Bush must do far more to win over Latin Americans
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Bush must do far more to win over Latin Americans
By SEBASTIAN EDWARDS
LOS ANGELES -- After ignoring Latin America for years, President George W. Bush is desperately trying to improve hemispheric relations. But his just-completed trip to Latin America came too late. Years of neglect could not possibly be erased by a trip long in photo opportunities and short in substance.
Before flying to Brazil, Bush said his administration doesn't get enough credit for its Latin American policy. But, in 2007, the United States will provide economic assistance to Latin American and the Caribbean worth $ 1.8 billion, which is $ 200 million less than in 2006. Moreover, almost half of the total goes out in the form of military aid, while $ 716 million will go to one country, Colombia.
In an effort to increase its low popularity in Latin America, the Bush administration recently announced an additional $ 75 million for education, and $ 385 million to help finance mortgages for the poor. Also, the U.S. Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort will make port calls in a number of Latin countries.
But these aid figures are absurdly low from a historical perspective. During the 1960s -- the years of President John F. Kennedy's Alliance for Progress -- annual aid to the region exceeded $ 10 billion in today's dollars.
The first sign that the Bush administration didn't take Latin America seriously came on Jan. 1, 2002, when Luiz Inacio "Lula" Da Silva was sworn in as Brazil's president. The occasion was solemn and charged with symbolism. After all, Lula was the first union leader elected to the presidency of a Latin American country.
Numerous heads of state and dignitaries from around the world attended the ceremony. But Bush was not among them; nor was any other prominent member of the U.S. Cabinet. The U.S. delegation, instead, was headed by Robert Zoellick, the U.S. trade representative, who, though a member of the Cabinet, lacked the political stature for which the occasion called.
With his traditional sense of humor, Lula dismissed the slight. Other Latin American heads of state, however, were not so casual; in fact, they were deeply offended. According to them, this was a reminder that, with only a few exceptions -- Cuba and possibly Mexico -- Latin America was not a political priority for the U.S.
During the years that followed, the U.S. administration's attitude toward Hispanic illegal immigrants alienated an increasing number of Latin American voters. As a result, in country after country they have elected presidents that are critical of the U.S. and its policies.
Six years after Lula's inauguration, and despite Bush's trip, Latin American politicians continue to believe that their region is being neglected. It is true, they say, that the Bush administration launched the Free Trade Area of the Americas, but hemispheric free trade looks as distant today as ever. Moreover, the handful of free-trade agreements signed with individual countries, or groups of countries, are lopsided and overwhelmingly favor U.S. interests.
In order to regain Latin America's support the Bush administration will need much more than a short trip. Passing a comprehensive immigration bill that normalizes the legal status of millions of Latin American workers in the U.S. may help. Reducing U.S. agricultural protectionism significantly would be an equally positive measure in drawing the poison out of diplomatic relations.
Sebastian Edwards, former chief economist for Latin America at the World Bank, is an economics professor at UCLA. Copyright Project Syndicate 2007
(www.project-syndicate.org)
What else can I say? Perhaps what I've read on another magazine: "Bush wants much from Latin America, but is not willing to give much in return". Some say that if China arises as the new greater power instead of the US, things will be worse, which may be true, but the current situation isn't very inspiring, too... Back to the survival of the fittest then. And the cycle of life continues...
Bush must do far more to win over Latin Americans
By SEBASTIAN EDWARDS
LOS ANGELES -- After ignoring Latin America for years, President George W. Bush is desperately trying to improve hemispheric relations. But his just-completed trip to Latin America came too late. Years of neglect could not possibly be erased by a trip long in photo opportunities and short in substance.
Before flying to Brazil, Bush said his administration doesn't get enough credit for its Latin American policy. But, in 2007, the United States will provide economic assistance to Latin American and the Caribbean worth $ 1.8 billion, which is $ 200 million less than in 2006. Moreover, almost half of the total goes out in the form of military aid, while $ 716 million will go to one country, Colombia.
In an effort to increase its low popularity in Latin America, the Bush administration recently announced an additional $ 75 million for education, and $ 385 million to help finance mortgages for the poor. Also, the U.S. Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort will make port calls in a number of Latin countries.
But these aid figures are absurdly low from a historical perspective. During the 1960s -- the years of President John F. Kennedy's Alliance for Progress -- annual aid to the region exceeded $ 10 billion in today's dollars.
The first sign that the Bush administration didn't take Latin America seriously came on Jan. 1, 2002, when Luiz Inacio "Lula" Da Silva was sworn in as Brazil's president. The occasion was solemn and charged with symbolism. After all, Lula was the first union leader elected to the presidency of a Latin American country.
Numerous heads of state and dignitaries from around the world attended the ceremony. But Bush was not among them; nor was any other prominent member of the U.S. Cabinet. The U.S. delegation, instead, was headed by Robert Zoellick, the U.S. trade representative, who, though a member of the Cabinet, lacked the political stature for which the occasion called.
With his traditional sense of humor, Lula dismissed the slight. Other Latin American heads of state, however, were not so casual; in fact, they were deeply offended. According to them, this was a reminder that, with only a few exceptions -- Cuba and possibly Mexico -- Latin America was not a political priority for the U.S.
During the years that followed, the U.S. administration's attitude toward Hispanic illegal immigrants alienated an increasing number of Latin American voters. As a result, in country after country they have elected presidents that are critical of the U.S. and its policies.
Six years after Lula's inauguration, and despite Bush's trip, Latin American politicians continue to believe that their region is being neglected. It is true, they say, that the Bush administration launched the Free Trade Area of the Americas, but hemispheric free trade looks as distant today as ever. Moreover, the handful of free-trade agreements signed with individual countries, or groups of countries, are lopsided and overwhelmingly favor U.S. interests.
In order to regain Latin America's support the Bush administration will need much more than a short trip. Passing a comprehensive immigration bill that normalizes the legal status of millions of Latin American workers in the U.S. may help. Reducing U.S. agricultural protectionism significantly would be an equally positive measure in drawing the poison out of diplomatic relations.
Sebastian Edwards, former chief economist for Latin America at the World Bank, is an economics professor at UCLA. Copyright Project Syndicate 2007
(www.project-syndicate.org)
What else can I say? Perhaps what I've read on another magazine: "Bush wants much from Latin America, but is not willing to give much in return". Some say that if China arises as the new greater power instead of the US, things will be worse, which may be true, but the current situation isn't very inspiring, too... Back to the survival of the fittest then. And the cycle of life continues...
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