'Plan
Merida,' also known as Plan Mexico, is similar to Plan
Colombia,
and is a program of economic and military aid
To
defeat narco-trafficking.
[El Financiero,
Mexico]
Diario Exterior, Spain
Advice
for Obama: Mess With Latin America Less Than George Bush Has
"U.S. policy toward Latin
America should be an exercise in atmospherics - high on photo ops and very
friendly rhetoric, and low on detailed policies. Detailed policies inevitably
lead to interventionism or condescension, and Latin Americans need to continue
to move toward self-reliance."
By Alvaro Vargas Llosa
Translated By Miguel Gutierrez
July 4, 2008
Spain -
Diario Exterior - Original Article (Spanish)
WASHINGTON: Barack Obama
recently gave a major speech on Latin America in which he sought to contrast
his ideas for the region with President Bush’s record. Saying that Washington has
“stuck to tired blueprints on drugs and trade, on democracy and development,”
Obama proposed talking to adversaries, increasing foreign aid, being more picky
when it comes to trade deals, boosting the Peace Corps and setting up
partnerships to reduce oil dependency.
Throughout the 20th century,
U.S. policy toward Latin America oscillated between interventionism-military or
political - and condescension, best exemplified by the Good Neighbor Policy 
and the Alliance for Progress . After that, a
form of neglect set in, except on the drug war. Occasionally, the neglect was
interrupted by efforts to sort out a financial or political crisis in the
region or the signing of a trade deal.
A pinch of foreign policy neglect
may not be a bad thing with regard to neighbors who in some cases harbor old
resentments and believe that development is something derived from global
altruism. In any case, U.S. influence over the region’s governments is no
longer enormous. Chile and Mexico, two of Washington’s closest allies, resisted
pressure to support the invasion of Iraq in the U.N. Security Council, and
Washington’s preferred candidate to lead the Organization of American States
was defeated by a socialist candidate. The International Monetary Fund, through
which the U.S. is able to exert a measure of pressure on Latin American
governments, is today fully focused on Africa, since Brazil and Argentina have
settled their debts with that agency and an export-led boom has boosted earnings
for most governments in much the region.
But the United States can
still encourage or decelerate current trends south of the border. Obama is
right to say that Latin Americans are primarily responsible for their own
tribulations, but wrong to believe that an increase in foreign aid will improve
the economy of the region and prevent the emergence of populists like Hugo
Chavez. That was the philosophy of the Good Neighbor Policy, which was designed
to undermine the influence of the Axis powers in the 1930s, and of the Alliance
for Progress which was aimed at curbing the spread of communism in the 1960s.
Indeed, populism was Lord and King in Latin America from the end of the 1920s
until the early 1990s. Its current resurgence confirms that foreign aid will do
little to preclude populism: Under George W. Bush, aid to Latin America has
doubled to $1.6 billion - the largest increase since World War II.
Posted by WORLDMEETS.US
Obama, numerous
Democrats and some Republicans have distanced themselves from the free trade
agreements made by both Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. Despite these
bureaucratic agreements, which are less efficient than unilateral eliminations
of trade barriers of the kind that Estonia undertook in the early 1990s, they
are far better than outright protectionism. Increasing the flow of goods and
services across the region is not a “Bush policy,” but an ideal whose origins
can be traced back to the Pan-American Conference of 1889, which failed to
achieve a continent-wide customs union. Even Franklin Roosevelt and John
Kennedy, whose idealistic-sounding policies serve as inspiration for Obama,
emphasized trade almost as much as foreign aid.
The likely nominee of the
Democratic Party favored the trade deal with Peru but opposed the Central
American Free Trade Agreement, and he has condemned the pact with Colombia.
With regard to Cuba, Obama has promised to lift restrictions on travel and cash
remittances to the island. In matters of trade, Obama should be consistent with
his position on Cuba -which seeks to encourage exchanges between the two
countries.
Annual trade between the U.S.
and Latin America amounts to nearly $600 billion, and sales south of the border
give sustenance to over 2.5 million American families (and indirectly, many more).
Were it not for the benefits of expanded trade, which in the case of Mexico has
grown by 400 percent over the past 15 years - migration to the north would be
even greater.
As far as immigration is
concerned, Obama’s policy differs little from the one espoused by Bush and
McCain, who have better instincts in the regard than their party does. A
sensible immigration policy that seeks to legalize millions of hard-working
immigrants will greatly improve the perception of the United States across the
border.
