The Iron Curtain, Bamboo Curtain...

[natehale1971]

We all know about the Iron Curtain... the description of how the Soviet Union had so much influence over the Warsaw Pact.

And the Bamboo Curtain was the PRC's influence over it's Asian neighbors...

But what kind of descriptive 'curtain' would be used to describe the Havana Pact (Central America, South America & Caribbean), or Congo Pact (Africa)?

I had thought of Banana Curtain for the Havana Pact to be a reference to the historical reference to the strong-man cult of personality 'Banana Republic' type governments of the region. But I don't know if that would work or not. Because it could work for Africa as well... but with Africa it would bee seen as being racist.

Any ideas?

[Mohoender]

For the Havana Pact I would go by the Bolivarian Curtain. I'm not inventing anything it's the definition of ALBA as established by Cuba and Venezuela.

Banana Curtain for the Havana Pact might not be seen as racist but it is highly disrespectful.

For the Congo Pact, you could simply go with the Brazza Curtain or the Bantu Curtain.

[Fusilier]

LOL, Banana Curtain.

Who'd take them serious?

[helbent4]

Originally Posted by Fusilier

LOL, Banana Curtain.

Who'd take them serious?

Fuse,

How about the "Beef Curtain"?

Sorry, just had to get that in there.

Tony

[waiting4something]

The beef curtain is something all of us wanna be part of.

[Targan]

Originally Posted by helbent4

How about the "Beef Curtain"?

LOL. Bad, bad man!

[Webstral]

The Banana Curtain. It sounds like the title of a 70's gay porn film.

[pmulcahy11b]

Originally Posted by Webstral

The Banana Curtain. It sounds like the title of a 70's gay porn film.

Or a straight porn film, "The Poontang Curtain."

[natehale1971]

Thanks for the help! and the laugh. I really needed it!

now for the Baghdad Pact 'Curtain'.... or "Veil" to play upon the fact Muslim countries force their women to wear them...

[irishboy]

Khaki Curtain for the South Americans. Maybe not at a Command level, but I think it would stick for the grunts.

Maybe just even the Cuban Curtain. More straightforward than all the others, but you don't have to veil your references all the time.

[HorseSoldier]

I had thought of Banana Curtain for the Havana Pact to be a reference to the historical reference to the strong-man cult of personality 'Banana Republic' type governments of the region. But I don't know if that would work or not. Because it could work for Africa as well... but with Africa it would bee seen as being racist.

Curtains are overdone. What about the "Rum Haze" for Cuba's potential influence.

On the African organization, I don't think any options would be adopted in political discourse for fear of seeming or sounding racist. Informally among the military something not entirely appropriate would probably be prevalent (i.e. modern day "AFRICOM" is usually referred to as "SOULCOM" by a lot of the people that are actually slated to operate there, for better or worse).

[StainlessSteelCynic]

I don't think the "curtain" designation is appropriate for the other power blocs because it's use didn't designate a power bloc nor was it simply describing the border defences and restrictions between east and west.
It was used to describe the notion that like a curtain in a window, we in the west could not see into the east and examine what they were doing. So the "Iron Curtain" label didn't signify the influence of the Soviet Union over the WarPact nations so much as it was a description of the restricted view of Eastern Europe we were able to get.

[Matt W]

First use of Iron Curtain

http://www.historyguide.org/europe/churchill.html

[jastinbedro]

Originally Posted by natehale1971

We all know about the Iron Curtain... the description of how the Soviet Union had so much influence over the Warsaw Pact.

And the Bamboo Curtains was the PRC's influence over it's Asian neighbors...

But what kind of descriptive 'curtain' would be used to describe the Havana Pact (Central America, South America & Caribbean), or Congo Pact (Africa)?

I had thought of Banana Curtain for the Havana Pact to be a reference to the historical reference to the strong-man cult of personality 'Banana Republic' type governments of the region. But I don't know if that would work or not. Because it could work for Africa as well... but with Africa it would bee seen as being racist.

Any ideas?

I think the bamboo curtains are the best... Because it camouflages like a forest anything.

[pmulcahy11b]

Originally Posted by jastinbedro

I think the bamboo curtains are the best... Because it camouflages like a forest anything.

Yes, but I don't think bamboo grows in Africa.

[swaghauler]

Originally Posted by pmulcahy11b

Yes, but I don't think bamboo grows in Africa.

Not only does it grow in Africa, but there are also around 7 different varieties that I know of. Ethiopia is the largest exporter of bamboo and you will also find it in Somalia (the south), Kenya, Uganda, The Congo, Nigeria, and anywhere else that the African jungle still thrives.
On another note, I guess you COULD call Somalia a "Banana Republic" because they literally grew them. There are banana plantations all over Southern Somalia (closer to the Southern city of Kismayo than The Moge in the North). Indeed, when driving up and down the Ayoobe(?), the large four-lane dirt "superhighway" that ran along the Eastern spine of Somalia, you would encounter plantations that stretched for miles at a time.