South America:America's New Threat?

By:Eddy Rochelle

In recent years, particularly from the early 90's until present day, America has turned it's eyes to the east. China is conceivably our greatest threat, but many fail to see what it is worth. China, of course, is worth an eye, but if we turn two towards them, the blind eye will surely get socked by the south.

South America is beginning to at least get their fair share of attention as of late. A strong socialist movement is moving throughout the continent, and an war of words against imperialism, neo-liberalism and American policies is being waged with increasing intensity. Most notably is the constant struggle between Venezuela's president Hugo Chavez and George Bush.

Chavez, being a socialist, is trying to bring Venezuela to the forefront of southern hemisphere strengths. With recent upgrades from the Spanish to the Army and Navy, he is certainly proving to the world that he has, and is gaining connections. The socialists have ruled Venezuela since 1999 when Chavez won in an contested election. He has since then held the office with somewhat of an iron fist, while portraying himself as an champion of the people.

The situation in South America is growing more desperate with each passing day. Unrest rules the day in many of the countries, and social inequality and the ever growing divide between the rich and the poor have commoners running out of options. Venezuela is essentially showing nations in the south what a nation working with resources can do, as far as increasing standard of living and monetary value.

Bolivia, which is lodged in the heartland of the continent is about to shift into a Socialist government, thus probaly adding another notch to Chavez's peg board of strategy for the region. Though far away from Venezuela, Boliva can cause real problems for the current regimes throughout the region due to it's centralized location and oil production capabilities.

Bolivia's Movement to Socialism party is expected to gain a victory by obtaining 38% of the popular vote. The party is ran by an ex-coca farmer with an eighth grade education, but with a strong following from the more rural parts of the country. With Bolivia being the poorest country in the whole continent, it is sometimes viewed as an unfortunate victim of free trade.

This is what should worry the United States. The South American countries are often times viewed as sub-standard to the rest of the western hemisphere, but that is surely to changed with state based programs being enacted continent wide.

The socialist regimes that are forming up in the south are sure to begin to worry the conservative agenda of the United States. With such power through capitalism, one should ask if the U.S.'s influence in trade to the south will be a breaker, using Cuba as an example.

This is highly unlikely, due to the sheer amount of natural resources, and trading capabilities of the south. Besides, Cuba is a small island that took on nuclear weapons, thus enacting the emabargo. As oil becomes more of an essential part of American life, the south will certainly be stepping up measures to protect their livelyhoods by building trade partners, political scheming and joint military activities.

The process is still very young, but with so much ignorance on the United State's part by paying attention to Chinese proliferation, the situation could very easily be blown up. The workers paradise of the south could quell America's voice in short time unless the situation is met head strong.

"The party is ran by an ex-coca farmer with an eighth grade education, but with a strong following from the more rural parts of the country."

We've got the same thing up here. Except its an ex-coca user with an second grade conceptualization of the world, but with a strong following from the more rural parts of the country.

We're just like Bolivia!

My friend's wife is from Chile, and she said that the socialists are trying to perform a coupe on the current government. If the Socialists gain a huge following in the south, the US will certainly be rolling in it's sleep. (Not me though, I hope it seeps through :)

...we have no business trying to influence the internal political affairs of another sovereign nation. Central/South America has been under the heel of the US for far too long. I applaud liberty, however it comes to life.

Cheers true!

Unless, of course an invading army actually crosses our borders, or the crossing is sure to come (ahem Iraq).

I applaud the south's "coming out" party as of late. Maybe some of these regime changes can curb the drug trade and rabid poverty levels of the south.

salut!

-True

Bring it on! They do not need us. The Chinese will be more than happy to buy the continent's natural resources. We should not interfere in their decision-making.

What the hell is this guy talking about? He almost talks like we could expect to be invaded from Venezuela some day. More likely these countries are riding a wave of socialism because U.S. policy has screwed them for years. Planted dictators, bloody and destructive proxy wars, massive chasms between haves and have-nots. American style capitalism hasn't exactly been a boon to all in South and Central America. I also believe that these countries are finding out that they don't have to snap to attention when the U.S. snaps its fingers.
Hugo Chavez, do we really have to worry about him? How have his policies affected those in Venezuela? As I understand it he has made strides against poverty, health, and illiteracy. He does strike me as having a huge ego, a big mouth and seems to revel in irritating the Chimp. But some type of future security threat? Hardly.

Then there is Cuba. I just wish some American politician would have the guts to just throw up his hands and say "It's Over! He won!" We are making ourselves look stupid by keeping the embargo. What was so great about Batista anyway? There's a "beacon of democracy" for sure. One of the most corrupt regimes of the last century and that's probably without the organized crime influence.

This article is pure neocon bullshit. This neocon attitude of "do as we say when say" toward the rest of the world is only going to alienate more of the world.

:applause::applause: