China has foothold in Latin America

[bemildred]

Chinese Premier Hu Jintao spent 12 days in the region pledging billions of dollars to close deals in Argentina, Brazil and, yes, Chile. Everything from investing in gas pipelines in Brazil and copper mining in Chile to oil exploration in Argentina. Oh, yeah, throw in Chinese tourists, too.

Meanwhile, Bush's Americas free-trade agreement goes nowhere as members of Congress, including Republicans, try to set up protectionist roadblocks for their farming interests.

China has been worming its way into Latin America, as more countries turn to socialist leaders for salvation and the Bush administration gets consumed on the terrorism front.

Earlier this month, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, meeting in Ecuador with his 33 Latin American counterparts, was calling for some kind of coordination between Latin countries' military and police forces to secure the region from drug gangs and potential terrorists.

TimesUnion.com

[Obviousman]

1. Well, I guess it's time to brush off the Monroe Doctine

:eyes:

[bemildred]

2. The Monroe Doctrine is dead.

The new, post-modern, "revolution in military affairs" model of the
USA does not (apparently) need the Monroe Doctrine. As near as I can
tell most of Latin America is relieved at the change.