Gates, ahead of Latam trip, to sign Brazil accord

[naaman fletcher]

WASHINGTON, April 8 (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates will sign a defense accord with Brazil and then travel to South America next week, looking to strengthen ties in a region being courted by Iran, China and Russia

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The U.S. official, who asked not to be named, described the agreement with Brazil as a "huge deal," establishing the first framework of its kind in more than 30 years for defense ties between the two countries.

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http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0822282120100409?type=marketsNews

[rabs]

1. Brazilians scoff that it is a "huge deal."

Not to worry, Lula knows exactly what he is doing.

Brazilian defense ministry spokesman today in Brasilia speaking to Spanish news agency EFE:

-- There is no comparison with the the controversial Colombia/U.S. bases accords.

-- "It is a mere cooperation and dialogue accord."

-- "In no way" does it foresee the presence or access of U.S. troops to Brazilian military bases, something that "neither the government nor the armed forces would accept."

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"No puede compararse" con el polémico acuerdo suscrito recientemente entre Bogotá y Washington, explicó un portavoz del Ministerio de Defensa de Brasil a la agencia de noticias Efe.

"Es un mero acuerdo de cooperación y diálogo" y no prevé "de forma alguna" la presencia o el acceso de soldados de Estados Unidos a bases militares brasileñas, algo que "ni el Gobierno ni las Fuerzas Armadas aceptarían", dijo la fuente.

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[naaman fletcher]

2. I agree its not a big deal on the surface..

I think its possibly a big deal in terms of it being a constructive agreement between the two nations (not that I think that's necessarily a good thing).

[protocol rv]

3. I bet it includes training Brazilian military in the USA

They like to do that, to get people in Latin American armies they can talk to later, when they're promoted to general. And I bet the Brazilians want to learn about the new US drone technology and tactics.

[rabs]

4. By jove, I think you're right.

Brazil is going to send Earth Warriors from the Kuikuro tribe in the upper Xingu, Matto Grosso state, to become experts in drone technology and tactics at a secret Brazilian/U.S. base being set up inside a rundown warehouse on the outskirts of Oklahoma City.