Financial Times: U.S. Losing Control in Latin America

[bemildred]

In a wide-ranging editorial earlier this week, London's Financial Times, expressed deep concerns over the waning influence of the U.S. and the growing influence of Hugo Chavez in Latin America. The article provides a fascinating window into the international financial communities' sober assessment of the floundering corporate agenda in Latin America -- an analysis not altogether different from our own.


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But the editors of the Financial Times are of course concerned first and foremost about the growing regional influence of Venezuela. They write that:

Above all, the US needs to respond seriously to the rise of Mr Chávez. At home, the president has built support on a series of popular social programmes, funded with the proceeds of high oil prices. Abroad, Mr Chávez has been throwing money around. In the past few weeks he has bought up chunks of Argentine debt and despatched cheap oil to a dozen needy Caribbean countries. Ecuador could also be set to benefit from Venezuelan largesse, if a bond sale goes through as expected. And during a visit this week Mr Chávez will offer shipbuilding contracts to Argentina and funds for Uruguay's state-owned airline.

Interestingly, however they go beyond the usual rhetoric of panicing about Hugo Chávez spreading revolution throughout Latin America, and in fact chide the Bush administration for exagerrating Chávez's role in the recent uprisings in Bolivia:

So far Washington has tended to focus on links between Mr Chávez and radical groups in the region, such as those led by Evo Morales, the leftwing indigenous leader who could become Bolivia's next president later this year. This exaggerates Mr Chávez's capacity for political meddling and underestimates the extent to which high oil prices give him the possibility to build softer forms of power and influence in the region.

NarcoSphere

[Demeter]

1. Thank God For That!

If ever a country deserved to lose control, it is the US of A. Having proven itself to be incapable of living by its own standards of decency at home, let alone abroad, the US is not qualified to dictate to other lands.

[K-W]

2. Its time for South America to take control of its own fate.

Not that it wasnt time for that 100's of years ago.

[BrklynLiberal]

3. TSK TSK TSK. All those American corps will lose money there? How

terrible.
This is exactly what Gen. Smedley Butler wrote about in his book "War is A Racket". He discussed the US government's use of the military to protect corporate interests in South America.

http://lexrex.com/enlightened/articles/warisaracket.htm


excerpts from a speech he gave:
http://www.twf.org/News/Y2001/0911-Racket.html

Google his name if you want to read more about his views on this subject. He is also the person who was approached by these same corporatists (including one of Bush's uncles) to try a military coup of FDR, and shocked them all by reporting it.

[IrateCitizen]

4. So, where is the real beef with the FT editorial board?

I mean, is it with Chavez embarking on a program of social programs at home to benefit Venezuela's poor? Or is it with Chavez's recent forays into the international arena, daring to spread around Venezuela's largesse by buying up other nations' debt and giving favorable oil contracts?

I digress. I know full well where their objections come from -- that Venezuela is using its oil wealth to embark upon a program to free Latin America from the shackles of neoimperialism on the part of the major Western powers. They're incensed that Chavez would dare to use Venezuela's wealth to actually benefit the majority of its citizens, and supremely frightened that Chavez has managed to solidify power while exerting influence over his neighbors to help them along a similar path. I mean, don't these people know that the shots in Latin America are supposed to be called by western corporate interests, not the Latin Americans themselves!?!?

And how dare Chavez cavort with a "radical left-wing politician" who just happens to represent the indigenous population of his country -- who make up the MAJORITY of citizens! I mean, he should limit himself to those heads of state who support corporate exploitation of their countries and the saddling of their nations with debt in exchange for lining their own pockets -- doesn't he know how the game is supposed to work?

[On the Road]

5. Chavez is Fulfulling the Promise of a "Bolivarian" Society

Simon Bolivar was from Venezuela and is idolized there. Shortly after obtaining independence from Spain, he warned that Spain was not the only foreign oppresor: "a very rich and powerful nation, extremely war-like and capable of anything, is at the head of this continent."

[IrateCitizen]

6. I wonder what the FT editorial board thinks of this...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050810/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/venezuela_indigenous_lands

[justinsb]

7. It's about time!

If there is anywhere on the planet that has been treated worse by the US than the Middle East it is Latin America (ok Africa and Asia have suffered their share as well). The US has virtually insisted on picking all Latin American leaders and policies for generations, has overthrown democratically elected leaders and replaced them with dictators and propped up some of the most brutal regimes this century has seen.

[BrklynLiberal]

8. Your sig image would be a fantastic bumper sticker! Is one available?

[justinsb]

9. erm...not that I know of

Feel free to make your own though. I not very protectionist about it. :hi:

[BrklynLiberal]

10. Thanks. I think it is a terrific image.

[justinsb]

11. No prob...glad you like it.

:)