that these cases coming out now, timed perfectly with the U.S.’s celebration of it’s independence is accidental. These cases no doubt make one question that blind patriotism those in the U.S, especially it’s citizens, are expected to feel. Tonight people are expected to stand in unison, like Pavlov’s dogs at the sound of anthems, official and unofficial, blast through speakers, and hold hands over hearts and move our marionette mouths. Often we don’t like to think of complex histories, how we got here and where we are going.

The self-preservationist in me wants to affirm that I am not a spy and wish everyone, regardless of their political persuasion or what this day means (or not) to them, a safe holiday.