LA Quick Hits: Pinochet Dumped, Splintered Sandanistas, Ecuador is Still Ticked, Raul Wants to Talk, Mexican Mayhem and Much More

• PInochet's grandson was dumped by the army yesterday. At his grandfather's funeral he defended his grandfather's actions and ripped the judiciary for trying to prosecute him. The younger Pinochet was a captain.
• The Bolivian political crisis deteriorates as pols associated with Morales but from Santa Cruz balk at his hard line. (en esp.) Meanwhile the army denounced the pilfering of weapons from an armory. (en esp.)
  
• Interesting article in the Herald noting that of the 9 original commandantes of the Sandanista Front only 2 are ruling with Ortega now.
  
• It didn't take long for Federal troops in Mexico to find drug traffickers in Michoacan - several died in a gunfight.
• The cousin of the Mexican First Lady was murdered yesterday.
• 300 Mazahua Indians took over a water treatment plant near Mexico City and cut it off. All service should have been back up by last night. The indians were protesting for aid.
• Ecuador is thinking about pulling its ambassador (en esp.) from Bogota as a sign of protest.
  
• Apparently the Swiss Ambassador to Cuba has been coming to the states to deliver a message from Raul. It appears that meetings with Sen. Mel Martinez, Bush officials and some in the exile community have been held.
• Traveling to Cuba is a fad even for Palestinians. Then again Fidel has been a long-time supporter of the Palestinian cause. His first contacts with FATAH came in 1965 and he sent advisors to train the PLO as early as 1970. It turns out though, that many travelers to Cuba just use it as an excuse to seek asylum in third country. Hmmmm...I wonder why Palestinians opt to stay in a country that didn't want them when the Socialist Paradise is waiting with open arms?