----- Original Message ----- From: DI <destaque2016 at gmail.com> To: lbo-talk at lbo-talk.org Sent: Saturday, September 08, 2012 10:15 PM Subject: The US Presidential Elections, Latin America and Cuba
(Original in Spanish)
A South American point of view THE US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, LATIN AMERICA AND CUBA
The most disastrous example of Obama's bet on the pseudo-moderates has been Obama's support to former Brazilian President Lula, whom he praised as a model of a reliable ally
1. The upcoming United States presidential elections, which will be taking place on November 5, are a natural focus of interest throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, especially the prison-island Cuba, in regards to what will be the foreign policy of the next US government. Due to the natural influence exerted by the United States in the Americas, the future of Latin American politics depend to a great extent on the outcome of the next American presidential elections.
2. In this regard, the prospects are worrying. As far as President Obama's policy towards Latin America, one has the impression that all through his mandate the US government has been navigating adrift, aimlessly, and without a compass, as it lets itself be carried away by surface currents, and, alternatively, by undercurrents that are steadily taking the Latin American continent in a direction that is leftist and desegregating.
3. Almost without opposition, Chavez's populism has spread to several countries in the region, openly encouraging anti-American feelings, while President Obama's maximum diplomatic efforts to counteract it have been nothing more than to flatter those Latin American presidents that are leftist yet "moderate", portraying them as an alternative to the "radical" ones. The most protruding and disastrous example of Obama's bet on the "useful moderates" has been his support to former Brazilian President Lula, whom he praised in continental forums as a model of a serious statesman and reliable ally.
4. However, the truth is that "moderate" President Lula did nothing else but to sabotage the United States and to discourage all reactions in Latin America opposing Chavez and Castro. Thus with Obama's complaisance, Lula paved the way for the "radical" anti-Americans by means of playing the role of a "pseudo-moderate". His successor and likewise "moderate" President Dilma has carried on the same regrettable foreign policy towards Venezuela, Cuba, Bolivia, Ecuador, and, more recently, Paraguay. As a result, Obama's government has left the field free in the region for the formation of neo-imperialistic regimes of a terrible foreign policy orientation.
5. Nonetheless, it must be said that this disastrous American policy towards Latin America and the Caribbean is not a saddening privilege of Obama's government. The lack of aims and political foresight of many consecutive American governments seems to be chronic in regards to our region, and this particular type of strabismus has impaired both Democrats and Republicans. Therefore, as for now, we have no illusions about anything positive that the Republican candidate may possibly carry out in relation to Latin America. Let´s see over the coming weeks the proposals that the Republican candidate may present for our region. We honestly hope that these proposals, if any, will be solid, smart, and feasible. But again, with no illusions.
6. There are influential currents standing for freedom, private property, and family values throughout Latin America, on both center and right spectrums. Those currents are represented by the most varied sectors of life in their respective countries, whether political or economic, educational, journalistic, institutional, etc. In this regard, it would be quite easy for an American presidential candidate to draw a plan of action having as a paramount goal the advancement of cultural and diplomatic links with those Latin American center and right currents, which are the natural allies of similar currents presently blossoming with remarkable strength in the United States. Why, so far, almost no American government has adopted policies so simple such as these? This is a relevant question , for these policies would, even if only indirectly, stem the tide of the "radical" pro-Chavez and pro-Castro in Latin America, while also bringing a well-deserved demoralization upon their most efficient allies, the "useful moderates".
7. The motives of this American governmental omission towards Latin America remain a mystery. If so, why are we bringing up these subjects? What is the goal of these respectful suggestions for advancing the ties between the best and healthiest living forces of the United States and Latin America? Our modest goal is simply to help prepare the conditions for the timely fulfillment of these aspirations, namely, the establishing of cultural links between sectors of the center and right in the United States and Latin America, which could decisively keep the Latin American countries away from the unhealthy axis of leftist gravitation currently prevailing in the region.
Destaque Internacional - Año XIV - No. 363 - 27 de agosto de 2012.