Latin America is no joke

Latin America is no joke

Stanley A. Weiss International Herald Tribune
Monday, December 27, 2004

U.S. neighbor relations

WASHINGTON When 11 Latin American countries took the first steps toward a regional common market in 1960, dismissive U.S. officials predictably joked that the ill-fated Latin American Free Trade Agreement would generate "more tears than Lafta."

But no one was laughing this month in Peru when all 12 South American nations pledged themselves to an EU-style political and economic community. The South American Community of Nations - which by definition excludes Mexico, the United States and Canada - envisions a common market, a regional constitution and Parliament.

The display of unity in Peru was as much about South America as it was about the North - specifically the United States. A more unified group of South American nations is seen as a way to strengthen their collective bargaining power in trade negotiations with the almighty yankees.

(snip)

Indeed, always bound more by geography than ideology, America and its Latin neighbors are drifting apart. As Washington moves to the right, the rest of the hemisphere is moving to the left. The presidents of Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Venezuela and Ecuador were all elected by challenging Washington-driven free market reforms that have done little to reduce the region's endemic poverty.

(snip)

http://www.iht.com/bin/print_ipub.php?file=/articles/2004/12/26/opinion/edweiss.html

And while they are at it they should throw out all the graduates of the School of the Americas and stop sending soldiers there as well !!!!

http://www.soaw.org/new/index.php

When are they going to accidentally read a history book and look in the mirror in Washington?

They don't understand the importance of what they are doing in these areas.

...its continuing plans to topple Chavez in Venezuela.

My understanding is that Americans are despised in South America.

Real Americans despise gringos. ;)

is another step in the process of isolating the US. We are viewed as dangerous and unpredictable by most of the world, and they are taking steps to isolate us economically. We've already isolated ourselves politically.

the EU has been very successful for the involved countries, and given that the US has done nothing more than exploit and loot and bomb these countries, it's no great suprise that they've finally decided to band together.

Latin America will go far. Trust me.
Many American citizens that are bugging out of the States are actually
headed south. Reason: cheap real estate. Most Latinos will leave the
gringos alone but my only concern is whether the US will start stirring
up crap again with the military in order to "hunt terrorists". Who
knows.