Latin America Warms To Iran Amid Anti-U.S. Sentiment

[Purveyor]

Source: Reuters

CARACAS (Reuters) - Iran is gaining influence in Latin America as the region turns away from Washington and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad courts new allies to counter U.S. efforts to isolate his government.

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez and other leftist leaders from Cuba to Ecuador, many of them sympathetic to Chavez's anti-U.S. rhetoric, have struck energy, trade and investment deals with Iran.

The growing ties come despite international criticism of Tehran's nuclear enrichment program and a possible new U.N. sanctions resolution against it.

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"Since there has been no coherent United States policy toward Latin America, there's a window of opportunity for the Iranians to come fill the vacuum," said Riordan Roett of the Latin American Studies Program at Johns Hopkins University.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com:80/article/worldNews/idUSN2929293420070829

[Greeby]

1. They say anti-US to muddle the issue

It is anti-US GOVERNMENT. Chavez has done more and has more consideration for the poor of America than any President in decades

[dipsydoodle]

2. All it needs to become complete

is for them to pay each other in Euros too - at least until the Latin countries have their own common currency.

[bemildred]

3. Does this mean US foreign policy is not working?

Does this mean our leaders have totally fucked things up in Latin America? If this a sign of failure in US foreign policy elites? Hmmmmm?