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A digital voice read out delivers a message detailing US surveillance of Portugal’s investigation of Guantanamo flights and how that can potentially affect North American interests. The message concludes teasing that they need to “stroke him [Portuguese government official] a lot”. One wonders what ‘stroke’ means: bribes? trading influences? vices? other shady dealings?
In the background, Smackos and Twilight Moose, fine purveyors of defeatistic cold war jams do their wintry thing and then Icebreaker International peaks through the clouds with a guitar lament for lost innocence in this age of globalisation, distrust and corruption
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A voice relates North American entreaties with the Spanish government on how “demarche” with Nicaragua. The leader of Nicaragua at the time is characterised as a mad man.
Later the voice describes interactions between the North American Chargé d’Affaires with Spanish Minister of Defence José Bono on the sale of military and civilian ships to Venezuela. There is talk of the Minister having to justify the sale to a North American comittee. There is conflict between sources and assurances about the end use of the vessels. The Embassy Cable also refers to discreet visits to Venezuela by José Bono and of the ailing dockyards that would build the ships.
The final message details North American pressure on the President of Spain to change the outcome of a military contract.
Barry Gray, David Lynch and Basil Poledouris provide the musical background.
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