RSS• More of the same boilerplate rhetoric vis-à-vis Latin America • No constructive engagement when it comes to Bolivia’s Evo Morales or Venezuela’s Hugo Chávez Committed Latin Americanists relished the unceremonious departure of right-wing ideologue Roger Noriega as assistant secretary of s[...]
Archive for 2005
Bolivia’s Sunday Presidential Elections: Blindly into the Breach
• If Bolivia manages to peacefully ride out its convoluted electoral process, stability is far from being guaranteed, even in the event of an Evo Morales victory. • Morales appears increasingly likely to win by a significant margin on December 18, probably by enough of a spread to effectively gu[...]
Bolivia’s Precarious Upcoming Election
· Bolivia’s December 18 presidential election is unlikely to provide stability. · Divisiveness, stemming from the country’s deeply fragmented society, is only compounded by a balky political system. · The election highlights many issues, but it is lar[...]
Perhaps with Manta in its Mind, the U.S. Eyes Paraguay
· Initial reports that 400-500 U.S. troops would be operating in Paraguay at once were misleading. · Washington’s intensified interest in previously all-but-ignored Paraguay invites questions regarding U.S. intentions for the country and the region. · [...]
Brazilians Mourn a Wounded President and Consider the Prospects of a Major Political Upset
· The corruption scandal within the Partido dos Trabalhadores (PT) has captured the public’s attention, as well as its disgust, throughout much of 2005. · Despite a healthy economy, many wonder whether Lula’s chances in the presidential election have been seriously diminished. ·[...]
Judas’ Kiss: Brazil’s Deception and the WTO’s Geneva Framework
How will Brazil conduct itself at December’s WTO Hong Kong Ministerial? Brazil subtly underplays its leadership role as a global trade negotiator. The approaching Hong Kong meeting will severely test Brazil’s status as G-20 spokesman. [...][...]
Venezuela’s Disloyal Opposition Serves the Bush Administration’s Narrow Ideological Interests, but Hardly Those of its Own Nation
In an arrant display of rank political opportunism, Venezuela’s faltering middle-class opposition parties have announced that they would boycott the December 4 legislative elections. Far from a principled and high minded move, this tawdry tactic represents a cynical decision on the part of the opp[...]
Spanish Arms Sale to Chávez: Venezuelan F-16s Bad; Chilean F-16s Good
This fall has been a trying time for the Bush administration, both at home and around the world, but in no arena is its reputation more compromised or the contempt with which it is held is greater than throughout Latin America. In the midst of the most vulnerable period for the Bush Administration t[...]
Mexico’s Fox Woos Washington at Great Cost
The current spat between Venezuela and Mexico will soon pass, yet it should be seen as far more than a trivial matter, springing as it does from deep roots in the collective psyche of each country. Even more importantly, it also reflects the depth of the disagreement in Latin America over Washington[...]
November 14th, 2005 - 9:37 am § in Front Page, Reports
Bush Goes to Beijing, China Goes to Latin America
As he leaves for Beijing, President Bush can’t ignore the growing Chinese presence in Washington’s “backyard.” The question is, what does he do with such information? China’s penetration of Latin American markets may be more than just that; it could be a historic entrance that encompasses [...]