Ideally, U.S. policy toward
Latin America should be an exercise in atmospherics - high on photo ops and
very friendly rhetoric, and low on detailed policies. Detailed policies
inevitably lead to interventionism or condescension, and Latin Americans need
to continue to move toward self-reliance.
CLICK HERE FOR
SPANISH VERSION
THE WORLD OPINES ON THE
U.S. ELECTION:
ASIA
The Peoples' Daily, People's Republic of China
How Barack
Obama 'Reinforces the Sense of White Superiority'
http://worldmeets.us/peoplesdaily000057.shtml
The Peoples' Daily, People's Republic of China
Western Media
Teaches China a 'Lesson'
http://worldmeets.us/peoplesdaily000056.shtml
The Jakarta Post, Indonesia
For
Indonesians, Obama is 'Everyone's Son or Friend'
http://worldmeets.us/thejakartapost000003.shtml
EUROPE [from French, Spanish, German,
Portuguese]
Le
Figaro, France
Obama: One 'Cannot
Praise America Enough'
http://worldmeets.us/lefigaro0000216.shtml
Le
Monde, France
Regardless of Who Wins, the American
Exception is Eternal
http://worldmeets.us/challenges000001.shtml
Le
Monde, France
American
Elections: Cause for Hope and for Disappointment
http://worldmeets.us/lemonde0000176.shtml
Le
Monde, France
'Obamania Sweeps France'
http://worldmeets.us/lemonde0000175.shtml
Liberation,
France
Obama: 'A
Man Who Will Restore America's Image in the World'
http://worldmeets.us/liberation000102.shtml
Liberation,
France
If Barack
Obama Becomes U.S. President …
http://worldmeets.us/liberation000103.shtml
Le
Figaro, France
Democrats
in France Impassioned Over Party Primary Race
http://worldmeets.us/lefigaro0000194.shtml
Die Zeit, Germany
'Obama is No Savior'
http://worldmeets.us/diezeit000028.shtml
Frankfurter Rundschau, Germany
'Lincoln,
Kennedy, Obama'
http://worldmeets.us/frankfurterrundschau000020.shtml
Financial
Times Deutschland, Germany
Obama's
Run: The 'Miracle' of America that Could Change the World
http://worldmeets.us/financialtimesdeutschland000060.shtml
Financial
Times Deutschland, Germany
Clinton
and Obama - Please Stop Them!
http://worldmeets.us/financialtimesdeutschland000059.shtml
Financial
Times Deutschland, Germany
2008
a High-Stakes U.S. Election Year for Europe
http://worldmeets.us/financialtimesdeutschland000048.shtml
Financial
Times Deutschland, Germany
Hillary's
Quest: Between Tears and the Throne …
http://worldmeets.us/financialtimesdeutschland000050.shtml
La Stampa, Italy
At
Parade of Blacks, Boos for Hillary and Applause for Obama
http://worldmeets.us/lastampa000013.shtml
Diario
Economico, Portugal
Definitively,
Barack Obama is the Candidate of Europe …
http://worldmeets.us/diarioeconomico000014.shtml
Diario
Economico, Portugal
‘I Got a
Crush on Obama’
http://worldmeets.us/diarioeconomico000012.shtml
THE MIDDLE
EAST [from Arabic]
Al Seyassah, Kuwait
If I
Were In Obama's Place! …
http://worldmeets.us/alseyassah000018.shtml
Al
Gomhuria, Egypt
Can a
Muslim-Born Negro Be America's President? ...
http://worldmeets.us/algomhuria000007.shtml
AFRICA
[English]
The Daily Nation, Kenya
Why Africa Exults at Obama's Victory
http://worldmeets.us/dailynationka000005.shtml
Liberal,
Cape Verde
Obama: Good Luck Handling the
'Pitfalls'
http://worldmeets.us/liberal000001.shtml
This
Day, Nigeria
How
Far Can Obama Go?
http://worldmeets.us/thisday000003.shtml
Business Day, South Africa
Why
American Blacks May Be Obama's Great Problem
http://worldmeets.us/buisinessdaysa000001.shtml
LATIN
AMERICA [from Spanish]
BBC Brasil, Brazil
Obama's Victory: Reason to Believe in a Better World ...
http://worldmeets.us/bbcbrazil000003.shtml
Folha, Brazil
The
U.S. Presidential Election: The Greatest Show on Earth …
http://worldmeets.us/folha000004.shtml
Los Andes, Argentina
'Se Puede!'
