HOME	Your Most Trusted Source of Foreign News and Views About the United States

EDITORIAL

November 10, 2005

Original Article (English)

Bush Not a Happy Camper at Opening Session of Summit of the Americas in Mar Del Plata, Argentina on Nov. 4.

The 4th Summit of the Americas has concluded as scheduled. But unlike past sessions, at this Summit, chief executives for the first time failed to agree on a final document.

The Summit of the Americas has always been an important venue for the United States to push its Latin America policy. But this time, President George Bush came to the meeting with about 2,000 officials and security personnel, only to leave empty-handed. Washington had hoped to use the occasion to resume negotiations on its plan for a Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), but met unexpectedly fierce opposition from South American countries. Since Venezuela is increasingly viewed as a "threat" in Washington, President Bush had hoped that larger South American countries like Brazil and Argentina would keep Venezuela in line, an idea to which Brazil and Argentina reacted coldly. Some analysts say that the only "gain" for the U.S. was its belated recognition that it stands friendless in its own "backyard."

The reason the U.S. lacks allies in its "backyard" is attributed primarily to its general orientation to "look for enemies." Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's political ideology tilts to the left and so his administration runs afoul of the U.S. tastes, for which Venezuela and Cuba have been designated the "axis of evil for the Western Hemisphere." The history of international politics teaches us that hostile diplomatic policies beget hostility between nations. This is true in Asia and Europe as well as the "backyard" of the United States [Latin America].

Protesters Pilloried President Bush as a Fascist Seeking Hemesphiric Domination.

America's isolation in its "backyard" also stems from the double standards Washington employs in promoting its values. This is particularly obvious on the question of resuming talks on the FTAA. On the one hand, Washington demands that Latin American countries institute a comprehensive opening up of their markets and accept U.S.-style rules, while on the other, the United States continues to provide enormous subsidies to its own farmers. American agricultural subsidies have led to a grave distortion of prices for agricultural goods, and countries in Latin America that depend of farm products are deeply frustrated.

From an economic point of view, subsidizing agriculture is a major intervention in the free market that even the father of neo-Liberalism [Friedrich von Hayek ] would shake his head. As known to all, behind the U.S. agricultural subsidies is the powerful farm lobby, whose political support is a necessity in Washington. It should come as a surprise that when free market principles fall victim to domestic political horse trading, they lose their power abroad. This is the source of much of Washington's difficulty in promoting its values.

Argentine Riot Police Fire Off Some Tear Gas at Anti-Bush Demontrators.

Faced with differences inside and protests outside the Summit meeting room, American experts on Latin America aren't surprised. Of course they aren't, for a review of U.S.-Latin America relations over recent years easily shows that the differences began long ago, and protests are nothing if not common occurrences. But when one [Washington] spouts forth principles when it comes to the interests of other nations, and discards them when it comes to yourself, it is only normal that one earns the antipathy of others.

In the history of the Western Hemisphere, the development of the Latin American countries has been much more turbulent than in the U.S. and Canada. South and Central America still face difficult political, economic and social challenges. The straitjacket it is experiencing has its roots not only in Latin America itself but also in the international political and economic order. Whether it can improve its position depends mainly on whether Latin American countries can find a way suitable to itself. Whether in regard to the neo-Liberalism setbacks of the 1990s, or the hardships on the center-left road, Latin America is exploring and Latin America is striving for the better.

Over recent years Latin American politics has turned to the left ideologically, and left-wing parties have mounted the political stage to take power. Perhaps this is in conflict with American values, nor is it consistent with American interests. However, this is a reflection of public opinion in Latin America. Failing to understand this public sentiment, it is impossible to understand Latin American politics. And failing to respect this public opinion, it is impossible to find allies in Latin America.