Daniel Ortega, the longstanding leader of the leftist Sandinistas who fought the American-backed Contra rebels in the 1980s, recently opened his fourth campaign for the presidency of Nicaragua . One of America ’s fiercest opponents during the Cold War, Orte­ga again worries Washington – this time because of potential effects in the global war on terrorism. The United States has recently suspended $2.3 mil­lion in military aid to the country to put pressure on them to disarm. One of President Bush’s main concerns is the Soviet made SA-7, a shoulder fired missile that many worry could shoot down commercial aircraft, as nearly happened in Kenya three years ago.

With America ’s encouragment, the Nicaraguan military has destroyed about half of its original arsenal of 2,000 missiles. Under President Enrique Bolaños, who has been a staunch supporter of America and has even sent a small contingent of troops to Iraq despite some opposition at home, the destruction of the weapons has progressed at a smooth pace. How­ever, this destruction was stalled by a recent bill passed through the Nicara­guan Congress requiring its approval before all weapons destruction and purchases.

Congress, which is controlled by President Bolaños’s opponents, Arnol­do Alemán and Daniel Ortega, has continued to hinder his anti-corruption platform. Although Alemán, the presi­dent prior to Bolaños, was convicted of massive corruption while president and now serves under house arrest, he still is virtually a free man and controls a good part of the congress, delimitat­ing the Liberal Constitutional Party. These two have collaborated in block­ing the destruction of the SA-7s and have rendered Bolaños impotent.

The Sandinistas seem to be back in control of Nicaragua despite being rejected by voters for the last 15 years. In February, General Omar Halleslev­ens was installed as Chief of the Nica­raguan army. Halleslevens has ties to the Sandinistas, having served as chief of the counter-intelligence directorate some 15 years ago. Now Halleslevens commands an army whose officers recently were busted in a sting try­ing to sell the SA-7s to Colombian narco-terrorists (The sellers, although caught by Nicaraguan police and U.S. drug agents, only served a short time behind bars before Sandinista lawyers got them released).

Ortega, who has been repeatedly rejected by Nicaraguan voters, has yet to leave the political arena. Although he has little chance of regaining the presidency of Nicaragua , the United States is being cautious. U.S. money has already been funneled to the anti-Ortega movement. Still no chances are being taken with leaving weapons potentially in his and Halleslevens hands; U.S. pressure has been placed to try to force the Nicaraguan govern­ment to act before any change of office in 2006.

An election of Ortega would not only pose a threat to United States security, but it would have grave effects on the tide of democracy in Latin America . With Hugo Chavez, the radi­cal president of Venezuela , supporting narco-guerrillas in Colombia as well as aiming at unseating the president of Bolivia , the U.S. and President Bush could soon see democracy slipping away in its backyard. An election of Daniel Ortega would be the last thing that advocates of peace and prosperity would want in Nicaragua .