http://worldmeets.us/losandes000002.shtml
Excelsior, Mexico
With Either Hillary or Obama, 'We All Win' ...
http://worldmeets.us/excelsior000011.shtml
El Tiempo, Colombia
What
Barack Obama Says About the United States …
http://worldmeets.us/eltiempo000045.shtml
El Tiempo, Colombia
What
Hillary Clinton Shows About the Status of Women
http://worldmeets.us/eltiempo000046.shtml
EUROPE [from French, Spanish, German,
Portuguese]
Le
Figaro, France
Obama: One 'Cannot Praise
America Enough'
http://worldmeets.us/lefigaro0000216.shtml
Le
Monde, France
Regardless of Who Wins, the American
Exception is Eternal
http://worldmeets.us/challenges000001.shtml
Le
Monde, France
American
Elections: Cause for Hope and for Disappointment
http://worldmeets.us/lemonde0000176.shtml
Le
Monde, France
'Obamania Sweeps France'
http://worldmeets.us/lemonde0000175.shtml
Liberation,
France
Obama: 'A
Man Who Will Restore America's Image in the World'
http://worldmeets.us/liberation000102.shtml
Liberation,
France
If Barack
Obama Becomes U.S. President …
http://worldmeets.us/liberation000103.shtml
Le
Figaro, France
Democrats
in France Impassioned Over Party Primary Race
http://worldmeets.us/lefigaro0000194.shtml
Die Zeit, Germany
'Obama is No Savior'
http://worldmeets.us/diezeit000028.shtml
Frankfurter Rundschau, Germany
'Lincoln,
Kennedy, Obama'
http://worldmeets.us/frankfurterrundschau000020.shtml
Financial
Times Deutschland, Germany
Obama's
Run: The 'Miracle' of America that Could Change the World
http://worldmeets.us/financialtimesdeutschland000060.shtml
Financial
Times Deutschland, Germany
Clinton
and Obama - Please Stop Them!
http://worldmeets.us/financialtimesdeutschland000059.shtml
Financial
Times Deutschland, Germany
2008
a High-Stakes U.S. Election Year for Europe
http://worldmeets.us/financialtimesdeutschland000048.shtml
Financial
Times Deutschland, Germany
Hillary's
Quest: Between Tears and the Throne …
http://worldmeets.us/financialtimesdeutschland000050.shtml
La Stampa, Italy
At
Parade of Blacks, Boos for Hillary and Applause for Obama
http://worldmeets.us/lastampa000013.shtml
Diario
Economico, Portugal
Definitively,
Barack Obama is the Candidate of Europe …
http://worldmeets.us/diarioeconomico000014.shtml
Diario
Economico, Portugal
‘I Got a
Crush on Obama’
http://worldmeets.us/diarioeconomico000012.shtml
THE MIDDLE
EAST [from Arabic]
Al
Gomhuria, Egypt
Can a
Muslim-Born Negro Be America's President? ...
http://worldmeets.us/algomhuria000007.shtml
AFRICA
[English]
The Daily Nation, Kenya
Why Africa Exults at Obama's Victory
http://worldmeets.us/dailynationka000005.shtml
Liberal,
Cape Verde
Obama: Good Luck Handling the
'Pitfalls'
http://worldmeets.us/liberal000001.shtml
This
Day, Nigeria
How
Far Can Obama Go?
http://worldmeets.us/thisday000003.shtml
Business Day, South Africa
Why
American Blacks May Be Obama's Great Problem
http://worldmeets.us/buisinessdaysa000001.shtml
LATIN
AMERICA [from Spanish]
BBC Brasil, Brazil
Obama's Victory: Reason to Believe in a Better World ...
http://worldmeets.us/bbcbrazil000003.shtml
Folha, Brazil
The U.S.
Presidential Election: The Greatest Show on Earth …
http://worldmeets.us/folha000004.shtml
Los Andes, Argentina
'Se Puede!'
http://worldmeets.us/losandes000002.shtml
Excelsior, Mexico
With Either Hillary or Obama, 'We All Win' ...
http://worldmeets.us/excelsior000011.shtml
El Tiempo, Colombia
What
Barack Obama Says About the United States …
http://worldmeets.us/eltiempo000045.shtml
El Tiempo, Colombia
What
Hillary Clinton Shows About the Status of Women
http://worldmeets.us/eltiempo000046.shtml
[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US July 9, 5:41pm]
