Sure enough, right outside the office of a foreign oil company, Brazil’s Petrobras, in the pro-trade city of Santa Cruz. A car full of dynamite. The news item is here. And an updated item with the broader picture is here. Here is what the Bolivian blogs say:

BARRIO FLORES’ Eduardo says the bomb raises the specter of the gas development struggle taking a violent turn. He notes that the people claiming responsibility for the attack have said their assault against the Brazilian company was actually an anti-George Bush statement. Some believe they spoke with Central American accents. The terrorists also say that if they don’t get what they want, they will launch more attacks. Meanwhile, Evo Morales’ groups deny any knowledge or involvement and suspect the bomb was planted by their enemies. UPDATE: Eduardo has a good discussion of the question of how much force the government should use against the roadblockers who would starve the cities and prevent people from working. UPDATE: He also has a link to an article discussing the question of international intervention – from Brazil, Argentina, Chile or the U.S. – he discounts the latter two and so do I. This blog is good.

THE ECONOMIST EN SU LABERINTO‘s Antonio in the Persian Gulf quotes an article in La Razon that says Bolivia is on the road to class struggle. He also writes that a landless movement in Santa Cruz is getting new cash from somewhere. This is just a short item and I hope he writes more

LIFE IN BOLIVIA‘s Jim in Cochebamba reports that city service money is running out. Trash pickup is no more, festivals are out of money, soccer teams are going unpaid. Very bad sign for the current government. This blog is good.

BLOG DE BOLIVIA‘s Alvaro in Santa Cruz senses the hand of Evo Morales in this bombing, and notes the telltale subsequent calls for ‘dialogue’ following the attack. He notes that Hugo Chavez must be falling down with laughter. He also has another item with a screen shot off Bolivian TV showing the shadowy thugs who did the bombing making their demands. They are calling for multinationals to leave the country in 15 days. Or else. This is an important blog post and I agree with this blogger’s perspective.

MABB‘s Miguel has a listing of all the different excuses politicians are making or not making to attend President Mesa’s national unity conference which I understand has since been cancelled. This chart is interesting, and I hope to see more from Miguel soon!

UNA REVISION DE TODO UN POCO‘s blogger, named ‘Tomorrow’, in Madrid, writes that the attack looks a lot like what is seen from the ETA and IRA. He worries it could go a Colombian route. It’s a very interesting long essay in Spanish worth a closer look.

PAULOVICH in La Paz has more on the landless movement and apparently a mass kidnap.

PRODEMOS links an item on falling confidence in President Mesa.

VILLAZON, in Villazon, Bolivia, quotes a Potosi ex-senator politician as insisting there will be local elections in August.