Bush Visits Neighbors No Longer So Friendly (Summit of the Americas)

[Say_What]

LOL Bush--terrorista numero uno--is gonna bring a message of "tough love" to Latin America saying that LatAm's problems are *political* and not economic. Meanwhile, 85% of LatAm lives in poverty. Oh, this oughta be good. </sarcasm>


<clips>

MONTERREY, Mexico — Three months after taking office, a deferential President Bush made his debut on the world stage by embracing — and charming — Latin America.

"I grew up in a world where if you treat your neighbor well, it's a good start to developing a wholesome community," he told his 33 counterparts at the Summit of the Americas.

Three years later, Bush is deeply unpopular in much of the region. Latin Americans view him as a distant neighbor at best — often at odds with them over security and trade policies, and aloof from their worst economic and political crises.

When he arrives in Monterrey today for his second Summit of the Americas, Bush will meet a Latin American leadership that has shifted to the left and grown increasingly assertive with Washington as people across the region lose faith in free markets.

In the eyes of his neighbors, Bush embodies both impulses of the northern colossus that, alternately through history, has bullied and ignored them. Except for confronting its leaders with a with-us-or-against-us attitude on Iraq, he has made Latin America, "at least in terms of U.S. attention, an Atlantis, a lost continent," said Jorge Castañeda, who was Mexico's foreign minister until a year ago.

<http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-latin12jan12,1,252124.story?coll=la-home-headlines>


An activist dressed as a wrestler carries an effigy of the U.S. president on the eve of the Summit of the Americas in Monterrey, Mexico. Trade is not a primary topic. (AFP)

[Malva Zebrina]

1. doesn't matter to him--he will strut in, strut out, and strut all about.

He will make jokes about the others, point his fingers at the cameraman,smirk during the toasts, and generally behave as if he is the most important person that ever graced such a meeting. This time that kind of "charm" is not going to work--and I don't think he realizes that.

[bushisanidiot]

2. So Did The Wrestler Body Slam The Effigy? ;)

president shitferbrains is clearly seeking the hispanic vote. Fortunately, I think President Fox is smart enough to see AWOL's pandering attempt..

this idiot is such an embarrassment to the united states of america. i'm surprised any country's leader would accept a meeting with the dolt in chief.

[Say_What]

3. Guardian: Latin America squares up to US

See following article about Hugo Chavez's remarks about CondaSLEEZA.

<clips>

...His comments came days after high-ranking US officials urged Argentina to speed up the fulfilment of debt refinancing conditions in the wake of the country's economic crisis, and criticised the failure of its foreign minister to meet dissidents on a recent trip to Cuba. The chief minister of the Argentinian cabinet, Alberto Fernandez, called the comments "impertinent".

In the absence of Fidel Castro, who was not invited because Cuba is not a member of the Organisation of American States, the most vehement anti-American voice is likely to come from Venezuela.

The president, Hugo Chavez, last week called the US national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice, "a real illiterate" after she condemned his closeness to Mr Castro and reluctance to call a leadership referendum.

The leftwing former paratrooper promised to speak his mind. "The time of cowardly governments on this continent subordinate to the dictates of Washington is coming to an end," he said.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1120792,00.html

---

<clips>

Chavez and Venezuelan Officials React to US Remarks on Referendum and Relations with Cuba

Caracas, Venezuela. Jan 11, 2004 (Venezuelanalysis.com).- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez responded angrily this Saturday at US National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice concerns about a possible recall referendum on his mnandate this year. On Wednesday, Rice urged President Chavez to "demonstrate that he believes in democratic processes" by allowing the referendum.

Chavez and Venezuelan government officials have repeatedly said that it is only up to Venezuela’s National Electoral Council to decide if the requirements for the recall referendum were fulfilled by the opposition in order for the recall to take place.

In early December, opponents of the President collected signatures to request a recall referendum on his mandate. Venezuela's National Electoral Council (CNE), part the Electoral Branch of government whose main members are independent officials, will begin the process of verifying the validity of the signatures next week. If enough valid signatures were collected, a recall referendum could take place as early as May. However dozens of claims of fraud have been made, which if proven true, could result in insufficient signatures to trigger the recall.

“We will not remain silent”

“The government of the United States is attacking the Venezuelan government again. We will not remain silent because we are not cowards, because there is courage and dignity here,” said Chavez.

http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news.php?newsno=1162

[leesa]

5. Excellent! I hope the kick the Wimpy Cheerleader's butt around the block

[salin]

4. So is he going to publically pout, be snippy and rude like he was last

year?

[LiberalFighter]

6. I wonder if he is having the same type of security...

when he was in Britain.

[Judi Lynn]

7. They've got his number..........

Scepticism and distrust of Bush likely at Americas Summit.



U.S. President George W. Bush is expected to meet with scepticism and rejection of his policies by regional leaders at the Special Summit of the Americas meeting set to start today in Monterrey, Mexico.

Three years after taking office, Bush has only now decided to focus on the problems confronting the Americas, supposedly one of his top foreign policy priorities during the campaign that brought him to the presidency in 2001.

While the administration has thus far preferred to cite the Sept.11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the international conflict over the war in Iraq as justification for its neglect of hemispheric issues, it has decided that now is the time to buddy up to the country's hemispheric neighbors.

National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice said the Bush Administration wants to show that it is "intensely involved" in the threats facing the region and seeks to "reinforce democracy and promote prosperity" there.
(snip/...)

http://www.falkland-malvinas.com/Detalle.asp?NUM=3110

Great attention-getting idea from the protester. I surely hope he took good care of his George Bush dummy!