This is a pivotal moment in U.S. - South American relations

[cali]

I think it was inevitable whether it was the Snowden Affair or some other moment where the U.S. triggered a strong reaction in many countries in South America.

Long harbored and justified resentments have burst open resulting in a giant fuck you. Four countries have offered Snowden asylum and it's as much or more about defying the United States as it is offering him asylum. Don't be shocked if other South American countries follow suit.

In April our Secretary of state referred to South America as "our backyard", which may not be a big deal hear, but it is in South America.

For well over a century the U.S really did treat South America as "our backyard". We overthrew democratically elected Presidents, ostensibly in the fight against communism but in reality for the benefit of corporations. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1954_Guatemalan_coup_d%27%C3%A9tat) And that's just one example of many. This isn't only distant history either.

We are reaping what we sowed.

[ProSense]

1. "Long harbored and justified resentments have burst open resulting in a giant fuck you."

How do you know it isn't all meaningless theatrics?

<...>

The offers from Venezuela and Nicaragua appeared to be linked to outrage in Latin America over the treatment last week of President Evo Morales of Bolivia, whose plane was denied permission to fly over several European countries because of what Bolivian officials said were unfounded suspicions that Mr. Snowden was aboard. Mr. Morales was on his way home from a meeting in Moscow.

Mr. Maduro had previously voiced sympathy for Mr. Snowden. He frequently bashes the United States, depicting it as an imperialist bully in Latin America. But at the same time he has shown a desire to improve relations with the United States, directing his foreign minister to start talks with Washington aimed at smoothing the rocky relationship with the top buyer of his country’s all-important oil exports.

<...>

Russia was apparently among the original countries to which Mr. Snowden submitted an asylum request, but a spokesman for President Vladimir V. Putin, Dmitri S. Peskov, has said since that the request was withdrawn.

On Thursday, Mr. Putin sent a telegram to President Obama noting the Fourth of July holiday and restating his commitment to holding a summit meeting in Moscow in September, ahead of the G20 conference, which will be in St. Petersburg. American officials have signaled that Mr. Obama is unlikely to visit Moscow if Mr. Snowden is still holed up at Sheremetyevo airport.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/06/world/snowden.html

[usGovOwesUs3Trillion]

2. That's what it sounds like to me, a big FUCK YOU

to the totalitarians!

[cali]

3. Call it what you will

but the comparison to Russia is inane and ignores the history of the U.S. in South America which is not a history mirrored in our historical relations with Russia.

[cantbeserious]

4. A Read Of History Will Disabuse One Of That Thesis

eom

[dkf]

5. Because what they did to Morales plane was egregious.

I know you think what happened was perfectly fine and without the least bit of US interference so you won't get it.

[flamingdem]

7. Each country would suffer consequences and the political opposition

would gain ground.

Venezuela would put in danger oil refining in the United States and their biggest trading partner and those deals. Ecuador is off the table already for the losses they could suffer. Bolivia has less to lose, but can't afford to lose that.

Bolivia and Venezuela have to deal with an opposition, Ecuador less so but still many will not support having Snowden and he'll ben seen as a political pawn, not a hero, in political terms.

[markiv]

6. 'or some other moment ' nothing tops stopping a head of state

at a world police checkpoint, and searching his plane

[flamingdem]

8. Is there any final proof on this? I read that it's protocol to check passports

and that this was being confused with a search, or the search is perfunctory.

Regardless it was approved

[markiv]

9. 'Regardless it was approved' BY WHO!?!?!?! NT

[flamingdem]

10. By Morales. Google it.

Google the fact an unannounced plane landing means a perfunctory check

[markiv]

12. it's your point, YOU google it

it's not my job to reasearch YOUR arguement

[Whisp]

14. by the reply you got, guess you won your point!

lol.

such entertainment.

[Poll_Blind]

11. We have treated South America, historically, like many European countries have treated Africa.

Which is to say, as their own personal piggybank for resources, to be raided and looted without concern for the actual human beings living there. IMO, Africa (by design) will never achieve a functional independence from that yoke but it appears that South America may just yet- and we should celebrate it though it presents difficulties for our empire. All people deserve the right to determine their future and live as full men and women...not as 3/5ths a man or woman.

PB

[Cleita]

13. You know what would change everything?

We need to scrap the Monroe Document as the basis for our policy in the Americas and come up with a new one that treats those nations as partners not slaves to our interests. The fact that Joe Biden said that backyard reference shows what our government thinks South America is for. I love Joe, but he does suffer from foot in mouth disease and he exposed our whole policy there in one word.

[flamingdem]

15. That was Kerry nt

[Cleita]

16. You are right. It was Kerry.

It doesn't change the fact that the world heard what we think South America is to us.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

17. Let us not forget the "Freedom Fighters" aka Contras) that Reagan and Ollie unleashed on Nicaragua.