Alvaro Colom signed an oil deal with Hugo Chavez while trying not to alienate the United States.
WikiLeaks XXXII: Guatemalan President Colom Walks a Tightrope Between U.S. and Venezuela
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Latin America & Caribbean
The Empire Strikes Back at Latin America
The new Republican chair of the powerful House Committee on Foreign Affairs plans to seek sanctions against Venezuela for its purported ties to Middle East terrorist groups and Iran’s nuclear program.
New U.S. Ship Deployment to Costa Rica Heightens Tensions
The Costa Rican legislature on December 20 approved another deployment of dozens of U.S. ships to its territory for the next six months, but denied permission for warships to deploy to the country until a full debate occurs after the New Year.
U.S. Renews Anachronistic Campaign to Stamp Out Coca Leaf Chewing
Apparently Washington fears that even a modest change to a 1961 convention could call into the question its drug control regime.
WikiLeaks XXVI: Sea Change in U.S. Policy Toward Latin America? No, Clerical Error
Outgoing Brazilian President Lula isn’t too optimistic about U.S.-Latin America relations.
Two, Three, Many Colombias
This past September, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton drew criticism for comparing the current situation in Mexico to “Colombia 20 years ago.” Most of that criticism questioned whether the analogy was appropriate or whether the statement was an unnecessary affront to a close U.S. ally, the Mexican government of Felipe Calderón. But the more significant part of Clinton’s comments was her enthusiastic praise for Plan Colombia—the massive U.S. military aid package started by her husband in 1999—and her insistence on the need “to figure out what are the equivalents” for other regions, particularly Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.
Cancun Agreement Succeeds in Meeting Low Expectations
They did it! After pre-announcing that no major decisions would result from Cancun talks and nearly two weeks of debates and discussions, the army of international climate change negotiators reached an agreement fully in line with the low expectations for it. In fact, they even managed to lower the bar on key issues.
Repeal of DADT Becomes Zero Sum Game Between Gays and Gitmo Detainees
Repeal of DADT: Good news for gays; bad news for Guantanamo detainees.
WikiLeaks XX: Chavez — First Citgo, Now Burger King?
Venezuela tests the fast-food waters. Expansion to U.S. unlikely though because it’s subsidized by the government.
WikiLeaks XVIX: Guatemalan Concerns Get Short Shrift in Cables About Illegal Border Crossings Into Mexico
Documents reporting how easy it is to illegally cross the Mexican/Guatemalan border reveal Mexican security conflicts but fail to address Guatemalan concerns.